The Best Part of Me (Is You)
Chapter Five
Richie's POV
Richie's breath is stolen from him; not from his back slamming against the door but from Eddie's soft lips, attached at Richie's neck, sucking and nibbling.
"Fuuu-" The moan which pours from Richie's lips is broken off by a sharp bite to his jugular.
"Fuck," Eddie finishes for Richie, "That boat took fucking forever to dock." Both his hands are cradling Richie's jaw, his thumb pressing right into Richie's pulse point which is beating like a freight train. He moves his hands to give himself the perfect access to Richie's neck. "I almost dragged you to the bathroom. I was getting so desperate."
A puff of air, one hiding in Richie's lungs, rushes past his lips. It's half laugh, half moan. "Can you-" His breath hitches; another bite. "Hmm. Can you imagine? Them catching us in the bathroom? How scandalous!"
He feels a smile against his neck.
"No one would blame me. You look fucking amazing in your suit."
"You can thank Bev for that."
Eddie removes his lips from Richie's neck, tilting up to whisper softly, hotly, in Richie's ear, "I already did."
Richie moans, biting his bottom lip.
Stepping back, Eddie chuckles, grabbing Richie's hands to pull him into the room. Naturally, Richie follows, keeping his eyes only on Eddie.
They stop right at the edge of the bed. Releasing Richie's hands - which, now untethered, drift automatically to Eddie's hips - Eddie places his hands on Richie's chest, opening up Richie's blazer as his hands move upward. His hands move slowly, mapping the plains underneath Richie's shirt until he digs underneath the blazer, pushing it off Richie's shoulders.
The fabric drops to the floor in a hush, too soft to be heard over the roaring in Richie's ears.
"Eddie-," Richie whispers, not meaning to say more. All he wants is to be wrapped around Eddie, completely entangled with him. All of Eddie. Eddie. Eddie. Eddie
"Mind if I get you out of this?" Eddie tugs at Richie's tie, undoing the knot.
Richie nods enthusiastically, earning a wide grin from Eddie.
Without a word, Eddie continues to slowly, methodically unbutton, tug, and slide off each article of clothing until they're pooled at Richie's feet. Richie should be cold, with the air conditioning blowing against his skin which is bare except for his boxers, but he's on fire. He's burning from the inside.
Holding Richie by the waist Eddie twists them around until the back of Richie's knees hit the edge of the bed.
"Lay down for me, baby," Eddie whispers reverently, giving Richie a slight push.
Plopping down on the bed, Richie scoots back, further and further into the middle of the bed with Eddie crawling after him, his eyes wide and bright with desire. Falling down on his back, Richie reaches his arms wide, wrapping them around Eddie's shoulders, bringing him down to a searing kiss.
"Love," Richie pulls back only for Eddie to follow his lips, stealing another kiss, "You're too dressed for this, sweetheart."
Eddie's deep blue suit is cool against Richie's heated skin, but it's not what Richie wants to feel pressed against him.
With his eyes trained on Richie, Eddie pulls back. Standing at the end of the bed he slowly, almost painfully slow, slinks off his clothes. When he's in nothing but his boxers, Eddie kneels on the bed, placing his warm hands on Richie's thighs, running them up, up, up to cup Richie's bony knees, spreading them wide, allowing Eddie to scoot into the gaping heat.
Wrapping his legs around Eddie, Richie's breath hitches when he feels a hard line pressing against his clothed ass.
"Je-sus," Richie moans, wrapping his arms around Eddie, dragging his fingers low to dig into Eddie's ass, pressing their bodies together. "Fuck, baby."
Eddie hums in agreement, leaning down to kiss Richie softly. Head spinning, dizzy with the heavy press of Eddie laying on top of him, Richie digs his fingers in deeper, moving them up and down the curl of Eddie's ass.
"Rich," Eddie sighs against Richie's open mouth, "Can I-"
"Yeah, yeah," Richie nods, just wanting to feel Eddie's mouth again.
Eddie chuckles, "I didn't even ask you anything yet."
"Hmm, doesn't matter. You can do anything to me."
"Anything?"
"Yeah, of course. You know that, baby."
