That kiss to the back of his hand made something in his chest flutter and a sheepish sort of look cross his features. How could he have been so naive to not realize what it was he was feeling for Ed all this time?
"No, I don't suppose you do," he said quietly, smiling. "Well, instead we get some drab desert. At least it'll give us the opportunity to start over a bit, yeah? If you still want to, anyways."
After another beat, Stede squeezed his hand again and then stood, keeping a hold on him. "Come along. We ought to get you a bit cleaned up. I haven't had a chance to really find much in the way of clothes here yet, unfortunately. This... place has been too much to take in, if I'm being honest."