Riley rocked back in his chair and threw his arms over his head, a move that should have dumped him on his butt but instead made him look like Thor. “Yahooo!”
Snow had to laugh. “Okay, let me show you a few more tips, and I think you could be ready for Jenkins.” Riley leaned in, which raised all the hairs on Snow’s arm, but soon he was engrossed in his teaching.
An hour later he leaned back. “So you understand how the two forces propel the running back in the opposite direction?”
Riley grinned. “Yeah, I get it.”
“So do you want to—?”
“I got it. Let’s eat. And talk.”
“Are you sure—?”
“Yes. I got this. Now sit in your favorite spot—which I have a strange suspicion isn’t at this table—and let me serve you some food.”
Snow opened his mouth, then closed it.
Riley stood all the way up to his six and a half feet of perfection. “So where do you usually sit?”
Snow cleared his throat. “Either in the rocker or on the floor.”
“Well, we can’t both sit in the rocker and still eat, so I’ll set us up on the floor. We’ll have a Chinese picnic.”
Riley walked into the kitchen, but Snow was still back on the thought of both of them sitting in the rocker.
Good Lord, what a fantasy.
He sat mesmerized as Riley walked back and forth to the living room with some of Snow’s place mats, flatware, and dishes. Then he carried two glasses. “Hope you don’t mind. I got us some wine.”
“I, uh, I’m not old enough until later this year.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” As Riley walked back to the kitchen, he said, “If I pass the exam, I’ll bring you champagne. Deal?”
“Yes.” No more words came out of his throat, but he really loved the idea of a future reason to celebrate—together.
Finally, Riley walked back to the living room, carrying two dish towels and several Chinese food carryout boxes. “I guessed at what you might like.” He set the food down and made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Your feast, my lovely.”
What could he say? Snow got up and walked to his now-defined spot on the rug, where he sank down cross-legged.
Riley flopped down opposite him. “See, I knew you’d look comfortable somewhere.” He folded his legs, and even though they were very long legs, he still managed to look graceful.
Snow peered at the boxes. “What did you guess I’d like?”
Riley opened a container and poured liquid into two bowls.
Whew, glad I bought the bowls.
“I thought you’d like egg flower soup, since it’s warm and nourishing, and full of sunshine, just like you.”
Was it possible his heart stopped beating entirely?
Riley opened a carton and removed two crisp-looking cylinders. “And spring rolls, since I bet that is your favorite season.”
“It… it is.”
“Then I got some cashew chicken and prayed you weren’t a vegetarian. But it’s my favorite.”
Snow squinched his lips. “I can eat chicken, but not with the cashews. I’m allergic to nuts.”
“I’ll remember that in future. Meanwhile, it’s a good thing I got some moo shu vegetables too.” Riley carefully laid out plum sauce on thin pancakes and loaded them up with veggies, placing two on Snow’s plate and one on his own. “That will help make up for the chicken.” Funny. He didn’t take any of the cashew chicken for himself either.
Snow shook his head. “I really don’t eat that much.”
“We need to keep you fed. You’re only as big as a bird.”
Yeah, a turkey.
Riley raised his wineglass and held it out. “To physics.”
Snow picked up his wine and stared at the almost clear liquid. “To physics.”
“And the laws of affinity and attraction.”
He swallowed. “The laws of affinity were replaced by the laws of
quantum chemistry
and chemical thermodynamics some time back.”
“Oh?” Riley handed Snow a bowl of soup and a spoon. “You’ll have to explain that to me in detail sometime.”
He tried to chew the moo shu without getting plum sauce on his khakis. “Are you planning on taking more physics next semester?”
“No.” Riley sipped a little soup. “But I’m very interested in chemistry.” He grinned until his dimples looked like tiny craters in a satin surface.
Dear God.
Snow grabbed his spoon and scooped. The too-hot soup hit his tongue.
Ow!
He dropped the spoon and coughed, spewing chicken broth and bits of egg a foot in front of him, including on Riley’s knee.
Ow. Ow.
Smooth move, lover boy.
Riley grasped his arm. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry. I heated it in the microwave. I should have warned you it was so hot.”
“So sorry.”
“Did you burn your tongue? Let me see.” He came up on his knees and pulled Snow to kneeling in front of him.
Snow stuck out his tongue.