Eddie hums, leaning back, dragging his hands down Richie's chest, racking his eyes over Richie's body. "You know, I had actually something planned for tonight?"
"Oh yeah?" Richie cocks his head to the side, still massaging Eddie's ass.
"Yeah," licking his lips, Eddie drags the pad of his finger across Rechie's nipple.
"FUUUCCK," Richie's breath hitches, leaning into the touch.
"I brought some things too." Eddie drags his finger again, pulling another hiss from Richie.
"Ooooohhh?" Richie half laughs, half moans.
"Yeah, but, I actually want to do something different tonight."
"Oh? Tell me, sweetcheeks."
Grinning widely, Eddie flicks Richie's nipple again before dragging his hands up to cup Richie's face. Locking eyes, he whispers, "Rich?" He kisses Richie deeply, tintling his head back to get the perfect angle. "Rich? Can I-," Eddie pauses, his eyes flicking over Richie's face.
"What? What, baby?"
"Can I -," Eddie leans down to whisper in Richie's ear, "Can I make love to you?"
Richie sucks in a harsh breath; his stomach swooping up in a sharp arch before it falls, tumbling down and out of his body. "Eddie." It's breathless but filled with want.
He feels Eddie grin against his ear. "Can I, Rich?" Eddie presses a soft kiss to Richie's temple. "I want to be good to you." Another kiss, lower, on Richie's cheek. "I want to show you how much I love you. How much I love your body."
All Richie manages is a long, drawn out moan. "OOoooohhhhh."
Taking that as a 'yes' Eddie moves to hover over Richie, his toned arms bracketing Richie's head, so they're face to face.
"Like how much I love your hair." Leaning on one arm, Eddie tangles a hand into Richie's curls, twirling a finger around one errant curl, tugging it slightly.
"My - my hair?" Richie laughs, surprised.
"Yeah. It's so soft and I've always loved how wild - curly - it is. I always wanted to wind my hands through it when we were younger."
"Hmm, I wish you did. It was fuller then. A lot of less grey."
"It's not that bad," Eddie tisks, "Besides, I like the salt and pepper look."
"What if I was bald?"
"Yes," Eddie says with a slight eye roll, "I'd love you even if you were bald. Now," Eddie moves down, pressing a kiss to the bridge of Richie's nose and then side to side, cheek to cheek. "Wanna know what else I love?"
"Wha - what?"
"Well, I think it's obvious how much I love your lips?" To make his point he captures Richie's lips in a deep, passionate kiss. "I love kissing you." Another deep kiss. "It's addictive, really." Another kiss. "The first time we kissed I almost blacked out, it was so amazing. Way better than anything I could have imagined. And they way they feel against my body? Fucking mind blowing."
"Ooh? Well - huh - I could use them to blow you." Richie chinges at his own bad joke.
Eddie laughs anyway. "Not tonight, handsome. Tonight's about you."
"Oh. Well. Uhhhh-" Richie shifts deeper into the bed, his cheeks burning hot.
Smiling knowingly, Eddie leans back, his hands splayed wide on Richie's chest. Arching his finger high, his spider walks them up Richie's chest, idly sauntering them along the line of Richie's collarbone to the curve of his shoulder.
"And these," Eddie breaks his spider-walks to firmly grip Richie's shoulders. "So broad. You know it was the first I noticed about you when I saw you in the restaurant?"
"Not my gut?"
Ignoring him, Eddie continues, "That and the fact you got super fucking tall. You went from a gangly little kid to a fucking giant. I mean, what the fuck, Richie?"
Richie shrugs, causing Eddie to tighten his grip.
"I mean, not like I'm complaining. I love it. I love how tall you are. How wide and broad your shoulders are. How you can completely encompass me." He presses quick, light kisses from one shoulder to the next. Kissing the curve of Richie's shoulder, Eddie continues down the slope, pressing his lips to Richie's bicep. "I love your arms too."
Richie snorts, but it breaks, transforming into a moan. "What? Those - those slabs of fat?"
