“I never thought that this moment would come for me.   My whole life has been shaped to protect me and keep my heart safe.   I know that I’m about to change all of that and I should be terrified.   I lean forward and brush my lips across his.   The fact that the fear never comes and all I can think about is Connor and his mouth on mine gives me the courage to speak.   “Connor, make love to me.”   I say against his lips.”

“I almost lost you.""No, never. I would've fought. However long it took. I'd never give up until I was free. You're my life, Jonah. My family, my love, my best friend. Nothing, not even destiny, could keep me from you."He leans forward and brushes his lips against mine."Okay.”

“I trust you, Cash. I trust you.”He grabs my wrist and presses his lips to the inside then pulls gently until I’m bent at the waist and my face is close to his.“Come home with me. Please.” I can feel his warm breath on my lips, they’re so close. I lean forward to close the small gap, but he leans away. “Please,” he repeats softly.I would never tell him, but he could ask me anything right now and I’d agree to it. Anything at all.“Okay.” As soon as the words leave my lips, his mouth is on mine.”

“I can't stop thinking about what he felt like against my body, against my lips. I can't remember anything else, anything before that. And I realize in this moment that I've finally done it. That horrible, awful thing I swore I would never do.The frosting. The cigarettes. The blue glass triangle. The shooting stars. The taste of his mouth on mine in the hall closet. Gone. All I can think about is Sam. Matt is – erased. My whole body is warm and buzzing. Sam is smiling next to me, because of me. And I've never felt so lonely in all my life.”

“Then he leaned forward and rested his cheek against mine. Hot tingles spread through me as his lips moved against my ear. "You should tell me to stop." I didn't say a word.”

“But the change was in the tiny fraction of space that Tanner closed between us, when his mouth touched mine and the gentle brush of his lips drew a sigh from me I didn't know I was holding. He smiled against my mouth and then kissed me again.”