Inbox: Abraxas

[philancer]

INBOX text / action / horizon Roses are red, violets are blue,
and right now it seems I'm missing you.
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[godshattering]

Greedy? That's--

[ - not a thought Claude's going to get to finish, ready as he was to lodge it as a complaint both against what's said and for the loss of Sylvain's fingers after that last deep press had driven yet another noise from him. But the other has different plans than ones he's been teased with, and it doesn't take long for them to be revealed between Sylvain shifting behind him, the hand traveling up his back, and the words in his ear.

There's another second where he could've started to say something else, but if those fingers withdrawing had left a void it's quickly filled by Sylvain's cock. Whatever syllable it was melts into a curse, one purely of pleasure from that ache of something on the right side of rough. An instant goes by where he actually considers begging even if it'd been suggested to (somewhat) rile him up. In the end he settles for clenching around Sylvain to tighten around him more than he had thanks to that thrust and relishing every sensation of it.

It's closer - ever closer - to what he wants but still not enough as Claude's quickly learned Sylvain is a master of incrementally giving that to him. Each motion deliberate, each one meant to test his patience even as he stubbornly won't give in on some things. But then again, neither will Sylvain and even if he's more breathless than before, it won't keep him from pulling against that grasp on his hair again to enjoy it even further. Much as he'd rather run them along Sylvain's skin, he'll settle for digging his nails into what he can of the desk even if it's not nearly as satisfying considering there's only so much to grip.

But - consequences. The very word has him wetting his lips as he summons up composure to continue pushing back verbally in lieu of doing so physically. This time anyway as he finally listens to not moving while still insistent upon more; it's also not lost on him Sylvain seems to be enjoying that as much as he is. ]

If you don't want me to move, then you'd better pin me down while fucking me into this desk.

[philancer]

[ A breathless chuckle teases against Claude's ear as those fingers in his hair tighten, hold his head at just the right angle for him - and for Claude to strain against, because he hasn't missed the way the other man is relishing the feel of the restraint. It eases his concerns - for the moment, at least - about being too rough with him, or crossing a line they hadn't actually discussed before starting this.

But Sylvain's always been good for thinking on his feet, adjusting as the situation revealed itself. And this seems to be no exception. For all the difficulty he often has reading Claude's thoughts or emotions, in this, his language is clear as day and Sylvain already feels fluent in it. ]

That can certainly be arranged.

[ Which is what has his free hand sliding up one of Claude's arms to grasp his wrist in a tight hold. He times his next deep thrust just right, rocking Claude forward against the desk with the force of it, even as he maneuvers that arm behind Claude's back, pressing him down against the top of the desk and - between the hold on his wrist and the firm grip in his hair - pins him in place. Not giving him a chance to resist or struggle, he gives another deep rock of his hips instead, shifting the angle somewhat to accommodate the new position better. ]

Better?

[ The smug note in his voice - despite the strain in it, because he can feel the way Claude has clenched tighter around him in response, can feel the reactions to what he'd done shudder through the other man's body - hints that he already knows the answer to that question. ]

[godshattering]

[ Of course, half the fun is waiting to see how he'll get pinned down when Sylvain's hand running along his arm is a good indicator it's going to happen. There's the obvious, which would simply be using that hand to keep his arm pressed against the desk itself.

He doesn't have long to wonder when one thrust sends him forward, the barest brush of nerves which would've sent him leaning further over if not for Sylvain taking care of that for him. By the time his arm is behind his back it's already in place. There's the barest twitch of one shoulder to test the grip as a force of habit. It isn't the sort of thing he'd normally allow for anyone else - that being something without a way to escape easily - but from Sylvain he finds he doesn't mind it. There's something to that, something about a level of trust not gained by many, and something that will eventually demand notice.

Fortunately for Claude, even if he'd wanted to pursue thinking it over right then, the next rock of Sylvain's hips turns his mind into nothing but white noise when that angle is finally just right. If it'd been enjoyable before, it's nothing compared to the familiar pleasure sparking through him that comes with the desire for more.

Hearing the question that's not a question in his ear pulls him right back to reality where sense still awaits him. ]

I don't think I have to tell you that. [ There's a faint laugh in his voice even if it's more breathless than before and said with more fondness behind it than he's even thinking about. Even if that alone is as good as saying yes, it's not like it's going to stop there as with what little leverage he has left he uses to press back against Sylvain as if it'll pull him any deeper. ] But if you're asking if it could still be better yet...

