Drawing the line

[Ryland Ren]

He smiled. Good. That meant he had Aldon right where he wanted him. He could hear the words until he was sick of them. He wanted to hear them over and over again. Just as long as Aldon didn't start using them the way he used that look--that exact one he was giving Ryland right now, as a matter of fact. After Aldon asked his innocent enough question, it was that look. The puppy stare, the one he used whenever he wanted something and he knew it only took a moment for Ryland to respond.

Belly rubs. They seemed like the foundation of their relationship. Ryland didn't even fully remember how it started, either. It was just a thing between them. Ryland certainly didn't go around rubbing all the bellies he saw. Something about that puppy-like appearance made it seem like it might be a thing Aldon would like though, ridiculous as he probably thought it was the first time. Now it was practically a staple of their relationship and Aldon seemed a glutton for it.

His hand ran over Aldon's stomach as he regarded him. He almost did it--almost did something stupid, like tried to bite Aldon. It wouldn't do anything to him; shifters didn't typically change the people they bit, just the way Aldon's bite wouldn't do anything to him. People liked to lump them together but really, werewolves and shifters, they were different in a lot of regards. But they were similar in a lot, too.

While he obliged Aldon's need for belly rubs, he leaned in for another kiss, leading into another and another until he was trailing warm kisses down Aldon's cheek and his jaw and the side of his throat. He kissed his shoulder, too, the place where he thought about biting down hard enough to leave a mark. He didn't but he did let his teeth graze his skin before his kisses started in a downward direction, over the smooth muscle of his chest and down the middle of his abdomen where kisses replaced his hand over his stomach, below his belly button. Hands slid over Aldon's side, up his ribs, down his back, over his hip. Fingers moved over clothing, slipping it down and leaving a kiss on the taut skin over his pelvic bone.

[Aldon Huang]

Belly rubs. All dogs liked a good belly rub. Wolves did too, apparently. Aldon didn't know what it was but it relaxed him. And simultaneously turned him on. It was sort of a weird thing but he supposed that it fit in with the theme of their relationship being anything but normal. He didn't let just anyone touch his stomach or rub it, though, much in the same way that wolves didn't simply roll over for just anybody.

Only Ryland.

Aldon let out a purely canine sound of contentment as Ryland's hand moved against his stomach, spreading warmth along his entire body. His skin tingled, too; it was entirely satisfying. Maybe it even qualified as an erogenous zone, he didn't know, but he knew that he never wanted Ryland to stop. Sighing into the kisses--Ryland was extremely affectionate tonight... and Aldon was content to be loved, as always--he looped an arm around Ryland's shoulders, holding him closely and securely. Nobody was going anywhere. Tonight was all for them; their night to be together as lovers.

"Ahh..." Teeth scraping along his shoulder drew a soft noise. Aldon wasn't into that whole biting scene, the way his friends were, but he liked the juxtaposition of hard and soft. Soft, warm lips, the hard edge of teeth. It felt good. He shifted languorously, letting his leg drift against Ryland's, gently squeezing the back of Ryland's neck and then letting his hand drift down. Aldon's fingertips curled in against Ryland's back as he drifted lower and his hooded, dark eyes followed Ryland's descent with evident interest.

It seemed obvious where Ryland was going. It was obvious that Aldon was pleased by the thought of him getting there. He let a hand drift through the hair at the top of Ryland's head as his own fell back against the pillow slightly, anticipation heating his body, making his limbs feel achey and restless. "Ry... No teasing," Aldon half-sighed as he reached for his pants to push them down himself. Sly fox that he was, Ryland would take his sweet time removing them and Aldon was far too impatient to be teased and tortured.

[Ryland Ren]

One thing that had always been a huge plus in Ryland's book when it came to Aldon was his expressiveness. Now, normally, it could be annoying or even overwhelming but there were times when it was highly amusing or a source of affection. Ryland mostly liked that Aldon was the type of person to vocally speak out his protestations and aired his grievances without the slightest thought put into his words first. It made arguing with him pretty easy, honestly. But it also meant that when it came to lavishing him with attention, Aldon wasn't the slightest bit shy about showing how much he enjoyed it.

