Carrick allowed the slave to snuggle into him, sitting quietly for a moment as Hermes clutched onto him tight.
A tiny smile touched his lips at the slave's words. "You hardly know me, little Kharmophron*. But I'm glad to hear it anyway."
He lapsed into comfortable silence again, listening to Hermes' soft breathing and the beat of his heart.
"I'd like to take you somewhere one evening," he remarked. "Just you and me. What do you think? Any requests?"
Carrick had long known that a happy bedslave made a happy Master. More, it pleased him to indulge Hermes. He was fond of the slave after all, and those wide green eyes looked so lovely when they were sparkling with delight and good humour.
* Ancient praise name of the god Hermes; "heart-delighting"