"Stop, they're toned," Eddie says, his face still pressed against Richie's arm. Sticking his tongue out, he runs it from the sensitive patch of skin of Richie's 'elbow pit' - as Richie likes to call it - all the way up to his shoulder. He returns back to the meat of RIchie's bicep, giving it a few love bites.
"Edd-ie!" Richie whines, squirming.
Eddie presses another kiss to Richie's bicep. "Hmm. Now what I really love is your chest."
This time Richie gets out a full snort. "No way. You don't-," he breathes out a stuttering whoosh of air, "you don't have to pretend."
"I'm not pretending." Eddie cards his fingers through the dark curly hair on Richie's chest, moving to the side to squeeze Richie's pecs, getting two full handfuls.
"Eds - God, I have tits!"
"Rich-" Eddie starts, his tone light, but pressing.
"Eds. Really. You don't-" Richie squirms, shifting under Eddie's hands. He's afraid to look at Eddie, afraid to see the repulsiveness he's feeling about his own body reflected in Eddie's eyes. "It's ok. You don't have to pretend."
"Rich-"
"I know I'm not the sexist person-"
"Rich. Baby-"
"I mean, I can even put my shirt back on, if you-"
Without another word Eddie shoves his face directly into Richie's pecs, pressing, squashing them against this face.
"Ahhh!" Richie jerks, but Eddie's face keeps him pinned down. "Fuuck, Eddie!"
Eddie hums, nuzzling further into Richie's pecs.
"Oh my god, Eddie!" Richie laughs.
Eddie hums deeper, peering up at Richie from between his hairy pecs. "Hmm, I love them." He turns his head, side to side, pressing a kiss to each of Richie's pecs.
"Eddie!" Richie laughs, squirming underneath Eddie.
"I looove them." Eddie peers up again, smiling. With his eyes locked on Richie, he kisses the curve of Richie's pec. Opening his mouth wide, he clamps it to Richie's pec, sucking the skin into his mouth.
"FUCK! EDDIE!"
Eddie sucks up the curve of Richie's pec, sucking harder and harder until his mouth captures Richie's pert nipple.
"OOOHHH!" Richie's back arches high, pressing his chest into Eddie's mouth.
Sucking hard, his mouth closes around Richie's nipple, sucking as he leans up, tugging Richie's nipple along until it pops out of his mouth.
"I love them," Eddie sighs, moving to Richie's other nipple. After giving it the same attention, Eddie leans up, smiling wide, "I love your tits."
Richie hiccups, a little misty around the eyes. "Eds-"
"I love them," Eddie says adamantly. To make his point Eddie kisses from pec to pec, going up one mountain, down to the middle valley and then up again. His eyes never leave Richie's the whole time.
Something in Richie crumbles, seeing the fierce gaze in Eddie's eyes and feeling the tenderness of Eddie's lips. "Eddie-," Richie half sobs.
"I love all of you, Richie." Eyes still locked, Eddie moves lower, kissing down Richie's sternum - down, down to lick deeply into Richie's belly button.
"Ahhh! Holy fuc-" Richie jumps at the cool intrusion.
Eddie cuts him off, licking deeper.
"Eddie! Stop!" Richie laughs, squirming, half pushing at Eddie's shoulders.
Shoving his face in Richie's plush stomach, he hums deeply, sending a tingling sensation down Richie's spine.
"Oh my god, Eddie! You're killing me, love!"
Eddie blows raspberries, making Richie scream with laughter. His laughter rolls his body left and right, legs kicking out wildly, but Eddie takes hold of Richie's body, gripping him by his sides to keep him in place. Richie jumps out of instinct, his hands slapping down, grasping Eddie's hands.
"Eddie-," his voice breaks, feeling his walls coming back up again.
"Mhm?" Eddie cocks his head, peering up.
"My love handles...my spare tire…" His voice fades, looking at Eddie, waiting for Eddie to pull away.
Eddie smiles, because of course he knows what Richie's thinking. He knows the kind of thoughts that are running rampant through Richie's head.
"I love them too," Eddie whispers lovingly, kissing Richie's belly softly.
A long, harsh intake of breath rattles Richie's chest. His eyes pool with tears, his chest burning.
A small, puffed "ooooh" escapes his lips.
