"Very good. The King and Queen of brandies, my friend. " He placidly looks on while Alex does his best to look cute. As if cute and inviolable ever went together. As if cute didn't just beg to be fucked into the floor. "Bellissimo, in fact. You sure you're not up for it?"

He's not tense or needy, no; just risen too early, after too short a night and too bad a dream.

"Anyway. I'll make some caffè while you reconsider."