The snap of a rib wasn't lost on Mark. It only meant he had to be extra gentle. His chest ached though, knowing that he hadn' prevented it. Ace's fingers slid under his shirt and he stopped himself from removing them. He could feel Ace growing heavier with sleep. So he let his dependant touch him, feeling the muscle beneath his skin. He let his Ace explore him. The sucking lips on his skin made him shift, he tried not to move too much under the ministrations. It was sweet amd warm and Mark loved it but he needed Ace to stop because he might start kissing him back too. Mark's hands pressed the lithe hips just ever slightly more. He felt Ace shift slightly amd tried not to wake up. It didn't work and when he breathed aloud those words he felt his face flush. Ace's nose gently nudged one of the marks blossoming on his neck. Brilliant. How prOfessional would that look this evening? But when Ace settled against him, hands slowing as he slipped into a deeply needed sleep, mark's breath hitched. One of the small hands rested over his heart while the other slid to his hand and clutched. Mark laced their fingers together amd looked up at the ceiling, eyes tracing the constellations of glow in the dark plastic stars. "Don't leave me," Ace said. "You're a silly little boy." Mark breathed in a reply. "I've never left you." ace slumbered on, resting, comforted and content atop him. Mark's hands moved to Ace's thighs, he pressed gently to see if the younger might stretch a little. Mark worried that it might limit Ace's circulation, he worried that the boy might move too fast and knock into something. Ace was, of course, just as stubborn in his sleep as he was awake amd didn't budge. Mark's lips pressed into a hard line of disapproval. With that he settled back and lay waiting until the time that Ace might wake up. Mark's hand stayed on his thigh, the other tangled in Ace's hand. His thumb traced little circles into the smooth skin of Ace's thigh.he wondered if it was as soothing to the boy snoozing on him as it was for Mark. If the day came that Mark ever touched Ace this way while they were both awake and not hesitating with kisses and touches he might find out.