Page 34

“Can I get you anything?” Riley asked for probably the fiftieth time that day, and probably the one billionth time that week.

“Not a thing,” Adam said sleepily. He was sitting in the shade under an awning, watching Riley swim laps in the pool. He already had a glass of ice water on the table next to him, along with his glasses, his book, and a plate of sliced fruit.

“Are you sure?”

Adam flicked the hand that wasn’t in a sling. “Swim. I’m fine.” Frankly, watching Riley slice through the water like a dolphin was the highlight of Adam’s day. Especially given how short Riley’s bathing suit was.

It had been an exhausting week. Adam had just done a round of the physio exercises he’d been given to do at home, and it had used up all the energy he’d had, which hadn’t been much to start with. Sleeping on his back while wearing a sling was challenging, which only added to the wooziness he already felt from the shock of surgery and from the painkillers.

He couldn’t be much fun to be around, but Riley had barely left his side. Riley had made the week much less horrible.

After a few minutes, Riley hoisted himself out of the pool. Adam enjoyed the rivulets of water that followed the lines of his pecs and stomach. He really was ridiculously handsome.

“You want to take a nap, maybe?” Riley sounded concerned, which told Adam that he must look as rough as he felt.

“Nah.” Adam attempted a flirtatious smile. “I’d miss you.”

Riley rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his grin. “I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

“I know.”

Riley plucked a strawberry off the fruit plate and popped it in his mouth. Adam blatantly ogled him, particularly in the area where his wet bathing suit clung to his skin. They hadn’t done anything sexual since the night before the operation, and Adam definitely didn’t feel up to it yet, but it was nice to look. It was nice to be allowed to look.

Besides the sling, Adam was wearing a tank top and loose shorts that Riley had helped him put on. That combo had become his uniform this week. Except for the times he wore his silk robe. Riley also assisted him in the shower, took care of every meal one way or another, and helped him text Maggie and the kids in France.

And, most importantly, sometimes he kissed him.

With some effort, Adam got himself out of the chair. He rested his free hand on Riley’s chest. “I want to take you on a date.”

Riley’s eyebrows shot up. “Tonight?”

“I wish. No. But before you leave.”

Riley’s grin returned. “Dinner? Dancing?”

Adam winced. “Probably not dancing.”

“I was kidding.”

“Someday, though. I’d like to.”

“Yeah?” Riley seemed to blush, as if he still couldn’t understand that Adam wanted to do literally everything with him. Forever. And, to be fair, they hadn’t really talked about this, since Riley had arrived.

Adam decided to lay his cards on the table.

“Riles,” he said. “I want to do this for real.”

“Dancing?”

“Us. Everything. I want to be together, even if we need to deal with a bit of distance at first.”

To his surprise, Riley’s smile faded.

“Riles?”

“Maybe we should talk about this when you’re not…” He gestured at Adam, as if presenting evidence.

“You think I’m not of sound mind right now or something? I’m a little tired, not delirious. I want you to be my boyfriend. Or partner. Or… I don’t know. I want to be with you all the fucking time for as long as you’re willing to put up with me.”

Riley looked at the ground, hiding his expression. When he finally tilted his face back up, his eyes were damp. “I need you to be sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“No, I mean, about all of it. Are you ready to let everyone know that you’re dating a man? That you’re dating…me?”

“I—”

“You need to really think about that. Because, Adam, I can’t—” He exhaled heavily. “I’m already in way too deep here, I know, but I’m trying to be careful. I want everything you want, but I need you to be sure.”

Adam moved his hand to Riley’s cheek. “You seem to think I’m making a snap decision here or something. I’ve been thinking about this pretty much constantly for weeks— months . I’m sure, Riley. I’m fucking nervous about coming out, but I’ll get through it.”

“I’ve been thinking about it all the time too.”

“And?”

“And I decided I shouldn’t get my hopes up.”

“What? Why? Get them up!”

Riley’s lips twitched. “I mean, they are. That’s the problem.”

“It’s not a problem. I want to be with you. I want everyone to know I’m with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He hesitated. “Was that too much? Fuck it, I don’t care. I love you, Riley. I’ve always loved you so much, but I’m finally able to love you the way you deserve. I’m sorry it took so long.”

For an intense moment, they stared at each other. Then Riley said, “You could have waited a little longer. At least until I’m not wearing a wet bathing suit.”

Adam laughed. “Have you seen you in a wet bathing suit?”

Then they were kissing. Riley was careful with him, bracing him with a firm hand on his back as they kissed through their smiles. Then Riley pulled back and, with a steady hand on Adam’s cheek, said, “I love you, Adam.”

“I love you,” Adam said back, finally, finally getting that right.

Their kisses got deeper, more passionate, and Adam groaned when he started to get hard. “God, I wish we could fuck.”

Riley, to his disappointment, stepped back. “Motivation to rest and do your physio and get better.”

“But—”

“Right now, I am taking you to your bed, and you are going to try to nap. And after that, we can watch Gladiator. ”

Adam smiled. “Until you fall asleep on me.”

“That would be terrible for your shoulder.”

“Something to look forward to,” Adam said. “A lifetime of you falling asleep on me while watching stuff.”

Riley laughed, but Adam had meant it with his whole heart.