“Okay?” Riley arched as Alex began to stroke him in earnest.
“Yeah.” He watched Riley’s expressions change as he worked him with his hand, swapping from fast to slow, then back again as Riley grumbled at him to go faster. Alex trailed his thumb over the head of Riley’s cock, collecting the precome there and sliding it down his length. He shuffled closer to get a better angle, hissing as he brushed against Riley’s thigh.
“Come here.” Riley shifted onto his side, and after a couple of fumbled attempts, they managed to arrange themselves so Riley could get his hand round Alex at the same time.
Alex had imagined this exact scenario countless times before having to force himself to stop. Of course, that paled in comparison to having the real thing. Riley’s hands felt surprisingly smooth; Alex was used to his own calloused hands working his shaft. The marked difference had him racing towards the edge far quicker than he wanted. He wondered if the same was true for Riley. Alex’s hands were rough from work, with no lube to ease the way; was it too much for him?
A glance at Riley’s face—eyes closed, bottom lip caught between his teeth again as a soft moan escaped him. That would be a no, then.
“Fuck, Alex.” Riley met his gaze, his bright blue eyes darker than Alex was used to seeing them. “Gonna come.”
Alex leaned in to kiss him, swallowing the whimper as Riley’s whole body tensed. He trailed kisses down his jaw and neck, stroking him through his orgasm until Riley pushed his hand away.
“’S too much.” His fingers stilled around Alex’s cock, as he came down. “Give me a minute.”
Alex shook his head, he had something else in mind. Kneeling up next to him, he ran his fingers through the come on Riley’s belly and then used it to slick his cock. He glanced down to see Riley watching him, flushed and messy and so open and vulnerable-looking Alex’s breath caught.How could I think I was over this, over him?
Riley put his hand over Alex’s and Alex let him set the pace. “You want to come on me, don’t you?” He rolled his eyes when all Alex could do was nod. “Should’ve known.” He moved onto his back, and Alex shuffled as close as he could get. “Go for it.”
Riley might complain about not having a six-pack, but Alex loved the flat expanse of his belly and the dark happy trail that ran down the centre. He smoothed his fingers down it, stopping halfway as Riley moved their joined hands, tightening his grip and making Alex cry out as he came.
He added to the mess already covering Riley’s skin, and couldn’t resist smearing it a little before collapsing down beside Riley on the bed.
Only the sound of their breathing filled the room, and Alex was content to let it stay like that for the time being. They needed to talk, obviously, but his thoughts were still a little jumbled and he’d much rather bask in the afterglow of a spectacular orgasm than talk about feelings. And he was pretty sure Riley would agree. He did reach out for Riley’s hand, come-smeared fingers and all, smiling when Riley took his without hesitation.
Unfortunately, their peace was shattered by the ringing of Riley’s mobile. They ignored it by unspoken agreement. But then Alex’s rang. And then Riley’s again. Suddenly worried that something bad had happened, they both scrambled off the bed to answer.
Nick’s name flashed up on the screen, and Alex answered with trepidation. “Hello.” He glanced up at Riley, who pointed at his phone and mouthed “Abi” at him.
Ugh.
Alex sighed. “You’re checking up on us, aren’t you?”
“Sorry.” Nick’s sigh matched Alex’s. “Abi was worried you might kill each other.” Alex could hear her in the background telling Riley, “You could have at least texted to say you’re okay.”
Alex lowered his voice a little. “She doesn’t sound happy. I’m glad I’ve got you, you should see Riley’s face.” He grinned as he said it, and Riley mouthed, “Fuck off,” this time.
“You’re together, then?”
Alex answered without thinking, still watching Riley get told off. “Yeah, we’re upstairs in my ro—”Bollocks.
Silence on the line and then, “Abi wants me to hang up, and for Riley to put her on speaker.” The call ended, and sure enough, Riley was putting Abi on speaker, with a grimace that told Alex it was under duress.
“Sorry,” Alex whispered. “I guess that was my fault.”
Riley didn’t say anything in return, he looked kind of wary and Alex didn’t have chance to address that because Abi was already speaking.
“I know it’s none of my business, but you’re my friends and I love you, and it’s Christmas, for fuck’s sake, so I’m just going to ask it anyway.” She paused for breath, and Alex smiled despite himself. “Are you together now?” Muttered voices sounded on the other end, and Alex pictured her and Nick having heated hand gestures at each other. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make things all awkward, if you’re not. Shit, have I? It’s just that Nick said you were in your room. Together. So I sort of assumed…. Will one of you please put me out of my misery!”
“For all our sakes,” Nick added, followed swiftly by “Ow!”
Alex laughed, wondering what they’d say if they knew he and Riley were still naked and covered in come. When he glanced up, Riley was staring at him. But not laughing. Not even smiling. And shit, that was all on Alex. While he’d had a small epiphany in his head about his feelings for Riley, Riley was still stuck wondering if this was a one-off, something casual or—He reached for Riley’s hand again and held it tight. “Yeah, we’re together.”
Riley's gasp of surprise was almost drowned out by Abi’s shout of “Oh my God!” He squeezed Alex’s hand, the phone lying forgotten on the bed. “But I thought—”
Alex tackled him onto his back and lay on top of him, pinning him in place. “I was crazy about you, Ri. When I thought you didn’t feel the same, I tried really fucking hard to make it go away.”
“You should have told me.”
