What faint hissing there was in the sound faded into a low rumble. His breathing was beginning to even out in the calm pace of the steady hands working at his back and shoulders. It was easy to get lost in the feeling while his body was pulled away from its alert state and somewhere safe; his mind was quickly trailing afterward.

"Please don't," he said. He was interrupted by a small groan while Eli's hands found another spot. "Stop. Don't stop."