They had lain together for the longest time completely contented on the cold, filthy, uncomfortable floor until Aaron finally spoke.

"You do know I love you too. He closed his eyes and the biggest smile spread across his face, he breathed into Adam's mouth as their lips crashed together and their tongues entwined, dancing rhythmically as one. I always have."

Adam pulled Aaron on top of him, so his body was covering his own. He ground his hips up and down so Aaron could feel his arousal pulsating against his inner thigh. Suddenly coming to his senses Aaron pulled away.

"Adam. Stop. Wait. Do you know what you are doing?"

"A part of me obviously does."

Adam blushed as they both focused on the prominent bulge in his jeans.

"That isn't what I meant. We have both just got out of a long term relationship today and we have had a couple of drinks, I don't want you to think I am just jumping straight into bed with you. I meant it when I said I love you. I want to be with you properly."

Adam bolted upright and roughly pushed Aaron off him.

"You think this is just about the sex? I could've stayed with Scar for that and I do have two hands. You are an idiot if you can't see how much more you mean and have always meant to me."

Picking himself up off the floor Adam stormed out of the rickety door and into the blistering night, as Aaron sat there literally frozen in shock.

'How had he ruined the best night of his life?'

His thoughts returning to his current situation he ran out of the shed calling Adam's name, thankful he was on foot.

"Adam! Adam wait! He could see a lone silhouette in the distance. Where are you going?"

"I don't know. He really hadn't thought that far ahead. Pub?"

"Come back to mine we can talk there."

"Isn't Paddy in?"

"He's probably at Marlon's."

"I guess."

"Adam stop being so stubborn. He grabbed his arm more roughly than intended to stop him from walking away. I'm sorry. I never should have said that, but you have to admit it will be what everyone else is thinking."

"I doubt it. We'll just be getting evils because everyone loves Scarlet and Jackson can do no wrong."

"Yeah well he dumped me."

Aaron pouted petulantly.

"I dumped her."

"For good reason."

"Oh yeah and what's that?"

"You couldn't keep stringing her along."

"No but I probably could have handled it a lot better."

He conceded honestly.

"Probably, but things change and no one can help that. Jackson more or less said that to me."

"She still didn't deserve it though. I never meant for this to happen."

"Neither did I. But you shouldn't stay with someone if you don't love them. Aaron stopped abruptly as he realized he was about to walk past his house. Come in I've got a couple of cans in or at least Paddy has."

"I don't think this is a good idea. Adam suddenly seemed very nervous. His earlier confidence had disappeared. I should probably be going to the hospital."

"It's a bit late for that isn't it?"

"Maybe. I still need an early night."

"And you can't have one drink? It won't kill you."

"Yeah you're right."

Adam couldn't believe how daft he was being. He'd been friends with Aaron for years and they had always been able to talk about anything. He perched on the edge of the sofa, stiff as a board he didn't even remove his coat, Aaron handed him a drink, which he opened and gulped in one.

"Do you want another?"

Aaron goaded.

"Nnn…no thanks."

Adam mumbled under his breath.

"Adam relax. We don't have to do this. We don't have to do anything."

He smiled to himself as he realized those were the exact words Jackson had said to him just before his first time.

"Aaron…it's not that I don't want to."

"I know. He clasped his hand and squeezed it comfortingly. To his surprise Adam returned the pressure. I understand."

"I know you love me and I want you to understand that I love you too, but this is all new to me."

"It's scary for me too. Okay I have an advantage in that I have been with a bloke before, but we are taking our relationship to a new level and that is always going to be scary. Maybe it is too soon to be thinking of sleeping together."

"I just want to…be with you. We don't have to go all the way."

"I can do that."

Aaron smiled reassuringly. Offering Adam his hand he helped him from the sofa and led him upstairs to his bedroom. He may have been in there millions of times before, but that particular night it was as though they were seeing everything for the first time.