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When Zaire rolled, Jory propped himself on his elbows, leaning into the raised hand with an affectionate nuzzle that ended with a soft kiss against the center of his palm. There lips moved, murmuring something soundless he didn't have the courage yet to say out loud. Large, and looming, but only half frightening.

He turned as well, crawling up to lay atop the larger boil, reversing the position they'd just left, with arms sliding beneath the other boil's, burying under the pillow. Zaire's heart was a heavy percussion against his chest, and he gave a content sigh as he settled, head tucking up against the other boil's collar bone. His breath a warm rush against tanned skin.

"You can sleep here, you know," he'd offer into the quiet, a few moments later, voice hushed. "When you want to." Jory loved taking naps with the mahamba, spending the night, that could only be better, right? The length of his tail slid, seeking out Zaire's, and wrapped around it.

And maybe the offer was a little selfish. Helki's room was next to Zaire's, and he didn't like the thought of the wolf being so close, without being their himself to keep them apart. He'd clung, and he'd cried, and he's wielded guilt like a weapon against his boilfriend, and Jory didn't like it, not one bit.

He could hear it, that steady thud of Zaire's heart in his chest, like a trapped thing, trying to get out. An echo of his own, and it reassured him, knowing that he could speed the other boil's pulse. That he meant something. It made his stomach flip, happy little wings that fluttered restlessly inside him as strong arms curled tightly around him.

A shiver ran up the length of his spine and down his tail as Zaire licked against his ear, and he made a small sound, that wasn't quite a protest, burying his face in against the other boil's neck. It took him a moment to realize his boilfriend has spoken, distracted, but he was quick to shake his head, breath warm against Zaire's throat in soft disagreement. "No, never." He wouldn't regret it. He wanted Zaire close.

It was selfish, terribly selfish, but Jory didn't deny the feeling. It was rare he did anything for himself. Just this once, with Zaire, he wanted to be selfish.

So he wrapped himself tightly against the other boil, tail twining around Zaire's much thicker one, listened to the sound of that heavy pulse as sleep slowed it into a steady beat. He knew when his boilfriend fell asleep, but those strong arms stayed around him, holding, even as he slept.

Only then did he let himself start to drift. Comfortable and content, the sound of Zaire's heart like a lullaby in his ear. He smiled, breath coming in a soft sigh, before evening out.