They all laughed.
“Exactly,” Kaiden said, stifling his laughter. “Most guys there are just looking for hookups, and at first, I just sort of wanted to experience something, anything, so I agreed to hookups.Unfortunately, most guys don’t wanna kiss. They just want to jump straight to business—pun intended.”
Rus quirked a brow. “Pun?”
“Most dudes on a hookup app are on the DL. Masc acting, straight men.” Dylan used air quotes around ‘straight’. “Those guys don’t kiss as much because they don’t want to be perceived as gay.”
Rus was baffled by the notion. “But sticking their dick in a dude or having a dick poked into them is totally hetero?”
“Prison rules.” Dylan shrugged. “And before you say it, yes, it applies. They’re in a prison of their own making as they bastardize their life to live some heteronormative nonsense.”
“I will never understand the fear of being bi,” Rus said with a tsk. “Well, aside from the fact that everyone assumes you’re lying because you want attention, or you’re really just gay. Guys figure you’ll run off to marry the first chick that offers you a baby, while girls assume you’re thinking about dudes all the time, and everyone is certain you’re an absolute slut. Monogamy is off the table—because, you know, total whore. Then there’s bi erasure. Oh, and we’re chaotic gremlins. But that last part is totally true.”
Rus giggled at his own rambles, letting them roll off his tongue like an unwanted weight.
“Okay, maybe the bi label isn’t that easy,” he said with a grin. “But to just spend your whole life deluding yourself into thinking you’re straight? I don’t have the energy to gaslight myself that much.”
“I think we all lie to ourselves about something.” Dylan had a very stoic expression, which Rus studied, following his gaze that held Kaiden’s bright green eyes.
“Welp, I can’t do anything about DL dudes, sleazy hookup apps, or your horrible family—unless you want me to punch, that I can totally do,” Rus said, cheeriness in his voice at the offer.
The silent seconds where Kaiden contemplated with the slyest of smiles made Rus’ heart flutter.
“No beating up my family,” Kaiden said. “No beating up anyone.”
“Fiiiine,” Rus said with a sigh. “But there is one thing we can fix tonight.”
“What’s that?”
Rus scooted closer to Kaiden, closing the distance between them as they sat on the bed.
“We can get you that first kiss.”
“What? Really? No. How?” Kaiden’s face turned bright red.
“I’m sure after waiting this long, part of you—even subconsciously—has been holding out for the perfect kiss.” Rus placed a hand on Kaiden’s shoulder, gently squeezing. “But you should know, the perfect kiss doesn’t come right away. It takes practice to know what you want and what you can offer. It takes patience to find the right lips.”
“Oh.”
In the corner of his eye, Rus found Dylan captivated by the bold action. Rus didn’t want to overthink his actions, didn’t want to overstep them either, but he found himself entranced by Kaiden’s raw vulnerability. He found himself compelled to test his curiosities. And maybe, despite her joking, Daysha had a point.
“Are you comfortable with a kiss?” Rus tilted his head, leaning in closer to Kaiden.
He smirked at how quickly Kaiden stopped breathing, like he’d somehow disappear if he stayed perfectly still.
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, are you comfortable? It’s kind of—”
Before Kaiden could ramble his way out of this moment, Rus pressed his lips to the other man’s. And yes, Rus knew that somehow, he was taking advantage of the situation, testing his own curiosities in the process.
The smack of their lips filled the quiet room. The smallest of nervous giggles escaped Kaiden’s mouth before Rus drew him in entirely. Since Kaiden had no experience, Rus led with his tongue, guiding their mouths in this moment, using his piercing to tease Kaiden, and his hands to adjust Kaiden's head.
Each second that ticked held a tiny infinity that Rus would carry with him. He held Kaiden’s first kiss—quite the responsibility. It was a bit messier than he’d intended, but Kaiden lost himself in the passion, and Rus found himself falling into the embrace. Part of him wanted to push Kaiden down onto the mattress, to straddle him as he taught him his first kiss, to taste his excitement as he grinded against the other man.
Instead, Rus pulled back, remembering they weren’t quite alone in the room, and a kiss transformed into a make-out session might be harder for friends to brush off.
“Wow. That was just… Wow.” Kaiden blushed, breathless, and fumbled to compose himself.
“Now, you two should kiss.” Rus gestured to the space between Kaiden and Dylan.
