[michime]

"I would like to see your smile," Darius admitted before he leaned forward and kissed the human.  "I would like to feel your cheek under my hand when I do this," he cupped Tobias' jaw.  "The beard hides a good bit of your smile and your lips.  You have these beautiful, full, plump, pink lips and they are hidden behind the hair.  Your face doesn't need to be completely bare.  The dashing rouge look would do.  Just a bit of scruff."  

Darius ran his own fingers through the sides.  "I like to be able to bury my fingers in your hair."  He touched Tobias hand to his own letting him feel the short lock under his fingers.  "Feel how your hair doesn't cover my fingers?  I don't a lion's mane, Tobias.  Just enough to be able to tease you with your hair."  

"There we go," Darius' face lit up in excitement when all the parts clicked into place.  He ran his hand down his cherished's arms sliding the thick wrist into the curled bottom of one of the pieces.  He secured the elbow in the same matter before he threaded a longer metal piece under Tobias' armpit then hooked the end to the metal brace at the top.  He did the same to the other arm before he made sure Tobias had full range of movement.  "Are you comfortable?"  He asked.  He wouldn't put the other pieces on if Tobias' arms hurt.