The River Leith (30 page)

Leith pulled him close, his heart racing. His stomach curled into a knot as he breathed in the smell of Zach’s cologne, sweet, spicy, and so achingly familiar. Zach’s hair felt soft against his cheek, and his breath was hot and coming in hard gasps against Leith’s neck. The incredibly still way he stood in Leith’s arms gave away how very desperately he wanted to make the hug last.

Leith shuddered and leaned back to look into Zach’s eyes, the green-blue fringed with feathery lashes, shining with terror and hope. Zach’s mouth was soft and tremulous, and Leith swallowed hard. He couldn’t resist. Zach’s mouth was so hot and wet
—
so right. Leith’s knees almost buckled as he twisted his fists into Zach’s shirt, pulling him closer.

Zach’s hands went to his face and his hair, pulling him in for more every time Leith broke for a breath. Leith pushed Zach against the wall, holding him there with his body. God, he needed more. Zach’s t-shirt was in the way now, so Leith found his way way under the hem, pushing it up to run his fingers over hard muscle and soft skin.

“Leith,” Zach gasped. “Let’s just
—
Leith
—
”

Leith didn’t want to
just
anything. He wanted to keep kissing, to touch and smell Zach, to grab handfuls of his hair and shove against him until he collapsed in orgasm and the crazy feeling that overwhelmed him
—
the thing that was like happiness and comfort and want and need and God-so-good all in one
—
made them both feel whole again.

Leith couldn’t speak. He could only kiss and moan, and Zach had his hand right where Leith needed it now, Leith’s jeans shoved down as Zach jerked him the way he liked it, firm and rhythmic. Leith tried to get his hand between them to touch Zach, but Zach just pushed it away. Leith would have been frustrated except he could feel Zach’s hips thrusting against his thigh, and Zach’s eyes were big and hot, and incredibly focused on him. Leith kissed him again, sucking Zach’s bottom lip.

Leith whimpered and pressed their foreheads together. “Zach,” he choked out as he shuddered and rocked in Zach’s hand. He was so close, so close, and Zach was watching him now with such tenderness. Leith slammed into orgasm, his hips jerking uncontrollably, his vision graying out, and soft wild sounds coming from his throat.

He collapsed a little, letting Zach’s strength hold him up. He was shaking and spent. Somewhere deep in his mind he knew that from now on, no matter what, raging wouldn’t do any good. Fighting the past wouldn’t help either, but he didn’t have to freak out, because he’d done that already and this is where he’d end up again.

“Zach
—
” Leith whispered.

“Shh,” Zach said, smoothing his hand through Leith’s hair and clasping the back of his neck. “Just…shh.”

“I love you.”

Zach trembled. “I know. I love you too. I’m sorry for what happened.”

Leith ducked his head, ashamed. “No, I’m sorry. I…I scared myself and I know I scared you.”

“Leith, you were triggered.”

“I should have more control. It’s just the things he was saying about you
—
I saw red. Can I claim brain damage?”

Zach chuckled and shook his head. “You could, but do you really want to?”

“I’m so sorry, Zach.”

“I know. Leith…you have to know that he meant nothing. I was lost without you and I did something incredibly stupid. I didn’t know if you’d ever…if we’d… I was so fucking afraid.”

Leith closed his eyes and held Zach tight, fighting off the image of Zach going to a stranger to be taken care of and have his fear eased. He caressed Zach’s cheek. “Zach, from now on I want to know everything. I want you to tell me about who I was before, and I want you to tell
me
about missing him, not some random people online.
I
want to know everything about you.”

Zach lips trembled but he nodded.

“I already know your secret, Zach. You’re lost, and you think I won’t want you if I know that. You’re wrong.” He forced Zach’s chin up, looking into his eyes. “I need you. I love you and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Same here,” Zach whispered.

“I know,” Leith murmured against Zach’s lips before kissing him.

The bed was the only place Leith wanted to be. As they moved there together they left their clothes on the floor. Hot, needful seconds turned into desperate, wanting minutes. Splayed on his back under Zach’s mouth, hands, and body, Leith didn’t know if Zach was torturing him or making love to him. He was strung out near orgasm and his cock ached but Zach wouldn’t let him touch it, pushing his hands away and holding them down.

“Only when I say,” Zach whispered.

Sweat broke out all over his body as Zach slid his hand between Leith’s ass cheeks and rubbed fingers against his asshole, testing the lube he’d applied when he’d rolled on the condom a few minutes earlier. The circling fingers brought up a sweet aching feeling that made Leith twitch his hips and turn his face into the pillow, a non-verbal plea for Zach to go on.

Zach’s middle finger slid in pretty easily, and Leith felt his ass clenching around it. The next finger wasn’t as painless, but Leith didn’t care. He couldn’t stop kissing Zach. The fingers in his ass burned some, but that just made him feel hot everywhere. He breathed in and out with staccato, shaking breaths as Zach finger fucked him.

It went on and on, and when Leith moaned for more, Zach shushed him and continued to play with his ass. Leith could barely keep his eyes open. The sensations cascading over him were making him crazy, and he whimpered eagerly when Zach finally lifted his legs onto his shoulders.

Zach’s cock against his asshole was thick, and the tight, burning stretch pulled a moan from Leith. One of Zach’s hands moved to his hip, holding him steady as the other gripped his leg tightly. The sweet slide after Zach’s cockhead passed the tight ring of his anus was so incredible that Leith slammed his hips up fast, needing more.

Zach grunted and bit his lower lip, his eyes hot. “Easy, Leith,” Zach murmured.

Swallowing hard, Leith met Zach’s thrusts, riding the crazy shivery waves that rushed over him with every brush against his prostate. “Zach, please,” Leith murmured, and Zach bent to kiss him, licking into his mouth and kissing down his neck. Leith grabbed his own nipples and squeezed, his toes curling and uncurling, and his cock dribbling pre-come.

