[He laughs, warm and quiet, and takes the opportunity to kiss her before he removes his own shoes. To Marcus, he says,] We were at real risk of tying ourselves in knots discussing the situation without you. This is a marked improvement.

[He has every confidence that the two of them would have managed without Marcus, if he'd said he preferred not to try it. It would hurt, but they'd have survived it. That said, he finds himself sharply glad they don't have to as he watches Marcus across the distance between the now-locked door and the bed.]

Won't you come join us?

[While the tone is light, the look that accompanies it is sharply attentive.]