Last Friday Night (ManxMan) ✔️

Chapter 26

Melodie wasted no time in getting to their front door. It was late and her jacket was no match for the billowing wind. Meeting Hunter's friends today was fun but the day was catching up to her. She was shivering nonstop.

River unlocked the house and she trampled inside. Hunter and River watched, amused, as she tore off her shoes and jacket in record time. But before she dashed away to her room, she turned to Hunter and gave him the biggest hug.

"Goodbye," she muttered into his jacket's outer shell. Hunter knew it must have felt freezing against her skin. He rubbed her back to warm her up and dropped a kiss to the top of her hair.

"Good night."

His six-year-old was just out of sight when River laughed. He trudged over to his couch and Hunter followed, confused when the laughter continued.

"What?"

River's hand dropped to Hunter's leg and his laughter finally calmed.

"It's not bad," he prefaced, mirth-filled eyes meeting Hunter's. "I thought you guys would get along but I never thought it would be this much."

"Is that a bad thing?" Hunter asked, watching the older man anxiously.

"No."

River's eyes had grown soft, his smile mirrored in his gentle gaze.

"No it's not."

River's words were simple, but Hunter couldn't help but feel like they meant more. The hand on his leg had resumed its motion. Back and forth. Back and forth. He met River's eyes. A question. River tugged at Hunter's shirt. Silently, Hunter shifted closer. Their legs were entangled, mirroring the fingers they'd threaded together. River was resting his head on the couch inches from Hunter's face, gazing into the younger man's eyes. Hunter wished River could read his mind only so the man could see what Hunter saw in that moment.

Hunter remembered those first few times at the bar, days when speaking to River felt like climbing an endless tower. How did he get here? Able to enjoy a quiet moment in the older man's home? Communicating without any words being said?

It's as if, once he let Hunter into Melodie's life, he let Hunter into his heart.

The train of Hunter's thoughts surprised him. Just because he was in love with him doesn't mean River felt the same way. Suddenly, being there with River, feeling the warmth from his skin, was too much. Hunter untangled himself from the older man and began to stand.

"It's late. I should go."

Hunter's feet hit the carpet and he lifted off of the couch. Then, a hand shot out and held his wrist.

"Stay."

River's eyes held a promise and want Hunter had never seen before. River pulled again.

When he led the younger man into his room, Hunter followed.

Because he'd always follow.

Because he loved him.

—————

Hunter's sheets were warmer than he remembered. He inhaled deeply, taking in crisp air, and stretched out his legs. But his foot stopped, hitting something warm. That's when his eyes flew open. The sheets were warm because Hunter had shared the bed with another human. River's bed. The human was River.

Hunter's face went beet red.

In seconds, his brain had dug up all the things he'd done to River the night before. Or all the things River had done to him. Hunter's body stung pleasurably and his burning cheeks got worse.