"Not at all," Krem murmured, but he liked the playfulness in Thomas's voice, liked chasing after it with his lips. He knew that Thomas needed a little bit more coaxing in things, and might especially need it when Krem's whole torso was a mess of mottled red and blue bruises and the occasional scrape and cut on his ribs.

But Thomas's gentle hand, his continuous soft looks and his smiles, that did more for the last needed unravel, leaving Krem pleasantly reset from all the tensions of last night, the past weeks and month. At least for now.

He arched up, kissing Thomas's smile with his own lips curved into a content smile.