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With a heavy sigh, Theodric Blackburn sat down on the bed in the rented room of the Pendants. The day's events had finally begun to settle in and they weighed heavy on his shoulders as he began to strip off his armour, piece by piece.
He was tired.
He needed the rest after the forests of Rak'tika and all they had pressed upon him. From another run-in with Ran'jit to removing a Lightwarden to watching a friend commit herself to the Lifestream, for the second time no less, to watching an enemy draw her out of it with the ease of snapping his fingers.
Theo's brow furrowed as he thought and remembered. The Ascian, this Emet-Selch... He had spun a tale in the caves but was it true? Was any of it true? Should he even be trusted? Emet-Selch had been open enough to answer questions even if he didn't seem all that interested in doing so. He answered readily, almost as though he wanted them to know it. But whether that was the full naked truth or a pretty lie remained to be seen.
Pulling his boots off, Theo sat for a moment and simply breathed, rolling his shoulders, rubbing his face as he wound down for the night. He needed for all these issues to clear so he could have a break longer than one night at a time. But he shouldn't complain; there were at least two worlds resting on his shoulders now and the fates of everyone on them. This was a sacred and important duty and he shouldn't shirk it. He would survive. He could sleep when all of this was over. For now, a night would do--
Footsteps.
Theo immediately got to his feet, ready to reach for his weapon. Emet-Selch, of all people, walked slowly towards him, his face set in the usual bored mask and his body swaying with slow, purposeful motion with each step. Theo didn't speak, made no demands as he waited for the inevitable attack or debate, his own body tense and ready to spring into action. Golden eyes met his own purple-blues head on, unflinching as he stepped closer.
It was eerie seeing him so silent, moving less like a person and more like an uncannily bold coerl, daring Theo to stop him. He didn't. He allowed the Ascian all the way up and into his personal space. As a Highlander, Theo was plenty tall over most others with the exception of elezen and roegadyn, but he and Emet-Selch were equals in that regard. But they were not equal in power, by far. Theo expected the end this evening. He wouldn't see the dawn.
Emet-Selch raised his hand slowly and deliberately. Theo watched the fingers move, waiting to hear one final snap and then oblivion. Instead they splayed out and settled on his chest, fingertips catch on the edges of his tunic where it wanted to part and show the sun-kissed skin beneath, dusted in dark hair. Theo's mind stopped for a precious few moments, his eyes widening with shock and disbelief. Emet-Selch's other hand moved to pull on the strings keeping the tunic's neck closed, opening it up enough for the first hand to slip inside. The glove was smooth to the touch and did nothing to hide the warmth of the flesh beneath. The entire time, those golden eyes had travelled over his form; now they looked back into the dragoon's eyes. They were burning.
Theo didn't know what to do with his own hands, clenching and unclenching at his sides. If the Ascian noticed he didn't react or perhaps didn't even care. Instead he touched what bare skin he had uncovered unhindered until he evidently grew bored of that exercise. Both hands reached down to fondle the hem for a few almost playful moments before he lifted it. Theodric played along and raised his arms to have it drawn over and off him, carelessly discarded in a corner thereafter.
Both gloved hands returned to run over the bared skin and scars, the warmth of their palms seeping through the gloves like the fabric wasn't even there. Theo shuddered. He was usually a very warm person himself but this was different. This was deeper.
A small, near imperceptible smile curled on Emet-Selch's lips. Using both hands he gave the Warrior of Light a small but sharp push, sending him falling back onto the bed. Before he had a chance to right himself, the other man was already pinning him down as he crawled on top of him with unexpected grace. Theo's hands finally found somewhere to be and settled on the Ascian's hips, still dazed in a spell of disbelief as he met playful golden pearls looking down at him with an odd mischief.
He would never have expected this side of the usually dramatic and near lethargic man, and certainly not directed at himself like this. But here he was. Here they were. Emet-Selch leaned in as though for a kiss but instead moved underneath his chin and the full, dark beard to kiss and nip at his throat. Perhaps he should be afraid or wary with his supposed enemy at his throat like this, teeth so close to an arguably vulnerable part of his body, but Theo was calm.
