Love. That's what this was. It wasn't painful or frightening or anything except need for this man. This was a new kind of love for Lex and one he planned on getting used too.

And Anatoly was right. They had said everything they needed to say. Anatoly knew Lex loved him and Lex knew Anatoly loved him. Not in those words but that's all they were. Words. And when Anatoly replied in a language Lex knew more intimately then Anatoly's precious Russian or his own native English, he could do nothing but reply, his one hand staying rooted in those wonderful curls while the other hooked around the Russian's waist to hold him firmly in his lap.

After a few moments of just clutching and kissing, Lex found there were a few words that did still needed to be said. "Tolya...please. I need to feel you." There was a slight desperation in his voice, needing the touch to rid himself of the memory and wants of the night before, until the only bit that remained to remind him were the rope burns around his wrists.