Page 87 of Awakened Desires

I put my finger over his lips. “I don’t mind. I’m glad chatting with Rubin helped.”

“It did. I’m still confused, but he helped me realise that I kissed you for a reason and that life’s too short not to take risks, and I trust you so—I’m not making any sense, am I?”

“Not really.”

He clutches my shirt. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Rory. I just know I want to kiss you. Or I want you to kiss me or—”

“Both?”

“Yes.”

I claim his lips again. Callan moans against my mouth and tightens his grip on my shirt. I put my arm around him. I need him to feel safe but also wanted. Our lips part. We stare into each other’s eyes. Then we’re kissing again. The more we kiss and cuddle, the more relaxed he becomes. I'm not sure who instigates it, but we end up lying on the bed in each other's arms. Although our faces and torsos are angled together, our hips and legs lie flat. I'd love to embrace him fully, to feel the length of his body against mine, but I doubt he’s ready for that.

“Are we together?" I ask. “Or—” I decide not to finish my thought. This might be nothing more than an experiment for him. I tell myself that would be okay, but my stomach rolls as though I’ve just done a loop-the-loop all the same.

“Together? You mean a couple, like boyfriends?"

A thrill runs through me as I realise there was no disgust in Callan's voice. It didn't waver.

“Yes. It’s okay if it’s too soon to decide that.”

Callan stares at me. “I like kissing you.”

“That’s a good start.”

“I trust you.”

I smile and stroke his face. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.” His eyebrows twitch together. “Trust doesn’t come easily to me, Rory. I trusted—and he—”

“I know.”

“But you wouldn’t. You’d never—”

“I would never hurt you, Cal.” I hope he can hear the conviction in my voice.

Relief floods Callan’s face. “Then maybe we should give being together a go.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Yes.” He frowns. “But we’re thirty-one. Aren’t we too old to be boyfriends?”

"Manfriends doesn't have the same ring to it."

Callan laughs. "No, I suppose not. There must be a more grown-up term, though."

"Partners?"

“That makes me feel like a doctor or a lawyer."

"I think we should stick with boyfriends." My heart trips. "That's if you’re sure you want to be. You said you don't want to forget about kissing me, but that doesn't mean you’re ready to be—"

“Boyfriends?"

“Yes.”

“I said I’d like to at least try to be. I’m just not sure ‘boyfriends’ fits.”