If the Ascian wanted to hurt or kill him, he would've already done so. Part of him protested that he should at least try and fight back; make a show of effort even if it was only token but another part asked quite simply Why? It felt good. He hadn't made any deals with his adversary either, agreeing to nothing except the unspoken agreement of temporary ceasefire. So perhaps this was all it would be. Theo tilted his head back and let his eyes flutter closed.
There was a soft, warm exhale of amusement followed by a wet stripe passed up from the hollow of his throat to the underside of his jaw, the broad of Emet-Selch's tongue making Theo shudder. Kisses followed, one after the other over the expanse of his skin, trailing warmth over his chest. Insistent yet gloved fingernails dug into his ribs and trailed downwards over his sides, his hips and back up again, giving Theo goosebumps. He made a small noise as they hooked into his trousers, tugging on them like he wanted to pull them off. The Highlander was about to help him until he saw those hungry golden eyes stare back at him. Something told him not to interfere.
Emet-Selch made his way further down, nipping briefly at the gut he passed, kissing by the navel, before he ended between the man's legs, kneeling on the floor. His hands rested on Theo's thighs as he leaned in with a mischievous smile to mouth at the clothed bulge he found there. The pressure made Theo sigh and spread his legs a bit wider, his breathing coming a little faster now. He moved to prop himself up by the elbows so he could see what his unconventional bedmate was doing and meet those golden eyes again.
As they did, Emet-Selch took the strings of Theo's trousers between his teeth and pulled slowly upwards and back, relieving the pressure upon him with a soft sigh from both of them. The cat-like smile on the Ascian's lips at least said he was pleased with this development while the still somewhat dazed look on Theo's face spoke of his disbelief with the situation. He couldn't believe it even as it continued to happen to him.
Using his teeth and his lips, Emet-Selch managed to get the small-clothes off as well, dragging them down enough to free his prize. The lick of his lips from edge to edge made Theo shudder and his length throb with interest, already half-hard from the attention to his body. The noise that was wrested from his throat was downright obscene as a warm, wicked tongue licked from the base to the tip and equally warm, soft lips wrapped around the crown.
Already worked up from the sheer absurdity of this situation, Theo sat up farther so he could really appreciate the sight before him. Golden eyes looked up at him the entire time and gloved hands didn't try to stop him. He exhaled hotly as Emet-Selch descended down on him, clever tongue working along the underside. Theo could barely remember the last time someone had paid such attention to him, his duties keeping him occupied and away from familiar partners. He shuddered again as that clever mouth moved back up and then down again, creating a slow, delectable rhythm.
"E... Emet-Selch," Theo sighed, the name foreign on his tongue and yet strangely familiar. He couldn't place it. It didn't matter. He moved one large, calloused hand into the Ascian's two-toned hair, fingertips running over his scalp to encourage him and to simply touch him. To his surprise those golden pearls fluttered shut, the gloved fingers moving around his thighs so he could hug them and caress at the junction of his pelvis. All the while his mouth kept moving up and down.
Theo couldn't help his hands. One remained to caress through the Ascian's soft, short hair while the other moved farther down to the back of his neck, then the top of his back, passing beneath his layers of robes. Strangely they parted for his touch as though they had been waiting for him, sliding down an ilm to reveal pale, porcelain skin. Soft, warm, there was no doubt that it was a living creature kneeling before him and not a vision or a facsimile. But why? Why was Emet-Selch paying such attention to him? For what purpose--
His breath caught in his throat. Warm lips descended but farther this time, down to the root. It was surreal to watch the Ascian work him like this, to lavish such attention upon him, to feel that velvet warmth envelope him fully. He couldn't help leaning over him a bit as his breath shortened, sparks of pleasure lighting up his blood, his nerves, his mind, nor could he help the groan of lust when his strange bedmate hollowed his cheeks and let go with a decidedly lewd, wet pop. He wasn't away for long, diving back in to repeat his ministrations.
Was Emet-Selch trying to drive him insane? If so it might be working. Theo's breath hitched and faltered, his hips twitching against the warm velvet while his hands caressed what they could of the Ascian, encouraging him to continue, almost desperate for it. Gods, it was almost too much. A great big knot was coiling in his abdomen, threatening to snap and lash out.
"E-Emet... If you keep, if you keep--" Theodric tried to warn him, his hands moving to thread fingers through his hair, not sure if he wanted to drag him closer or push him away. Emet-Selch chose for him, pulling all the way off of him with a wide smile and glinting, half-lidded eyes.
