“I'll agree with you if I want to agree with you,” Stede shoots back, though the effect of a sharp retort is pretty diluted with how breathy he sounds. And then Ed says the word—the one he’d wanted so badly, but also dreaded, that makes his breath catch and this throat go tight—and his tenuous self control finally snaps.

“I..." He swallows hard, eyes again finding Edward's mouth. "I warned you.”

That’s all he gets out before he pulls Ed in close enough to finally kiss him, eyes fluttering shut as the press of his lips, for just a moment, drowns out all the rest.