Autharyx might have convinced himself he's doing this for a good reason, but he can't deny the small sound that seems to worm itself out of Viltez' throat catches his attention like a hook does a fish. He doesn't object when his host moves away with a slight shudder ([i] of disgust? He just can't tell[/i]), even though a part of him kind of wants to. He hasn't missed that he seems to have developed a tendency to find excuses to get physically close to the beast-man, even though the impulse baffles him. It baffles him how a small touch of fingers on fur makes his throat catch and stomach flutter or why such a little sound would make him want to do something that produces it again. 

It is... disconcerting to have these thoughts and impulses come seemingly from nowhere. What is it about the man that keeps drawing Autharyx in like that? Sure, he's interesting, but that doesn't mean he has to be all... stupid about it. He stares at his host as he gathers pine cones, feeling strangely jittery without knowing why. It's only when he turns to smile at him, that Autharyx remembers to pull his face into at least a measure of composure. He manages a small smile back, but there's nothing he can do about the light flush or his blown pupils, especially since he has no idea why this stupid body is deciding to behave like that in the first place. 

He kind of feels like he should say something, but by the time he realises that too much time has passed and he just moves to picking up pine cones as well, his eyes flicking to Viltez every once in a while seemingly of their own volition. He replays the incident in his mind, particularly the part where Viltez immediately jerks away, and once again finds himself feeling uncharacteristically... guilty? He knew Viltez didn't like being touched and he'd gone and done it anyway. 

"I apologise," he finally says out of the blue when they've gathered a small pile of pine cones. "I shouldn't have... reached out. I should have remembered you didn't like it." He doesn't meet Viltez' eyes as he speaks, realising that by bringing it up again he was inadvertently admitting it had still been on his mind. Too late to do anything about that now, though.