"That's the idea~" he purred with a wink, before descending once more, picking up the pace from where he left off. The gloved hands on Theo's hips turned so they could grab at his waist rather forcefully, underlining his decision to stay right where he was, come hell or high water.
Theo quietly whimpered, the situation getting to him, making that knot coil even tighter. This was surreal. It couldn't be real. The heat, the lips, the tongue, all felt real enough but Twelve help him, he was about to--
The knot uncoiled violently. His fingers clenched a handful of brown hair each, his teeth gritting, his body tensing up, lightning striking down his spine and out into his limbs. He gave exactly what Emet-Selch sought, keeping the man's head down as his hips stuttered. Another few hard twitches, a shaky sigh and he let go entirely, leaning back on his elbows on the bed as he panted for air.
He felt the Ascian draw back, lips tight around his shaft the entire way, ending in a lewd kiss at the tip as he departed. He opened his eyes, golden pits staring into Theo's under half lids. There was an audible swallow, a subtle movement along that slender, pale throat as he smiled widely, mischievously. Theo couldn't help the noise escaping him as he let himself fall fully back on the bed, a near painful twinge of arousal in his belly in the aftermath.
"Was that all it took, hero?" the Ascian drawled playfully, teasing as he moved to stand. "I had expected more. Oh well, that can't be helped."
The rustling of clothes made Theo move his head with a groan to see what the other was doing. Part of him wished he hadn't. Still standing between his legs, Emet-Selch slowly shrugged the robes and layers of clothing off his shoulders in such a way it seemed almost accidental sliding off his arms to reveal more porcelain skin. The cat-like look in his eyes suggested it was fully deliberate. Theo swallowed, his insides tying themselves into knots with arousal and desire. Twelve preserve him...
Robe, jacket, dress shirt, all seemed already unbuttoned and undone, ready to fall right off of him. A trick? Or had he truly come this prepared? Had he expected this outcome? Or hoped for it?
The clothing fell further, bunching up at the Ascian's elbows, opening at the front to show the body that laid beneath. Porcelain skin, pale as moonlight, and yet... Theo's brow furrowed slightly as he recognised signs along his sides, over his stomach as it was revealed. Not scars per say, there were no scars on the immaculate skin like that of a marble statue, but there were ridges where the skin was pulled a little too taut, showing the hills and valleys of his ribcage in just the right light.
This was a body that had known emaciation but now hid it well.
With a simple movement of the arms, the clothing slid all the way to the floor, leaving just trousers and boots behind. In full view, Emet-Selch was slender, elegant, and not a small bit handsome in his own right. Theo could easily imagine him having many lovers over the years if this was the form he chose, and yet there were those small, near invisible signs of not enough. Of starvation. Of neglect.
Naked hands, the gloves removed and discarded with the rest of his clothes, tucked into the edge of his trousers and began to shimmy them over his narrow hips and down his long thigh. Boots were simply toed off like they weren't even there, left with the rest. Theo felt something akin to hypnosis as he watched, unable to wrest his eyes away as the lithe, ethereal form stepped out of the fabric pile and crawled onto the bed to cover his own body with its shadow.
Emet-Selch smiled once more, mischievous and playful, as he looked down at his quarry. For a moment he seemed to contemplate his next move, before deciding to crawl farther onto the bed and off of Theo, turning so he could lie down on his side and face him. Theo followed him the entire way with his eyes, turning his head so he could look at him and see that softly smug smile spread further on his face. He swallowed and moved despite the heaviness in his limbs and the slight fog still in his mind, turning around so he could scoot in after the Ascian making himself so comfortable.
"Tch," Emet-Selch clicked his tongue with some annoyance. "Even after all of that..." Theo blinked and tilted his head, not really sure what he meant. "Have to do everything myself, it seems."
Before he had a chance to ask what he meant, the Ascian reached out and wrapped his fingers around Theodric's shaft to give him a firm stroke from base to tip and back again, the now soft flesh pliable and sensitive. Theo nearly choked, one hand surging down to wrap around Emet-Selch's wrist, the other fisting the sheets beneath him.
