Chapter 2 – James
Chapter Two
JAMES
Other positions.
That was all James could think about for the past three episodes.
He did his best to provide commentary when needed, laughing at some of the more ridiculous drama and oohing and ahhing at the right moments.
Leon, as James had guessed he would be, was completely hooked, grabbing the remote to press “next episode” the second the little button appeared on screen.
James shifted, his arm having fallen asleep during the intro music of the episode they were watching. As he adjusted, his hand accidentally rubbed across Leon’s bare stomach.
Leon’s laundry had finished during dinner, but of course, he’d made no move to retrieve a clean shirt for himself. No, instead, he seemed dead set on torturing James.
Leon was so unbelievably sexy. There was no other way to put it. He had gorgeous hair, a strong jawline, tattoos that James wanted to lick, and a body that James wanted to worship.
The problem was, they still hadn’t broached the topic of intimacy. Since they started dating, and even when they’d just been friends, they’d shared bits and pieces about exes and little things they liked and didn’t like from past relationships.
There was still a lot they hadn’t covered, though.
Like, for example, James didn’t like it when his transness was completely ignored.
He wasn’t cis, and that was a part of his identity just as much as his queerness, his affinity for chocolate-flavored things, and his love of cats.
However, he also didn’t like it when his transness was obsessed over, because again, although it was part of his identity, it wasn’t his entire identity.
James had dealt with both of these scenarios on the apps. The worst had been a guy who, after sleeping with James, had wanted him to guess how many trans men he’d slept with. The answer, as it turned out, was ninety-nine, meaning James was “lucky number one hundred.”
James had later learned the term was called “chasing,” when people specifically tried to sleep with or date trans folks because they liked them for their transness, not for who they were as a person.
On the flipside of that coin was transphobia, which he’d also encountered a few times.
Folks who reduced him and hated him for his transness, regardless of who he was as a person.
The combination of those two experiences had worn on James to the point that for a few years, he’d tried to downplay being trans. That also hadn’t gone well, and so he now tried to strike a balance, addressing his gender just as much as safety, preferences, and consent.
That was why, once they started dating, James had begun opening the door a little wider on his transness. Thus far, Leon had seemed eager to learn more, and James hoped that would continue as they rounded the metaphorical bend towards sex. He just wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
The fact was, he wasn’t sure if Leon had ever slept with anyone who wasn’t a cis man. If that was the case, it didn’t bother James; he just needed to be aware of it and proceed accordingly. Most likely, they’d need to have a few conversations about terminology and gender dysphoria and…
And that was really not what he wanted to do right now. What he wanted to do was lie against Leon’s solid chest and trace the soft, bare skin of Leon’s belly with his fingertips.
As the bottom four contestants competed to stay in the show, James trailed his fingers from the hem of Leon’s shirt down to the top of his pants. Leon’s breath caught and then released in a soft sigh as James did it a second time.
“I can’t believe you have a belly button piercing,” James mused, teasing his fingers over the smaller of the two black crystals.
“I got it about five years ago. I’ve spent a lot of time in tattoo and piercing shops, and one day I saw this beefcake of a guy getting his nose pierced.
He got this small little daisy as the nose ring, and it sort of hit me that I could do whatever the fuck I want to my body.
” Leon snorted, causing James’ arm to move up and down on his chest. “While I was getting it done, the piercer actually smirked up at me and said it looked really sexy. I figured that was all the approval I ever needed.”
James couldn’t hold back his surprised laugh. “Was he hot?”
“She was drop-dead gorgeous, so I knew if she thought so, it must be true,” Leon said, squeezing James’ hip where his hand was resting.
“It is…very sexy,” James admitted. “You’re very sexy.”
Leon gripped James' chin and tipped his head up, craning his neck to press his lips against James’.
James shifted around until he could push up into the kiss and relieve some of the strain from Leon’s neck.
Their lips moved with practiced ease. They’d been kissing a lot the past few weeks: sweet ones on their lunch breaks, longer ones when they’d go out Friday and Saturday nights, and a few heated ones the last time they’d been on this couch.
