Relaxing his muscles was not an action he was a stranger to, and Richard wasn't late in doing so. He wanted to have Alec sheathed inside him, soon, and deep. Still, the sensation - familiar and still burning the slightest bit - made his eyes flutter closed for a moment. Stretch, and friction, and the slickness of the oil.

He spread his thighs further apart, then closed his calves behind Alec's hips. A palm remained against Alec's abdomen, then slowly slid up, resting against the other man's shoulder.

You've lost weight. The thought finally formed in his mind, and then he let go of it, instead smiling up with the careful breath out...

... and squeezed his inner muscles, a tiny bit, around Alec. There were many ways to make him lose control. Richard intended to try at least some of them, in the coming minutes.