[philancer]

So greedy.

[ The comment is laughed against his ear again as he rocks into him once more, aiming for exactly that spot that had gotten him that delicious reaction. He still holds Claude in place, keeping him exactly where he wants him, knowing it will only emphasize the sensations he sends through him.

There was something that made everything more intense, when you trusted someone enough to let yourself be vulnerable like this. And he was a little surprised Claude was trusting him this far at all. It's a humbling thought, but one he intends to use to his advantage all the same - even if that's just to drive Claude half out of his mind with some of the (hopefully) best sex of his life.

He picks up the pace now that he has Claude pinned in place, leaving him with no choice but to just feel, intent on overwhelming every one of his senses as he sends pleasure relentlessly along his nerves. He keeps the pace quick and deep and still skirting that same edge of rough that Claude seemed to enjoy as much as he did. He soaks up every noise, every twitch, every clench of muscles tight around his own aching cock. Letting each reaction guide him as he learned everything Claude liked through reactions alone. And then doubling down on giving him everything he craved without ever being asked for it. ]

[godshattering]

[ At this point, greedy's starting to feel a little more fitting to where Claude can admit it. To himself. Only in a very circuitous thought as it is since if it means getting to enjoy more of Sylvain's considerable skills, he's certainly not going to decline the opportunity.

The pace set is finally what he wanted and one more piece of whatever resistance he'd put up in the name of keeping control crumbles. Sylvain gets rewarded with pleased cries interspersed with his name for each of those thrusts when they start to build one on top of the other unrelentingly in a way he'd never ask to cease.

There's the passing thought, this one more coherent than the others which are definitely not, that Sylvain's entirely too good at this. It's not until one particularly deep thrust gets a gasp when it's all he can manage when actual sound feels too difficult and then it's immediately repeated and then repeated again in a way that's no coincidence he realizes what careful attention is being paid to everything. That it's not merely either of them chasing pleasure out of this with no regard for anything else.

The next time Sylvain's cock drags over those nerves it drives the air out of him, and with it any will to keep holding onto the desk with his one remaining free hand. It's tempting to find a space - somehow - where he could slide it to take his own cock in hand without Sylvain magically not noticing that. Though he's aching for the touch, instead Claude reaches back blindly and (after one near miss) winds his fingers into the other's hair and pulls with a moan of harder. ]

[philancer]

[ That tug in his hair gets a strained moan from Sylvain as eyes slide shut, his hips stuttering in their rhythm. He shudders, pace faltering before picking up again as he drags his focus back.

Turning his head, he nips sharply at Claude's earlobe, letting his teeth sink in to the fleshy curve in chiding. ] If this didn't feel so damned good, I'd be reminding you of those consequences right about now.

[ Except he had no intention of stopping anytime soon, not even for that. ]

Eh, fuck it, I'll punish you for it later.

[ That smirk is back in his voice as he picks up the pace, fucking into Claude harder, faster, deeper. Compounding the stimulation and pleasure, even as his breathing starts to become more ragged and broken, his own body shuddering from the blissfully tight friction, at how good Claude feels around him and how much he wants to let go and chase his own pleasure. But he won't. Not yet. He has other goals first.

And he wants to hear Claude beg him for more.

He gives another sharp nip to his earlobe between one deep thrust and the next. ] Also you forgot to say please.

[godshattering]

[ The idea of punishing might've gotten an all too smug laugh from him if it wasn't for once more getting what he wants and Sylvain exponentially increases everything. Maybe there would've been a retort about this being punishment enough even if it's the exact opposite, and he's all too aware of what Sylvain's doing.

Claude can't bring himself to care when yet another thrust has him arching as much as he can in what limited space there is left for him. The same goes for flexing the arm in Sylvain's grasp, something they both know is useless even if it's something else to enjoy as much as the hand in his own hair.

The second nip gets his attention much more than the first, but not as much as every shudder from Sylvain and each breath getting raspier as they continue to push the intensity between them ever higher. Which is enough for what few braincells he has left to come up with an idea, one far more along the lines of being ornery in a way this night has taught him Sylvain enjoys several times over.

