Marius visibly relaxes at the sight of Freddie's smile; he settles into the sheets, sinking in a bit into the softness of the fabric against the slick skin of his lower back and thighs. He returns the smile in his own, slightly sheepish way. He's glad at the sight, glad that whatever offense he caused seems forgotten. He likes the slowness in the way said smile unfurls; like a gradually blooming flower, he thinks.

He banishes the thought as quickly as it appears in his head, wary of the path that might lead down.

The question is a fair one, and one that's haunted Marius for the past half year, at least. His head tilts forward a bit as he considers the question. Which is when Freddie brushes his finger against one of his nipples. His breath catches in his throat; he trembles a bit at the touch, eyes widening briefly. He blinks rapidly, needing a moment to get his thoughts in order.

"I'm happy with my friends at the moment, and I think companionship and I are a bit at odds currently," he admits, voice breathless as his chest rises and falls at a faster pace than normal.

"I do miss touching and being touched, kissing and being kissed, very much," he says, reaching out himself to trace his own patterns into Freddie's smooth skin.