"So I did." Abasi said, desperately trying to keep his gaze on Loren's face as the man told him of the events in the Rathskeller. This was not the time to give into temptation, to look down as he so desperately wanted to do and follow the water running down. For almost all of his life he had managed to abstain from lust; he had looked the other way as women had tried to get his hand in marriage with their looks, had ignored men jeering things at him in the bars.
But with Loren it was different, somehow. Perhaps because he had come to think of the man as a friend, had seen his kindness and generosity; knowing that those traits could come along with a body such as the one before him, pale and slim...it was certainly more tempting than a random flirt from a stranger.
"I am...glad you are well." He smiled tightly, wondering if he was supposed to excuse himself, when suddenly the washcloth was being held out to him.
Oh.
Abasi realised that this was indeed somewhere alone. Anxiety rushed in his chest but along with it there was an excitement and it was that that had him walking forward to take the cloth. "Of course." Slowly he raised the cloth to Loren's skin, moving it in one slow swipe across his shoulderblades, observing the rise and fall of muscle and the way his skin moved when he breathed. Water ran down Loren's back as it had his front and without thinking Abasi moved to catch the drops with his fingers.
As soon as he felt the warmth of Loren's back he realised what he had done; scared it was too forward he dragged the cloth down to meet his other hand and wiped in circles, trying to pretend it hadn't happened.
