Page 25

“Did Toronto win?” Riley asked as he returned from upstairs.

“They did,” Adam said, and set his phone on the coffee table. “I told you it was just nerves. They’ve got this.” He stood from where he’d been sitting on the couch. The living room was dimly lit by a single table lamp, and Lucky was asleep on his bed in the corner. The room felt very peaceful and cozy.

Riley still looked incredible. He’d removed his jacket, and now wore only a snug black T-shirt, tucked into those sexy pants. His hair glowed like embers in the golden lamplight.

“So,” Adam said. He bounced on his toes, once, then commanded his body to be cool.

Riley crossed the room to the record player and crouched to flip through his LP collection. He selected something, then put it on the turntable. Adam waited, wondering if he should sit again. Wondering what would happen next.

A few seconds later, soft, twangy guitar began playing, followed by a female voice that Adam recognized but couldn’t place. Not Dolly.

Riley set the album sleeve on the coffee table. Emmylou Harris. Right. He’d gone with Riley to see her perform once, in Toronto. Riley had been mesmerized by her, and Adam had been mesmerized by him.

“I remember that show,” Adam said. “When we went.”

Riley smiled. “I loved that night.”

“Me too.” Then, feeling brave, Adam extended his hand. “Dance with me?”

“Dancing is not one of my gay superpowers,” Riley warned, even as he tugged Adam closer.

“Riles, I don’t care. I’m just trying to get your hands on me.”

Riley laughed, and now they were so close that Adam could feel his breath on his temple. “How’s this?” He placed one of his giant hands on Adam’s hip, and tangled the fingers of his other hand together with Adam’s.

Adam closed his eyes. “Perfect.”

They didn’t do much more than slowly rotate together in the space between the coffee table and the record player, but Riley was nuzzling Adam’s hair, making Adam’s heart race and his legs melt. He wanted to respond somehow, without it being too much, so he let his hand slide up Riley’s back, on top of his T-shirt, following his spine until he could press his palm against the back of Riley’s neck. He was being so careful, knowing that Riley needed to be the one to ask for more, but trying to make it clear that the answer would be yes.

Then Riley dipped his fingertips under the hems of Adam’s sweater and undershirt. Adam shivered as Riley teased the skin he found there with exhilarating featherlight touches. “Keep going ,” Adam wanted to say. “You can touch me anywhere.”

“Shep,” Riley whispered. He kissed Adam’s forehead, then the knuckles of the hand he held.

“Yes,” Adam replied, as if there’d been a question. He kissed Riley’s temple and waited.

Riley exhaled, then kissed behind Adam’s ear, and then again. The second time, his tongue flicked against the sensitive skin there, making Adam shiver again.

Riley pulled back, but only enough so their gazes could meet. His gray eyes didn’t hold the exhaustion or sadness Adam had seen in them all week. Instead they were intense, and questioning.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Riley said, his gaze already dropping to Adam’s lips.

“That I want to get this right,” Adam whispered back.

Riley let go of his hand, but only so he could press his palm to Adam’s face. “This feels right to me.”

The first brush of Riley’s lips made Adam gasp, and then, to cover it, he let out a nervous puff of laughter. Riley laughed too, then tried again. This time, they connected, soft and careful, like they were doing something dangerous. Then Riley’s fingers dug into Adam’s hip as he angled his head and kissed Adam like he meant it. He tasted like toothpaste, and Adam wished he’d also brushed his own teeth when they’d gotten back but he also didn’t care because he was kissing Riley . And it did feel right. It felt so fucking right and wonderfully simple but also like the most amazing thing to ever happen.

He tightened his hold on Riley’s neck, maneuvering him where he wanted him. Riley growled into his mouth and pressed his fingertip into the hinge of Adam’s jaw, opening him wider as the kiss grew hungrier. No one had ever kissed Adam the way Riley always had, with this fierce desire mixed with wonder.

He cataloged everything that was new: Riley’s beard, soft against Adam’s skin, the scent of the fancy grooming products Riley used now, the confidence in the way Riley handled him. Adam loved all of it, like he loved this beautiful room that Riley had created and had invited Adam into and now was kissing him in.

Riley tugged at his hair, pulling Adam’s head back as he took his mouth again. Adam had always loved that Riley was taller than him, not by enough to make kissing awkward, but enough to make Adam feel surrounded by him.

Distantly, Emmylou Harris kept singing. Riley kissed along his jaw, making Adam lose what was left of his mind. “God,” he rasped as he fought to keep himself still. He was so hard already and was desperate to grind himself shamelessly against Riley. He needed Riley to be the one to escalate things, if he wanted.

Riley slid his hand off Adam’s hip and onto his ass, urging Adam’s hips to come forward.

