"If our future is to be together, it shall be as we shape it," Paul said steadily, and balanced one of the glasses of lemonade on his lap so that he might rest his hand against James'. "And once we have approval, once I can formally court you and we may move towards agreeing a contract, I should hope that you would give full rein to such instincts."
He paused, swallowed, and stared across the square to the dance floor. "Joseph did not much care to be touched, so it is a new thing to me, very much so. Mark and Anne were a delight to me, and we were happy together, but there was very little contact between us. I...would not wish for that, with you. Such distance."