"I won't then. But it's not about me taking care of you, it'be about us taking care of each other. Just. Something to keep in mind. I can't stay at the centre forever. We'd have better chances if we shared a place somewhere. Something crappy probably, but still." Hartley stayed on his back and put one hand on Axel's knee, just to maintain contact. He didn't want to think Axel that he had any desire to be at all like any of his clients. He just wanted to be with his boyfriends.

"I know there are always guys waiting. The other day some guy threatened me to leave you alone, because you're his and he pays better." Nothing unusual or surprising any more. "Do you like any part of it? The flirting? I don't know. I just want to understand better."