Adam lost himself in the kiss, letting himself forget all the pain and indignation he'd suffered. None of that mattered anymore, and with Ronan kissing him, it was all too easy to let it melt away.

He felt adrift when Ronan let go, and he trailed dazedly after him, leaning over the ledge of the loft to see what he was doing--leaving. No, just getting the trunk.

Adam followed him down the ladder at a more sensible pace, hovering over him and watching him go through the trunk. He felt as though he was intruding, and didn't dare to touch anything in the trunk or even to get too close. This was Ronan's birthright. Adam was an outsider.