Riley leaned in. “It’s kind of red. But not too bad. Maybe I should kiss it and make it better.”
“Wh-what?” His tongue popped back in his mouth.
“Definitely think I should—if you wouldn’t mind.” Riley’s big hand traveled from Snow’s arm to his neck. “But I have to see it if I’m going to administer first aid.”
Snow just stared at the gold eyes getting closer and closer to him.
“Come on. Let me see the wound.”
In a year he couldn’t show Riley Prince all his wounds. Slowly he slid out his tongue.
Riley stared at the throbbing tongue, his breath warming Snow’s nose. Then, gently, ever so gently, he took the tip between his lips and sucked.
Oh my God, what’s happening?
If you don’t know, idiot, you don’t deserve it.
Like the answer to a prayer, Riley pulled Snow’s tongue deeper into his own mouth and sucked harder.
Every function in Snow’s being shut down—except sound. That was definitely a moan pouring out of his chest. No, wait. A similar sound came from Riley as he wrapped his arms around Snow and pulled him closer.
Wow.
He’d never even dared to dream this far. Was he making Riley Prince moan?
Stop thinking, you idiot. This has to be some kind of mistake, so don’t miss it while it’s here.
Still, Snow didn’t know much about kissing, so it took a little thought. His tongue was now officially inside Riley’s mouth, a position he wouldn’t mind having continue for, maybe, ever. So what should he do to encourage that eventuality? What was his move?
Tentatively he slid his tongue against the soft heat of Riley’s.
Oh, nice.
Riley seemed to think so too, because he opened his mouth wider, tightened his arms, and pressed a very large, hard bulge in his jeans against Snow’s midsection.
Hmm, being taller would be good right now. Even lying down, there’s no way to get the mouth and private parts into close proximity simultaneously.
Still, he rubbed his abs, such as they were, against Riley’s lovely protuberance, and got a very satisfying gasp against his mouth.
Riley kind of fell down to the rug with Snow under him.
Oh my, yes.
Lots of hot parts pressed against him in wonderful places.
Oh God.
He about lost consciousness when Riley’s hardness pushed down on his own throbbing penis and particles of fire zipped from his groin to every nerve ending. Cities could get lit just from the waves of joy washing through him—
And just like that, it was gone.
Riley kind of levitated and landed next to Snow. “Oh man, I’m so sorry. I got carried away. I never meant—”
Clearly, he’d never meant to kiss Snowden Reynaldi. Snow sighed and sat up slowly. “That’s okay. I know, sometimes any port in a storm.”
“What? What does that mean?”
Snow shrugged. “Maybe you got turned down by Courtney, and I look kind of girlie, and it’s easy to get confused and—”
“Hang on!” Riley came straight up to sitting and grasped both of Snow’s forearms. “You’re not
any
port, as you say. You’re
the
port for me. I just never meant to enter that port quite so fast.” He grinned.
Snow frowned. “Okay. What does that mean?”
“Let me back up.” He wrapped Snow’s hand in his big palm. “Hi. I’m Riley Prince. I’m gay, and I’ve had the hots for you since the first time I ever saw you.”
“What?”
Riley smiled softly and gazed into Snow’s eyes. “I’m crazy about you. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to meet you and get to know you for over six months. And suddenly you volunteered to tutor me. Jesus, I almost passed out. I don’t know why you did it, but I hope it’s because you like me a little too.”
His brain wouldn’t keep up. “But Courtney?”
Riley pulled Snow’s hand to his lips. “Yeah, she’s a great girl. It’s so hard for athletes to come out. I didn’t have anyone I was interested in, so my coach suggested that I find a girl willing to pretend to be my girlfriend. Courtney was kind enough to agree.”
“But, but—”
“I know she got a little carried away the day she came over to my place. She was putting on a show for you. I hadn’t told her that I wanted to make exactly the opposite kind of impression.” He laughed.
Head exploding.
Snow shook it to see if it rattled. “Makes no sense.”
“What doesn’t?”
“You being in any way interested in me.”
“Now why would you say that?” He leaned in and kissed Snow’s cheek.
With Riley’s lips that close to his, he couldn’t think of many reasons. “Just doesn’t make sense.”
Riley kissed an inch closer. “Really? Doesn’t make sense that I should get all hot and bothered over the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful guy I ever met?”