But - it's not worth it backfiring, not when every rock of hips drags him closer to the edge and there's every much of a chance of stopping even if Sylvain already abandoned those consequences. That has him clenching around the other's cock again in a very minor teasing revenge (that also benefits him). ]

Please, [ with a good yank of red hair to punctuate it in hopes of earning another moan before the next thrust has him letting go for a second before doubling down on another grasp, ] fuck me harder and get louder and I'll make sure the entire inn knows who made me come.

[philancer]

[ His grip tightens slightly around Claude's wrist when he feels that flex, bracing just in case Claude does intend to struggle. His attention is diverted momentarily, focusing laser sharp to check in with the other reactions he gets from the other man to make sure he's still okay. But when it's clear it's not an actual effort to free himself, Sylvain relaxes again.

That clench around him drags free a strained groan from reddened lips, hips hitching in the next thrust, the movement a little stuttered, because it's getting harder and harder to keep grasp of his own control the higher he pushes Claude. That yank of his hair gets a breathless laugh in Claude's ear as he finally releases his hold on Claude's own dark locks. But only to slide his hand down under him and sharply tweak one of the man's nipples in chiding. ]

That sounds like a good way to get us kicked out of the inn. But to hell with it.

[ Mostly because that had been his plan anyway, so it's no hardship to give him what he'd pled for, fucking into him harder, the movements sharp and purposeful now. And with that extra hand free now, it's easy to let it slide down Claude's body and wrap tightly around Claude's leaking cock, stroking it in time to his own thrusts into the man. ]

[godshattering]

[ Despite his own words, Claude couldn't possibly care less about the rest of the inn. Sylvain has a valid point there's a good chance this will earn them a none too pleased knock on the door, but surely they can't be the first people to get too amorous in this inn or any other one in Aquila. Regardless, that's a problem for their future selves and not something he wants Sylvain to focus on either if grabbing a little more onto the hair in his grip is anything to go by in yet another silent plea to stop talking and focus.

He gets his wish. The first even harder thrust draws a choked out noise from him that's somewhere between a gasp and a moan as it's once again just at the right angle it seems like the other's memorized from that relentless pace. There's a temptation to lean his head down against the desk, to somehow beckon Sylvain even closer like there's any space left between them from being pressed against the desk, but the hand wrapping around his aching cock after going without touch for so long erases that thought and anything else that's not Sylvain.

It won't be much longer and he knows it, and it's less a thought than an instinct which has every noise and moan Sylvain draws from him getting louder and louder to match the sensations running through him that he doesn't want to end. As much as the other's hold on him allows he chases the hand around his cock, each thrust and stroke paired with a shudder of pleasure until one final rock of hips has him releasing his grip on hair to reach farther back to dig his fingers and nails into what he can reach of Sylvain's shoulder like it'll somehow steady him when orgasm finally rushes through him and claims everything else.

As he comes with a sharp cry of the other's name as promised, spilling over his hand and the desk as he still tries to seek as much everything as possible to make it last as long as possible and bring Sylvain over the edge with him. ]

[philancer]

[ Each one of those shudders comes with a clench of muscles around Sylvain's own cock, able to feel the pleasure he sends shivering along the other man's nerves as those noises he earns get louder. More breathless and strained. He knows Claude is getting closer even before he reaches back to sink nails into his shoulder, drawing a quiet hiss from Sylvain at the sharp sensation.

It just adds to everything Sylvain is already feeling, a momentary grounding to help him hold on a few moments more, to see Claude tip over that edge. And it's as beautiful a sight as he thought it would be, the man's head thrown back as he loses himself for a moment, more, in the pleasure that Sylvain gave him. An achievement he's more than a little smug about, because he doesn't think there's very many Claude would ever let see him like this.

But it's a short-lived thought, because this all feels too good and he'd clung to his own control for as long as he could. The feeling of Claude coming undone beneath him, around him, his name a hoarse cry on those lips, is more than enough to unravel the last threads of his own resistance and he fucks into Claude deep, riding the waves of the other man's orgasm, chasing his own. It doesn't take long before he's spilling with a deep shudder, fingers biting in maybe a little too tight in their grip around Claude's wrist without realizing it. Claude's name a choked curse on his lips as the pleasure washes through him, leaving him spent and more than a little weak in the knees.

Releasing his grip on Claude's wrist, he braces himself on one arm atop the desk, slumped over Claude's back as he drags ragged gasps of air into his lungs. His forehead rests between Claude's shoulderblades, pressed against his back as his breath puffs against warm skin. ]

Fuck.

