You haven’t, Alistair said. Cullen makes himself stifle his first, second, and third responses.





“Well.”

Still very quiet. His thumb strokes Alistair’s hand.

“I haven’t. And I won’t.” Beat. “You know — every time I’ve asked for quiet, or said it’s not a good time to tease — you’ve backed off. Immediately. Every single time, without fail, without question. I’ll never grow tired of your care and consideration, Alistair. We’re different men. But we fit around each other just right.”