He could not be saying that. “I’m not any of those things.”
“What mirror have you been looking in, my lovely?” He leaned back, which took his lips away, which was clearly a crappy idea. “Look in the Riley mirror.”
“What?”
He pointed at his own face. “Here.”
Snow raised his gaze slowly and stared into Riley’s golden amber eyes.
Whoa.
He shied away.
“Uh-uh.” Riley raised Snow’s chin until his eyes rose too, and he stared at Riley. Riley’s grin disappeared, replaced by an expression that sent shivers of pleasure up Snow’s spine—respect, affection, and—his breath caught—desire. Riley smiled slowly. “Like what you see?”
Snow nodded.
“I wanted to kiss you so much, I didn’t even eat any cashews.”
Snow shook his head. “I wondered why.”
“Now you know. So, do you believe I’m interested?”
Snow nodded slowly.
“Good, because the quarterback of the NorCal football team is about to pass physics and then shock the world of sports by coming out as gay. At that point I’d be honored if you’d be willing to date me and, if you like me, consider being my boyfriend.”
“I—I already like you.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do. I’m intuitive.”
“I know.”
Some seed Snow barely recognized exploded in his heart, becoming a twining vine of joy. “Besides, I’m your tutor. You have to accept what I say.”
Riley’s laugh burst out, and he fell back on the rug. “Yes, sir. I promise to accept your advice, counsel, teaching, kisses, hugs, and anything else you want to give me.”
Snow wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know much about what I could give you. I say I’m gay because I’ve only ever been attracted to boys, but I don’t really have much experience.”
“Good. That gives me a chance to be a tutor too.”
Snow’s eyes widened. “So you have experience, uh, I mean, being gay?”
Riley nodded and stared at the big sneakers on his big feet. “Yeah. Chickenshit, right? I’ve known I was gay since I was eleven or twelve. I came out to my parents when I was sixteen, but then I got scouted by NorCal. Since I’d never made any public declarations about being gay, like on social media, I turned a yellow tail and went back in the closet. I mean, I told the coach, but nobody worked hard to change my mind. There are rumors here and there, but I’m a big guy, and nobody says it to my face.”
Snow shrugged. “So why change now? You’re a senior. You can do what you want next year.”
Riley leaned his head back against the couch. “Because it’s chickenshit, like I said. People are always going to give gay guys crap when they don’t know anyone who’s gay. I can change that. A lot of people think they know me. I mean, look at you. Chess champion. Much bigger than I’ll ever be. But you never claim to be anything but gay.”
“I’m so weird, nobody’s surprised.”
“No, you’re not. You show the world that gay guys can be brilliant geniuses and beautiful. I can show them that gay guys can be big and strong and well coordinated. We all have a part to play.” He chuckled. “I have to confess, I practiced that speech, but I’m hoping it’s true.”
Snow’s heart beat so loud he could barely hear. Could this really be happening? “Umm, so you said you have enough experience to teach me.” He stared at his moo shu.
Riley sat up and got a very serious expression. “You see, Mr. Reynaldi, it’s all a matter of physics. Your quantum physics says that electrons can be in two places at the same time.” He leaned forward and pulled Snow across his lap, somehow managing to not spill any Chinese food in the process. “It’s like my tongue can be in my mouth—” He ran his soft tongue across Snow’s barely parted lips. “—and inside your mouth at the same time.” He insinuated inside and kissed Snow slowly and thoroughly.
So that’s how it feels. Invasive and completing at once.
Riley pulled his lips back from the kiss but kept them close to Snow’s so his breath warmed Snow’s wet mouth. “And just as particles can be waves and waves particles, so I can feel completely relaxed and completely excited simultaneously.”
Snow grinned. “I knew physics could be fun, but this is far beyond my expectations.”
“You didn’t have enough faith in your subject matter.”
“Clearly.” He smiled and whispered, “What happens now?”
“First, I want to know if you’re interested in me, or am I just living in fantasyland?”
Snow’s eyes widened. “Oh, did I not show enough interest?”
Riley laughed. “Yes, but I don’t want to take anything for granted. You’re too special.”
My, that moo shu is interesting.
“I’ve been dreaming about you ever since the first time I saw you. I didn’t think you were gay, so I never even hoped it could be more than a dream.”