GENRE: Contemporary • Erotic Romance • Fiction • Gay • Transgender
LENGTH: 7,592 words
RATING: 
Every relationship Jesse has ever been in ended for the same reason -- she’s Male-to-Female Transgender. When she starts dating Brandon, his kind heart and tenderness quickly win her over.
But before she can tell him she loves him, she must tell him the truth.
She tells Brandon she was born male and, though it’s no surprise he walks out, she’s still devastated. So she’s stunned when he does something no one else ever has.
Brandon comes back.
What she wants to know is why?
EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.
A few moments later, there is a rhythmic knock on the door. Jesse opens it and sees her tall, handsome, perfect boyfriend smiling broadly, dimples digging lines in his cheeks, soulful brown eyes sparkling with warmth and affection and maybe a deeper emotion that makes Jesse’s heart stutter. His arms come around her and his mouth takes hers in a soft kiss. She stiffens for a moment, caught off guard, before she melts into him, lips parting for Brandon’s tongue when it asks for entrance.
“Hey,” he says once they separate. His hands rest on her hips and he smiles gently down at her.
“Did ... um, did we have plans tonight?” she asks, looking away from his trusting gaze.
“Nope,” Brandon says, leaning in and nuzzling her neck. “Just wanted to see my girl.”
At that Jesse bursts into tears, the weight of her secret just too much.
“Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Brandon says, arms tightening around Jesse as she sobs into his chest, her tears dampening the material of his shirt. “Jesse, baby, what’s wrong?” His voice is laced with concern.
She wraps her arms around him tight, knowing this is the last time she’s going to have him in her arms. “I have something to tell you,” she says between sobs, not able to look at him.
“Okay, so tell me,” Brandon says softly, hands running up and down her back.
Jesse gently pulls from his strong, reassuring embrace. She sniffles and, with as much courage as she has, looks into Brandon’s eyes. “I ... I ... I was born a male.”
Brandon tilts his head to the side and his brows come together in confusion. “What?” he asks with a little shake of his head.
Jesse’s heart is pounding and her hands are sweaty. She really doesn’t want to have to say it again. It won’t be any easier the second time. “I was born a boy. I’m a Male to Female Transgender.”
Jesse waits, expecting him to shove her away, or hit her, anything, but all Brandon does is stare at her with a puzzled expression on his face and hurt in his eyes. The silence stretches out until Jesse is sure it’s going to drive her insane.
“Say something,” she says, a hint of desperation in her voice.
“What do you want me to say?” Brandon asks, voice low. He’s not looking at her now, but rather at the glossy wood floor. There is a deep crease between his brows and his mouth is pulled down in a frown
“Anyth --”
“Want me to say I’m angry?” Brandon interrupts, looking back at her. “Yeah, I’m angry. You’ve been lying to me, Jesse. You know how I feel about that.”
Jesse bows her head. There isn’t any real venom in Brandon’s words, just sadness and disappointment. Jesse would rather have anger -- anger she could handle.
“The one thing I insist on in any relationship is honesty! Be it good or bad.” Anger colors his voice, but there’s nothing but hurt and betrayal in his eyes, and Jesse knows she’s lost him. “Wasn’t I honest with you when we met? I told you I was already with someone.”
“Yes, Brandon, but I haven’t been lying to you entirely.” She has to make him understand she wasn’t trying to trick him, or make him believe something about herself that wasn’t true. “I am Jesse and I am a woman. I’ve never lied to you about that.”
Brandon scoffs and shakes his head before turning for the door.
“Brandon, please don’t go!” Jesse says, going after him. “Let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing more to say, Jesse. I trusted you,” Brandon says in a hollow voice before opening the door. “You broke that trust.”
“I’m sorry,” Jesse says in a weak, watery voice.
“I thought you were the one, Jesse. I really did.” With that, Brandon walks out of her apartment.
His words slice through her like knives and a sob bubbles out. On numb legs, she follows him into the hallway. “Please, Brandon. Give me one more chance!” she says, seeing him at the end of the hall waiting for the elevator. It feels like her heart has been ripped out and she doesn’t know what to do to keep him from leaving.
“No.” The elevator doors slide open and he steps inside.