“Zach, please. I need to come.”

“Soon.”

“Now.” Leith reached for his cock.

Zach smiled and pushed Leith’s hands away again. He held them down on the bed and rode him harder and faster. Aching, Leith closed his eyes and let go. It was too good, oh God, too good. He couldn’t deal with it for much longer and he was shaking, trembling like a leaf. His heart pounded so hard it thrummed in his ears.

“Zach, please. Zach, ah, God…”

He was breathless now, his cock slapping against his stomach again and again. It was almost enough to make that final push into orgasm, but he just couldn’t reach it. Zach’s voice was layered over everything, but he couldn’t make out words anymore. He was shivering and shaking, pushing his hips up to meet Zach’s thrusts.

He tossed his head on the pillow, sweat slid down his face, and his ass clenched in spontaneous rhythm around Zach’s cock. Suddenly he flew apart. The bed and Zach and his own body disappeared in a breathless endless moment. Then he was slammed back into coming and coming and coming, his hands clenched in the sheets, his body arched up and reaching, his cock issuing thick, white streams of come.

He was loud too. He couldn’t keep quiet as it went on and on, leaving him trembling and weak, whimpering as the orgasm slowly ebbed with small shuddering contractions.

Zach pulled out of his ass, and Leith moaned in disappointment, wanting more even though he was exhausted and covered in come. Zach pulled the condom off and started jerking his own cock, his eyes raking over Leith’s body eagerly. Leith watched, trying to catch his breath, as Zach’s eyes closed, his face crumpled, and he shot a hot load onto Leith’s stomach.

The noises Zach made were amazing. Leith shuddered through another aftershock before pulling Zach down to him and their beautiful mess, kissing and rubbing his back.

“Was that good?” Zach asked.

Leith scoffed softly. He held Zach even closer and kissed the soft skin of his neck. He wanted to know how the old Leith had met Zach, but he waited to ask, not wanting to mar the moment. He knew that for Zach, it was the beginning of the story that ended with losing his lover
—
the one who’d died when Leith lost his memories. He kissed Zach’s neck again, tightening his arms around him and willing him to feel how much he loved him.

“Well?” Zach asked again, squirming in Leith’s arms and smearing their sticky come between them.

Leith grabbed Zach’s hips, holding him still, and whispered, “I don’t know. You’ll have to show me again later so I can be sure.”

Zach smiled and kissed Leith’s neck. “I think I can manage that.”

“I’m going to shower.” Leith didn’t move a muscle.

“I can probably manage it in the shower even.”

Leith chuckled. “You might have to manage it alone.”

“Now,
that
I might have some trouble with.”

“Good thing you have me.”

Zach brushed their noses together. “Good thing we have each other.”

Leith kissed him through the swell of emotion that crested over him. Then he laughed and flipped Zach before jumping up and grabbing a towel from the hook on the back of the door. “First!” Leith yelled, darting out the door with Zach scrambling to get his boxers on to catch up.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

VLOG ENTRY #11

INT. BLUE FLIGHT – BOOTH – NIGHT

Zach sits next to Leith. He’s smiling and tapping his fingers on the table, while Leith relaxes next to him, slumped down in the booth, eating bites of cheese. Zach salutes the camera.

ZACH

Hello, my loves. It’s been over four months since my last confession.

LEITH

Yeah, for all these months people have been emailing, wondering if I ever came back or if I was on the missing persons list.

ZACH

He claps his hand over Leith’s mouth.

As you can see, Leith came back!

LEITH

Prying off Zach’s hand.

Over four months ago, for the record. I was gone for, like, a day and a half.

ZACH

Yes, well. Ahem. Shhhh, this is my vlog, remember? So, my loves, he returned and we worked things out. We are now one hundred percent on the same page. About everything.

LEITH

He scoffs.

Oh yes, we are so simpatico that our hearts beat in sync. I never want to spank his bossy ass, and he never calls me a stubborn jerk, and we never argue. Ever. Oh, except for the fact that it’s exactly the opposite of that. Especially the part about him being bossy.

ZACH

Leith is too modest. He doesn’t want anyone to get any ideas about how amazing being with me is, or someone might show up and try to steal me away from him.

LEITH

He lifts his chin and narrows his eyes at the camera.

Just try it. I’ll take you down.

ZACH

And he would. But hey, enough of that. Let’s catch up on our lives. Leith is doing well, as you can see. He’s finished his outpatient treatment, and even though he won’t admit it, he misses his flaky doctor. Leith uses a lot of water metaphors now and talks about exploring the universe. It’s all very deep.

He ignores Leith’s glare.

He’s also boxing sometimes, but has decided
—
thank God
—
not to try to do it competitively. He’s working a bit at Blue Flight, but the best thing is he’s started back to school. He’s majoring in psychology, actually.

LEITH

He chuckles.

Yep. That about sums it up.

ZACH

And I’m still busy as ever at the bar. Blue Flight was written up recently as the fifteenth most hip place to be in all of Brooklyn.

LEITH

Fifteenth most hip. That’s one better than sixteenth.

ZACH

Zach punches him in the chest and Leith moans and plays it up.

Can it, smart guy.

Leith makes a motion with his hand to zip his lips. Zach kisses him quickly before turning back to the camera.

Now, what was I saying? Oh, right! Things are good here.

LEITH

Great even.

ZACH

Now who’s bragging?

Leith points at himself with wide eyes and mouths silently, “Me? Bragging? What?”

But it’s true, my lovelies. Things
are
great here, and I’m only sorry that I took so long to report it to you. I’ll try to do better. I vow to update this every week
—

LEITH

Unless his boyfriend forgets him again, and then he might be too depressed to update for a while.