Chapter 26 Sexting and Kisses #2
At home, there was a small potted plant waiting for Bryce on the kitchen island. Zef’s wings buzzed with anxious excitement as they watched him approach, communicating that this was clearly something of significance.
“What’s this?” he asked, and they pushed it toward him.
“It is a token of my deepening affection,” they said, trilling softly when he picked it up to inspect it.
It looked like some sort of succulent-type plant; he hoped it was as hearty as human succulents were because he was not good with plants. The underside of its thick leaves were a delicate red, the color staining the veins on the top.
“It’s beautiful,” Bryce said, and Zef smiled brilliantly. “Is this a Mantodean courtship thing?”
They nodded, all four hands fidgeting. “Yes. It signifies that my feelings are amorous in nature, and that I wish to engage more physically with you. Traditionally, I should have offered this before we—at your parents’ house, I mean. When we…”
“Showered together?” he finished for them, and their neck splotched with embarrassed color.
“Yes. If Toa Sian ever found out that I did this out of order, they would reprimand me for being bawdy,” they admitted, and he laughed. “But I am rectifying it now. If you wish to accept it, of course.”
“I do,” he said, holding it carefully so he didn’t drop it. “I really liked showering together, and I’m happy to engage more physically with you, in whatever way you’re comfortable.”
With a happy thrum, they converged on him, hugging him even more enthusiastically than they had at the station.
They took the plant from him with a lower hand and placed it on the kitchen island so his hands were free, then they practically jumped him, whirring and clicking as he grappled to catch them.
Granted, they were light as a feather, what with their hollow bones and slim stature, but he still oomphed as they wriggled in his hold.
Somehow, he ended up with them entirely in his arms, legs hooked around his hips as they rubbed their cheek against his, a continual trill whistling in his ear. Their hands roamed over his back and shoulders, one sinking into his hair and tangling there.
He set Zef on the island to free his hands, then slipped them under their crop top, fingers greedy for more of their skin.
They gasped as he slid one hand up their spine until it splayed between the joints of their four wings.
He’d never touched them there before, even during their shower, but he wished he had because the sounds they made… Jesus, the sounds they made.
Almost like a whale song, different tones and octaves all at once, layering on top of each other. Their head fell back, mouth slack, eyes closed, and they… moaned. Or, a Zef version of one, at least.
“Good or bad?” Bryce demanded, and their lips spread in a smile.
“Good,” they breathed. “So very good.”
He massaged the raised joints where their wings locked into their spine, and they thrummed. Wanting to feel it, he pressed his lips to their throat, the thrum vibrating through him until he felt it in his bones. He trailed kisses up their neck as they gasped at the ceiling.
He didn’t immediately register that he was hard until his dick rubbed between Zef’s legs, and they both stiffened. Dropping his hands to their thighs, he pushed them away gently, sliding them farther onto the counter so they weren’t touching his erection.
“Sorry,” he panted, forehead on their shoulder. “I need to calm down.”
Nearly as out of breath as he was, Zef hummed, petting the back of his neck. “Yes, I also apologize. I, too, seem to have been overcome. No one has ever touched me there before.”
“Was that okay?” he asked, and they nodded against his temple.
“Yes, it was very pleasurable. Even my toes tingled.”
“You don’t have toes,” he said, and they giggled unfairly.
“Well, for the sake of argument, assume I have toes and that you made them tingle.”
He groaned pathetically, fingers tightening on their thighs. “That ain’t helping with my hard-on.”
“Apologies,” they said, not sounding sorry at all.
“Sass.”
When his erection had deflated to a more manageable halfsie, Bryce lifted his head and took in Zef’s satisfied smile and flushed cheeks. They were so beautiful, and he cradled their face in his hands and kissed their cheek. They chirped, rubbing his biceps.
“I’m gonna go shower the plane off me,” he said as he stepped out from between their legs.
Perched on the edge of the counter, they folded their hands in their lap and nodded. “Alright. Shall I prepare dinner?”
“How about we order in?” he suggested. “And we can watch How It’s Made.”
Nodding enthusiastically, Zef retrieved their phone, wings buzzing. “I would like that very much.”
As July faded into August, they easily fell back into routine, Bryce to school and Zef to work.
They spent their evenings on the couch together—though, sometimes, their activities involved wandering fingers and heavy breath—and their weekends with their friends.
