The temperature is perfect. The weather has been in the high eighties, so the water is cool and refreshing instead of boiling me alive like it would if the desert were at its summer peak. I allow myself to hover weightlessly under the water for a momentbefore breaking the surface and shaking my head back and forth like a dog. My heart soars when I look over to find Riley’s lips turned up in the slightest grin, shaking his head at me.
“You gonna join me, or just lie there looking like a snack all day?” I call out.
His tongue sneaks out to swipe over his plush bottom lip before he takes a swig of his water, tilting his head to consider me. I give him my cheesiest, toothiest grin in return, kicking my legs up to float on my back and letting the goods all hang out.
Riley’s grin turns into a chuckle that he tries to hide with an exasperated sigh, but I know I’ve got him. I turn away to avoid the splash from his cannonball into the water, grinning as I watch him swim to the other end of the pool and back before surfacing. Taking a risk, I reach a foot out under the water to hook my ankle with his and pull him closer to me. He allows it and straddles my left thigh, placing both his hands lightly on my shoulders for balance. My cock starts to fill at his close proximity, and I hope he doesn’t notice.
“Hi,” I whisper, touching my forehead to his and reaching up to sweep a strand of wet hair off his face.
“Hi,” he whispers back, throat bobbing on a swallow. The motion of the water is gently rocking him on my thigh, and I wish he were naked, too.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” I say gruffly, sliding my index finger just beneath the fabric.
“Hmm…you think so?” He’s giving me a coy smirk, and my relief at the sight of it is a weight off my chest.Thisfeels like before. Like we’re finally back on the same page. I’ve spent the past few weeks drifting so far away from him, and with one smile, I suddenly feel grounded again.
“Mmhmm.” I slide both hands down the back of his Speedo to cup his pert ass, giving his cheeks a squeeze.
He laughs and shakes his head at me, pulling back to stand and remove the offending fabric, tossing it onto the concrete with a wetslapbefore wrapping both legs around my waist this time. His cock fits perfectly next to mine; he’s half-hard. Placing his hands on either side of my neck, he caresses my jaw with his thumbs as he looks deep into my eyes, like he’s searching for something in my gaze. His lips part as if he wants to say something, but instead, he closes the distance between us and brushes his lips ever so softly over mine. I don’t move, don’t even breathe out of fear that somehow, I’ll fuck this up, too.
Pulling back slightly, Riley gives me that searching look once more, and I want so badly to ask what he’s looking for. Sweeping his thumbs along my stubbled jaw, he leans forward and lightly kisses the tip of my nose, then my cheeks, then my temple. His hips are grinding against me slowly now, and as always, I follow his lead. The feel of his smooth, sun-kissed skin pressed up against me, and our cocks sliding together has me at the edge of pleasure in no time, and I gently place my hands on his hips to stop his movement.
“Sorry,” I say softly. “I’ll come like this if you keep doing that, and I don’t think the homeowners would appreciate that too much.”
Riley cocks an eyebrow and tilts his head adorably. “They own a rental home in Palm Springs; I’m sure we wouldn’t be the first ones to come in this pool.”
I toss my head back and laugh at that, because he definitely has a point. “Touché. But still. We can save that for later.” My stomach growls between us.
“Sounds like we need to see about finding you some dinner,” Riley agrees.
“God, who knew the best Brussels sprouts in the world were in Palm Springs?” Riley asks, collapsing back onto our California king bed and rubbing a hand over his toned stomach dramatically.
I flop down face-first next to him, pleased when he lifts an arm to accommodate me snuggling up to his side. I tuck my chin into the space between his shoulder and neck and breathe in the scent of sunshine and chlorine. If home were a person, it would be Riley Cunningham. And it feels so good to finally be home after whatever I did to us these past couple of weeks.
“I didn’t even know IlikedBrussels sprouts,” Riley continues, trailing his fingers along my spine and up into my hair before walking them back down again and resting his open palm on my ass, almost possessively. “Who knew the secret was some bacon grease and chili powder.”
“Mmm,” I sigh noncommittally into his neck. He wraps his other arm around me, turning his body into mine, cocooning me. I don’t care about Brussels sprouts right now. I don’t care about anything happening outside of this bed, because everything I need is right here.
Dinner was all easy conversation and even some laughter, and it proved that we just needed some time away together to fix everything that I broke. I haven’t fucked it up irrevocably yet.
“Sleepy boy,” Riley chuckles, resting his cheek on the top of my head.
The surge of affection that ripples through my bloodstream at the tenderness in his voice suddenly makes me want to cry. The warmth and security I feel in his arms is something I’ve longed for as long as I can remember. Riley is the sun, and I’ve spent my whole life drifting and alone until he pulled me into his orbit.
I make a soft, needy sound in the back of my throat and try to pull him closer. But no matter how close we get, it’s not enough. I need him inside me, need him filling up that emptiness in me the way that only he can.
“What do you need, babe?” Riley whispers into my hair, one hand coming up to grip the back of my neck gently, but firmly.
Without words, I guide his hand on my ass inward so that his fingers are dipping into my crease over the fabric of my shorts.
“Okay,” he says softly, understanding. He carefully lifts my chin to look me in the eyes before he says, “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.” And then our lips meet in the most tender kiss.
We take our time undressing one another, and I drink him in, attempting to memorize the little constellation of freckles scattered across his left pec, the dip of his belly button, and the gentle curve of his cock when it’s fully erect. I study the sage green of his eyes and the way his chestnut waves are beginning to grow out around his ears now, his full pink lips, and the soft roundness of his face, so young and earnest. Everything about him is perfect. He’s perfect for me.
“Lie back for me, babe,” he instructs, pushing my thighs wide and sliding one finger inside of me right away.
I groan at the sensation of being filled, but I need more. Crouched at my haunches, he’s too far away still, and I reach for him. “Come here, baby, I need to kiss you,” I plead. “Please let me kiss you.”
He obliges, leaning forward to press his lips reverently to mine as he slips a second finger inside me. Our tongues entwineas he takes his time opening me up, so gentle and so slow, worshipping my body like he thinks I’m this fragile thing that might break apart.
