Arthur remembers it vividly, and it's the foremost reason why his judgement is staying internal instead of getting projected like crazy onto Crichton. "It's not," he says, and lets out a longer breath than he realised he was holding. Crichton understands. Of course he understands; he gets Arthur so well that it's uncanny, sometimes. "It's not."

He's slowly relaxing again, though, both at Crichton's touch and at his willingness to just... pause this.

"Thank you," he says, not sure how to phrase what he's thankful for, but hoping Crichton will understand that, too.

The fact that he's calming down aside, that question, coming right after he has to tap out of sex because of his over-tuned sense of danger, surprises a laugh out of Arthur. If that was Crichton's plan, then it worked perfectly. "I-- yes, why not? Only..."

He pushes himself upright, not sure if or how to finish that sentence; it comes out as: "Let me hold onto you, a moment."