"Then you mistake me," Cesare says softly, pleased by Alex's short moment of- what, surprise, pleasure? Abandon? With his free hand, he smoothes through Alex's hair. He loosens the fingers of the other, just enough to gently move his hand up and down. Not much. Just this side of pleasurable.

"Then you mistake me gravely," he repeats, near Alex's lips. "Bad things... one should ban them from one's life. Why give the devil more dominion?"