Page 125 of The Shots You Take

Riley snapped Adam’s waistband. “Take these off.” Then he pulled his own shirt off. In a few seconds, Riley was naked. Adam left the robe on.

“Don’t get it dirty,” Adam warned.

Riley chuckled. “Then don’t come.” He went back to stroking him, and Adam melted against him. They both watched their reflections, Adam’s gaze darting between where Riley’s hand was working him, and Riley’s face. Riley’s eyes were hazy with arousal, his jaw set as if he was struggling to holdback. He was rocking his erection against Adam’s ass, against the silk, and, god, that probably felt incredible. Adam would have to try it.

“So good. I missed you so much, Riles.”

“Missed you too. Fucking dreamed about this.”

“Yeah? Me too. Couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Riley grunted and stroked him faster.

“Fuck,” Adam panted after not nearly long enough. “I’m getting close.”

For a moment, he thought Riley, seemingly lost in his own bliss, hadn’t heard him. Adam was quickly reaching the moment when warnings wouldn’t matter anymore, when, with a frustrated huff, Riley released him and took a step back.

Adam squeezed his eyes shut, trying to come back from the brink. “Holy shit,” he gasped.

“Yeah. Fuck. Me too.”

Adam opened his eyes and saw Riley squeezing the base of his own erection. Adam turned to face him properly and put a hand on Riley’s hip.

“Don’t,” Riley gritted out. “Wait.”

“Really?”

Riley laughed shakily. “You look too fucking good like that.”

Adam let the robe drop to the floor. “How about now?”

“Fucking hell.”

This time they tried it with Adam bent over the bed, his forearms resting on a big pillow, and Riley standing behind him. It was, Adam was happy to learn, extremely successful, with Riley holding him with firm hands and driving into him with exactly the right balance of strength and caution. Yes, Adam’s shoulder complained a bit, but he would be throwing it in the garbage tomorrow, so who cared?

After, they cuddled in bed, both naked and sleepy. DespiteAdam’s earlier desire to have “so much sex tonight,” he wasn’t in his twenties, and neither was Riley. Instead, he rested his head on Riley’s chest and mourned all the lost years he could have had this every night.

“I’m sorry I was such an asshole to you,” Adam said.

“What? When? I’ve got no complaints about what we just did.”

“Back when we played together.”

There was a tense silence, then Riley said, “We were young. We were both assholes.”

Adam raised his head. “I was definitely worse.”

Riley held his gaze. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not angry anymore. I forgive you, and I forgive myself. And, Shep? That’s a fucking amazing feeling.”

Adam swallowed hard. “I’m really glad to hear that.” He wasn’t quite ready to forgive himself, but knowing Riley had let go of his anger would help. He wanted to give him something in return; something honest and sweet.

“The first time I ever kissed you was terrifying. It felt so huge andgoodand, I don’t know. It was scary, but it was also, like, the best thing I’d ever felt.”

Riley’s fingers paused where they’d been stroking Adam’s stomach. “Same. All of that.”

“You’d kissed guys before, though.”

Riley was silent a moment. “You were different,” he said finally.

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