Laurent made a tiny noise at the kiss to his forehead. Unaccustomed to gestures of affection, he was surprised by it, and it left him unguarded for a moment.

"I told you," Laurent said, removing his hand and pulling back a little from Damen. He looked away, acting unaffected despite the roil of emotions inside his chest. Yearning and insecurity mixed with a dozen other emotions, and Laurent had no hope of making sense of it. "It's a waste of time. You may as well just see to yourself."