During a game night near the end of August, Oliver showed up with a ring on his left hand, and Liel was sporting a simple gold hoop in his right earlobe—a Gymnot sign of betrothal, Zef explained to Bryce later.
Everyone cheered and gathered around to congratulate them on the engagement.
“I asked first,” Oliver proclaimed loudly.
“Yes, but I did it better,” Liel boasted, and Oliver laughed, kissing him passionately on the mouth.
Quin, who had remained seated since standing was more difficult given her swollen stomach, said, “Do you have a date yet?”
Oliver shook his head. “No, probably next year or something. We’re not in a rush.”
“I like having a fiancé,” Liel said. “I want to enjoy it for at least a little while.”
“This is amazing,” Gem said as he wiped at the many tears pouring from his many eyes. “I don’t believe in the institution of marriage for myself, but I love this for you, Ollie. Also, can I be your maid of honor?”
“Well, Jude’s my best man, but sure, Gem,” Oliver said with a clap to his shoulder, “you can be my maid of honor.”
“Oh my gods, Ollie!” Gem wailed, picking up the human completely and squeezing him until he complained of lack of oxygen.
“I love weddings,” Enfys purred as she propped her top arm on Rusty’s shoulder. “People are extra slutty, especially the groomsmen.”
“Weddings are so hype! I can’t wait to show you all my moves on the dance floor,” Dex said, executing a wave with his arms, then pointing at Cya. “Passing it on to you, Cy.”
The Sypent blinked at him, their crossed arms unmoving, but their expression lacked its usual contempt. There was even a twitch at the corner of their mouth, like they were fighting a smile.
Like Dex could see it too, he grinned toothily, his tail wagging, as he made a wave in the opposite direction. “That’s okay. I’ll take it back and send it to Abi.”
The Ophys startled at being addressed by name, black eyes wide with alarm, but Tad spoke before Abi could respond. “The only thing fun about weddings is crashing them. I set a whole clan of honey badgers loose at a wedding once; it was awesome.”
“If you even think of ruining my wedding day, I will skin you alive and feast on your organs,” Liel threatened as electricity crackled between his fingers.
Oliver looked stuck somewhere in the realm of terrified arousal at Liel’s declaration, but Tad just grinned eerily at the Gymnot. “Don’t flirt with me. You’re not my type.”
“I already picked out my dress,” Gem said, showing Rusty his phone.
“Pretty sure that’s what the bride is supposed to wear,” the Pyclon said, but Gem shushed him.
“How very exciting,” Zef said, taking Bryce’s hand. “I am eager to see a human wedding.”
“Do Mantodeas have weddings?” he asked, and they nodded.
“Yes, we celebrate the union between life partners with a feast and dancing. The couple exchange earrings,” they said, touching their naked earlobes.
“It is traditional for the partner to pierce the lobe with a hot needle, so it cauterizes the wound instantly, and then they place the earring they picked out themself in the hole.”
“Why the cauterization?”
“To ensure it scars, should they ever remove the jewelry due to the death of their partner.”
Bryce wasn’t one for jewelry, but he would let Zef pierce his ears if it held significance for them. Maybe one day, they’d let him put a ring on their finger too.
Later that night, when they arrived home, Zef stopped Bryce in the kitchen, nearly boxing him in against the kitchen island. Their expression was serious, brows drawn down in concentration, and worry tickled at his chest.
“You okay?”
“Yes. I have been thinking about something,” they said as their antennas wriggled. “I think I am ready for it, but I am also nervous.”
Leaning back on the counter, he placed his hands on their hips. “Okay. Do you wanna talk about it? It might help you feel less nervous.”
“I would like to kiss you. On the mouth,” they clarified unnecessarily, and Bryce fought the immediate excitement bubbling inside his chest.
“Oh, wow,” he said, gaze dropping to their green lips unbidden. “Are you sure?”
They nodded. “Yes. But I am nervous because I have never done it before, so I will probably not be very good at it. And I am scared that, maybe, I will not like it, which would be disappointing, also for you, I think. And I am also afraid that we are moving too fast. Mantodeas can court for years before they even hug. Yet, I am so happy that we hug. I have never been a very good Mantodea, I suppose.”
“You’re a perfect you,” Bryce said, rubbing their sides, “and that’s all that matters.”
