Segundus did not sleep that night but stayed awake watching Childermass. He held him close against him, as much of their skin touching as possible.
At first it was just because of the pleasant feeling the Childermass' body. He did not know how many nights of even small physical pleasure he would have and he tried not to feel guilty that this first one came as it did. He reminded himself continuously that he had been invited, both to the bed and into this long embrace .
But then, the longer Segundus was there in the bed trying to memorize how it felt to hold a person as they slept in case it should not happen again, the more the magic began to wake in him. It made inquiries and it nudged at its creator and it strained toward the source of its inspiration; John Childermass. It wanted very much be close to the person for whom it had been created to save and it posed questions to Segundus about him.
Like a patient father, Segundus explained. See this back pressed to my stomach? This arm tucked under mine? There he is. I am here with him. Be still, Segundus told the magic. I won't leave him. And the magic told him it would help.
Soon, Childermass cooled to a normal temperature and his shaking stopped. He made content sighs in his sleep as he slipped closer to health that only the other man in the bed would hear.
Segundus' magic bubbled with happiness at each one and wanted to know if it had done well. The magician told the magic that it had done very well.
Segundus thought that he might risk staying there in the bed exactly as he was. He thought that he did not care who found them and how, only that Childermass was getting better and he did not want to leave.
But Childermass woke on his own when there was a small window of thin darkness before sunrise. His eyes open and the magic filled Segundus with effervescence at the sight of Childermass slowly remembering that Segundus was there and smiling.
Childermass rolled over to where he could see his partner and he realized within a few seconds the absence of pain and the coolness of his skin and strong, even breaths in his chest.
"Did you do this, Segundus?" he asked. .
"I guess," he said, "that I did."
They were facing each other in the bed, noses only inches apart. John Segundus felt his body might overwhelmed at any moment. From the persistent purr of the magic appreciating that Childermass was stroking the small of his back, to the fact that Childermass was doing that; he had never felt so many sensations vying for his attention. And then Childermass moved so that their mouths touching and gave him a soft lazy kiss. He could only shut his eyes briefly and grip at Childermass's shoulders to keep steady as his body decided it had room for one more bit of pleasure.
"You are a wonder,” said Childermass when the kiss ended.
He rolled onto his back and Segundus moved his head to Childermass' chest.
The thin darkness got thinner. Morning threatened to tear through it at any moment.
"I think you were right," said Segundus. "The fairy magic doesn't like that you can leave me and it was doing something to you. But something happened with my own magic. I can't explain it."
Childermass gave a pleased stretch in the bed and yawned.
"Then, for now, don't try to. You can dress and we'll talk about it later."
Yes, thought Segundus. We can do that. We have some time now, you and I.