Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

desire talking. It left West breathless and trembling, as dazed as his first kiss ever. It was what West had been longing for, dreaming about, what he'd wanted when he was twelve and didn't really know what desire meant, what he'd wanted from that hesitant first kiss six years ago and what he'd wanted tonight in Riley's bed. Riley's hands in his hair and tongue in his mouth, the soft movement of lips and the rising feeling of desire and excitement that made his heart pound in his chest.
    It was one hell of a kiss.
    They were both giggling when they parted. "We're making out in front of a church," West whispered and rested his forehead on Riley's shoulder.
    Riley stroked his hair. "In front of St. Francis, too." He cupped West's face in his hands and kissed him again. West swayed closer, not wanting to be any farther away from Riley than he had to be. "You're soaked, Westie. Let's go home."
    West nodded, glad he didn't have to drive. He wasn't sure he could focus on anything but Riley long enough to get them home safely. "Take me home."
    ****
    Back in the apartment, Riley ordered West into a hot shower and to take some zinc. Riley's caretaker streak made West smile, so he took the lozenge without complaint, peeled off his wet clothes and tossed them into the washer, then padded to the bathroom and started the shower running. The hot water warmed and relaxed him, and he stood under the spray with his head tilted back until Riley knocked on the door.
    "Westie? You okay in there?"
    "Dozing off," West admitted and quickly scrubbed himself from his leafy hair to his no-longer cold toes. When he got out of the shower he had to smile again— Riley had laid out a bathrobe and thick socks for him, along with his usual PJs of a T-shirt and flannel sleep pants.
    "You're really determined to look after me," he remarked when he came to the kitchen, fully dressed as Riley had prescribed, a towel in hand to dry his hair.
    "Of course," said Riley with a nod. He pointed to the mugs on the table. "I made hot cocoa. We don't have any marshmallows, though."
    "Thanks." West sat at the table and wrapped his hands around the hot ceramic mug. They both leaned against the counter and sipped, sneaking looks at each other.
    Riley was the first to put his mug down. "Okay. Cards on the table. When you kissed me that time at Bowling Green, I didn't stop you because I didn't want you to kiss me. I stopped you because you were dating someone."
    "I was dating a couple someones," said West. "I haven't had very many committed relationships."
    "I guess I should have said something."
    "It would have helped. You've always dated girls."
    "That you knew about." West raised his eyebrows and Riley shrugged. "I've experimented some. Musicians, dude. Up for anything."
    West chuckled, his hands wrapped around the warm mug.
    "I didn't figure it out as young as you did," Riley said. "Being bi's hard. You're always questioning yourself and everybody's always questioning you, like you have to be either-or. But I did figure it out, I got to know me, and I'm satisfied with that. I like women, I like men, and I really like you. Anybody who thinks that isn't real can go fuck themselves."
    West chuckled again, and then took a deep breath. "Cards on the table. I've loved you forever."
    Riley inhaled audibly.
    "I thought if I said so, I'd lose you, and I wanted to be your friend more than I wanted anything else. I always thought I'd get over you if I found the right guy, but I've never found the right guy." He looked at Riley finally. "There's no getting over you, Riley Cooper."
    Riley smiled, his beautiful smile, West's favorite of his smiles. "I know I should let you sleep tonight. I know you've got work and classes tomorrow. But I don't want to not be near you tonight, you know?"
    West's breath caught. "I know."
    "I kind of feel like if I don't touch you soon I'm going to go crazy," Riley confessed and snuck a look at him again. West held out his hand and Riley took it. His skin was hot from holding the mug and his hand trembled a little, and Riley inhaled sharply when West ran a thumb over the inside of his wrist.
    "I think," West said slowly, "I can miss a few more hours of sleep if you can."
    "Yeah," Riley breathed, "I can do that," and his fingers clutched West's bathrobe and hauled him close, and he kissed West like he'd never have the chance again.
    "Your bed or mine?" Riley whispered and ran his teeth lightly over West's lower lip.
    West laughed. "Or kitchen