"I know," Dan says, reaching down to push his fingers through Marcus's close-cropped hair. "You're going to take such good care of me." He realizes a moment later it's a statement backed, unexpectedly, by the shine just as much as everything else, and he's ready to swear his heart skips a beat.

But then Marcus's mouth is against his knee, drawing a gasp from him, and his hand, his beautiful hand, is right there, and Dan's torn between wanting that slowness and wanting it all to go so much faster. He shivers, shifting slightly to push back against the gentle bit of pressure.

"That's good," he says, eyes wide.