Grateful that's the end of that, Ronan dives eagerly into the kiss. He doesn't seem to have gotten the memo about being extra careful, because his hands slide down Noah's thighs and haul him up, settling them at his hips. If the effort of lifting Noah hurts at all, he doesn't show it.

Carrying him along, Ronan climbs up onto the bed, and then both of them descend onto the mattress - Noah on his back, Ronan looming over him, settled between his thighs. He takes a moment to admire Noah like that, and his heart responds in a way that still makes very little sense. Not nervousness, but a pang of longing. Like he's looking back on this moment, years from now, rather than living it.

He says, "I think I've been in love with you for a long time."