Aldon had always been the kind of person who liked to be the center of attention but Ryland got the feeling that he liked being the center of Ryland's attention most. This wasn't some misguided sense of inflated ego, either. Ryland wasn't nearly as attention seeking as Aldon and while he was confident, he would hardly call himself arrogant. Even Aldon, in all his confidence, somehow managed to dodge the arrogant label because of the way his confidence presented itself. He could be way too confident at times. He could even be downright cocky about certain things. His friends were arrogant. They sneered, they looked down on foxes. Aldon might have tried it but it didn't work. Look at him now--at the mercy of a fox.

Every part of Aldon was engaged. His body moved, his head moved, his hands moved. Ryland could feel them, against his back, in his hair. Eyes turned upward as hands impatiently pushed away pants and Ryland smiled to himself, not even bothering to combat him. He let the pants go, let them be thrown at the wayside, along with the rest of their clothes, his own and Aldon's both. His smile lit up his eyes as he looked up at Aldon, hands moving to either thigh. Aldon had nice legs, nice thighs. He knew it, too, but he loved to be flattered and Ryland knew it.

"You're so handsome." His hand stroked Aldon's inner thigh before he slid it up to go back to the belly rubbing. Something else he knew full well--Aldon loved belly rubs but he probably wanted something else now. No teasing. Leaning back up, he kissed Aldon again. A deceptively soft kiss that ended with Aldon's lower lip gently caught between his teeth. Nose to nose, he smiled slyly while his lower body moved against Aldon's. "So cute."

[Aldon Huang]

"You are too," Aldon replied with perfect honesty, reaching down to cup one of Ryland's cheeks as he spoke. Ryland was handsome, too. Of course, Aldon already knew that he was good-looking and he acknowledged the compliment as nothing more than his due. They made a lovely couple, he thought. A handsome couple. The kind of couple people looked at and envied and Aldon did enjoy being envied.

That was why he needed Ryland's attention. Because others wanted it, but only he could have it--all of it. And it was why he couldn't stand the thought of Ryland being with anyone else. He didn't want to envy others; he wanted them to want to be him. Maybe it was petty or childish or plain stupid, but Aldon didn't care. He knew he had a lot of growing up to do still, that he was far from perfect, but...

When Ryland smiled at him like that, he felt pretty damn close to perfection.

"You're teasing me," he murmured in complaint, once his lower lip was freed. He definitely thought that Ryland was going to stay down there but apparently his sly fox had other plans. Aldon licked his lips, tasting his lover. He ached for Ryland, both South of the belt and North of the belly button. His heart, his--little Aldon. Both needed Ryland but admittedly, one more so than the other. Arching his body wantonly up against Ryland and grinding against him lasciviously, Aldon attempted to 'persuade' him with one of his tried and true tactics. His hands slid in opposite directions, one low--to grope--and one high--to bring Ryland's head back down for a slightly more steamy kiss.

"I had a rough day..." Aldon nuzzled the tip of his nose against Ryland's, lips brushing softly, guilt being applied even more softly--albeit craftily. "Rae punched me in the throat..." Aldon tried the puppy eyes again, even as his needy body rose to meet Ryland's once again. "Don't tease..."

[Ryland Ren]

"I know," he said with a cheeky smile. Aldon didn't have to tell him. He heard him say it before and he heard other people say it, too. Again, confidence. Not arrogance. But he still liked to hear it, even if he didn't preen under the words the way Aldon sometimes did. His voice went low and husky as he said it again, "I know."

Because he was most definitely teasing Aldon. Sometimes, when it had been a long time, Ryland hopped right to it. Sometimes, he didn't. Sometimes he felt like playing games, like those silly games while he texted Aldon and led him around by the nose before he showed up at the animal shelter to find him. There was something in the game that made it more fun for him. It was the anticipation, the excitement, the mirth and playful nature of it all... Aldon didn't know it but not everybody actually liked that in a partner. Ryland had never told him why some of his relationships failed; he just let Aldon think it was him.

The real problem was, some people really didn't have the patience to deal with somebody like him. Some people didn't approve of being toyed with. Some people took it as an insult. Some people read it as disinterest and completely misunderstood his intentions. Aldon, however, Aldon knew he was being played with and while he played the injured party well, he knew. He had to know. He had always known.

