[That might have been an awful mess, if things had come into the public eye, but he knew well enough what went on behind closed doors even with men who had wives and children. It was all information, something he kept to himself, valuable in its own way.]

[Astre would never know that from him. The boy knew he was special and that would never change. Still, he couldn't help but notice that hesitation and wonder at it.]

Oh, it is. I may not have had my heart stirred by a man before, but that doesn't mean I haven't dabbled. There's quite a bit of difference between the two.

[He lifts his hand and tousles that mess of hair.]

Did your lessons not teach you that much? Surely, you've at least seen it.