Nathaniel's heart begins to race, and he squirms the rest of the way out of his sweats, already aroused solely through the anticipation. Once he's naked, Nathaniel holds out his wrists obediently to Asher. His eyes dart from the cuffs to Asher's eyes, and he licks his lips.

"I'm sorry," he says on a quiet exhale. "I could have said it all differently. I didn't have to hurt you. I'm sorry, Asher."

He wanted to say that before the cuffs were set, before anything more happened, because he had handled it badly, allowing himself to become worked up rather than just... ask Asher. Nathaniel knows he will do better next time.