The smile that crept onto Stephen's face was one of genuine joy at Michael's pleasure an awe at his gift. He felt a swell of pride in his chest. It was the first time he'd seen Michael smile in a long time. It was the first time he'd made Michael smile in a long time. "I'm glad you like it," he said softly, "I hope it feels ok."
He paused for a moment as Michael pushed the sack back into his hand and rolled over. The exposed skin was something unexpected and for a moment Stephen was unsure what to do. There was just the tiniest flash of Roth in his mind. That part of Stephen's back was marked with a small x-shaped scar; a brand. He was relieved to see nothing similar on Michael. "Of course," he said finally, hoping Michael hadn't noticed his hesitation. He stepped forward and squeezed the heat pad again. It flared into life with a gentle hum and Stephen pressed it to the base of Michael's spine, "is that ok? Higher? Let me know if it's getting too hot, I can modify the charm for you."