Eddie, understanding Richie's silence and tears, presses kiss after kiss over Richie's stomach. "So handsome. So sexy," he murmurs around Richie's belly button. "So funny. So kind and sweet. My loving man. I love everything about you. Sometimes I don't know what's the best thing about you? The best part of you? I mean, there's just so much to love about you." He kisses round the top of Richie's belly, moving down the side, lower and lower to black band of Richie's boxers.
When he peers back up, Eddie's mouth is hovering above Richie's boxers. Smiling seductively, Eddie snaps the band pulling a yelp from Richie. Placing a kiss below Richie's belly button, Eddie whispers, "Can I?"
Richie nods, getting curls in his eyes.
Grinning, Eddie rolls down Richie's boxers. The cold air hitting his heated body causes Richie to moan.
A moan echoes out of Eddie whose eyes are now taking in all of Richie.
"I love you like this too." Eddie runs his hands down, over Richie's hips and down Richie's thighs, gripping them tightly to pull his legs open, exposing more of him.
The cool air rushes in, curving, hugging to the newly exposed skin. Richie feels like he's on display.
"Fuck," Richie spits, leaning back on his elbows, neck arching back.
Humming in agreement, Eddie leans over Richie, seemingly aiming for the weeping tip, but at the last second, he shifts to the side, placing a kiss to the inside of Richie's legs.
The sensation catches Richie off guard. "Ooohh."
Eddie licks up the sensitive patch of skin, starting low, at the curve of Richie's butt, licking all the way up to his hip bone.
"Oooh! Eddie!" Richie jumps, the tickling sensation jumping through his limbs. "You're teasing me!"
"You know I can't help it."
Richie pouts, "I thought you were going to be sweet to me?"
"Oh, I'm going to be so sweet to you, baby. Now, can you turn over for me?" Eddie grabs Richie's hips.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. You." Richie places a hand on Eddie's thigh.
The frown on Eddie's face bouncing into a grin. He shuffles off the bed, pulling off his boxers to kick them off into a dark corner.
Catching a quick glance of Eddie, Richie flips onto his back, groaning as his cock presses into the mattress. Once he's on his stomach he feels Eddie climb on top of him, straddling his thighs. Fingers rack down Richie's back, squeezing his sides all the way down until hands fully cup his butt.
Eddie's voice comes from above him, "Have I told you how much I love your ass?"
"Nonsense," Richie chuckles, "My ass can't even compare to yours. It's a thing of beauty. A masterpiece."
The laughter racking Eddie's body shakes Richie.
"I guess we can agree to disagree," Eddie kneads Richie's ass, rolling the skin through his fingers. Leaning down, he places a soft kiss to the small of Richie's back.
His mouth moves lower, down one cheek, kissing it all over.
"Such a cute butt," Eddie whispers between kisses.
"Eddie," Richie chuckles again, "You're tickling me! That's - that's - Ahhh!"
The feeling of Eddie's face shoved between his cheeks, his fingers gripping each cheek, pushing them against his face, causes Richie to jump, momentarily taken back.
"Ooohh, fuck, Eddie," he whines, gripping the sheets tighter.
Eddie hums, right into Richie's core.
"Oh, Jesus! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
Richie's mumbling breaks off into a solid, drawn out moan when Eddie sticks his tongue out, licking softly over Richie's center.
"Oooooohh, Eddddiiiieee."
Eddie licks a few more times, licking a little deeper.
"Nnnggggg." Richie ruts into the bed, trying to find a rhythm to Eddie's lazy licks. Once he feels the beginning of a fire building, Eddie pulls away, allowing the cold to rush in, extinguishing the fire. "Eddie!"
"Sorry, baby." Eddie places an apologetic kiss to Richie's back. "But I know how long you usually last when I do that and I have other plans for you."
Richie huffs into the sheets. "You are teasing me."
"No more teasing then." Another kiss. "Turn over and scoot up the bed for me."
As Richie complies, Eddie shuffles off the bed, grabbing a bottle of lube out of his toiletry bag. Squeezing some onto his fingers, he shuffles back on his knees to Richie.
