"Thank you for trusting me this much," Crichton answers. Not just with his body, but with his fears too.

That laugh is like sweet music. It breaks the tension in Crichton so he can relax and briefly nuzzle his nose against the inside of Arthur's thigh. They'll get there. They have all night.

"Sure. Let me come up." Crichton has to take his hand back for just a minute so he can reposition and wriggle up alongside Arthur, resting his chin on his lover's chest. "Better?"