The kiss—if it could even be called a kiss—lasted two seconds at most before Zef pulled away, frowning slightly. “I do not think I did that right.”
Bryce didn’t laugh. He wanted to, if for no other reason than to dispel the awkward energy buzzing in his body, but he didn’t. Zef would have taken it the wrong way, and he didn’t want to discourage them from kissing him again.
“That’s okay,” he said with a pat to their waist. “Maybe try closing your eyes this time.”
“Is that customary? How does anyone know where they are going? I could kiss your nostril or your eye. Seems a dangerous risk,” they said, and this time, Bryce did laugh, just a little.
“I mean, sometimes you miss, but it ain’t a big deal.” Carefully, he slipped a hand between them and pinched their chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you wanna try again?”
After a moment of consideration, they nodded, but when Bryce tried to draw them closer, they rebelled. “Do not put your tongue in my mouth. I am not ready for that.”
With another soft laugh, he promised, “I won’t. Just come here.” When they still resisted, Bryce paused. “We don’t have to—”
“I want to,” they insisted. “But I wish to do it.”
He released their chin. “Okay.”
They leaned back in, closing their eyes too soon, and Bryce swallowed his amusement as they pressed their lips to the space between his lip and nose. They clicked in frustration as they pulled away instantly.
“This is why I did not want to close my eyes!” they exclaimed. “Never mind, this endeavor is doomed.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked, and their tantrum stalled out.
Searching his gaze, they slowly nodded. “Yes.”
He captured their chin again and straightened, bringing them so close to each other. “Do you really trust me?”
And they said, “Yes.”
“Then close your eyes, darlin’.”
After a moment’s hesitation, they did, pressing their lips together as their nostril slits flared. He nuzzled their cheek and gently kissed the corner of their mouth.
“It’s not about right or wrong,” he whispered, moving to the other side and kissing that corner too. “It’s about doing what feels good.”
“Bryce,” they breathed his name, lips parting as their chest hitched.
“I’ve got you, baby.” He pecked their lips gently, and they gasped. “I’m right here.” Another little kiss, a bit longer this time. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Their mouth was mostly unresponsive, lips slack as he kissed them again, small short pecks that he slowly lengthened, adding more pressure. They whirred deep in their throat as he blanketed their lips fully with his, kissing them in earnest, close-mouthed but firm.
A shiver snaked down their spine, and they tentatively pushed back against him. Their movements were stilted and stiff, but he met them there, encouraging them to join the dance. He led, and they followed. Cupping their cheek, he angled their face so he could kiss them deeper, and they made that sexy thrumming noise.
When they wriggled closer, tightening their grip on his face, he hummed his approval, and without breaking the kiss, they clicked at him, the soundwaves popping along the seam of his mouth. He smiled. So did they. Their teeth clinked together and Zef laughed.
Wanting to taste their humor, he kissed them in short bursts until they hid their face in his neck, body shaking with giggles. He wrapped them in his arms and nuzzled under their ear, soaking in their whirrs of happiness.
“Good or bad?” he asked when he finally found his voice.
“Good,” they said into his throat, and when he guided them out of their hiding place and kissed them again, they wrapped their arms around his neck and waist and kissed him back.
Chapter twenty-seven
Future Together
Zef
Oh, kissing was nice.Zef liked kissing very much. They liked kissing Bryce against the kitchen counter; they liked kissing him on the couch. They liked kissing him outside in the garden and in the hallway and in the shower. They just liked kissing him all the time. It filled them with simmering warmth and crackling fireworks and soul-nurturing love.
