10
ADAM
As consciousness crept in gently, I opened my eyes slowly, still trying to decide whether I was looking forward to the day or if I wanted to pretend to be asleep for the next week.
The familiar weight of another body beside me tugged at the edges of my drowsy mind. I turned my head to the sleepy figure and smiled.
River’s chest rose and fell with the serene rhythm of undisturbed sleep, allowing me a moment to watch his peaceful form.
I traced the line of his spine with my gaze, from the broad shoulders descending to the unexpected fullness of his ass beneath the sheet.
A subtle heat prickled my skin.
Sure, I’d seen him almost naked plenty of times. Apart from all the vacations we’d had together, including this one, we’d shared a room in college before we moved into an apartment with my brothers.
River walking into the kitchen in the morning, half-asleep, going straight to the coffee maker had been a daily occurrence. I’d caught him enough times that I’d stopped teasing him abouthis morning wood showing through his boxer shorts and just gotten used to the daily salute.
Sunlight painted River in warmth, showcasing his tattoos like a work of art.
Molecular structures spiraled all along his arms and across his back. I recognized the coffee molecule. His first tattoo, which he said represented his first true love.
He’d gained more tattoos over the years. Some I vaguely remembered the meaning of. Others were new. I wondered when he’d gotten them done.
On his calf, among the scientific renderings, bloomed edible flowers, showcasing his passions for food, service, and beauty.
In that quiet moment, my heart swelled with something I couldn’t name.
A week ago, if anyone had told me I’d be sharing a bed with River, I’d have laughed. If Victoria had been present, she’d have stomped out.
I’d known River for so long that he was an automatic part of my life. A constant, like breathing. I’d never felt embarrassed about seeing him undress and didn’t have a problem getting undressed in front of him. I didn’t care that he was gay, and it never occurred to me that, as a man, I could be the kind of guy he was attracted to.
If I was, he’d never let it show.
My intrusive thoughts were broken when a soft sigh escaped River’s lips. I held my breath, afraid to disturb him.
Or afraid to get caught.
River shifted, a quiet inhale followed by a less quiet exhale. My heart stuttered, and I snapped my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.
Once I was sure he was still asleep, I slid from the warmth of the sheets and made my way to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
I leaned against the wooden door, taking a moment to gather myself.
What was I doing staring at my friend’s almost-naked body? Even more confusing was that I wasn’t just morning wood hard. I was need-to-get-off-right-now hard.
Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower, not waiting for the water to warm up. The cold spray of the water, a stark contrast to the heat pooled in my belly, offered only temporary relief.
I pressed my forehead against the cool tile. The water sluiced over me but couldn’t wash away the images etched into my mind. The curves of River’s body bathed in morning light, the tattoos that etched his history across his skin, the peace that radiated from him as he slept, unaware of my tumultuous thoughts.
What was this pull I suddenly felt toward my best friend? Was it the shock of Victoria’s departure that made me reach for something familiar, the time we spent together yesterday, or was it something that had always been there, under my skin, waiting to be released?
I pressed more of my upper body against the cool tiles, seeking support for my trembling legs. My hand made its way across my chest, trailing lower, driven by a compulsion I couldn’t control.
Each stroke of my cock was powered by the unexplainable need to get off. I hadn’t had sex in weeks, and with the stress of the wedding, I’d been too tired to jerk off.
That was it. I just needed to get off, and everything would go back to normal.
With my eyes sealed shut, I surrendered to the fantasy. River’s laugh, warm and genuine, rang in my ears, intertwining with the sound of the falling water. I could almost feel the press of his body against mine, solid and real.
