Josef’s finger continued to caress soft lines along the side of Bagoas’ neck as he listened to the explanation of the saying. The tip of his finger trailed lightly up beneath his ear, being light and delicate to just savour that simple ability to touch and be touched.


“I am a man known for his sinister plots and a deft hand at hiding his shortcomings,” he admitted. “So I can understand why you would be wary of what I say, how I say it and what I mean,” he allowed, speaking slowly enough to choose his words carefully.

“But what I know most of all is that you never need to hide your shortcomings from me for my sake,” he said, accepting that Bagoas might wish to for his own sake.

“I want to know you. All you’ll allow me to know. Even if you think it’s a shortcoming. As for my own…” He turned his head, lightly kissing against Bagoas’ hairline. “All of my possible sinister dealings will most certainly never be cast your way. If I were to have any here in Taxon to begin with.”