For the first few seconds after Shannon reached for him, Felix's body was as rigid as iron, locked up with remembered shame and anticipated scorn. The heat of Shannon's mouth and the touch of his elegant hand on Felix's skin warmed that all away. His muscles unlocked and he leaned in to Shannon, arms circling loosely around his waist as he sighed into the reassuring sweetness of his lover's passion for him.

It was impossible to say thank you. Those words were inadequate to the responsibility Shannon took on for him, to the relief and embarrassing gratitude Felix felt that he could actually trust someone who took him to bed. Felix rested his brow against Shannon's, silent, letting the soft calm of his breathing and their closeness speak what he could not say.

"Are you quite sure you want to see the rest of the box?" he asked after a long moment.