Alistair tries not to cringe. (It's never a good sign when Cullen says that.)

But: he likes touching Cullen. There isn't always hedonism behind it; if anything, the quieter moments hearken back to his days of constant searching for proof everything was real. It's about reassurance. Simple physical closeness.

Several moments pass before he moves closer, sliding his arm along Cullen's back to embrace him.