This kiss was already heating up. Leon grasped at James’ hips, pulling him impossibly closer until he had to either pull back or roll over on top of Leon.
James chose the latter. Their height difference meant their bodies didn’t perfectly align as James curled around Leon’s front.
His packer ended up pressing into Leon’s bare stomach.
Leon didn’t acknowledge it, he just deepened the kiss, opening his mouth to James’ exploring tongue.
They kept kissing for several minutes until James knew he needed to pause. He sat up until he was straddling Leon’s chest, with his hands resting on both of Leon’s shoulders. Something about the position made him feel braver.
“I think I should point out that I have different parts than you might be used to.”
Leon, who had been attempting to run his hands up and under James' shirt, lowered them to rest on James’ thighs. “Since I’ve never slept with a trans man before, you’re probably right.”
James’ stomach churned, even though he’d tried to prepare himself for this answer.
Leon had done nothing to suggest that he would take issue with any of James’ parts.
Lots of gay men slept with trans men all the time.
Others preferred not to, because it wasn’t their genitalia preference, and that was okay.
He assumed Leon knew what he was getting into before agreeing to date him, but. ..
“And that’s okay with you…right?” James asked, staring at the faded band logo on Leon’s cropped t-shirt.
Leon sat up, forcing James to sink back until he was sitting on the couch with his legs wrapped around Leon’s back. All things considered, it wasn’t the worst way to have a conversation with someone he trusted.
Because he did trust Leon. Wholeheartedly. His fragile heart just needed a tiny bit of reassurance before they went any further.
“That is absolutely okay with me,” Leon said. “When I first started crushing on you, I actually asked myself that same question.”
“It’s a fair question. People can have preferences, and that’s fine.”
Leon studied him, his chocolate brown eyes warm and open. “Sure, but that’s not how it is for me. I thought a lot about it and came to the conclusion that I like men and men’s parts. Since you're a man, I’m very confident I’m going to like your parts because they’re yours.”
James bit his lip. “I think I’m going to like your parts, too. Because they’re yours.”
Was that a stupid thing to say? He was pan, which meant he liked everyone and all parts. But he really, really liked Leon, and therefore was very excited to engage with him and his parts in particular.
Leon grinned at him–not a smirk or a smile full of swagger, but a happy, toothy grin. Somehow, it was still sexy as hell. James loved all his smiles and the way they made him feel.
Seemingly unaware of what he was doing to James, Leon raised a hand to James’ face and pulled him forward for a long kiss. James melted into it, sinking against Leon’s chest as their mouths opened to each other and their tongues danced in time with their rapidly pounding heartbeats.
Leon was the first to break the kiss, his pupils blown wide and his lips slick with spit. “I am going to need a bit of, uh, guidance? Is that the right word?”
“Sure,” James said, closing the distance between them with another kiss.
There were a lot of words they needed to discuss, and “guidance” was the least important of them. They needed to talk about what James called his parts, how those parts worked on Testosterone, and how James liked to use them. They also needed to exchange test results, vaccination statuses, and—
And Leon’s hard length pressed against James’ thigh, completely short-circuiting his brain. On pure instinct, he pressed his leg against Leon, who broke the kiss with a plaintive groan.
“Sorry, I…you’re just so…fuck,” Leon said, dropping his head to James’ shoulder.
James laughed, a little breathy and a bit nervous. “You are, too, trust me.”
He was painfully hard behind his packer, and he was also getting uncomfortably wet.
Leon pressed a feather-light kiss to his lips.
“There’s no rush, of course, but in case you were waiting for some sort of sign from me, I’m ready whenever you are.
” He kissed James again like he couldn’t help himself.
This time, when he grinned, it was a bit lopsided.
“I want you so fucking bad. I’m excited and, I guess, nervous?
I’ll probably need some help at the beginning, so I don’t fuck up, but I’m not worried or scared.
I’ve been to every one of your brown bags at work and know you’re a great teacher. ”
The ball of lust that had been building inside James’ stomach sank lower into his pelvis.
This man could rock a crop top, had a belly button piercing, and drove James crazy with just a look in the office or a text after work.
He could also make James feel more valid and understood than anyone ever had.