Rye nodded, and he pulled his hand back and settled it over Jake’s shirt, resting his head against Jake’s shoulder. “I’m okay. I feel so safe with you. And I feel, um...” He seemed to bury his head deeper into Jake’s shoulder, as though maybe he were embarrassed.
Jake understood, and his cheeks heated up again as he bent down and kissed the top of Rye’s head. “Me too. And it feels amazing.”
“...It does. And I never thought I’d say that.”
A rush of love and relief and even more emotions overwhelmed Jake then, and he gathered Rye up in his arms, holding him close, as his body shuddered. “I’m so glad you’re here with me,” he murmured. “I love you so much. I lovethis. I loveus. I can’t think of anything more perfect than just being here with you. Thank you.”
He had so much more to say, but Rye was already shaking his head, pulling away to look up at him with bright eyes full of love. They came together in another soft kiss, and when they parted, Rye wrapped his arms around Jake’s midsection and squeezed him tight.
“It’s pretty perfect right here, isn’t it?” Rye said.
And Jake just nodded in agreement as he returned Rye’s hug. There was nowhere else he’d rather be.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Rye
Ryecrawledintothebed in Jake’s extra room at nearly midnight, worn out from all the talking. For once, he was glad he didn’t have work the next morning, though he knew he probably still wouldn’t get to sleep in. Jake got up every morning at the same time like clockwork, and Rye wanted to be up with him.
He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle sounds of the ocean waves coming through the window, and he sighed contentedly. He liked it here. Loved it here, actually. Not that he didn’t like his mom’s house. But here felt different. Here felt safer, maybe. Safer and softer and just more... likehome. Which didn’t really make sense to him, seeing as thiswasn’this home.
He turned from his side onto his back, opened his eyes, and stared up at the ceiling, pulling the comforter all the way to his chin. Thoughts started swirling around in his head—memories of the first time he’d woken up in this bed, fearful and in pain, clashing with new memories, just-formed memories.Muchmore pleasant memories.
Memories of Jake. Of Jake’s chest. Of Rye... touching Jake’s chest. Underneath his shirt.
He swallowed hard as he remembered the feel of Jake’s warmth, smooth skin under his hand, the tickle of Jake’s chest hair, the way Jake had shivered and then held Rye tighter. The... way his own arousal had stirred. In that good way he really still wasn’t used to yet.
Heat rushed lower, and he felt it again—a gentle tug, a throb as his shaft began to harden. He screwed his eyes shut, waiting for a familiar wave of shame and unpleasantness, but it didn’t come. Instead, there was warmth. And love. And some odd anticipation, his heart racing.
Had Jake felt the same thing? And what had Rye’s touch felt like for Jake?
Maybe he’d be bold enough, ready enough, soon. Maybe he’d be able to let Jake touch him soon. Because he really wanted to find out.
Jake had moaned. The sound replayed in Rye’s ears, deep and low andneedy. And Rye couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to know.
His fingers brushed along his stomach, up under his shirt, taking the same path he’d taken when touching Jake over an hour ago now. Along the line above his pajama pants and then up to his chest. He shivered and turned his head to muffle a moan into his pillow as his arousal throbbed again.
God, he’d never . . .
He shifted onto his side, facing away from the door, and his hand slipped down under the hem of his pants, under his boxer briefs, until he was touching himself, running his open palm down his shaft. It pulsed, growing harder, longer, hotter, and he buried his head in his pillow and moaned again, unable to stop himself.
It felt good.
He’d never voluntarily touched himself like this before. He’d never wanted to. But he forced away all the thoughts about why that was, and he let himself imagine Jake. Jake’s perfect, solid, muscular chest that Rye couldn’t wait to get to see, now that he’d felt it. Jake’s strong arms holding him, Jake’s lips kissing him softly and then maybe not quite as softly. Jake’s... love.
“Ah, mmm, mmm...” The nonsense words left his mouth on a sharp breath, followed almost immediately by another moan, which he again tried to muffle into his pillow. And he let his hand close around his shaft this time.
He pumped once.
“I love you.”
And then again.
“I love this.”
And one more time.
“I love us.”
