“Shh. I’ve got you. I’m stopping, we’re stopping, you’re okay.” He was feeling kind of shaky too. He put a hand on Colby’s bare chest. Lightly so. “You can breathe with me. In. Out. One more time. I’m right here.”
Colby did as asked, eyes midway between anxious and molten. Not afraid, or Jason thought not, but that’d hit the point of too much. He wasn’t sure whether that was only that Colby wasn’t used to receiving in this sense, or whether some specific shark’s-fin memory’d resurfaced, or whether those blue eyes simply deep down felt off-balance at the whole concept of accepting pleasure without having had to earn it.
He said again, “You’re safe. You’re all right. You’re breathing. Listening to my voice.”
“I am.” Colby blinked, sounded suddenly drowsier, reached for him. “Jason?”
“Yea