"Oh, I know, baby. I heard about it," he said, oh-so-sympathetically as he reached up to gently massage Aldon's throat. And to think, he thought about biting it when it was probably still tender. He doubted Aldon would have liked that much. Between Aldon's tone of voice, the big eyes, and the ardent way he moved his body, Ryland had to let out a soft laugh. Mixed signals? Not exactly. But it was definitely getting some wires crossed because the big eyes made him more susceptible to wanting to coddle and cuddle Aldon. And the way he jerked his body against his made him want to do something else.

With his lips pressed gently against Aldon's jaw, his hand slid low, following the path his lips had taken not too long ago. His fingers sought a familiar heat, his hand wrapped around him and stroked him affectionately, which was probably not exactly what Aldon wanted, judging by the way his body seemed to move so restlessly against him.

"Fine. I won't tease. What do you want?" His lips moved to Aldon's ear to whisper options: the obvious, hm? Or would he prefer something more mutual? Did he want to be inside or did he want Ryland inside? Options, options... so many options.

[Aldon Huang]

"It was your fault," Aldon whispered sulkily, cringing a little when Ryland touched a particularly sore spot. His collar had hidden it earlier but now that the clothes were off, the bruise must have been noticeable. And Ryland had to have seen it, with his observant eyes. He always did have that particular knack of reading Aldon--even when Aldon did his damned best to hide things from him. A physical, blatant mark like that was like a flashing neon sign, really.

Yet, still the teasing. Ever the teasing. Aldon wasn't a fox but he liked the games and they both knew it. He was a playful wolf himself, unlike his more intense friends--Rae being the hot head and Josh being... well, Josh. Josh played games too but they were cruel and Aldon didn't particularly enjoy them. Josh was his friend so he turned a blind eye but Aldon didn't have to approve of everything that his friends got up to!

He sighed, half exasperated, half enjoying the attention. It was impossible to dislike being with Ryland in any capacity. Aldon squirmed--inside and out--but he liked that Ryland was teasing him, toying with him, playing with him. This was Ryland at his best, at his foxiest and most desirable. Even the look in his eyes was sly and clever and mischievous, though softened much by affection. What he did, he did out of love, and Ryland could do no wrong tonight.

"Ah--you say that--but--" Aldon rode against Ryland's palm as frustration mounted with so much careful and slow stroking. He raked a slow path down the length of Ryland's back, leading with his nails, their hard edges clipping warm skin. A tortured groan left his parted lips--options, options. Could he have all of it? All at once? Was that physically impossible? Probably.

"I want..." He wanted it all! Aldon ran through each option in turn in his mind and each seemed more appealing than the last. What he really wanted was for Ryland to get on with it but he knew that blurting it out would do him no favors. If anything, it would just make Ryland go slower, tease him more with these sweet, careful touches, until Aldon had enough and flipped him over, or made a break for the bathroom to take matters into his own hands. (Most likely the former than the latter, though--why would he run for the bathroom with his lover right here?)

"I want... you." His smile was childishly pleased, as though he had made a monumental decision--but it was really quite obvious that he wanted Ryland. He wanted Ryland all along. "On top." Aldon's fingers slid low, their tips pressing insistently against the curve of Ryland's ass. It was a nice ass. Oh--it was definitely nice. He remembered ogling Ryland's ass back when they worked together at the theater, when he would make Ryland get all the items at the bottom of the display case just to make him bend over.

"I want... to be inside."

[Ryland Ren]

"I know," he said again with a smirk, because he'd said it like five times in the span of a couple of minutes. He knew--he knew Aldon wanted him. That was why he was here and he was pretty secure in that knowledge. Not that he'd tell Aldon that before he showed up, he wasn't quite so secure. He kept those thoughts to himself because they were nothing but trouble. Aldon didn't need to know that for an agonizing few hours after they split up, all he could think about was how threatened he actually was.

Aldon probably knew that, somewhere deep down. He had to, to point out Ryland's unusual... wolfishness. Foxes might also be territorial in nature but Ryland as a person wasn't. Not generally. That was how he got away playing games with a big, bad wolf. Because he played hot and cold on him all the time, running to him only to run away again, usually with that knowing little smile. No matter how long they spent apart, it felt like they'd always come back together. Nothing could threaten that.

