"Now, let me get this straight so it doesn't happen again..."
I pressed the back of my hand across my roommate's forehead, frowning a little. His face, though a pale eggshell color only a few seconds ago, quickly came ablaze in a scarlet blush.
"You fainted during class because you had a bad night's sleep and missed breakfast," I assessed with an incredulous grimace, "yet you
still
want to become a paramedic too?"
With a sigh, I looked at Matt dubiously. Thinking it would be impossible for his colorful blush to glow even brighter, he looked away politely, the chagrinned smirk leaving me profoundly incorrect.
I dropped to one knee, looking at him genuinely, my head adjacent to his chest.
"Come on, Matt. We're both student paramedics... You know how unhealthy doing this is for your immune and digestive systems; you've got to work on managing your blood pressure properly."
Finally, my roommate offered a real response. "Y-Yeah, you're right," he squeaked out, moving to return my gaze. "I'm sorry, Neil."
As usual, Matt was particularly naรฏve when speaking with me, though I'd noticed that wasn't often the case around other people. Simply so, I rushed to the conclusion that this behavior was just pessimism, since it began when I accidentally revealed my preference for men last week.
Though, in all honesty, his naivety acted more like a cute affectation for me.
"Hey, it's all right," I comforted, standing. "I'll cook you something for lunch. Just try to rest up and avoid any strenuous activity for the day."
I turned towards our dorm's kitchen, and predictably, he blushed again. Cooking always had that effect, and I knew he appreciated it more than he was willing to admit.
"Wait," I felt my hand grabbed, and turned back to Matt. "Maybe, just, um..."
He looked perpetually disorientated, now holding onto my hand gently. Watching him struggle to place thoughts with words, I'd never seen someone so debilitated by emotion before.
"Are you okay?" I asked, turning back to face him entirely.
Could it be possible that I was mistaking his apprehension for a nervous crush? Blushing was one compelling gesture, but taking my hand crossed over that line, provoking other conclusions.
"Is my cooking, um," I started to ask, noticing Matt biting his lower lip, "a bit bad?"
It was worth testing; the trick would be getting him interested. But... It would be my first time going in this direction with anyone; I had to be coquettish, and never cross that border into manipulation.
"No, no," he stammered, squeezing my hand a little. "It's really very good actually, really um, it's just really submissive of you to be d-doing that."
Submissive... the sexual preference? He was under that impression because I cooked?
I had a hundred different thoughts filling my mind, unable to decide which to prioritize out of importance. They all evaporated as I noticed him blushing again, still clinging onto my hand.
"Hey, take it easy," I warned, trying to sound respectful. "Roles and personality don't always indicate someone's tastes. Cooking is fun, but I only do it because it needs to be done, you know?"
My roommate stood up from his place on the couch with a sense of purpose, finally releasing my hand. "Wait, so you're saying you're actually dominant?"
I couldn't help but smirk a little, watching him start to slowly circle around me with an oblique step towards the left, intrigued. He was actually beginning to make a move.
"I'm quite sure that I'm not very submissive," I answered matter-of-factly, letting him manoeuver around in an abstract pattern. "I think I'm just good at knowing what a person wants."
Matt completed the circuit, wrapping around from my other side. He was smiling too, and came to look at me earnestly. He'd become unpredictable; dramatically confident, even.
"I know you recommended avoiding strenuous activity..." he flirted, moving a hand to press up against the bottom of my EMT uniform and ruffle it. "If you know what I want, prove it on me-"
I paused and felt my mouth unselfconsciously drop open a little. Confidence was one thing, but this was a recklessly bold leap. A leap of faith.
"Wha-ohwauuhh.." Matt choked out, catching himself. "God, wow, that uhh... Sorry, why did, uhhm, I don't know where that came from..."
He started to slip away, letting his hand fall and looking downwards.
This was it, now or never. I'd never get this chance again, and I couldn't let him get away with that. This was too precious of an opportunity to mess up; I absolutely needed to try.
Moving back towards him fiercely, I brought an arm behind his back, keeping him from escaping. Closing the distance between Matt and myself, I finally pressed my lips against his bravely. My free hand took ahold of his own, our fingers intertwining.
My muscles relaxed as we faded into an intoxicating kiss together, and I let my tongue explore further, sliding into my roommate's warm mouth and rubbing against his tongue comfortably.
"Mmmh.." I heard Matt moan into me, taking control of his hands again and bringing one upwards to softly brush against my cheek.
The lack of resistance was an extraordinarily good sign.
Carefully, I shifted forward, forcing him back down onto the rust-colored couch with a soft thud. Our kiss severed regretfully in the process, but I continued to join him on the furniture with a knee.
"Okay," I whispered, pushing my mouth close to his ear. "I'll prove it on you, Matthew."
Advancing to place a steady hand at the back of his head, I took my own leap of faith, slipping my fingers in between and through some of Matt's thick chestnut-coloured hair and taking a light grip.
I wasn't sure yet how far I could push him, but there wasn't the time for baby-steps now.
As we reconnected in another deep kiss, I let my free hand slide down his shoulder and arm, eventually reaching his right hand. With calm guidance, I moved it outwards, opting to place his hand on top of the clothing covering over my slight erection.