"E-easy-!" he gasped. Even so he couldn't stop his hips from bucking into the firm grasp, feeling himself harden despite still recuperating. His stamina and endurance were good but this was almost too much. Emet-Selch only slowed his movements but he never stopped fully, coaxing his strange bedmate back to full hardness one stroke at a time. The self-satisfied smile and hungry glint in his eyes didn't help matters and Theo let out a shuddering breath, gritting his teeth as arousal stirred fully alive in him.
Suddenly, the Ascian let go of him, only to shove him by the shoulders. Theo found himself on his back and the other man climbing atop him to sit astride and look down at him with that cat-like smile and those half-lidded golden eyes, hungry and deep.
The Highlander looked up at him with large eyes, feeling almost like prey beneath Emet-Selch. He simply took control and Theo followed, settling his hands on the other's thighs and hips, moving them up and down to caress the fair skin. The Ascian let out an appreciative sigh and ground his hips down against Theo, rubbing against his shaft in the process. There was a wetness along with the grinding and for a few moments Theo wondered just what that was. Then it occurred to him.
Emet-Selch already came prepared. The knot of arousal in Theo's belly tightened hard. His fingers dug into the pale thighs straddling him and the Ascian smiled wider.
"Good," he purred, gyrating his hips slightly back and forth, applying pressure and teasing his bedmate. Theo bucked up against him, earning him a pleased groan. "You play your part well, hero."
One more expertly done grind, almost accidental if not for the way Emet-Selch's hands rested on Theo's chest to brace himself, saw them finally joined. Theo let his head fall back with a rough, breathless moan, the heat and tightness enveloping him almost too much. The Ascian likewise sighed and settled down until he was flush with the lap he was straddling. He shuddered, eyes falling shut as he simply enjoyed it.
They fit so well, one could be forgiven for thinking they were made that way. Emet-Selch licked his lips, one edge to the other, bracing himself on the sturdy chest beneath him. Theo looked at him, already feeling almost drunk on this interaction. It wasn't his first time, with a man or otherwise, but something about this was different. He couldn't put his finger on why. Then the Ascian moved and whatever thoughts Theo might've had were wiped away.
Slow, torturously slow, he moved. Back and forth at first, then up and down, creating a strange but not at all unpleasant rhythm. Theo's broad hands settled on his hips, calloused fingers digging into soft, porcelain skin. It didn't seem real. This man didn't seem real. Pale, ethereal, warm, tight. How could he possibly be real? And here, in this moment, riding him like he had all the time in the world?
Emet-Selch mumbled something Theo couldn't quite hear before he upped the tempo, arching his back and letting out a deep, guttural sound that went straight to Theo's core. He bucked again, driving himself up into the other man to great effect, making him bite his lower lip and writhe a bit on top of him. The rhythm never faltered, only escalated further. Theo couldn't take it. His nerves felt alight with pleasure, too sensitive, too sore, and yet...
He sat up and flipped the situation on its head. Emet-Selch gasped as he was suddenly pressed into the mattress beneath, having not seen this turn of events. Slender, pale legs wrapped around Theo's middle, holding him close so there was no escape, but never did that thought cross the Highlander's mind. No. He wanted to stay. He wanted to continue. He wanted to see the look in Emet-Selch's eyes when he finally came undone beneath him.
The Ascian smiled as he moaned at this new angle, reaching up on impulse to grab Theo by the head and draw him down to finally let their lips meet in a passionate, messy kiss. It was the best thing Theo had tasted all day.
The slide of lips against lips, the feel of tongues twisting around each other, the warmth of someone else against him, the pressure, the scent... He might get drunk like this, lost in the moment with his enemy of enemies. Right here in this moment he didn't feel like an enemy.
Theo's hips snapped forwards, driving himself deep into the heat and the tight embrace, feeling Emet-Selch shudder beneath him with a muffled groan. He brought the tempo right back up to where they left it, this time keeping their lips sealed together to share breath and sounds, tongues feverishly winding around one another. When the kiss broke they were both breathless and panting, the Ascian clinging onto the Highlander for support. He already looked like the pleasure was becoming too much and yet reveled in it all the same, his eyes half-lidded, his cheeks flushed with colour, his mouth open and spilling moans and soft, choked noises.
Theo wanted to see more.
Even though it took quite a bit of self-control and strength to do so, he leaned back and almost disentangled them fully. Emet-Selch let out a whine of disapproval, the look in his eyes spelling out his annoyance. And yet he let Theo move his legs, peeling them off of him, raising an eyebrow at his antics. His eyes went wide as he was suddenly folded in half, ankles pressed to either side of his head. Before he had any time to voice any complaint, or praise, Theo pressed back into him.
