Krem would be happy about the confusion and the admission, later. He would be warmed by the consideration for his wellbeing. But right now, he was fuzzy and distractable, and all that he really knew about the situation was that Chris had just admitted he wasn't against the idea and that bloomed something in his chest that ripped through him like wildfire.

He said, in a low voice that was growing increasingly heated as they spoke, "I wasn't sure if you would want to think of me like a man."

Under the tree, almost against its trunk, Krem untucked his shirt a little to reach up underneath it and, behind his back, loosen it a little bit. He obviously didn't need help with that. The loosening didn't have much of an effect, except that Krem let out a quiet noise that might have been pleasure. Then he dropped his hands and just watched Chris, patient but obviously keyed up.

"You're worried. That's more than most people would be. So I'm not."