It was kind of cruel, thinking back on it. People were always saying he was a saint, that he had to have the patience of one to deal with the likes of Aldon. But Ryland secretly thought it was the other way around. Aldon wasn't the slippery one. Ryland was. Aldon didn't like the commitment thing, he didn't want to say the words, he didn't want to trap himself. But Ryland wanted him wound around his finger and he wasn't always happy with how their relationship turned out... always thinking Aldon was the one to blame for not being more committed, for not saying the words when he wanted to hear them. But Ryland... Ryland was the one who kept stringing others along in real relationships only to drop them for Aldon when he missed him and he wanted him back.

It was a cruel game. It was also a shitty time to be thinking it, although it had been flitting in and out of his mind during the radio silence between himself and Aldon. Who was he to keep pulling him back in when he was actually moving on--for once? Yet here they were. Aldon was still wrapped around his pinky finger, just like he wanted him to be. Accidental and unintentional as it was, he could see it all from the outside for the first time and he really, really didn't know how Aldon had dealt with it for so long.

But even so, he remained selfish, not letting go of Aldon. Not telling him this is wrong, go. It wasn't wrong when he was the one getting the attention. He looked down at Aldon with a softening gaze. He felt like he was looking at Aldon for the first time. Really looking at him for the first time in a long time. Aldon was definitely a handsome man. It wasn't like he couldn't do better. For all his blustering and adoration of having his ego stroked, Aldon had honest eyes. His expressiveness belied a more serious side that wasn't often easily spied.

"Already there," he said softly. Already on top, right where Aldon wanted him. He moved his body against the hands that wandered low, although he wasn't above a little reminder that he was indeed on top by rounding his hips against Aldon. Stroking him, his expression turned thoughtful; it wasn't new for Aldon to want to be inside or for Ryland to be on top. He was pretty sure Aldon just wanted it because it meant getting right to it--since they were already perfectly positioned for it. After another deep kiss, Ryland gave Aldon one last stroke before rolling off him, making sure to let his foot slide up Aldon's leg as he did so.

"Lube," he said, by way of explanation before rolling over the bed for the bedside table. Lube. Condoms. Aldon's worst enemy next to insults on his appearance. Really, now should be the time for them but for some foolish reason, he left the condoms behind. Not long after, he was climbing back on top of Aldon, slipping a hand covered in lube over Aldon as he continued where he left off. He stole another kiss, slow and sultry.

"I love you, Aldon."

[Aldon Huang]

"What?" Aldon didn't know what that look was in Ryland's eyes, what the marvel and contemplation was about. He blinked almost innocently up at Ryland--for once only up to his usual tricks. Played, tired old tricks that somehow still worked, because Ryland let him get away with things like playing the victim card over and over again, or like the puppy eyes. Why mess with a good thing, right?

Except it wasn't always good. Aldon didn't always get away with murder--only when Ryland let him. He hadn't really cottoned on yet to the fact that he was the one in the trap. He wasn't the spider; he was the fly. A willing fly, but a fly nonetheless. He was just a dumb wolf, nowhere near as sly as a fox. As far as animal instincts went, wolves were fairly direct. It was easy and obvious to tell what Aldon wanted--tummy rubs, attention. The same couldn't always be said of Ryland but perhaps that was what kept Aldon around--what kept him interested, kept him guessing. At least their relationship could never grow stale. He couldn't see himself growing tired or bored of Ryland and they'd been doing this for years now.

It definitely wasn't for everybody, this dynamic that they held, but it was fine for Aldon. He had a short attention span anyway. He needed the stimulation, the chase--after all, he was a born predator and giving chase was what he did best. But his prey couldn't get too far ahead of him. He and Ryland couldn't be separated for too long or other people might start creeping into his field of view, like Gregg and like what happened this time around, when Ryland cut off all ties and Aldon was left to drift on his own.

Aldon let out a whimper when Ryland's hips bore down against him, hands clenching reflexively--an inadvertent grope that turned into an actual grope since his hands were already there. He wasn't desperate but he was getting there, and it didn't look like Ryland wanted to move things along. Probably enjoying his seat of power, so to speak. Enjoying the fact that he had Aldon at his mercy right now, in his apartment, in his bed. Aldon wanted him--needed him. That kind of power could go to a person's head and Aldon would know; he'd had Ryland in the same position a few times.

