Al exhaled into the dark nest of hair, and felt the muscles underneath his fingers relax. Felt the vertebrae shift under the skin as Severus moved his head.
... nineteen, eighteen - only eighteen left -
The exposed patch of skin above the collar on the back of Severus' neck was warm, much warmer than the fabric of his robe. ... fourteen, thirteen... Al smelled it, touched it, tasted it and was completely lost in exploration and discovery. This was new. He wanted more.