[They pull apart once more, but Louis is still buzzing with warmth in the places Ayer had touched. It's a little mortifying, how well his body had responded to it—and even now, he feels the loss, indicating he had wanted it more than he had thought—but even if he hadn't gotten so utterly swept away, he still suspects he wouldn't have been able to reject the other's sincerity.

Ayer sets a distance again, and he wants to deny it. To shake his head and insist that it's fine, when he wants to indulge more in this time together and they still have so much to talk about... but Ayer is right to pull back now. They don't need to rush any more than this, and it would be better to proceed slowly. Small steps though they may be, they can enjoy taking them together.

Louis lowers his gaze, a tiny smile blooming again.]

You aren't, but... I suppose I have overstayed. I'm sure you have things to be doing, too. It's alright, I'll always be right down the hall.

[He lifts his eyes to Ayer once more, crinkling fondly at the corners.]

We have time.

[He says this more as reminder to himself than Ayer.]