"Your turn." His belt loops provide the perfect leverage to pull teasingly.
He quickly stands to remove his jeans, his movements betraying a hint of nervousness that I find endearing. He's down to his boxer briefs, the bulge impressive, and it makes my mouth go dry.
"Come here," He takes the hand I hold out, allowing me to pull him back onto the bed. "We can go as slow as you need."
"I want to do everything right," Tyler admits, stretching out beside me. "I've, uh, done some research, but I don't want to mess this up."
"You won't," my voice reassures him as I run my hand along his arm. "We'll figure it out."
We kiss again, slower this time, more deliberate. His hand slides down my stomach, slipping beneath my boxers to wrap around me. I gasp at the contact, my hips bucking involuntarily.
"Am I doing this right?" he asks, his voice betraying a rare hint of uncertainty as his thumb circles the head. For all his confidence, this is new territory for him.
"Very right. My voice comes out breathier thanintended. "But if we keep this up, things are going to end before they start."
He grins, a flash of confidence returning. "Can't have that."
Sitting up, I reach for the nightstand drawer. "I have supplies," I say, pulling out a bottle of lube and a strip of condoms.
Tyler watches me with a mixture of hunger and nervousness. "I want to be inside you," he says, voice rough. "If that's what you want to."
The directness of his statement sends a shiver down my spine. "Yes," My head bobs up and down. "That's what I want."
Leaning in to kiss him, I pause a second to tease by pulling back to whisper against his ear. "My safe word is meatloaf."
Tyler rears back so fast he nearly falls off the bed, his eyes wide and panicked. "Umm, I don't know... I don't think... umm..." he stutters, looking utterly bewildered. "I don't think I'm that kinky or anything... is that okay?"
It's hard to keep a straight face when his expression is just so perfectly horrified. The laugh starts small but grows until I'm doubled over.
"What?" Tyler asks, looking confused and slightly hurt. "What did I say?"
Sitting up while still laughing, I pull his face down for a kiss. "Nothing. I'm just messing with you. I have no kinky plans for you, I promise. Everything is going to be perfect."
Relief washes over his features, followed by a rueful smile. "You're terrible," he says, but he's laughing too.
"I'm sorry," Though I don't sound sorry at all. "Your face was priceless."
"I just thought..." He shakes his head. "Never mind."
I kiss him again. "For the record, I don't think we need a safe word. But if anything doesn't feel good, I'll tell you, and you'll do the same, right?"
"Absolutely," he nods, serious now.
Our boxers come off next, both of us naked and taking in the sight of each other fully for the first time. Tyler's eyes widen as they drop to my erection, standing proud against my stomach.
"Damn," he murmurs, his eyes darkening with desire as he takes me in. "I'm still trying to figure out how someone your size is hiding that. It's like finding out the quiet guy in class is secretly a superhero."
My laugh is a little self-conscious. "Says the guy who's bigger."
"Nah, we're pretty close. Basically a matched set," he grins, his confidence returning. His eyes travel over my body, intent and appreciative. "You're gorgeous, Ethan. All of you."
The compliment lands, and suddenly my face feels like I'm having a localized allergic reaction, all heat. Usually, when I'm naked with someone, there's a rush to get to the main event. Ryan never took the time to look at me like this or appreciate me.
"Come here," I say softly, pulling Tyler on top of me. The feeling of our bodies pressing together, skin to skin, draws groans from both of us.
"You feel incredible," Tyler murmurs against my neck. "I could stay like this forever."
His hands move over me slowly, like he's learning every part of me that he wants to make his own. I push up against his touch, torn between wanting to hurry things along and enjoying how good it feels to be touched so carefully.