He'd been focusing on the doll part and not on the more important part. The emotional part that had less to do with him than that.
Crawling into his lap once more, and feeling more confident about it this time, Rhys pressed his forehead down into Joseph's. "I'm sorry..." It was soft but needed in that moment. Chewing on his cheek for a moment, he pulled away so they could see each other better, fingers laced and still behind the older man's neck. When he was in the right space, their gazes locked together, he started again. "I understand, Joseph." A stronger statement, no hesitation. "I know better now... About all of that."
He might risk another flare of the beast, but he cupped the other man's face between his hands. "I felt the connection... Feel it." If he hadn't, there wouldn't have been everything between the Blue Velvet and now.