[ There's a satisfied hum from Matoba, and he pets the boy's hand where it's held in his own, tipping his head to the side and considering his recently acquired apprentice. Such blind loyalty - that's the kind of attachment he could only have dreamt of. What an extraordinary thing to have in a new recruit? But of course, with Natsume, he wants that attachment for slightly skewed reasons. ]

Mm, yes, more.

[ Making no move to add to that, he raises the boy's hand, and presses his mouth to the innermost part of his wrist, just above those pale blue veins. He smirks against the skin there, then: ]

But, we'll discover what works for us in our own time, yes? For now, know that you needn't hide anything from me - you can speak openly, as you wish here.

[ Stroking Natsume's wrist, he places the boy's hand back down, holding it in both of his own. It's probably best to begin these things slowly - the boy is young, he'll learn to recognise what he wants, how he wants things to be. But, for the moment, it's enough to lay the foundation - Matoba is patient, he knows just how to wait so that the results are pleasing. He's willing to allow something to grow between them, rather than forcing it from nowhere. However, he will mould the direction of that growth, so that is suits him.

Another smile is levelled at Natsume, his hand still captive in both of Matoba's, and the exorcist's voice is a deep purr. ]

You should sleep in here.