Beaming at him, they leaned in and propped their forehead on his. Their antennas dotted kisses over his head as they framed his face with their hands. They whistled at him, and he whistled back, trying to replicate their notes. They startled, large eyes widening further.
They whistled again, slower this time, and he wet his lips and, again, tried to copy them. He must have done something right, because they thrummed in pleasure, crowding into his space until their bodies slotted together.
“I would like to kiss you now, if you are agreeable,” they said, cool breath fanning over his mouth and chin.
“Yeah, Zef, I’d like to kiss you too.”
“Please stay still the first time,” they asked, and he nodded.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” they echoed.
Like they were psyching themself up, they took several measured breaths, top hands quaking slightly where they cupped his face.
Their lower hands smoothed absently over his chest, catching on the buttons of this shirt every now and then.
Their gaze bored into his intensely, and he almost went cross-eyed trying to retain eye contact as they closed the distance between them.
Neither of them closed their eyes as Zef pressed their lips to his in a barely-there touch. They didn’t move their mouth; they didn’t even pucker their lips. They just… pushed them into Bryce’s as they stared unblinkingly at him.
It was a confusing moment. On one hand, Zef was kissing him, so he was excited. On the other, it was awkward and creepy, but in a cute, lovable way.
The kiss—if it could even be called a kiss—lasted two seconds at most before Zef pulled away, frowning slightly. “I do not think I did that right.”
Bryce didn’t laugh. He wanted to, if for no other reason than to dispel the awkward energy buzzing in his body, but he didn’t. Zef would have taken it the wrong way, and he didn’t want to discourage them from kissing him again.
“That’s okay,” he said with a pat to their waist. “Maybe try closing your eyes this time.”
“Is that customary? How does anyone know where they are going? I could kiss your nostril or your eye. Seems a dangerous risk,” they said, and this time, Bryce did laugh, just a little.
“I mean, sometimes you miss, but it ain’t a big deal.” Carefully, he slipped a hand between them and pinched their chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you wanna try again?”
After a moment of consideration, they nodded, but when Bryce tried to draw them closer, they rebelled. “Do not put your tongue in my mouth. I am not ready for that.”
With another soft laugh, he promised, “I won’t. Just come here.” When they still resisted, Bryce paused. “We don’t have to—”
“I want to,” they insisted. “But I wish to do it.”
He released their chin. “Okay.”
They leaned back in, closing their eyes too soon, and Bryce swallowed his amusement as they pressed their lips to the space between his lip and nose. They clicked in frustration as they pulled away instantly.
“This is why I did not want to close my eyes!” they exclaimed. “Never mind, this endeavor is doomed.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked, and their tantrum stalled out.
Searching his gaze, they slowly nodded. “Yes.”
He captured their chin again and straightened, bringing them so close to each other. “Do you really trust me?”
And they said, “Yes.”
“Then close your eyes, darlin’.”
After a moment’s hesitation, they did, pressing their lips together as their nostril slits flared. He nuzzled their cheek and gently kissed the corner of their mouth.
“It’s not about right or wrong,” he whispered, moving to the other side and kissing that corner too. “It’s about doing what feels good.”
“Bryce,” they breathed his name, lips parting as their chest hitched.
“I’ve got you, baby.” He pecked their lips gently, and they gasped. “I’m right here.” Another little kiss, a bit longer this time. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Their mouth was mostly unresponsive, lips slack as he kissed them again, small short pecks that he slowly lengthened, adding more pressure. They whirred deep in their throat as he blanketed their lips fully with his, kissing them in earnest, close-mouthed but firm.
A shiver snaked down their spine, and they tentatively pushed back against him.
Their movements were stilted and stiff, but he met them there, encouraging them to join the dance.
He led, and they followed. Cupping their cheek, he angled their face so he could kiss them deeper, and they made that sexy thrumming noise.
When they wriggled closer, tightening their grip on his face, he hummed his approval, and without breaking the kiss, they clicked at him, the sound waves popping along the seam of his mouth. He smiled. So did they. Their teeth clinked together and Zef laughed.
Wanting to taste their humor, he kissed them in short bursts until they hid their face in his neck, body shaking with giggles. He wrapped them in his arms and nuzzled under their ear, soaking in their whirrs of happiness.
“Good or bad?” he asked when he finally found his voice.
“Good,” they said into his throat, and when he guided them out of their hiding place and kissed them again, they wrapped their arms around his neck and waist and kissed him back.