Tapping Richie's calf, Eddie says, "Legs open."
Eddie shuffles forward to rest between Richie's open legs. Only then does Eddie press a chaste kiss to the tip of Richie's cock. Eddie's mouth goes wide, sucking the tip into his mouth.
Richie's breath hitches, getting stuck in the middle of his throat. It only becomes unlodged when one of Eddie's lube soaked fingers rubs up against Richie's center.
"Mmnnnnggg." Feeling the fire come ablaze again, Richie pushes against Eddie's fingers. "More Eddie."
Popping off momentarily, Eddie mumbles, "Soon, baby, soon." He goes down again.
"Mmnngg. You said no more teasing."
Eddie pops off again. "I'm not teasing you. I don't want to hurt you." He goes down again, sucking all the way as he adds another finger.
"Ooohh. Yeah, yeah. Just - just like that."
With his mouth moving up and down, Eddie moves his fingers wide, scissoring them open and closed, timing them with this mouth.
"Yeah, just like that, baby. Soo gooood." Richie ruts down, looking, asking for more.
Eddie licks up Richie's shaft, staring up at him with deep dark eyes. "More?"
"Ooh, yes. More, please, mooore," Richie begs.
"Ok, I got you, baby." Eddie presses a kiss to the tip, adding a third finger.
Richie hisses at the stretch, the slight burn of it. "Oh, you feel so, so good, sweetheart."
Rolling Richie's balls in his hands, Eddie licks up Richie's shaft. "Yeah? You like this?" Eddie twists his fingers, hitting the sweet spot.
"Oh! Oh! Yeah, yeah! Hmm, love it so much." Richie ruts harder, causing a wet squelching sound to echo through the room.
Eddie kisses at Richie's hip bone, moving his lips down slowly along the inside of Richie's thigh. "Richie? Baby?" Eddie whispers against the inside of Richie's thigh.
"Ye - Yeah?" It comes out as a hiccup.
"Do you want more?"
"Oh, fuck, yeah. Oh, shit. God, I always want more. Always want you."
Richie's huffing fills the room as Eddie slicks himself up. Richie keeps his eyes locked on Eddie, reaching out a hand to rub it up and down Eddie's thigh, not wanting to be separated from him for a moment.
"Ready?" Eddie asks under hooded eyes.
Richie nods frantically.
Eddie scoots forward, pushing himself between Richie's open legs. Grabbing Richie's thighs, he pulls Richie's butt closer to him. Richie lets himself be tugged and pulled, manhandled really, by Eddie, feeling the fire in his belly growing hotter and hotter, practically ready to burst when their skin comes in contact with each other.
"Ooh. Eddie." It's barely a whisper but Eddie hears him, his eyes swinging up to Richie's already blissed out face.
With love in his eyes Eddie leans down over Richie, their chests pressing up against each other to kiss him sweetly. Richie's hands come up, cupping the back of Eddie's head. Their moans fill the room.
"Good?" Eddie asks.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good, babe. I'm ready for you."
Hovering on one hand, Eddie adjusts himself, slowly pushing in. Richie's breath hitches as he feels Eddie pushing inside of him.
"Ahhhhh. Mmmgggnn." Richie wraps his legs around Eddie's arched back, his arms circling Eddie's shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. Oooh. More, more, baby." Fingers scratch down Eddie's back. "Baby. Baby. More, more, please!"
"Shhhhh," Eddie sighs into Richie's ear, hooking his head over Richie's shoulder. "We'll get there, baby." Kissing Richie's neck, Eddie pushes in a little bit more.
"OOoooooohhhh." Richie melts into the bed, pulling Eddie tight to him, enjoying the stretch and warmth he's providing.
Once Eddie's in all the way, he falls, wrapping his arms under Richie, gripping his shoulders. He stays still, both of them enjoying the feel of each other. A soft sniffling fills the room.
"Rich?" Eddie whispers, trying to pull back, but he's stopped by Richie's strong arms. "Rich? Are you okay, baby?"
Richie nods, tears spilling down his cheeks and onto Eddie's.
"Rich?"
"Its - its ok. I'm - I'm ok. I'm just - uh-"
"Being sentimental?"
