John wasn't honestly expecting Martin to attempt an answer, and he has to pull back a fraction for a moment, biting back a grin, before he leans back in to resume his ministrations. His free hand lifts to fiddle with Martin's collar, as if in consideration, before shifting over to his shoulder. He doesn't quite push, but he applies a little more force than he otherwise would, a subtle press against the wall, a reminder to remain still.

Perhaps it's because his mind is already focused on what Martin wants that he gets a vague sense of something, or perhaps he's attuned to being watched — or some combination of the two. But the awareness of Martin's intermittent gaze and the reasoning behind it unfurls in his mind, and he hesitates again, this time because he's just... touched. That, and he understands the impulse; there are times when he can hardly believe this is still real, either.

But 'maudlin' isn't the mood they're going for, so John works his patient way up to the hinge of Martin's jaw. "Real enough for you?" he murmurs, punctuating the question with a light nip against Martin's earlobe.