"I mean, I'm ready to throw down and fight the entire ground," he jokes back. There are fingers weaving through his hair, however, and that takes far more precedence than any sort of MMA-style cage fight with gravity and the Earth itself; Liam's eyes slip shut and he arches into the touch with a soft, pleased noise. Even with the thrill of the ride thrumming through his veins, there's something about James that always steadies him, lets him have these moments of peace and clarity that he wouldn't get to enjoy otherwise.

"See, but also you don't quite get it." There's the beginning of an impish grin that tugs at the corner of his mouth, "it's not spoiling if you deserve it. Check and mate."