Athelstan would recognize the expression, or complete lack thereof, on Ragnar's face. It was the look he got when he was feeling an array of emotions and wanted to keep them all to himself, a carefully crafted and maintained mask that gave nothing away. Ragnar remained stone-faced until Athelstan trailed off.

"You know," He started, though Athelstan obviously did not know, "It would still be sex even if we never did that."

He leaned back a bit, looking off to Athelstan's right at nothing in particular and scratched his fingers through his beard with his free hand. He forced himself to go in a different direction with the conversation.

"I did not want... to overwhelm you. Or, worse, go too quickly and have you not enjoy yourself because I could not be patient," His eyes met Athelstan's again, but his brow furrowed slightly, "With who?"