Chapter 5: First Kiss

Noah got up off the mattress.

His legs didn't feel like his own.

He crossed the room in three steps and stopped in front of Damian.

Damian was taller by half a head.

He smelled like the toasted sandwiches and the soap from the shower.

"Say it again," Noah said.

"Noah, I..."

"Not that bit. The last bit."

Damian looked at his mouth.

"I can't be in that room with you and not touch you."

Noah put his hand flat on Damian's chest.

Damian's heart was going as hard as his own.

"Then don't," Noah said.

And he kissed him.

He had to go up on his toes to do it.

For one second Damian didn't move at all.

Noah thought he'd got it wrong.

He thought Damian was going to laugh, or shove him off, or say it was the heat.

Then one of Damian's crutches hit the floor with a crack.

Damian's hand came up and held the back of Noah's head.

He kissed Noah back.

It was clumsy.

Damian's nose bumped Noah's.

He breathed too hard and pushed too hard, and his teeth caught Noah's lip.

Noah didn't care.

He pulled Damian down by the front of his shirt and opened his mouth for him.

Damian made a sound Noah felt all the way down his back.

Then Damian's good knee buckled.

They went down together against the door frame and slid onto the floor of room 22.

Damian landed half on top of Noah.

"Shit," he said. "Sorry. Shit. Your head."

"I'm fine."

"I nearly flattened you."

"Twice in two days," Noah said.

Damian started laughing.

He put his forehead down on Noah's shoulder and laughed until he was shaking.