Deep, deeper than before, as deep as he could possibly get. The Warrior shuffled a little on his knees to make himself comfortable enough, letting Emet-Selch's legs rest on his shoulders so he could get himself some more leverage. The view of the man's face was exquisite as it contorted with the newfound angle and the pleasure it gave him.
Theo set a fast, unrelenting, deep rhythm. There was barely time or room to breathe. If his adversary wanted a night to remember, he would get one. Watching his eyes roll back into his skull, his mouth falling open in wordless gasps, his fingers scratching at the sheets and at Theo's forearms, was the most satisfying after the sass and snark this man had given them all so far. Watching him fall apart between his hands, knowing it was because of Theo, was intoxicating. It made him want to go faster, harder, just to watch Emet-Selch melt into a sated puddle.
With only the barest of warning, the warmth tightened considerably around him and the Ascian's face contorted with a half-strangled gasp, his fingers clawing at Theo's arms, as he finally fell over the edge himself. White painted over his abdomen and parts of his chest with the way he was folded up, his shaft twitching with each pulse. Theo pounded him through it, his turn to overstimulate his strange bedmate. Turnabout was fair play, after all.
The whimper that came from the man was enough to undo him. A few, deep thrusts and Theo shuddered as waves of white-hot pleasure fried his nerves. Lightning in his veins, a deep satisfying feeling as the knot in his core unwound again, and he slumped forward. One hand steadied himself on the mattress while the other carefully helped move the Ascian's long legs off his shoulders one at a time, so they both could rest after that.
Theo only now felt the sweat pearl off of him as it evaporated, making him shiver as the slight breeze from the window's cracks made him hyper-aware of each droplet on his back. He opened his eyes only to see half-lidded golden ones staring back at him and a slight smile on a tired face. Long arms reached up to wrap around Theo's neck and bring him down so they could lie chest to chest, close and far more intimate than Theo had imagined. But he would never complain about such.
He winced slightly as he slipped out of the other man, then smiled and laid down, covering the other with his bulk, bracing his arms on the mattress. The tips of their noses touched, a strangely intimate gesture when being so close and Theo placed a small, gentle kiss to Emet-Selch's chin then his lips, a far cry from the intensity earlier but no less passionate. Slow and steady, exploring what the other had to offer.
Breaths passed between them, panting and deep as they tried to keep the kiss going for as long as possible. It was good and slow, sating their hunger for a time. Even if sweat and seed were now covering both their bodies, Theo didn't care and it seemed to him that his strange bedfellow didn't care either. That was enough for him.
The kiss broke slowly to the sound of their panting, regaining their breaths. Emet-Selch smiled almost smugly as he mouthed one last time at the other's lips before leaning past to kiss his cheek, his jaw, down his neck to the junction of his shoulder. Theo simply angled his head away to give him more room to mouth and kiss. A sudden sting made him gasp, a dull pain blooming at his neck as the Ascian bit him and worried the skin between his teeth. There would absolutely be a bruise later.
Emet-Selch let go of his neck, drawing back to smile like a sated coeurl up at him, eyes half-lidded but the pupils blown wide with lust.
"Something to remember me by," he purred, licking his lips. "I am not done with you yet." Despite the fact Theo had just chased his own high, he felt a near painful twinge in his abdomen. He swallowed.
"I- I can't, I need rest, I--" His words were cut off by a gentle finger to his lips. Emet-Selch continued to smile.
"Do not worry your little head over such things," he purred. He moved both hands down to Theo's chest and gave him a slight push. Theo could only obediently follow along, lifting himself up and wondering what he had gotten himself into.
Beneath him, Emet-Selch moved, writhing and wriggling to turn himself around. He moved to his stomach, propping himself up enough to push against the Highlander. Theo gasped, following his wordless suggestion and ended up on his hands and knees above him. He was, however, still soft no matter how enticing the display beneath him was. The Ascian looked over his shoulder with a small, knowing smile. He raised his hand and snapped.
