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Didn’t he?

Andrew began to study Edwin’s profile. His eyes followed the length of Edwin’s forehead, the swoop of his nose, and the shape of his chin. Only then did Andrew really register the lack of stubble on Edwin’s face—something he’d previously sort of noticed on occasion but had vaguely assumed was due to the lightness of his hair.

After a moment, some of that beautiful blond hair fell over Edwin’s forehead, and Andrew had to fight the urge to brush it away.

Dear God, was Edwin ever handsome.

Suddenly, Edwin looked up and caught Andrew’s eye. His face reddened in the loveliest way, and a small, obviously uneasy smile pulled at the corners of his lips. Andrew smiled back, his own cheeks heating as his stomach fluttered.

Regardless of how Edwin had been raised, regardless of who people had once thought he was, Edwin was still Edwin.

And Andrew still liked Edwin. He liked him a lot.

Edwin’s hint of a smile fell away.

“Does it . . . change anything for you?” Edwin asked, his voice small.

Andrew knew now that it hadn’t. Still, he considered it for a moment more so that he could be as honest as possible with the man he adored.

Then, he shook his head, and with as much conviction as he could muster, in a soft and kind voice, he said, “No.”

When Edwin didn’t immediately respond, Andrew began to rub Edwin’s hand with his thumb. Edwin’s eyes became glassy.

“Do you swear?” he asked, his voice wobbling.

Andrew’s chest began to ache, the combination of Edwin’s tear-filled eyes and shaky tone wrapping around his heart.

“I swear,” Andrew replied, his own voice becoming wobbly, too.

One tear fell from Edwin’s eye. He wiped it away with a sniffle. Andrew let go of Edwin’s hand and scooted over so that they could be closer. Before he could find Edwin’s hand again, though, Edwin took hold of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. Andrew’s heart stuttered the moment their lips connected, and Edwin let out a sob as he broke away.

“Do you still see me as a . . . a man?” he choked out.

Another tear fell. Andrew took Edwin’s face in his hands and ran his thumb over Edwin’s cheek, wicking it away.

“Yes. Absolutely yes,” Andrew said. Edwin’s bottom lip began to quiver, and Andrew smiled warmly. “Oh, Edwin, of course I still see you as a man. I like men. And I like you. I like you so very much.”

“Still?”

“Still.”

Edwin captured Andrew’s mouth in another kiss, one more passionate and intense than Andrew could have ever anticipated. Andrew continued to smile against Edwin’s lips. Elation bubbled inside him, the forceful swirl making him feel as though he might faint.

And then, Edwin pressed a hand to Andrew’s chest, forcing him backward onto the mattress.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Edwin

Edwin and Andrew spent the next half of forever kissing on the bed. Hungrily. Gently. Passionately. Slowly. They kissed in every way and every position there was to kiss. All the while, Edwin attempted to gather the courage to move beyond kissing. Sometimes, he’d find himself rocking his hips, massaging his sensitive area against one of Andrew’s thighs. He’d feel his pleasure starting to climb, only to then be seized with worry, his unease robbing him of even a small, secret orgasm. Poor Andrew had been hard the entire time, his erection clearly straining against the confines of his pants. But never once did he complain. Never once did he try to bring himself relief, either. He seemed to be content to let Edwin be at the helm. Unfortunately, though, Edwin couldn’t seem to bring them to shore.

Instead, Edwin continued to replay his and Andrew’s conversation about who he was over and over in his mind. Had he explained himself well enough to Andrew? Did Andrew really understand what everything meant, especially with regard to what sexual intimacy might look like for them? Hell, did Andrew even believe what Edwin had admitted to him? Truly? And if he did, then did he still see Edwin as a man? And even if Andrew still saw Edwin as a man now, would he continue to feel that way once he saw Edwin without his clothing?

If only Edwin could know for sure.

Over the next few minutes, the two continued to kiss with Edwin straddling Andrew’s lap. He had Andrew’s wrists pinned to the bed and was seeking friction by thrusting his hips. Edwin’s pleasure climbed higher, and for a little while, he thought he might overcome it, but then the worries came back full force and knocked him off course yet again.

Edwin broke their kiss.