There was a long moment where he simply stayed there, reveling in the feeling across his body and the contrast to the hands in his hair. His breaths were deep and short, falling into the unpredictable rhythm jumping across his nerves. It wasn't until he felt air on his lips, breathed in the scent of Eli's breath, that he forced himself to focus and pay attention to what had been said. His mouth worked silently as he felt out the words, occasionally wetting his lips in preparation. He could do that. He could.

"Thank... thank you, s-sir," he said. It wasn't exactly the most concentrated effort, but effort was definitely made. It was only right to thank him, that was true. He was just going to have to figure out how to get words to come more easily when all of his attention was elsewhere. It was the opposite of his body going numb, everything alive and reacting at the same time and there was so much input to receive, how was he going to work around that?