"Good heavens," Watson said, mock-astonished. "A form of nudity you're not interested in seeing me in? I never thought I'd hear it. But," he grinned, "I'm glad to hear it. The pair of you are far too good to me."

He was almost deliriously happy; his husband, his dog, a comfortable (if garish) sofa and a post-orgasmic haze. It was one of life's perfect little moments, to be sure. He shifted upright a little, repositioning himself around Holmes.

Nell took this as her cue to invite herself further up onto the sofa between them; she put her front paws up on the cushions, and meeting no immediate disapproval, clambered up between them and settled herself down, tail thumping away happily.