Love, and anything like it -- and also sex, and anything like it -- had always mattered to Gabriel. It was essential to his identity and his relationship with himself. But this did matter so much, even more than men always mattered. But Gabriel didn't really care about the why, at least not now, not when he was caught in this kiss with this beautiful, admirable, pillar of a human, who Gabriel was certain he would follow anywhere. With this touch, the room, the floor, the world, fell away.