Summary:

He wants to offer the kind of casual physical reassurances every other submissive on the roster accepts without thinking but, instead, Hayden learns to ask before offering less personal comfort, settling for hugs and congratulatory pats.

Sometimes Shane even says yes, but mostly he smiles awkwardly and declines.

Hayden figures that is just how Shane is; some submissives are simply born odd. It isn't a bad thing, really, just—a little different.

Wrong, maybe.

His stomach always twists a little thinking it, not wanting to sound too critical. He doesn't mean it harshly, obviously, he just thinks it's biologically unfortunate. Some submissives come out a little wrong and don't understand how to accept comfort or bond correctly.

It isn't Shane's fault.