-28-

Loyalties

Before he tied on his cravat, Levi lifted to his nose and breathed in, mouth open. The fabric tasted of Erwin 's cologne. His eyes fluttered closed. Now, all day, he would be reminded of the intimacy they had just shared, of it blindfolding Erwin while Levi pleasured him.

'Everything okay? ' Erwin asked, adjusting his bolo tie in the mirror beside him.

'Fine. ' Levi 's eyelids parted. He tied the cravat around his neck, then frowned. He leaned closer.

'You left marks. I can 't cover this one. '

Erwin finished adjusting his pendant, then turned to him. 'Where? '

Levi pointed to a darkening oval beneath his ear. 'It 's not even subtle. '

Erwin crouched down, lower, lower, then stopped at Levi 's shoulder. 'It 's fine. It 's tucked away, so it 's not really noticeable unless you 're at this level and really looking for it. '

'Are you making a height joke? '