[ Yeah, that about sums it up. ]

[godshattering]

[ Sylvain chasing his pleasure drives gasp after gasp out of him, each thrust playing upon sensitive nerves in a way that rides the line between pleasurable and too much just as everything else has. Which is to say: all of it is every bit as enjoyable as he presses back against Sylvain as much as he can again. It has him reluctantly letting go of the other's shoulder, much as he wants to keep his fingers sunk into it to mark him even more, because he has to put that palm down to make sure he stays standing even with the help of the other man's grasp around him.

He can tell Sylvain's close and if he could manage words, there'd be plenty that he'd offer like any number of those plans from before. What he has to offer is encouraging him on until he feels the other man coming, something that brings a grin to his face that only gets wider when Sylvain slumps against him to catch his breath. ]

Now who can't move?

[ Not a complaint. Claude's more than smug in his own way since he'll have to settle for putting that grin of satisfaction over everything into his voice. Or maybe into teasing Sylvain a bit more to go with it, tightening a bit around his likely still sensitive cock for the sensation even as it causes his own breath to hitch when it doubles back to get him too.

Which is, of course, all the more reason to do it again or until Sylvain tells him to stop, though the next one has him putting his own arm forward to brace himself against the desk. That also provides a chance to admire the light finger marks around his wrist before idly resting his hand overtop Sylvain's without really thinking about the action, spurred on by some subconscious urge for more contact. ]

That makes two of us. Hope you're ready to carry me back to bed when we can both manage it.

[philancer]

Both of us, clearly.

[ The words are murmured into the flushed, damp skin of Claude's back, but his grin is still audible all the same.

There's a soft hiss when Claude tightens around him, body shuddering in the aftershocks still from his orgasm and nerves all too sensitive still in the aftermath of intense pleasure. He lifts his head enough to nip sharply at Claude's shoulder in chiding. ]

It's going to take longer, if you keep doing that.

[ Not telling him no, however. Not that he would anyway. It still feels incredible, even if his body is all but humming from the stimulation and the lingering spasm that shiver through his muscles. The nip turns to sucking kisses, marking his way up the back of Claude's shoulder to his throat once more. ]

Goddess. You're fucking gorgeous when you come. I knew you would be.

[godshattering]

If that was meant to dissuade me, it's not working.

[ Another grin makes its way onto his face and into his words again, and the same goes for when teeth find his shoulder. They find it all too briefly in his opinion and that hiss and shudder from Sylvain were nice but also not enough. Time to tighten around him once more.

Turns out Claude didn't have long to wait for more from the other's mouth as it travels over him, and there's an all too pleased hum when those clever lips find his throat. It only takes but a second before he tips his head back to lean it as best he can against Sylvain's shoulder to open up more space. ]

I am, aren't I. [ Now he's playing this particular level of smugness mostly for laughs and to entertain them both as he runs the fingers of his free hand up as much of Sylvain's arm as he can reach before resting it against the back of his neck to keep him close. ] Though that just means I still need to see you come rather than feel it alone. I want the full experience when I'm sure it's every bit as wonderful as it sounded. Something I think we'd better fix in the morning, don't you?

[philancer]

Wore you out that much, did I?

[ There's a playful note in his voice as he nips at Claude's earlobe, letting his hands free at last so he can wrap them around Claude's torso. He suspects the desk isn't going to be very comfortable the longer they lean on it - especially for Claude - so after another moment of catching his breath he - reluctantly - pulls out of the other man.

And then, just because Claude had teased him about it, swept the other man over one shoulder so he could carry him back to the bed and drop him on his ass on the mattress with a smug little smirk. He spares a moment to drink in that sight - a naked Claude spread out before him, clearly spent and still flushed from pleasure, reddened love bites very visible on his skin - before crawling up beside him and stretching out so he can kiss him once more. Finally. It had been the only downside to their positioning. He hadn't been able to see Claude's face well, either, or claim his mouth in the midst of pleasure.

Not that he minded hearing all those delicious sounds completely unmuffled in exchange. ]

Are you sure you're going to be up to moving that much, come morning?

[godshattering]

[ There's no chance to respond to that mildly snarky comment before he's swept up in Sylvain's arms in a rare lack of foresight, and the action gets a startled yelp from him. Just as quickly he's deposited back on the bed which naturally demands an equally dramatic oof as he goes. Claude's tempted to reach to take the boots off before they get too comfortable and he ends up sleeping in them - but then stops himself when he notices Sylvain's none too subtle admiration. And he can hardly ruin the other's view just like that, can he?

