"Don't fall asleep," Carlos murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Gael's hair. Perhaps, if he weren't still pulling himself from the dazed pleasure of the aftermath of his orgasm, he might have been able to pull Gael's French out and translate part of it. Je t'aime, after all was up there with Bonjour for most common French he'd learned. Instead, the words just sounded lovely and sleepy, and made him smile as he pulled out and reached around to start in on the knots.

"Breathe," he ordered as the ropes around Gael's arms and thighs loosened, and he rubbed at Gael's skin as the feeling started to rush back. Then he let Gael fall back against the bed as he slipped lower to release his feet, stroking there to soothe the punished skin before he slid up again to kiss Gael.