Mom (8:35 p.m.):We just got back on the ship! We’re having a great time! Last stop is tomorrow in Sitka (oh, then Victoria on Thursday), and then we’ll be back on land on Friday, home Saturday.
Mom (8:36 p.m.):I miss you so much, and I can’t wait to see you!!!
Mom (8:42 p.m.):Tanya and Jon say hi, but they’re off to catch a show. I’m heading to dinner, then turning in early.
Mom (8:43 p.m.):Love you!!! <3 <3 <3
Rye glanced at the clock in the top right-hand corner of his phone screen and frowned. “Mom texted an hour ago, and I missed it. She’s probably been worrying the entire time.”
Jake hummed a noncommittal response but continued trailing a path of fluttery kisses along Rye’s jaw and then down to Rye’s neck. Each kiss was slower than the last as Jake worked his way down to the base of Rye’s neck, and Rye moaned and tilted his head back.
“Mmm, andthisis why I missed her texts. Think I should tell her that? Sorry, Mom, I didn’t hear the notifications on my phone because Jake was—” Rye sucked in a breath as Jake did something different, he wasn’t evenquite sure what—but it was warm and a little wet, and it sent a rush of heat to Rye’s groin. “Ahh.”
He dropped the phone on the couch behind him and then returned his hand to Jake’s chest. His toes curled as Jake did the same thing again—hot and wet and with a little pressure right at the base of Rye’s neck. Maybe he was... using his tongue. Tasting Rye’s skin. Licking and sucking and—
The mental image sent another rush of heat through him, and this time, Rye groaned. Jake seemed to back off then, his kisses softening and beginning to work their way back up Rye’s neck. And when Jake reached Rye’s jawline, he paused and hummed against Rye’s skin.
“You should probably text her back so she doesn’t worry,” Jake murmured, his lips still close. The heat of his breath warmed Rye’s cheek.
“Mmm, yeah.”
Reluctantly, Rye pulled back and shifted to face away from Jake while picking up his phone. He sent a quick text to his mom, though it would have been quicker if Jake’s fingers hadn’t teased along the curve of his neck, brushing his hair back to give Jake’s lips a path to kiss.
Rye hurriedly hit send and tossed his phone back on the couch. Then he scooted backward until he was leaning up against Jake’s solid chest. Jake’s arm slipped around Rye’s midsection.
“Is this okay?” Jake asked, his lips still grazing Rye’s neck as his fingers began tracing a path low along Rye’s stomach, over the top of Rye’s T-shirt.
It was. It was more than okay. It was incredible. In fact, Ryealmostsaid it wasn’t enough, he wanted more. Instead, he just nodded and breathed a shaky “yes,” and Jake continued with his slow, gentle exploration.
Their last few days together had ended much like this. In the mornings, they’d gotten up, followed Jake’s morning routine, and had breakfast. Afterward, Rye had gone to work, and at lunchtime, Jake had come back into town to meet him. When he’d gotten home after work, they’d cooked dinner together, watched some TV or played video games with Phil online, and then... cuddled on the couch. Usually kind of late, usually until Rye had fallen asleep in Jake’s arms, with Jake lightly tracing his fingers up and down Rye’s forearm.
Jake had continued to be so patient and careful with him, especially after last week. But they hadn’t shied away from starting to explore each other more. Rye had discovered how much he loved the feel of running his fingers through Jake’s chest hair, and Jake seemed to be obsessed with kissing every inch of Rye’s neck.
Rye longed for more, though. And he was pretty sure Jake did too, although Jake hadn’t made it obvious and had never, ever pushed him for something he didn’t feel ready for.
He hadn’t touched himself again after that first night, but every night when he’d gone to bed, he’d thought about it. And he’d thought about how it might feel to touch Jake. Or to have Jake touchhim.
Jake’s hand paused, his palm flat against Rye’s stomach, and Rye let out a low moan and tilted his head back and to the side to give Jake more room to keep kissing his neck. Jake obliged, and he did that thing again, probably with his tongue, that had Rye’s heart racing and his breath short.
“Do that again,” he said, and then he groaned as Jake complied. Itwashis tongue, hot and wet, swirling inthat spot. Heady desire tugged at him, and he wanted something more. Something else.Something.
He brought his hand up to rest on top of Jake’s, and he held his breath as he slowly directed Jake’s hand, first out to his hip and then down under the hem of his shirt. Jake paused, however, his lips still caressing Rye’s neck, as the tips of his fingers met the bare skin of Rye’s stomach.
“You’re sure?” Jake whispered against him, and Rye nodded.
“Yes,” he said. Then he sucked in a breath through his teeth and closed his eyes as Jake hummed against his skin and... continued on. Warm fingers stroked lightly but confidently just above the waistband of Rye’s pajama pants.
“Still okay?”
“Yes,” he repeated.
“M’kay.”
Rye took a long, slow breath to try to steady himself, but when Jake’s fingertips grazed across his skin again, he suddenly felt so warm and tingly all over, his skin buzzing, seared from the touch.
“Oh, that’s—that’s good,” he said, and another moan escaped him as he brought his hand up to thread his fingers through Jake’s hair.
Jake kissed him again and again, lightly, slowly, sensually, and Rye melted back into him, enjoying every second. When Jake paused, his hand starting to drift upward carefully, Rye preemptively nodded and breathed out a rough “please,” giving his consent.
