I'm straightish but curious about my gay best friend. What do?

We're really close, and I'm vaguely his type (very masculine, "straight", politically incorrect etc - he's a pretty girly bottom). We're in college and have separate dorms, but I practically live with him.

I tried putting the moves on him a few days ago trying to kiss him and he freaked out and walked away to another part of the room, pretty awkward for about ten minutes until we talked about it and I expressed interest in him. On one hand, the way he described his reaction afterward was much less "go away I don't wanna fuck you" and much more "why the hell is my straight friend's face two inches from mine, I'm outta here I don't want to risk getting punched by the straight dude" (he had no idea I was anything other than straight).

Since then I've been noticing both of us using more sexual innuendos than usual. Granted, he's always clowned around like this a lot (like fake-moaning about how he wants me to fuck him, turns me on like nothing else btw), but given that he's still behaving that way even though the context of our friendship has changed (he didn't know before that I was interested in him, and now he does), that seems like it'd mean something, but he hasn't said anything definite about whether he's interested or not.

On the other hand, he did say at one point that he was really flattered that I was into him, which sounds exactly like something I'd say to a chick having a non-mutual crush on me.

I've never done this before so I'm not sure what I'd want to do if he was inclined. Probably just touching and cuddling to start with.

So how does he /probably/ feel about me? Would you be acting like that if you were into your straight friend? And what would be the smartest way to proceed?

Thanks dudes

 

Yes, but it was one of those things where we grew really close over time and gradually fell into bed, and she initiated the sexual stuff. I have minimal experience being sexually aggressive, still trying to become less awkward/more fluid in these situations.