Oh God.
“He is. Let’s start again, you and I. I’m sorry for what’s gone before. But hurt my boy and you’ll see how awesome I can be. Understand?”
“Ditto,” Newt snapped.
River hadn’t expected Newt to open the door so quickly. It was too late to scuttle back to the bed, so he just smiled.
“Bye, River,” Max said. “I’ll be in touch. I set up your phone. It’s good to go.”
“Fuck off,” River called.
“You’re welcome.” Max headed down the stairs.
Newt closed the bedroom door and turned to River.
“I love you,” River blurted. His heart sparked as he said the words. “You’re the one who’s awesome. You’ve been through so much, dealt with…un…imaginable sadness. You were b…betrayed by those who should have loved you…beyond words, but…you haven’t turned in on yourself, closed yourself off…for fear of being hurt again. You’re strong and brave and loyal and perfect. I want to make your dreams come true.”
Newt pressed his lips together and blinked a lot but River could see his eyes were brimming with tears.
River stepped into his arms. “Life is an…adventure. And I want to go on that adventure with you…wherever it takes us. And if we don’t always get…what we want, I know you’ll stand with me…and we can deal with things together. I don’t care how you came to be with me, I only care that you’re here with me now. Not because your su…suffering isn’t rel…evant. It is. But it’s not you. Not now. I know…that when all else fails, you’ll be there beside me and I love you. I love you so much.”
Newt caught hold of River’s face and held his cheeks in his hands. “Show me how much.”
River laughed. “You’re not going to say it back?”
“I could but I think I’ll make you wait.” Newt peeled off his T-shirt and boxers. “Shower? Oh, are you allowed to get that dressing wet?”
“I have another.”
“Good. Come on. Don’t forget to bring your erection.”
River chuckled as he stripped off his boxers, then followed Newt to the bathroom.
~~~
He loves me.The words nestled in Newt’s heart.He loves me!He turned on the water and stepped into the shower with River on his heels.
“Would youloveme to wash you?” River asked.
Newt smiled. He guessed River’s ploy. “That would be…very acceptable.”
River mock-growled and filled his palm with shower gel. He rubbed his hands together and when they were full of foam, he began to wash Newt, starting with his fingers. He carefully soaped each one, moaning dramatically as he did it, continued onto Newt’s hand, rubbing his thumbs over his palms while increasing the sound of his moans, then worked his way up his arms to his shoulders, while constantly staring into Newt’s eyes.
“You’re going to run out of breath soon, moaning like that,” Newt said.
“You’re right. I p…peaked too soon. I’ll go slower. You’re very…dirty. This will take ages.”
He used both hands to rub Newt’s cheeks, then caressed his throat, squeezing gently and leaning in for a quick kiss. Newt’s chest came in for the same careful treatment. Newt hissed when River tweaked his nipples, but River didn’t touch his cock on the way down to his legs.
“You missed a bit,” Newt said.
“Only a very small bit.”
Newt laughed.
River knelt down to wash Newt’s feet, and Newt was relieved to have the wall to lean back against. River washed his calves, his knees, his thighs but continued to ignore the cock straining right in front of his face.
“Tell me how lovely is that!” River said.
