"Yes. God, yes."

"Then stop trying to protect me from myself and just... be with me. Really be with me. Not sneaking around. Not hiding. Just us."

He stares at me for a long moment.

And I can see the exact moment he makes the decision.

The moment he stops fighting.

"Fuck it," he says.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Fuck it. Fuck ethics. Fuck rules. Fuck everyone who thinks this is wrong." He kisses me hard. "I choose you too."

Joy and relief and love surge through me all at once.

"Really?"

"Really." He kisses me again. "I'm probably going to regret this. You're probably going to realize I'm too old and...