The start of a grin stretches across his face upon watching Sylvain crawl closer until it's interrupted by a mouth on his that's far too easy to lean into. There's that undercurrent of something he's not naming beneath it as he rests one hand on Sylvain's nearest bicep and the other curved around a strong jaw. ]

I said I wanted to feel it tomorrow, didn't I? You certainly delivered on that and then some, because I know you're going to gloat about it. [ Mumbled against those lips with maybe the hint of a smirk before he closes that barely there distance for another kiss since that feels like it needs it. Like it's more than necessary. ] Gloat while you can, though, since I plan on doubling down on it in the morning. For you, that is.

[philancer]

[ That warning - threat? - gets a husky chuckle from him as he obligingly kisses him more, mouth possessive against Claude's own as he lets his hand slide up to cradle against his cheek. The impatience of earlier has calmed into something slower and languorous, lazy almost, as he takes advantage of this closeness and the freedom to do... well, whatever he wants, it seems. ]

Oh, I'm looking forward to it.

[ He is absolutely going to be gloating a lot. For quite a while. But for now, he delivers one more deep kiss before pulling back. ]

I'm gonna go grab a wet cloth to get us cleaned up for the night. The rest can hold till morning. Or eventually. [ And then he glances down the length of Claude's body and gives a soft, mournful sigh. ] And I suppose you'll need to take those off before bed.

[ Truly the saddest part of the evening. ]

[godshattering]

[ The possessiveness is easy to feel, something akin to a river current tugging at his ankles to demand attention or to be swept away in it. He's not quite to the point of the latter, instead flirting with the idea more than anything else. This is what Claude tells himself, anyway, considering maybe it was closer to that when Sylvain pulls back.

Cleaning up is a good idea. It's tempting to put it off a bit longer though he lets his hands fall away so as to not keep him there. That very heavy sigh as though Sylvain's been presented with something positively life-ruining is too difficult to not laugh at as he settles back against their pillows. ]

You look like they're going to vanish forever once I'm no longer wearing them. I'm sure I could find a reason to keep them around.

[ Like this reaction, for example. Or all the other reactions Sylvain's had to the boots over the course of the night, really. Something to think about for later, because in the meantime he's going to lift one leg very helpfully. ]

Or better yet, you could always take them off for me to enjoy them a little longer.

[ That totally counts, right? ]

[philancer]

Mmm, tempting.

[ Sylvain has always been very bad at resisting temptation. Maybe because it's not very often something manages to actually tempt him. Which Claude is proving to be a very large exception to.

Shifting, he trails kisses along the inside of Claude's thigh as his fingers slide down the soft, supple leather to start undoing the lacings, peeling the boots away as they loosen. His lips follow the trail of skin as he exposes it, taking his time. ]

[godshattering]

[ Somehow he hadn't expected Sylvain to escalate the offer to take off his boots for him as if it's entirely too troublesome to sit up and do that himself. His next mistaken assumption is that those kisses along his thighs will stop after a certain point, but they don't. They continue on in a way that says the other knows exactly what he's doing - even if there's no reason Claude should've ever doubted as much.

There's a warning bell ringing in the back of his mind: this would be far too easy to get used to. Even entertaining that thought feels like a calculated risk. Because sure, they've joked about next time before it turned into actual plans possibly only a night of sleep away, but even that's different. This is pleasure of a different kind. Something simpler, something uncomplicated if it was freely given like this, something closer to standing on that dock feeling seen, or -

Best to not get carried away. Time to reach for an unruly lock of red hair to tug on it in faux reprimand. ]

I said you could take the boots off, not find new ways to flatter me.

[ He's sure not saying stop, though. ]

[philancer]

[ That gets a throaty chuckle from him as he grins impishly, the smile cast up the length of Claude's body as his dark gaze flicks up to meet Claude's own. He presses one more kiss to warm skin, just inside his knee, and peels the one boot the rest of the way off.

One down. One to go. ]

Are you trying to tell me you're not susceptible to flattery, then? I'm not sure I believe that.

