"It's my duty," Adam said. He had his back against the wall and his legs hooked over Ronan's waist, comfortable and warm with the blanket over them both. Reaching up for the side table, he brought down Ronan's painkillers and water, as prescribed, and waited for him to take both before he softened and gave him a kiss. "Hungry?"

Adam was surprised at himself for how gentle and attentive he was with Ronan. He'd never been a gentle person, always too caught up in survival to have any energy to waste on anyone else. But when it came to Ronan, Adam couldn't stop himself from fussing.