Page 35 of The Shots You Take

Riley kept smiling, though his chest suddenly hurt. The thing was, Adam told Riley he loved him all the time, but he said it therightway. The way that was acceptable. Riley had said it only once, and it had been the wrong way.

So he didn’t say it back now either.

Adam’s expression turned serious, and for a moment, he looked confused. His gaze fell to Riley’s lips, and his brow furrowed.

Then he laughed and let go of Riley’s face. “Fuck. I’m hammered.”

Riley managed to smile back. “I know.”

“I’m gonna stop drinking now.”

“Good idea.”

“Yeah.” Adam looked around, then nodded. “Fuck. I live really fucking far away.”

Riley laughed. “Yeah.”

“You live near here.”

“Dude, I have no idea where we even fucking are.”

Adam waved a hand. “We’re at that club that’s fucking…near you. It’s called…fuck, I don’t know. It’s near you.”

Even drunk, Riley could see where this was going.

“Can I crash at your place? I don’t—I don’t want to go home like this, y’know?”

It would hardly be the first time. Riley lived close to the arena, and sometimes Adam would stay in his guest room whenit was convenient. Absolutely nothing sexual had happened between them for years, and Riley had no reason to think tonight would be different.

“Yeah,” he said, “all right.”

* * *

“We won the fucking Cup,” Adam panted against Riley’s lips. He had Riley pinned against the wall, just inside the door of his apartment.

“I know,” Riley said, then kissed him hungrily. He hadn’t dared to hope for this, not after so many years. Not after Adam making it clear he’d never feel the same way as Riley did.

“Oh fuck,” Adam gasped. He was already rock-hard and grinding into Riley. “I fucking want you so bad, Riles. Missed you.”

Those words made Riley’s blood sing. “I missed you too. God, Shep. I fucking missed you.”

Riley wasn’t drunk enough to not know how wrong this was. But he’d wanted it for so long, and he’d been turned on for hours, and he had no defenses left. This feltright.

They stumbled their way to Riley’s bed, grabbing each other and kissing along the way. When Adam was spread out naked on the bed, he grinned up at Riley and said, “We won the Cup.” That sent Riley into a giggle fit, but he did his best to kiss Adam everywhere while they both shook with laughter.

Later, when Adam was fucking him, Riley could only think about how perfect it was. The man he loved was in his bed, insidehim, and the dagger hanging over them faded away. There would be a mess to clean up later, but Riley was sure they would clean it up together. Adam couldn’t deny them this anymore. It would be impossible now.

“Riles,” Adam panted as he thrust into him. “So good.”

“I know,” Riley agreed. “I know.”

A few minutes later, it was over. Adam was on his back besideRiley, his eyes closed and his breathing heavy. Riley was on his side, brushing Adam’s damp hair away from his face. The words were on the tip of Riley’s tongue, and Riley almost had the courage to say them. To try them again.

But then, Adam’s eyes opened, and Riley knew immediately that the switch inside him had flipped.

Adam sat up with a jolt. “Fuck,” he said, his voice shaking with fear. “No.Fuck.” He scrambled out of bed and swore to himself as he searched for his underwear.

Riley’s stomach sank like a stone. Adam wasn’t going to choose him. Not ever. And he’d been a fucking idiot to think he ever would.

---