[ His impish grin lingers as he drops the boot over the side of the bed and moves to start unlacing the other one. Still playing, he purposefully drops another kiss to the inside of this thigh as well, eyes flicking up to remain locked on Claude's face as he does so, just to see his reaction. ]

[godshattering]

[ If he'd had any doubts about whether Sylvain knows what he's doing, they would've been put to rest with that grin. It could almost be annoying if it wasn't so endearing - maybe also because it matches something in his own box of tricks. That just means it demands a smirk in return, especially when he's getting what he wants out of this.

Claude's still going to stretch his leg out dramatically in relief and in the process possibly narrowly avoids hitting Sylvain with his knee, but it's worth celebrating being free of one boot at least even if it crushes the other's hopes and dreams. Or maybe it doesn't since they both seem to be plenty entertained by the boot removal in the first place. ]

I dunno, I think I have several months on my side as evidence. [ He's already admitted that wasn't the reason, but given that's not something he actually wants to talk about again, that means it of course makes a perfectly good joke to deflect away that he's rather enjoying enjoying this. Sylvain gets a wider smirk when he checks. ] Though I suppose you do get some credit for being... let's say, persuasive.

[philancer]

Well, that is meant to be one of my best charms, after all.

[ His lips quirk in a teasing smirk as he finishes unlacing the second boot and peels it away to drop over the side of the bed with the first.

Only to slide his hands back up along Claude's shins and the outside of his thighs, still unable to get enough of touching him. Of the fact that he can. His movements are still lazy and relaxed, clearly sated for the moment and comfortable with the playful banter that always falls so easily between them. There's an ease to him that's not always so easy to spot, unguarded and content, with no other motive than to just enjoy the moment.

It's not a feeling he's all that familiar with, if he's honest. ]

Better?

[godshattering]

[ Sylvain takes his time in lingering even after the other boot disappears, and it does nothing to reduce that feeling of comfort. Enough so that while he has any number of remarks about the other's best charms, saying one them feels like interrupting something in what Claude recognizes is a slow appreciation going on. On both sides, really, because he'd be lying to himself if he said it was one-sided.

So it's not being disruptive, or so he reasons, when Sylvain breaks the tiny bit of quiet first by asking if this is an improvement and he immediately screws his face up into a thinking expression like this is somehow a question he has to really consider. ]

Getting there, but I think things could still improve.

[ Never mind that Sylvain had a plan for what he was going to do before the side quest of removing the boots because Claude's going to continue being distracting now that he's been given the chance. That includes sitting up enough to do the reverse of what the other's doing, this time by placing his hands over the back of Sylvain's only as a starting place to run his hands up strong arms until he reaches upper arms to wrap his fingers around them to pull. Claude means to drag him back up into lying down, but he'll settle for getting a kiss out of it. For starters. ]

[philancer]

[ He gives a soft moan into that kiss, tempted to just acquiesce and push Claude back down onto the mattress again to kiss him for longer. But he suspects that if he gives in now, it's going to be quite some time before he actually succeeds in getting them cleaned up. Which would also be okay, but...

He slips a finger over Claude's mouth to interrupt that kiss a moment later, even if it is reluctantly. And then steals one more before pulling back and slipping off the side of the bed. ]

Hold that thought.

[ He's only gone a matter of moments before he's back again, warm washcloth in one hand as he leans over his lover. Pressing Claude back to the pillows, he lets one hand work at cleaning him up, even as he bends to capture the man's mouth with his own once more in a deep kiss. No reason they can't do both at once, after all. ]

[godshattering]

Do I have to?

[ It's not much of a sulk considering Sylvain had announced his intentions before being dealt distraction after distraction, but Claude's still going to lean back on his elbows like he's inconvenienced regardless. That doesn't last for long considering Sylvain's back in a near instant and Claude lets himself be placed back where he was, one corner of his mouth curved upwards in a half-smile until there's lips on his again.

Then it's easy to be distracted himself again even as Sylvain carries on with the washcloth, one kiss after another muffling whatever small sigh of contentment leaves him at one point. For all the guards he puts up and should maybe remember to set back into place, it's suddenly difficult. There's that feeling of care again being directed at him in a way which could easily pull him towards something else he's decisively not letting himself feel.

It's with that in mind Claude decides to reach for the washcloth without looking by running his fingers down Sylvain's arm again to retrieve it, nipping the other's bottom lip as he takes over cleaning duty while focusing on Sylvain. ]

Maybe you should add multitasking to your list of charms while you're at it.