Heart, Body & Soul (MxM)

Chapter Fifteen

Ivan said patience.

Patience.

Well, no. He didn't say it, but he hinted at it. If...Riyaan is any good at hints.

But the onset of autumn is the dreamiest season. Although the heat waves haven't stopped being harsh. Days like these make him want to ditch his job, sit by the window, paint, and make mistakes, rushed mistakes, like asking Ivan, 'Ivan, do you wanna go out for dinner someplace today? It's a really beautiful day.'

Ivan is working from home today and Riyaan gets to take a day off. This means they can have sex in the most odd hours, like today, right after breakfast. He is now busy exploring Ivan's stubble in his neck with his toes. In Ivan's world, it's called disturbing and annoying him while working.

'No.'

'Why?' Riyaan asks. He knows why. But he still asks because the new camaraderie they share now requires a better reason. He believes that.

'Already told you why.' Ivan swats his feet aside. 'I'll eat your leg raw if you continue doing that, and make you watch me do that.'

'Eww.'

Ivan starts putting on his clothes back. 'Something came up. Someone messed up. Need to go to work for a bit.'

'What about my foot massage? It's your turn.'

'Later.'

His scowl comes back, uninvited.

'What's that?' He is learning, slowly, that his scowl gets him undivided and sincere attention from Ivan.

'You think after all this, getting dinner in a restaurant together will change how you see me or want to see me? I practically live with you all day, all night.'

Ivan draws a long sigh. And Riyaan immediately knows that he shouldn't have. He should have just...been patient. Patience should be his new mantra.

'It's not about that. It's for you to not get confused. And it's for me to separate myself from what's important and what's pleasure,' Ivan says, putting his shoes on. Once done, he looks back at Riyaan.

Something about Ivan being dressed fully, while he is almost naked makes him feel small, bare, open and all vulnerable. He feels how he lays everything so open for Ivan to find and see him, truly see him, but Ivan never sees him. 'See you, bye.'

'Bye.' Riyaan's voice is small and unsure.

*                *             *

Riyaan should have planned his day better. When Ivan decides to work from home, he tries to get an off day. It's because the idea of Ivan being home makes him lazy. Also, because leisure times with Ivan are the best times. This is probably why, despite Kris being so mad at him for hardly ever showing his face anymore, he finds no time for it. But maybe today is the day Kris is getting lucky.

He shoots a text to Kris, a pang of guilt lingering. If Ivan wouldn't have left for work, he would never have remembered to meet Kris.

Riyaan: wanna meet?

Kris: Come to home?

Riyaan: no, elsewhere. I need to get new shoes, let's go shopping.

Kris: 20 minutes.

His phone rings in his hand. Ivan calling.

'Hey, you are studying?'

'I was,' he says, getting into his clothes.

'Earlier..,' Ivan starts. 'I didn't mean to say you are unimportant. You are.'