Page 26

NATE

After I unpack the last of my boxes, I sit on the veranda overlooking the water, a beer in hand, and lounging in a chair. This morning, I graduated from Kingston University. River stood in the stands with our parents, cheering when I stepped onstage to accept my diploma.

He’s so proud of me.

I’m proud of myself for crushing my classes and earning honors. But my real accomplishment is making it four months without River by my side. There were days when I thought I’d lose my mind and quit college to be near him.

I did it.

With Dr. Swanson’s help and my daily journal practice, I am on the path to recovery. I no longer act out when River is out of reach. Using positive coping mechanisms and breathing exercises, I have gotten a handle on my anxiety and all the fear that comes with it.

River opens the French door and steps outside. My heart races as our eyes lock.

Tonight is the night.

I feel it in my veins.

River is already on a high from the Islanders making the playoffs. I’m equally excited and ready to take our relationship to the next level.

He shuts the door and walks over to me, smiling as he sits on my lap. “Hey, babe.” River kisses my lips. “What are you doing out here?”

“Relaxing. Just taking in the scenery.”

A smile stretches across his face. “You can’t see much in the dark.”

“I can think of a few things we can do in the dark.”

I suck his bottom lip into my mouth, and then his tongue is in mine, and my fingers are tugging at the ends of his hair. He moans and slips his hands up my shirt, roaming over my stomach. I groan as his thumb massages my nipple.

I could kiss him all night, but with the nerves coursing through me, I can’t concentrate. So, I peel my lips from his. Breathing harder, he stares into my eyes.

I tap his ass. “Get up for a minute.”

He stands, and I get down on one knee, my hand shaking as I reach into my pocket. I’d planned to propose after I moved into the house. There’s no better time than right now.

River gasps. “Nate, what are you… Oh god. It’s happening. Isn’t it? Yes, yes, yes.”

I shake my head and laugh. “Would you let me ask you first before you say yes? I wrote a speech and everything.”

“Oh, right.” He laughs. “Yeah. Sorry.”

I show him the small black box in my palm and crack it open. His eyes widen at the band. Made from diamonds pressed under enormous pressure, the Elysium band is a solid black.

I remove the ring from the box and hold his hand. “Riv, I knew the day we met you would be important and that I had to pay attention. You brought me back to life on some of my worst days. All you had to do was smile… and somehow, I wasn’t lost anymore. I love you. And I want to show you how much every day of my life. Will you marry me?”

He wiggles his fingers. “Yes.”

I slide the ring in place, and he raises his hand to inspect it. “I love it. You did so good, babe.”

River drops to his knees and kisses me. I sweep him into my arms, our lips locked, and drag him to the outdoor daybed with a canopy. Moving onto my back, I unbutton my pants and shove them down my thighs with my boxers. I kick off my shoes and toss my clothes to the side.

He kneels between my legs and sucks the head of my cock into his mouth. River makes eye contact as he deepthroats me, teasing me with each carefully placed lick.

“I need you,” I moan as he flicks his tongue over the tip to tease me.

He strips off his clothes, adding to the pile I created. It’s chilly for this time of year, but I’m too hot to feel the cool air on my skin. River kisses me, and our hard cocks are flush against each other. I consider jerking us until we come, but I need to be inside him.

I pluck my wallet from my pocket and grab a lube packet. “Best investment I ever made.”

River smirks. “Agreed.”

He takes it from my hand and opens it, lathering some gel on my fingers and my cock. Then he moves my finger into his tight hole. I love it when he takes the lead, as much as I love dominating him.

I still haven’t let him fuck me. No one has had that kind of control over me since Veronica, and I’m not ready. Not yet.

With three of my fingers pumping into his slick ass, he fucks my hand like a good boy. “Fuck,” he hisses. “This feels so good.”

“Ride me.” I pull out my fingers and clutch my shaft. “Show me how much you want me.”

River loves a challenge and takes all of me in one quick thrust. We both groan, and my arms go around him, needing to feel every inch of his skin. My hand wraps around his dick, and he grunts with each tug, our joined bodies moving in unison.

He bites my ear and moans as I pull out and push back in painfully slow before picking up the pace.

“Stop teasing me,” he bites out. “Fuck me, Nate.”

I spank his ass. “Turn around and let me watch you take my dick.”

Panting, he slides off me and turns so his back faces me. He leans forward, gripping my legs, and lines my cock up with his hole. I guide him onto me, and without hesitation, he takes me again in one thrust.

My fingers dig into his ass, marking his skin. “Fuck, Riv. This view. Oh fuck.”

His head lowers as he controls the pace. “Feels so… good.”

I’ve had the pleasure of staring at his tight, muscular ass for years, but nothing compares to the sight of my cock sliding in and out of him at this angle.

Reaching around to jerk his cock, I take him in my hand when I’m close to the edge, my orgasm building. He whimpers with each stroke and moans my name. I love the sounds he makes for me.

River comes first, his release coating my hand, legs, and the daybed. Less than a minute later, I come inside him. He doesn’t move, not until he catches his breath. River slides off me, chest rising and falling faster, and slumps onto his side.

“That was fucking awesome,” he whispers. “Sex is so much better now that you’re my fiancé.”

Hooking my arm around him, I kiss his sweaty forehead. “If that’s the case, imagine how good the sex will be when I’m your husband.”

“I don’t want to wait. Let’s get married this summer.”

“Whatever you want,” I say because he makes the rules with this stuff. “Just tell me what to do and where to be.”

Six months ago, we were skating around our feelings for each other, afraid someone would discover our secret, but our love is no longer a dirty thing we have to hide.