It's not the first time Gabriel's said those words to him. That first morning he woke up in what he used to think of solely as Gabriel's house. Apparently the night before that too, but those memories never came back to him. He's never been able to be sad about missing that first. How could he be when Gabriel gave that first to him again? Ah, but hearing them now, in a heated moment like this? It hits differently. Sends a shiver running though him that has nothing to do with what their bodies are doing.

Though, what their bodies are doing does prompt him to drape his arms around Gabriel's neck, to sigh softly, to arch up beneath him for more contact. Not every person Dal's ever slept with selfishly ignored his needs, but the vast majority did. So this kind of attention? This kind of attention coming from someone who occupies so much of his heart? It's so intense! It's almost hard to remember to breathe!

"I love you," he pants out. There's no uncertainty this time. No qualifiers like 'I think' or 'maybe.' No, Dal's sure of it. He's sure he wouldn't be in this bed with this man if he didn't feel that way. He's certain.