Page 39 of Where the River Meets the Skye

River laughed slightly and nuzzled his nose into the side of Skye’s neck. “Hey, Skye?” he said, “I don’t think I’m straight.”

Skye was laughing now. “Thank God,” he said, and gripped River tighter. “Remind me to send Anna a fruit basket, by the way.”

River chuckled and tightened his grip, too. “I love you, Skye,” he whispered, his lips brushing the skin of Skye’s neck and sending another shiver down his spine.

“I love you too, angel,” Skye whispered back.

CHAPTER 16

Skye

Skye couldn’t help feeling conflicted as he drove the Newport to Cincinnati with River in the passenger seat next to him. They were on their way to a funeral for someone that they truly cared about, the person who had been most important in River’s life since he was a child, and he knew he should be feeling sad, but he couldn’t keep the smile from his face. And yeah, that made him feel a bit guilty. But when he looked over to see that River was smiling, too, some of that guilt dissipated.

“It’s okay to be happy, Skye,” River told him, blushing. “I’m happy, too.”

Skye’s smile widened as he reached over to take River’s hand. And when their fingers intertwined this time, he wasn’t confused, just breathless at how wonderful it felt to have River’s soft, strong hand in his, right where it belonged. “I feel like we shouldn’t be going to a funeral with smiles on our faces.”

“Yeah.” River squeezed his hand, and almost as if on cue, his smile faltered. “Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about how much Aunt Jodi would have loved to see us together, and she’ll never get to now.” He sighed and turned his gaze towards the window. Through the reflection Skye could see a tear slide down his cheek. “I miss her, Skye. I miss her so much it hurts to breathe sometimes.”

“I know, Riv,” Skye said, softly, squeezing his hand again. “Me, too. She was an incredible woman.” Skye wished he could say more, do more. He knew River would be hurting for a long time, even if he wasn’t showing it. Losing Jodi was devastating, but what did you say when your best friend lost the only family they had left? There were no words that would make it better, easier. Just love and support. That’s all he had to offer, and he hoped it would be enough to help River through the grieving process, however long that took.

River looked back at him. “I’m really glad you’re here, though. Making this drive by myself, honestly I don't know how I would have done it. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course.” Skye wished he could reach over and plant a kiss on River’s forehead, but that would have to wait. Honestly he was still reeling from the fact that River was his boyfriend now. His boyfriend. How on earth did that happen? How did he get so lucky? River actually liked him back. River loved him back. For real. This was real. They were together. Part of him was convinced it was all a dream.

He knew he needed to focus on the funeral right now, and on River, and helping him grieve, but at least now he knew where he stood. At least he could support him as a boyfriend now, and not just as a friend. He knew he could hold River, and kiss River, and take River’s hand in his, and know that it wasn’t platonic, and that River wanted him to do those things, just as much as Skye wanted to do them. Well, he was pretty sure at least.

“Hey, Riv,” he asked, clearing his throat.

“Hmm?” River turned to look at him again. Skye kept his gaze on the road but continued to hold River’s hand.

“I don’t know if this is the right time to bring this up, so if it’s not, just tell me, but, as far as physical boundaries go, I mean…I know sex is off the table for a couple of reasons, and that’s fine. I get that, and I respect it, but…I uh…” he slid his hand out of River’s now and used it to rub the back of his neck. This felt awkward as hell, but he knew he needed to say it. “I mean, is there anything else that you don’t want me to do, or…” he glanced over at River, who was biting his bottom lip in that way that made Skye want to pull it free and nibble on it, his blue eyes dancing with humor, and Skye relaxed.

“I’m fine with mostly everything. As long as you aren’t touching my crotch, or trying to take my pants off, we’re good.”

“Can I touch your ass?” he asked, just to make sure. River flushed and nodded, and Skye grinned. “Okay, I think I can manage that. Let me know if anything changes.” He reached over and took River’s hand again, planting a kiss on it before resting both of their hands against the seat once more.

“Speaking of my ass,” River said, the word sounding strange on his lips, “it’s kind of hurting. And by kind of, I mean a lot. Can we stop somewhere soon so I can get up and walk around for a bit?”

“Sure, angel.” Skye kissed his hand again.

River flushed. “You’ve been calling me that for years. Why?”

“Don’t like it?” Skye glanced at him.

“No. I do like it. I like it a lot, actually.” He shrugged. “Just not sure I deserve it.”

“People don’t deserve pet names, Riv. I call you angel because you are the best person I know,” Skye told him. “You’re my angel. And you gotta stop thinking you don’t deserve shit. Or that you aren’t worthy of good things. Cause you are. Sure you’re a mess, but so is everyone. I know what those bastards did to you in high school made you think less of yourself, made you feel like you aren’t good enough, but I’m telling you you are, okay? What they did is a reflection on them, not you. You are not less worthy or less loveable, or less anything because of your past. And you don’t have to be perfect or have it all together to be worthy of love. I’m no scholar but isn’t that what the Bible teaches? Isn’t that what you told me our freshman year? That we’re all created in God’s image? Fearfully and wonderfully made exactly as we are? Not perfect, but good. So how can you view yourself as less worthy or deserving than anyone else? As far as I’m concerned you are the most worthy person in the world.”

River stared at him for a moment before he wiped his eyes. “Can’t believe you are the one giving me Bible lessons.”

Skye grinned. “I do overhear some of those sermons you’ve been listening to online. And I have read the Bible on occasion.”

“Was that because you had a crush on me, or because you were genuinely curious?” River smirked at him, and his eyes twinkled.

It was Skye’s turn to smirk as he pulled into the gas station and parked the car. “A little bit of both. I wanted to understand why it was so important to you, because you are important to me.” He turned off the car. “And it wasn’t a crush. Crushes are for high schoolers. I was and am, head over heels in love with you.”

River smiled and unbuckled his seat belt. But instead of getting out of the Newport like Skye expected, he scooted across the center seat and pressed his lips to Skye’s. River kissed him hard and long, pushing himself up on his knees, his hands on either side of Skye’s face. Tilting Skye's head just right, he deepened the kiss, and Skye felt River’s warm, wet tongue sliding along his lower lip. He moaned and opened for his boyfriend. River slid inside, slowly, hesitantly at first, but then he was kissing Skye harder, sucking on his tongue. Heat flooded Skye’s body, causing his cock to throb in his jeans and press painfully against his zipper. River tasted like peppermint, and mocha, and Skye couldn't get enough. His hands gripped River’s waist as their tongues danced, and he felt his boyfriend’s fingers running through his hair briefly, before he pulled away, both of them flushed and breathing heavily. River smiled dreamily at him, his eyes hooded.

---