"You kind of uh?" 

"Ikindofwanttohavesexwithyou."

Marlo proposes and rejects four different possible responses and then kisses him. 

Lev kisses back for a bit and then says, "I don't know if that's a yes!"

"That's a yes." 

Lev makes a little "oh" sound and pushes Marlo into the bed and kisses him.

He lets himself fall backwards and lets Lev kiss him and — lets himself cling.

"I've never done this before. With a girl or a guy or-- anyone."

"I haven't either." 

"We can figure it out," Lev says, and kisses him.

"We can," he agrees, and relaxes. 

It's just like kissing before. Lev presses kisses all over his face and neck and ears and murmurs to Marlo that he loves him.

"I love you," he whispers, "I love you, I love you," and — lets himself float. 

He takes off Marlo's shirt. That's okay, they did that before. 

(He's kind of terrified.) 

Alright — this is familiar, this is good, he's kissed Lev shirtless before — he puts his hands on Lev's hips, just barely touching the skin under his hemline —

Lev freezes up.

— he takes his hands away, puts them on Lev's back instead. 

"Are you okay?" 

"Uh. I really want to have sex with you but also I kind of want to throw up."

He's breathing really fast.

"Okay — it's okay, I've got you, Lev, I'm here I've got you —" 

"What if I have gay sex and I like it and then I want to be gay forever and my parents. My parents aren't proud of me and they're going to kick me out--"

"I'll take care of you," he whispers, although he has no idea how. "Or you could not tell your parents?" 

"How are you going to take care of me? You're seventeen."

"...I don't know." He holds Lev closer.

"I believe you anyway."

"Good," he says, very soft, and kisses Lev's forehead. "I love you. We'll figure something out, okay?"