He thought he understood. Even when at last he drew back for breath, his hand remained cupping her cheek, his finger tracing on her skin. He gave her a somewhat searching, somewhat nervous, entirely hopeful smile, before his arms shivered too much with exhaustion and he lowered himself for his head to rest beside hers, turned to her, pressing another kiss to her cheek.

"I've never done that," he murmured without entirely meaning to, "with someone I loved, before."