Page 25 of Fibre and Ink

I leaned up, closing the distance between us and kissed him on the mouth.

My body immediately heated up, like I had a full body flush. I had dreamed of kisses like this, sending sparks through me.

His lips were soft, embedded in the slight scratchiness of his beard, and he moaned softly, returning the kiss without hesitation.

Without hesitation! He did want to kiss me.

I moved, climbing more on top of him, slipping my thigh between his.

Mickey looked up at me, his hand moving to my waist.

“Aster...” It was half a moan, half a warning.

I paused, holding myself back from grinding on his thigh.

“Yeah?” My voice was breathy and a little higher than I’d have liked it to sound.

“Aster.” He kissed me harder, this time. It was as if he’d needed to confirm it was really me in bed with him. Like, who else was around?

But I lived for the way his voice growled my name. I could probably get off on him saying my name over and over.

I ran my hand over his chest, feeling the hard planes of his muscles, the light dusting of chest hair. He felt so warm, hot under my hand like the woodfire I’d smelled was burning under his skin.

“God, Mickey.” I nuzzled under his beard and kissed his jaw. “You smell so fucking good.”

“I do?” Mickey tilted his head up.

Was he a bottom? I was pretty flexible in bed, willing to work with my partner. The idea of him bottoming was hot as fuck, although I wouldn’t at all complain if he shoved me down on the bed and blew my back out.

His grip on my waist tightened and he pulled me closer. Then he cleared his throat. “Aster, wait.”

I froze, biting my lower lip. I really didn’t want to break the spell, but consent is something I’m very passionate about so I held still.

“Aster, maybe we shouldn’t...” He cleared his throat. “I just, I really like you as a friend and I don’t want...”

I breathed out. Yeah this was a brush off. But Goddamn, I wanted him.

“I really, really like you, Mickey,” I said. “If this is about me being trans, I get it but if it’s about the age gap or...”

Mickey’s hand moved from my waist and a finger pressed against my lips. Okay, hot.

“It’s not about you being trans. Although I’ve never been with a trans guy before I’m willing to try, it’s... a bit about you being Harlow’s best friend.”

“I know...” I pulled back and looked him in the eyes. “You think of me as a kid, right?”

“No,” Mickey shook his head. “I know you’re ad adult. I can see that you’re a man now.”

I really appreciated him saying that. I wasn’t wearing my binder. The testosterone had shrunk the amount of tissue on my chest but there was still a shape there. I had a sports bra on under my pajama shirt but it was still something. He was kind enough to ignore it.

Not all my sexual partners did.

I didn’t want to think about that right now. Mickey was worried about something. Had to focus on that.

“Thanks. So, what’s the but?”

“I don’t want to disappoint you.” Mickey’s forehead crinkled. Whatever was going on was less to do with me and more something Mickey was battling.

“Disappoint me?” I held back a laugh. The idea of Mickey disappointing me was ludicrous, but he didn’t look in a joking mood. I swallowed. “Mickey, I think you’re awesome.”