Theo gasped and nearly fell on top of him as a practically violent surge of arousal went through his body, almost whitening out his mind for a moment. He shuddered and exhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath. By some impossibility, as he looked down at himself, he found that he was once again hard and stiff with desire, his mind somewhat clouded by the sudden change in him. The Ascian on the other hand was smiling almost too widely. He pressed up against Theo who in turn gasped and pressed back instinctively.
"Go on," he drawled. "Do what comes naturally to you."
Theodric obliged.
One arm wrapped around the other man's waist to pull his lower half up on his knees, so Theo could slot himself against his shapely backside. It didn't take any amount of time to angle himself correctly and push into him for the third time that night. Emet-Selch groaned with delight, stretching his arms out in front of him on the bed, fingers digging into the sheets as his eyes fluttered near closed. His back arched in the most beautiful of ways, enticing the man practically mounting him to continue doing just that.
Theo let out a hot sigh and started a hard, merciless rhythm. He was not surprised to find they were both as slick as when they began this strange tryst, instead focusing on giving the Ascian exactly that which he craved. He found he craved it too now.
Both his hands settled on the mattress to give him leverage. His hips moved with that strange, renewed strength. His mind felt like it was slowly combusting within his skull. And all the while, Emet-Selch keened and arched beneath him, clawing at the sheets and pushing back against him for more, more, more!
Who was he to deny him?
He could feel the tightening in his belly again, the need to mark and claim circling in his head. He couldn't help dipping his head down to bite the back of Emet-Selch's neck. He was rewarded with a loud keen and the warm vice he was pounding becoming even tighter. Theo snapped his hips again and again until he tensed and stilled as relief and euphoria clouded his mind. That familiar lightning crackling along his veins, making him worry his jaw and sink his teeth deeper into Emet-Selch's neck, making the other man gasp.
It was only after coming back to himself that he realised he was still biting him. Gently he unclenched his jaw and let him go, receiving a happy sigh for his efforts.
"My..." the Ascian sighed again, pressing up against him to keep them close still. "My, my... It has been quite a while... Again~"
"W-what?" Theo nearly choked, trying to wrap his mind around yet another round. Emet-Selch simply turned his head enough to look at him with those sinfully golden eyes, half-lidded and lazy.
"I have all night, hero~" he purred.
"But I- I need sleep," Theo reasoned. "Emet-Selch, please--"
"Hush now," the Ascian cooed, unconcerned. He turned enough to reach a hand up to caress Theo's cheek without completely changing their position. "Do not fret over such things. You will have what you need. As will I."
It was hard to say no. Part of him wanted to, to tell the Ascian to leave and never darken his door again. That voice was drowned out quickly as Emet-Selch pushed himself up and kissed him again, the angle awkward but the kiss no less passionate.
Hands groped willing bodies. Eyes fluttered shut or rolled around within their sockets. Breaths panted and heaved for air. Sweat pearled and cooled, then heated again as the night continued... and continued...
Theodric lost count of how many times he and his strange bedfellow had found their ends together. A dozen perhaps. It wasn't just him entering Emet-Selch but also the other way around, making the Warrior whine and moan with just how skilled his partner was and how deep he could go. It left him shivering and clinging afterwards, feeling lips and tongue covering him in uncharacteristically sweet affection.
Again... and again... and...
Purple-blue eyes fluttered open. For a moment he was disorientated, blinking a few times and looking at the ceiling as his mind caught up with him.
He was still in his room in the Pendants. Looking to his left and his right, he noted he was alone and it didn't seem anyone else had slept next to him. There was no extra heat, no divot in the pillows, or blankets bundled suspiciously. Just himself. Looking to the window he noticed cracks of daylight seeping through, telling him it was morning.
Had it all been a dream? Perhaps he had been far, far more tired than he had initially thought. He felt perfectly rested too, like it had been a normal night and not one spent in the throes of passion for most of it. Sitting up he swung his legs over the side of the bed and noticed the clothes and armour on the floor. Exactly where he had left them the evening before.
Theodric couldn't help the small chuckle and a shake of his head. His imagination must've truly run off with him by now. He stood and stretched from the tips of his fingers all the way down to his toes, before plodding over to the dresser and the bowl of water upon it so he could wash his face and get ready for another day.
Something in the mirror stopped him dead in his tracks. He stared, all thoughts leaving his mind. A careful hand reached up to the junction of his shoulder and touched the suspiciously shaped bruise just to ascertain it was real.
He blushed a deep red that matched it.