"I'm really the one who should be grateful! I'll make so many mistakes if people don't tell me I'm wrong."

"Hey, Ben, maybe you should go work on that policy now that you have some more ideas."

"Yes! We should definitely go take Sasha's criticisms into account."

When they leave, Asher slides to the floor, kisses Sasha's hand, and says, "I'm afraid I might be a bit less unbearably charming for the next hour or two because that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life."

".......not that this isn't welcome and I'm not flattered, but what?" 

"You argued with the king. I've known him his entire life, and no one argues with Ben when they first meet him, and lots of people don't even once they know he welcomes criticism. You're an islander. Forget sending you back to the Isle, he could have you executed and no one could stop him. But you argued with him anyway. And you were right."

Neither "I was terrified the whole time" nor "But he wouldn't have" is right.

"I couldn't just let him do that, it was a terrible idea in a way he had no way of realizing and I did." 

"I completely agree! And it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life."

"You," and his voice is shakier than he would like it to be, "should get back up on this bed." 

Asher jumps onto the bed. 

"Can I kiss you."

Sasha doesn't answer, because he's kissing Asher instead. 

As promised, Asher is good at everything, and kissing is a subset of everything. 

It has been so long since Sasha kissed someone who was actually good at kissing. 

He goes pliant under Asher's mouth, slides his hands up Asher's sides. 

Asher makes a little questioning noise and pulls Sasha's hair.

He nods and kisses Asher deeper, more hungry. 

Asher pulls harder and runs his fingernails along Sasha's back.

"Ah — keep doing that — " 

"Of course, mon coeur."

He bites Sasha's neck.

He clings to Asher's shoulder and shudders and lets out a sound that he'd hold back if he didn't know Asher would like being able to get noises like that out of him. 

He does like that! He likes it a lot.

And then he strips off his own shirt. 

"You're gorgeous." He probably should start getting his own clothes off but that would involve taking his hands off of Asher. 

Asher is happy to be appreciated!

He hisses when Sasha touches him. 

Then he'll just keep doing that, running his hands over Asher's shoulders and arms and back and chest and sides. 

"You're gorgeous, you look like you could throw me, you're so warm — Asher —" 

Asher knows a suggestion when he hears one! 

He stands up, picks Sasha up, and starts kissing him. 

"Fuck — "

He wraps his legs around Asher's waist and clasps his hands behind Asher's neck and kisses him with a desperation that wasn't there before.