Exhaling slowly, Aramis resumes working the shampoo through Athos' hair, taking care to knead now at his scalp to help him to relax, but his free hand he threads through Porthos' at his thigh, squeezing it as he gives him an encouraging smile.

"I think we have had enough excitement tonight to live firmly in the present," he says, "Certainly for the evening. Now are the pair of you going to stop necking long enough for me to rinse Athos' hair?"