“Fuck, Shep,” Riley said in a low voice when their erections bumped together.

Adam rolled his hips without meaning to and groaned with how good it felt. It had been a long time since he’d had sex with anyone, and it had been an eternity since it had been with Riley.

To his relief, Riley began moving too. He took his mouth again, kissing Adam deeply and swallowing his moans as they ground together. They were both fully clothed and standing and barely doing anything, but Adam had never felt so turned on in his life. He was shaking with need.

A thumb stroked over Adam’s cheek, soothing him. “What do you want?”

God, what a question. He tried to think, but couldn’t. He felt like he might start crying. He didn’t think he’d have this again. He wanted to believe he’d earned it, but had he?

Lucky woofed quietly in his sleep, which made both of them laugh.

“Maybe we should go upstairs,” Riley said, then kissed the corner of Adam’s mouth.

“Yeah.”

They didn’t move right away, choosing instead to kiss some more, but without the grinding. Adam ran his fingers over Riley’s beard, getting to know it. He wondered if Riley’s body hair looked the same as it had before. He wanted to find out.

With effort, he pulled away. “Upstairs,” he said.

They climbed the stairs, not bothering to turn off the lamp or the record player. They kissed in the hall at the top of the stairs, Adam against the wall. He pressed his thigh against Riley’s cock, and Riley groaned, rocking against it as their kisses turned messy. He wanted to let Riley keep going like that, and loved knowing that he was just as excited as Adam was.

“Fuck,” Riley said as he gently pushed Adam away. “Bed. Now.”

Finally, they were in Riley’s bedroom, and for an awkward moment after Riley turned on a lamp, neither of them seemed to know what to do.

“Should I…?” Adam asked as he tugged at the hem of his own sweater.

Riley nodded, his eyes dark and his lips slack and swollen.

Adam pulled his sweater off, then, after only a moment of hesitation, he removed the T-shirt he’d been wearing underneath. Riley watched him with keen interest.

Adam brushed a nervous hand over his soft belly. “Not the same as you remember, probably.”

“It’s better,” Riley said.

“Come on.”

Riley stepped toward him. “It’s better,” he repeated.

Adam reached for him. “That’s nice of you to say.”

Riley ran a hand down Adam’s right side. “You’re so sexy, Shep. It’s fucking ridiculous.”

Adam tipped his head back as Riley kissed along his jaw. “You know,” he said breathlessly, “I like it when you call me Adam.”

Riley paused. “Yeah?”

“Everyone calls me Shep. Everyone from hockey, anyway. Adam sounds…special. At least when you say it.”

“Adam,” Riley said, then began kissing Adam’s throat. “Call me Riles.”

“But you said—”

“Forget what I said. I like it. I hadn’t heard it in a long time, before you got here.”

That made Adam smile. “Riles,” he said, “take your shirt off.”

Riley did, and Adam’s mouth went dry. His chest was still broad and strong, and the hair there was as perfect as it had always been: dark and coppery, and heavier between his pecs. His waist was trim, possibly even more so than when he’d played hockey, and his arms were ridiculous.

He also had a tattoo of a ship on his right bicep. Like a sailor.

“You have a tattoo,” Adam said.

Riley touched it as if this was news to him. “Oh, that. Yeah, I was not sober when I got that.”

Adam leaned in to inspect it. It looked very old-school, a tall ship with sails—a frigate?—breaking through some waves. No color, just slightly faded black line art.

“Did you get this…at sea?” Adam teased.

“No. Shut up. I got it in Dallas. I missed Nova Scotia or something. Who knows.”

“Nova Scotia…two hundred years ago?”

“Would you shut the fuck up about it, please?” Riley’s voice was gruff, but he was smiling, and the combination made Adam very aroused.

“Aye, aye,” Adam said, then winked.

Riley stepped into him. “You’re such a dick,” he said, then kissed him like he was starving for it. They kissed like that for a long time, taking breaks only long enough to take a breath before catching each other’s eye and diving in again. It was like, now that they’d started, they’d never be able to stop kissing each other.

Eventually, Adam dipped his head to kiss and lick at Riley’s neck and to nuzzle his beard. Riley stroked his back, his touch light and curious, as if he was relearning Adam’s body. It felt electric.

Riley sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Adam into his lap. Adam straddled him as they kissed some more, and explored his chest with his hands, which Riley seemed to love. When Adam lightly pinched Riley’s left nipple, Riley sucked in a breath, and then laughed.

“Good?” Adam asked.

“Yeah. Fuck. Keep doing that.”

Adam did, kissing him and pinching his nipples until Riley was grinding up against him. Then Riley fell back on the mattress, and Adam followed him down. He started kissing Riley’s chest, capturing one stiff nipple between his teeth.

