Francis pushes him onto his back and Raju's smile, the warmth on his face from watching Francis laugh, doesn't exactly disappear but it does fade, surprise and wide-eyed anticipation taking centre stage. He's looking up at Francis in a way he hasn't looked up at any man. The rhythm of things had fallen naturally into place the last two — first two — times that they'd slept together, but with Francis' body whole more possibilities are open to them now, and many of the ones which involve Raju on his back are ones he hadn't considered before this very moment, feeling the floor and blanket beneath his shoulders and looking up at the man who loves him with the same passion with which any man has ever loved his wife.

Here's the more familiar impulse to roll until Francis is beneath him instead. But a man who's had to restrain himself so long as Francis has deserves a little free reign, doesn't he? Certainly one does who Raju trusts this way. Besides, Raju wants to know what Francis is going to do from here. And which part of it is making Raju's heart beat so hard.

His hand hasn't left Francis' collar; two fingers are hooked into it now, pulling it a little away from Raju's chest. His other hand flattens itself against the blanket and pushes, pushing Raju just far enough up to crane his neck and press their lips together.