I watch the war inside him. I know he wants to, but he’s afraid. Of so many things.

“Your secrets are always safe with me,” I reiterate and smooth my hand over his jaw, leaning in to breathe in his familiar scent—a scent that feels like home and comfort to me. “You’re safe with me.”

He gives a slight nod, our noses brushing as I steal his lips with my own, pressing a hard kiss to his mouth. His hand moves to the back of my head, threading his fingers through my hair as we collide. His lips are soft but firm. Completely different from any girl I’ve ever kissed. And I don’t hate it.

I like the dominant way he takes control, and for it only being his second kiss, it’s fucking incredible. “Let me do this for you, Camden,” I breathe against his lips. “Let me give you a safe space to be yourself.”

His fingers grip my hair harder, and he sweeps his tongue into my mouth, stroking it over mine and making me groan as my cock twitches in my jeans. Fuck, that feels good.

“I’m not a girl,” he says against my mouth, and as if to prove his point, he climbs onto my lap, his hard cock pressing against mine as he rolls his hips. I groan loudly against his mouth and grab his ass in my hand.

It’s firm and fills my palms as his cock grinds against mine through the denim of our jeans. “You don’t say?”

He tugs on my hair, leaning my head back to meet my eyes. “I’m serious, Kingston. If we do this—this sort of fucked-up gay experience for me and grading system for you—” His eyes are a storm cloud as they bore into me. “You can’t pretend I’m a girl. You can’t just . . .”

I growl, my hand trailing under his shirt and feeling the hard muscles there. “I’m only thinking about you right now. Camden Aaron Prescott. My best friend since we were kids. The most generous, selfless person I’ve ever known.” I move my hands to his ripped abs, letting my fingertips graze over every ridge as I keep my eyes on him. “And most certainly not a chick. I don’t have to pretend you’re female, or identify as female, or anything else. I know you’re all man. I want to give this to you.” My hands slide over his strong pecs that flex at the contact.

“What are you getting from this?” he asks, his vulnerable honesty nearly crippling me at the moment.

“You.” I kiss him softly, and he shakes his head and pushes me back.

“I’m serious. Are you doing this just for me?”