Free We Found Love by Kade Boehme, Allison Cassatta

can kiss me again, if you want.”
    Absolute silence followed. No shifting of bodies or the rustling of sheets. No quiet acknowledgement, not even a soft and kindly offered rejection. This time, Riley couldn’t help but open his eyes, and he found Hunter lying on his side, staring so hard it hitched Riley’s breath. And before he could inhale again, Hunter’s mouth crushed to his.
    The kiss was hungry and greedy and so hot that sensations Riley hadn’t experienced in a while rocketed down to his crotch. But it wasn’t until Hunter’s tongue plunged deep into his mouth that Riley had to reach down between them and get a handful while silently praying the hint of pressure eased the ache.
    Their bodies curled around each other, Hunter’s arms encircled Riley, holding him wholly, and Hunter shifted until he lay on top, blanketing Riley. Soft moans left the press of their mouths. Riley wasn’t sure who’d made the sound. Maybe they’d moaned in unison. Maybe Hunter’s heart raced like his. Maybe Hunter craved what he craved. When Riley felt his thigh slip between Hunter’s legs and the grinding of a hard bulge, he knew Hunter wanted exactly what he wanted.
     
     
    H UNTER LICKED into Riley’s mouth. He tasted so real, so alive, like the cheap toothpaste the hospital provided and the disgusting fruit punch that seemed to be free flowing in the godforsaken common room. When Riley’s leg ground into Hunter’s aching crotch he thought he might lose it right there. It’d been such a long time, unless he’d hooked up with someone the night he was admitted for the OD. He didn’t remember much about that night.
    Just thinking about that night sucked some of the joy from dry humping Riley’s strong thigh. Then Hunter opened his eyes and saw just how lost Riley was in the moment and realized this could easily be something they regretted in short order if they did more than swap spit.
    Fuck. When did he become noble? He was easily the… well, easiest guy he knew. He didn’t know why his brain was coming back online and telling him No! Stop! Mayday! All he did know was he never wanted Riley to look at him like Hunter had disappointed him. And getting in his pants the first time they got alone time together seemed like one of those things that wouldn’t prove him worthy of Riley’s friendship. Not when Hunter hadn’t even told anything about himself, while Riley had opened his own wounds and bled in Hunter’s arms, shown Hunter his forbidden wing and something he considered magic, an escape he’d shown no one else.
    Hunter disengaged and pulled his head back, though Riley must have known it was coming because he’d already opened his eyes and gentled his kisses.
    “You okay?” Riley asked.
    “We, uh…. We shouldn’t….”
    “Is it me?”
    Shit. “No.” Hunter rubbed his knuckles gently down the side of Riley’s pinkened cheeks, cheeks flushed from kisses and arousal. That didn’t help cool Hunter’s ardor. Fuck. Could this guy get any more beautiful? “No, it’s not you. Not at all. I just… I don’t think it’s the right time.”
    “Or place, huh?” Riley’s expression had grown dark, shuttering against Hunter.
    No, no, no!
    “Hey, don’t think on it. This is all me. I’m just… I want to do right by you, y’know?” Hunter looked away, embarrassed at how sentimental that statement had been. “You’re my friend, first person I would say that about in a long time.” He looked back at Riley, whose gaze was intense. “I don’t know why, okay? I just don’t want to fuck up with you.”
    “I get that.” Riley licked his already kiss-glistening lip. Dear. Fucking. God. He swallowed and gave Hunter one of the most forced smiles he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry for… telling you to kiss me, I guess.” Riley frowned. “I mean, I’m not sorry for the kiss, but I… I think I’m going to shut up now.” He snorted out a light laugh.
    Hunter grunted as he dropped his forehead to Riley’s