"Mmm... hurry." He groaned in disappointment when Ryland rolled away. There was exactly not enough of everything. One deep kiss, when he needed a plethora rained down on him. A few touches, when he wanted to be held and thoroughly loved. Some unsatisfying grinding action, when all he wanted was sex, no matter who was on top or on bottom, or who was doing the fucking. Position wasn't important, anyway; there were no rules to govern their love life. They were both open, passionate people and without having to sit down and discuss everything, they understood each other's limits. Sex came easily and effortlessly to them, in a way that Aldon always wished their actual relationship could emulate.

No point thinking about that now, when everything was complicated. He sighed and flopped back down as Ryland rolled off of him, making a show of displaying his discontent. Spread-eagle on the bed, he gave the ceiling one of his more unamused Looks. "I'm dying Ry! Hurryyy!" The over-exaggeration was purely for his own sake, because Ryland was hurrying and soon he was back with lube. But. No condoms? Aldon remembered their silly argument over condoms--he disliked them. Ryland was a fan of safety. Aldon didn't like how they felt on him, and they took a little something away from the whole experience of getting intimate for him. Sometimes they used them, sometimes he insisted on not using them.

Tonight, Ryland was willing to humor him, which only went to show how indulgent he could be when it came to Aldon. Maybe... Aldon realized that a little (a little belatedly, too). Maybe he smirked into the next languid kiss, letting Ryland's slippery fingers coat him. Finally, some action! He loved the sweet moments, the tender caresses, the loving way that Ryland looked at him, as though he was the only man on Earth... but goddamn, Aldon was ready. They had to do it now, while he was under Ryland's spell, and before sense and reason and common decency kicked into high gear.

"I love you too." He reached up to cradle Ryland's cheek. "I always did. Always," he repeated, for confirmation. "Always. And more than anybody else you've ever dated." That was important to state, in order to elevate him far above all of those other men that Ryland loved and left.

[Ryland Ren]

On a time limit? he wanted to tease him but he thought better of it. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to remind somebody of that other person waiting back home. The last thing Ryland wanted was to be left alone with proverbial blue balls because he teased too mercilessly. Even he knew where the line was and once teasing lost its fun element, it just became bullying.

So he paid careful attention to Aldon, making sure to stroke him just the way he liked it, his palms sliding up, his fingers gripping him tight but not too tightly. A thumb slid atop the head and he could feel the heat inside of Aldon. He wanted him. He needed him. It was a heady feeling, a power trip for sure. Just looking down at Aldon's handsome face, with his back arched and his head thrown back and his body lifting up against him was a turn on.

"...I know." He smiled, turning his smile against Aldon's cupped hand and kissing his palm. He knew that Aldon loved him, that he had always loved him, and that he loved him more than any other sap Ryland drew in. His eyes half closed while he allowed Aldon to grope him, to do whatever he needed to do in order to prepare him. His own body arched into his touch, his arm hands, capable, strong, reliable. No matter what went on between them, whatever rifts seemed to tear them apart, they seemed stronger than all that.

"You want to know a secret?" he asked, shifting his body so that he could sit atop Aldon, guiding him up, inside. Letting out a small sound in the back of his throat, he leaned slightly forward, using his free hand to steady himself, braced against the bed. Yet as he struggled to take Aldon in slowly rather than jumping straight into it, he felt his arm tremble slightly. His gaze, however, was steady as it rested on Aldon.

"I don't think I've ever been in love with anybody else." He said the words quietly, like they were really a secret. In all honesty; he'd never shared that thought with anybody in his life, especially not Aldon. Not when he liked to make sure that he knew he didn't need him. But really... really... His eyes closed as he slid down to the hilt and he let out a low, guttural moan. His knees wrapped, tightened around Aldon.

"Just you..."

[Aldon Huang]

"...yes..." Aldon wanted to know. Everything. Not only secrets but everything--what made Ryland frown, what made him laugh, what made him frown on the outside but laugh on the inside. He wanted to know what got Ryland up in the mornings--other than himself, of course--and what his deepest, darkest desires were (again, other than Aldon himself). Aldon imagined that he knew a lot about Ryland already, simply from the time that they'd spent together, but there was still so much more to learn.

Was it the time, though? Was it time for secrets, when they were just beginning to connect in all the right ways? Aldon sighed restlessly, willing himself to lay still while Ryland moved over him with aching slowness. Ahh... but it felt good. It felt like coming home, where he belonged. It was familiar, it was right. This was what he missed, what he knew, what he loved--both Ryland and the act of making love to him.

