Martin fumbles a bit, the implication that he would take charge in this, too, apparently catching him by surprise. It's a slight hiccup, but not enough for John to regret asking. He'd wanted clarification regarding Martin's intentions, and in a broader sense, that's what he got: clear confirmation that, even within the bounds of this new dynamic, Martin isn't presuming anything. Not even the relative neutrality of removing John's shirt, which could almost be considered outerwear given the undershirt he's wearing beneath it.

John lowers his own hands to make way for Martin's nascent reach. "Sure," he replies. His smile takes on a playful slant as he adds a lightly magnanimous, "By all means."