Page 99 of The Shots You Take

Riley’s stomach dropped. This was it. This was when Adam would get weird about what they’d done. The thought hit him so forcefully, Riley almost scrambled off the bed and out of the room. Everything he’d been so happy about a moment ago crumbled apart.

Then Adam smiled. “Sorry. I just really need to pee.”

“Oh,” Riley said. Then,“Oh.”He rolled off Adam, but still felt gripped by anxiety. Even as Adam kissed his cheek beforeleaving the bed, naked. Even as Adam gave his ass a playful wiggle before he left the room.

Riley exhaled into the empty room. Things were going to be okay. Adam was still here, and he still wanted Riley.

He’d settled himself by the time Adam returned. Now Riley could fully appreciate how stunning Adam looked, naked in the morning sunshine.

“I feel like either I should put clothes on, or you should take clothes off,” Adam said. He stood beside the bed, hands on his hips, and his cock mostly soft now.

Riley removed the sweats he’d pulled on to go outside. “Better?”

“Unless you want to put that hot little silk robe on again.”

“You liked that, did you?” Riley had never known Adam to wear anything but drab, conservative colors. He wondered if his clothing choices had been motivated by fear too. Maybe Adam secretly wanted to drape himself in splashy flowers and jewel tones.

“Mm.” Adam planted one knee on the bed, then leaned in to kiss him. “I like you in anything.”

Riley was so relieved by the kiss that he let out a deranged-sounding giggle. Adam pulled back. “You all right?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m good. I’m just… I don’t know. Never mind.” He tried to kiss Adam again, but Adam pulled back farther.

Riley closed his eyes, but opened them again when Adam placed a hand on the side of his face. “Hey,” Adam said gently.

Riley blinked and swallowed. He was pretty sure he was trembling. Fuck, he wished he could process a single emotion without feeling like he was going to explode.

“I wish I didn’t have to go to work today.” It was the easiest thought he could share. Easier than“I don’t want you to leave,”or,“Does this end after you leave?”

“I wish you didn’t either,” Adam said with a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay, though. We have tonight. And…”

“And…” Riley smiled as Adam leaned in.

“We have right now,” Adam said, then captured Riley’s lips.

Riley fell back on the bed and pulled Adam on top of him. Adam laughed against his mouth, then kept kissing him. His lips were soft and he tasted like mouthwash. Riley’s brain, never one to just enjoy a moment, tried to compare the way Adam kissed now to how he’d kissedthen. In their twenties, Adam’s kisses had always felt tinged with something: fear, or anger, or shame. But there’d also always been a hunger to them, something wild and desperate that Riley had fucking loved.

The way Adam was kissing him now—when both of their smiles were contained enough to actually kiss—was different. There was no fear, or anger, or shame. There was hunger, but it didn’t feel like desperation. It felt like reverence.

Adam let out a grunt that didn’t sound like pleasure. Carefully, Riley rolled them so Adam was on his back. Then he wedged a pillow under Adam’s left shoulder.

“Good?” Riley asked.

“Yeah. Thanks. Come here.”

Riley kissed him, taking control. They were both hard, but Riley was in no hurry as he explored Adam’s mouth. Their hands were clasped together, next to Adam’s head, and Riley used his other arm to prop himself up. Adam’s left hand caressed Riley’s lower back, making Riley’s blood sing. He moaned as Adam kissed his neck, loving that Adam remembered how much Riley loved that.

Adam moaned too, and Riley realized Adam was thrusting against him. Riley raised his hips, just out of reach. “Be patient,” he scolded.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to be patient.”

Adam’s eyes widened, and for a moment he stared at Riley, lips parted. Then he said, “Fuck, that’s really hot.”

Slowly, Riley lowered his hips until their cocks were touching again. “Are you going to behave?”

Adam smiled. “Is this what you’re like in bed now? Bossy? I’m really into it.”

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