"Oh..." He couldn't stop himself from looking smug and pleased. "Never ever?"

The question ended in a groan of his own and his hands flew to either side of Ryland's hips. "Ah--we'll get back to this... later." Seriously, this was... it wasn't a terrible time for secrets but Aldon didn't know if it was necessarily a good time, especially since it was a secret that inflated his ego to enormous proportions. And his ego was already quite bloated, even Aldon wouldn't contest that. Besides, the way that Ryland moaned... the way his legs tightened against Aldon's... it brought out the wolf in him, no word of a lie.

"R-Ry..."

[Ryland Ren]

"Yes," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Never ever."

He said the words, he thought he felt the feelings but when he looked back on it, none of it was really true. Nobody ever kept him coming back. When he broke up with them, he never went back. He moved on, looked forward, never backward. With Aldon, everything was different. He was sure he'd said the words I love you to people before Aldon and he knew for certain he'd said them to people after him but... no matter how sincere he thought he was being, his heart was never there with him.

When he was with Aldon, everything was in sync. Everything felt... right, in the moment. When it was just the two of them, whether it was arguing over hot cheese or stupid things like when he was going to give Aldon a belly rub, there was almost always an under current of something else. There was always a bit of that sexual tension between them, even when he pretended Aldon was annoying him or that there was no way he liked that guy back when they first met and worked together.

He wasn't going to argue with Aldon now, though. Secrets were for later, when they weren't reaching a fever pitch. He closed his eyes and moved against Aldon. It took a moment to get used to his body around Aldon, even as his legs tightened around Aldon and he let out another soft moan. His back arched as he slowly began to move his lower body against Aldon. Teasing motions, circular, a little bit up, a little bit down. While he rode against Aldon, he arched his back again, hands sliding over Aldon's bare chest.

"Ah... Aldon..." He repeated his name a couple of times, his head filled with nothing but his name. He tipped his head forward, hovering for a moment before capturing Aldon's mouth with his. A hand slid down his chest and over his stomach, knowing full well what belly rubs did to Aldon, especially when he was in the mood.

[Aldon Huang]

Belly rubs and Aldon belonged in the same sentence together. Fairly early on in their relationship, he did a stupid--ate too much at the strawberry festival (their first festival, as a matter of fact) and came home bursting at the seams, moaning about exploding and dying. Laying in bed in pain, he made with the puppy eyes at Ryland and Ryland came over to see what he could do. Tummy rubs ensued and Aldon liked it so much that he kept asking for it. Somewhere along the way it became a tradition.

He couldn't say what it was about a hand on his stomach, stroking him, that made every other part of his body flare with heat. Or was it unique to Ryland? And Ryland's hand? Aldon had never tried it with anyone else; it didn't feel right.Just like going to the strawberry festival with Gregg made him feel crummy on the inside, asking someone else to do what Ryland had always done also felt crummy.

He wrapped his arms around Ryland, pulling him down for more kisses--hungry kisses, passionate kisses, needy and desperate and demanding kisses. His head was swimming; it wasn't unlike the feeling he got after coming down from a rollercoaster, all on an extreme high. The euphoria of being with his lover was incomparable and indescribable, especially now that they were both on the same page--finally.

"Ry... I love you, Ry." An impassioned whisper, right by Ryland's ear, as his arms wound around Ryland's shoulders. Aldon didn't say it, but he knew that he shared Ryland's secret. That he had never truly loved anyone the way he loved Ryland. Even from the beginning, their chemistry was undeniable. No one else could compare. It was like the sun and the stars--once the sun came out, it was impossible to see the stars. Only when the sun set did the stars even begin to weakly twinkle. Ryland was his sun. He eclipsed everyone in Aldon's eyes, blinding him to anyone who dared to try and turn his head.

Some people could say the words without meaning it, simply to manipulate their partner. Whatever his fault, Aldon wasn't one of those people. It didn't take long for the pleasure to crest, to wash over his body as he arched into Ryland and moaned his name. He could barely breathe--too many kisses, too greedy--but Aldon didn't regret a single moment. He fell back, completely spent and exhausted, with stars in his eyes.

