Page 29 of Stroke Rate

"God, look at us," River uttered, his fingertip gathering the sticky residue as he lifted it to his mouth, a soft moan of pleasure at the taste. “We taste good this way too,” he said, scooping up more and offering the finger to Chris. River watched Chris' mouth open, saliva gathering on his tongue, before he closed his lips around his digit. The deep groans he made sent shivers down River’s hand. “So good, baby. You did so well.” River kissed Chris’ mouth, the slight bitterness of cum lingering on their lips, before he kissed his cheek, ‌and finally his temple before Chris snuggled his face into the crook of River’s neck.

Chris murmured, “Fuck Riv, that was so good,” as he kissed River’s pulse point on his neck. “I feel like a bowl of jelly. My muscles have, well, maybe never been this loose.”

“Yeah, that was…something. We should go get cleaned up,” River said, shifting Chris’ weight a bit, gripping his ass to pull him close.

“Mmm, why don't we go check out the pool?”

River stood, holding Chris’ ass, as Chris wrapped his legs around River’s waist. “Where to?”

“Just down the hall, through the double doors.” Seconds later, Chris’ body was dead weight in River’s arms.

River chuckled in Chris’ ear, "Don't fall asleep,” knowing it was too late for that as he carried him down the hall.

With Chris asleep in his arms, River stepped into the magnificent pool room, his senses taking in the lavish surroundings. He couldn’t fathom that anyone owned anything like this. To have an Olympic-length pool at his fingertips was mind-boggling. A dream. His bare feet were massaged by the smooth, pebbled floor, warm from the summer sun streaming through the skylight. The warm afternoon light created dancing rainbows on the walls, and lush tropical plants decorated every corner, all of which were growing like weeds in the humid air, creating a beautiful backdrop. Compared to a typical pool, this one seemed deeper. The water's bottom, a shade of dark, bottomless blue, pulsed and shimmered, a siren call making River want to dive in and see just how deep it truly was.

The inky water reflected Chris, who clung to River with his limbs wrapped around him tightly like a limpet on a ship's side. The sight sent a warm tingle through his body; this grown boy clinging to him like River was the only thing that could keep him protected.

Chris’ statement from earlier pinged around in River’s brain, “I never felt safe.” What had caused this sweet boy’s pain, and who had inflicted wounds so deep that he no longer trusted anyone enough to receive the pleasure he so obviously craved? A flash of pain squeezed his chest at the thought of anyone hurting this poor, sweet boy. His boy. A visceral need to keep Chris just like this—tender and open—consumed River. The thought of guarding Chris ignited River’s core, a wildfire consuming his essence until only the need to guard, defend, and shield his boy remained. He hadn’t been able to keep Coop safe, and he hadn’t been able to save his swimmers, but he could do this…whatever this was. He could keep Chris sheltered and secure. That would have to be enough, because he couldn’t keep him in the way he truly wanted.

River grabbed a towel, draping it over a lounge chair, lowering his body with care in hopes he would not disturb the sleeping angel in his arms. Chris snuggled in closer as River got comfortable, arms pulling tight around his neck, damp breath tickling the hairs on River’s neck, as he adjusted Chris like a sleeping baby on his chest. Chris was comatose; his body in that unconscious deep sleep where it involuntarily twitched. River rubbed circles on his naked back, and Chris drew deep breaths, sighing as though his body accepted it was safe to rest. River settled, feeling the heavy weight of Chris’ compact body covering him. The slow, calm rhythm of his breath lulled him into an exhausted sleep.

Chapter twenty-five

Chris

Warm, spicy skin, thick, pool air, and eyelids blazing fiery red and orange, like a summer sun as it melts into the horizon, brought Chris back to consciousness. Blinking against the light streaming in through the tall glass windows, his body still loose and heavy with sleep, Chris burrowed his face further into River’s neck, not ready to be awake. River smelled like Chris’ childhood dreams: a cozy kitchen and fresh-baked cookies, hot chocolate and marshmallows. Nestled in River’s lap, with his legs around his hips, River’s heavy arms cradled Chris in their safety as he licked and nipped at the column of his neck. He stayed. He did not hide. He did not run. And all Chris wanted…was to keep him.

He took a moment to survey River, really look at him, because he just couldn’t get enough. Chris feathered his fingers through River’s thick mess of hair—soft and silky, leaning close to share the breath that had just left River’s lungs. His beautiful face was slack and relaxed in sleep, and he couldn’t resist running the pad of a thumb over a prominent cluster of freckles at the base of his throat, forming a shape that resembled something like a squished heart. Chris kissed it, desperate to memorize every part of River’s body with his mouth. Every part of his body was cultivated for power and strength, with lean, hard muscles ridged and curved like the stone of the mountains that were the backdrop of Chris’ life.

Fingers traced over every bump and divot along his torso, watching as the muscles quivered with his airy touch; Chris laid his full weight on River’s chest just to feel the beat of his heart against his own. You don’t deserve this. You’re not worth it, the voice whispered in the back of his brain. This isn't safe, it taunted, but Chris could at least shake that one away. That whisper wasn’t the truth. River was safe—his hands would never hurt Chris.

The way River kissed and touched Chris contradicted every touch he had ever felt. His kisses did not erase the past—Chris wasn't sure anything or anyone ever would—but River’s touch blurred it. The gentle flow of River's mouth against Chris' helped to dull the sharp, painful edges of his memories.

A low vibration tickled Chris’ lips as he sucked on River’s Adam’s apple, a featherlight touch caressed the knobs of his spine, and the flex of strong muscled thighs under his ass pulled Chris from the worship he was giving to River’s throat. One golden eye squinted open, peering down at Chris, fluttering against the bright early evening light of the poolroom. “Mmm, what are you doing, baby?”

“Hmm.” A sound more than a word fell from Chris, lips and tongue against skin as Chris continued lapping at River's neck.

“We should hop into the pool. We’re gross,” River said, wiggling under Chris.

“Fine,” Chris moaned as he disentangled himself from River, grabbing his hand to pull him into the deep end.

Chris floated on his back, a lazy paddle of his arms, legs extended until they bumped into River. He looked blissed out standing in the pool, eyes darting all around, creased with happiness, and a serene smile on his face. River slid the palms of his hands under Chris’ shoulder blades and pulled his head to rest on his shoulder—the same position Chris’ first coach had held him in when teaching him how to float. He had forgotten how comforting it was to be held in the pool, body supported by water and the man he knew he could trust.

“I love this position,” Chris said, and River nodded in agreement. “I haven't had someone in the pool with me in a long time. This is nice.”

“Mmm, it is. I can't believe you have all of this.”

“Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's my favorite,” he said, turning his face to lick River’s neck.

River hissed as Chris abused the flesh of his pulse point. “Quit it. We need to talk. Seriously,” he whined and flicked water at Chris’ cock that was visible above the water. “Can I ask you about earlier?”

Burying his face in River’s neck, Chris mumbled, “Sure.”

“You told me you were scared. When we…” River let the statement hang.

“Okay, so we are doing this. I'm not sure I can do it floating.”

“Just try,” River said, moving to support Chris’ body more, arms on his sides, hands holding the curve of his waist, pulling them deeper into the water, making them more buoyant.