Something in Duke unknotted. There'd been such drama about his sailing to the Bahamas on his own -- due in no small part to his usual barrelling ahead -- that he'd started to worry that he'd get the same reaction every time he wanted to set out on his own. Even when it just meant going out around the island on his boat.

He'd known that was silly. But he hadn't known it.

"Thank you," he said softly, tempted to lean in for another kiss, though his hands were full of charcuterie. "I am going to let you ravage me so hard tonight."

He would have anyway, yes.