Or maybe more aptly, with the sun in his eyes--his private sun. Almost idly he twined his fingers with Ryland's and turned his face into the pillow, breathing hard but satisfied and, for the first time in a long while, without the fear of another blow-up lingering in the back of his mind. Because he said the words, and that was all that was needed to set them right.

[Ryland Ren]

"I love you, too," he whispered fiercely. He couldn't hear it enough, he couldn't say it enough. Every beat of his heart seemed to sing it, every move of his body, every roll of the hips, every kiss, every rub of the tummy, everything. Everything seemed to hum Aldon's name. All he could hear was his breath in his ears, the sound of his voice saying the words he'd yearned to hear for so long. Somehow, he felt fulfilled and content and happier than he could ever remember feeling and he hadn't even hit the crescendo yet.

Heat and friction made his body restless, the unhurried kisses from earlier giving way to fervent, ardent kisses that didn't feel like enough. The content feeling stuttered slightly as his body tensed and for a moment, the entire world felt like it was coming to a spinning, dizzying stop. When he opened his eyes, he saw only Aldon through a stray lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes.

Nothing was more beautiful than the sight of Aldon in the throes of passion. In his arms, he felt loved, wanted, and desired. His eyes fluttered closed again as he let out one last moan before his lips fell upon Aldon's shoulder. He heard Aldon, too, with his name on his breath, his body arching into him one last time. One of Ryland's hands grasped at the sheets beneath Aldon as he let go.

It felt like they had forever as he lay spent atop Aldon. After a few breaths, he raised himself once more, then rolled over onto his side next to Aldon. Curling up around him, he looked down at their intertwined fingers. He kissed them, the tops of Aldon's fingers as he drew closer to his warmth. Then he raised his head to nuzzle against Aldon, lips brushing the underside of his chin and then his jaw. "I love you," he murmured against his throat.

[Aldon Huang]

"I know," Aldon said smugly, though his smile was soft. He curled an arm around Ryland and gently dragged his fingers through Ryland's hair. It was soft and fluffy and red this time around. It used to be a dark brown, then blond. Aldon couldn't say which shade he preferred; Ryland would look good with rainbow hair, probably. He plucked up a few strands, let them fall back into place, then repeated the motion, playing with Ryland's hair like an easily distracted child. In the afterglow, he was too lazy to do anything else.

"How come we never knew each other when we were growing up?" It was an idle question, as he suddenly thought of Roe and Ashley. Was Roe ever going to find love? Aldon hoped so--better still if it was with their childhood friend. Aldon trusted Ashley. He never trusted Pez. Amusingly, Pez was about as skittish about commitment as Aldon was but... at least Aldon realized the error of his ways! Pez never did and never would, he was sure.

Aldon shifted and something crinkled under his back. He reached for it, pulled it out--a post-it note. It had been crumpled in the... ah... heat of the moment and when he straightened it, he could see his large, messy writing all over it. I love you Ryland! After a moment's thought, he stuck it on Ryland's shoulder.

[Ryland Ren]

Of course he knew. Ryland scrunched up his nose at the smug tone but he smiled a second later because nobody could be smiled like that by Aldon and keep playing the victim card. They would be too busy awash in warmth and affection for that, the way Ryland was. Briefly, Ryland closed his eyes, allowing himself to be completely spoiled by fingers in his hair. He loved the feel of Aldon's hands on him. Didn't matter where or why. He literally threw cheese at him--hot cheese--and Ryland was still head over heels, deeply, crazy in love with him.

"I don't know," he said thoughtfully, cocking his head so he could get a better look at the side profile of Aldon's face. It was a good, valid question. They were in the same area growing up. They probably should have come across each other at some point, especially since there were so few students at a time that there were only a handful of schools. Most people went to school with the same people in their age bracket unless they were homeschooled. (Which was also popular in these parts.) Still, they should have met somewhere, sooner.

"I guess because we were in different crowds." He started to speculate further when Aldon stuck a post-it on his chest. Ryland looked down at it, then clicked it off. Smiling cheekily at Aldon, he leaned in and gave him a soft nip-kiss. "I love you too, Aldon," he said, sensing that Aldon was fishing. As he slid an arm over Aldon's waist and idly rubbed his tummy, he thought it over some more.

"I think I knew of you, though. But people said to stay away from wolves."