“Yes,” Riley said on an exhale. He rolled his hips again.

“Fuck, that feels good,” Adam rasped.

Riley let out a shaky laugh. “It feels too good.”

“I’m, uh. I’m pretty keyed up here,” Adam confessed. “It’s been a while.”

He only had a split second to see Riley’s smile before they crashed together again. They moaned into each other’s mouths as their hips found a rhythm.

“We should—fuck—I need to take my pants off, Adam.”

Adam rolled off of him, and they both scrambled out of their pants and socks. Riley left his underwear on—boxer briefs in a vibrant floral print—so Adam did too.

“I like these,” Adam said as he gently tugged Riley’s waistband. They were both on their knees on the bed, facing each other.

“I like this,” Riley replied, running a thumb over the bulge in Adam’s black briefs.

Adam sucked in a breath. “Fuck.”

Riley did it again and then leaned in to kiss Adam again. He cupped Adam in his enormous hand and began massaging him through his underwear as they kissed. Adam rocked helplessly against his palm as he lost the ability to kiss with any kind of finesse.

“Can I,” Adam panted, “touch you?”

In response, Riley took hold of Adam’s wrist and guided his hand to his cock. They both groaned when Adam made contact. Adam could think of so many things he wanted to do to Riley’s cock, but he was in real danger of coming before he could do any of them.

“So good,” Riley said.

“Yeah,” Adam agreed, because it was good. It was fucking perfect.

Still kissing, Riley guided him down until Adam was on his back. Adam wrapped his legs around Riley’s hips, pulling him closer as he ground against him.

“What do you want?” Riley murmured against his lips.

“Just keep kissing me. Don’t stop.”

Riley moaned. “I might come,” he warned.

That sent a jolt through Adam’s whole body. “Y-you wouldn’t be alone if you did.”

“Fuck, Adam.” Riley moved faster against him.

“Can I—?”

Riley didn’t need further explanation. He reached between them and tugged Adam’s waistband down, and then his own, just enough to free their erections. They both moaned in relief, and then with pleasure as their bare cocks slid together.

They gave up on kissing in favor of panting against each other. “Don’t stop,” Adam pleaded mindlessly.

“I won’t,” Riley promised. “But you’ve gotta— ah —you’ve gotta hurry.”

“I’m right there. Holy.” Adam fumbled for Riley’s hand, needing an anchor. Riley grabbed it and held him tight as Adam began to shatter apart. “Yes. Fuck. Gonna come.”

He dug the fingers of his free hand into Riley’s back as he came, shooting hard against Riley’s stomach. Distantly, he heard Riley grunt, and then he felt the hot bursts of his release against his skin.

“Fucking hell,” Adam said hoarsely.

Riley laughed, then kissed his chin. “Yeah.” He rolled off of him and lay on his side next to Adam.

“I’m a mess,” Adam said.

“Mm.” Riley dragged a finger lazily through the come on Adam’s chest. “You sound the same as you used to. When you come.”

Adam covered his face with his forearm. “Oh god.”

“No. I like it. It’s…nice.”

Adam removed his arm. “The way I sound when I come is nice ?”

Riley ducked his head shyly. “The way it made me feel is nice. I missed it.”

Adam’s heart somersaulted. “Oh.” He wished he’d been paying closer attention to Riley’s orgasm. Next time, he promised himself. Because surely there would be one, right?

Riley kissed his forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

He left the bed and headed for the door, removing his underwear on the way. Adam got his first look at Riley’s ass in years, and he was not disappointed.

He gazed up at the wood ceiling beams and smiled. He felt dangerously, deliriously happy, and he hoped Riley felt the same way.

Riley returned in a minute with a damp cloth, and wearing, to Adam’s delight, a silk floral-print robe that hit Riley about midthigh.

“What?” Riley asked when he noticed Adam staring.

“I was hoping you’d still be naked but, uh. I like this better.”

Riley ran a hand over the robe. “Yeah?”

“It’s fucking sexy, Riles. Come here.”

Riley smiled as he approached the bed. He cleaned Adam quickly, then let Adam pull him down for a kiss.

“You love beautiful things,” Adam murmured as he slid a hand up Riley’s thigh.

“I do,” Riley agreed as he gazed into Adam’s eyes.

“I want you to have every beautiful thing.”

“I don’t need everything.”

Adam swore the unsaid words were there, lingering in the inches between them: I just need you . He almost said them himself because he felt them with his whole body.

“I can stay, right?” Adam asked. “I can sleep with you?”

Riley brushed his fingers through Adam’s hair. “You always could have.”

“I wish I had.” Christ, they’d lived alone. What had Adam been so scared of?

Riley kissed him. The silk felt like cool water against Adam’s heated skin. “Stay,” Riley said.