Richie huffs out a laugh, pulling Eddie tighter to him. "Yeah, I'm - I'm being sentimental."
Without another word Eddie places his lips against Richie's neck, sucking as his hips beginning to slowly rock forward.
"OH! Eddie!"
Eddie rocks slowly, but deeply, hitting Richie at his core every time.
The feeling inside Richie grows, blossoming in his stomach, spreading through his veins, making his body glow from the inside.
He rocks in time with Eddie's shallow thrusts. "Eddie. Eddie. Eddie."
"Ohh," Eddie huffs into Richie's ear, "Rich. Baby."
The way Eddie says his name. The way he calls him baby hits Richie hard. Harder than usual. He's not exactly sure why - Eddie's called him baby a thousand times by now - but, this time it feels different. Maybe it's because Richie's mind is still seeing Eddie in his groomsmen suit; still seeing twinkling lights reflected in Eddie's brown eyes; still hearing the vows - exchanged between Bev & Ben - ringing in his ears.
It's then the thought enters Richie's muddled brain. He imagines Eddie - his best friend, his boyfriend, the love of his life - as his husband.
"Oooooh, FUCK!" Richie half-screams, arching his back, bucking wildly against Eddie, the thought bouncing round in his mind.
Eddie hisses, rocking a little harder.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Richie mumbles, trying to control his brian.
'Don't think of Eddie as your husband. Don't think of Eddie as your husband.'
"EDDIE! EDDIE! BABY!"
"Oh, fuck, Richie." Eddie rocks harder, the sound of their skin slapping against each other ringing in their ears.
"Oh, fuck, Eddie." Richie tries to pull Eddie closer, tighter, against him but there's already no space between them. "I - I love you so much, Eddie! Oh, I love you so fucking much!"
"Fuck, Richie. I - I love you too. Oooh, love you so fucking much."
"Eddie! Eddie! Can I - Can I-" Eddie bucks into him, cutting him off.
"Wha-" Eddie drags in a long breath, "What, baby?"
"Can I - can I ride you?"
"Oooh. Yeah, yeah. Fuck, of course, you can-" Eddie bucks wildly a few more times before slowly down to a halt. "Fuck. Ok, ok. Let me - let me just-"
Wrapping his arms around Richie's shoulders, he rolls them over, pulling Richie on top of him. As he pushes up, Richie regrets this immediately. His big thighs, stradling Eddie, are bulging, practically into puddles. His flabby stomach is falling in rolls, oozing over itself. He feels heavy on top of Eddie, as if gravity is working double time on him.
'You're going to crush him.'
"Umm, you know, we don't-"
Grabbing Richie's hips, Eddie's finger digs into the skin. "Hold on. Just let me-" Eddie pulls himself up so he's sitting, knees bent, so they're face to face. "There." Eddie pushes back a stray curl out of Richie's eyes. "That's much better." Eddie runs his hands down Richie's back, tickling along his spine, to cup his butt. "You feel soo good, baby." He leans forward to capture Richie's lips.
The softness of Eddie's words and lips melts all of his worries and anxieties. Cupping Eddie's face in his hands, he rocks down.
"Oooohhh." They both moan into each other's mouth.
"Riiichhiiee."
"Ooh, fuck, Eddie."
This isn't the first time Richie's been on top, riding Eddie, but it's not something they usually do. Their favorite positions - Richie on top of Eddie, diving him into the bed, or Eddie riding Richie, driving them both wild, but this, this is different. He can feel Eddie deep inside of him,and in this position he gets to control the tempo and the angle. It takes a few minutes to find the right tempo, somewhere in between a furious pounding and the slow rhythm of love making. It's actually a little bit of both, an upbeat tempo with love and passion filling in every rock and thrust.
"Ah! Ah! Richie!" Eddie's head rocks back, held up by Richie's hands. His mouth hangs open, gulping in air.
"Eddie. Eddie. Eddie." Each whisper of his name is punctuated with a kiss to Eddie's exposed neck. "Love you, baby."
"Ahh! Richie! I'm - I'm-"
Richie nods. "Yeah, yeah. Me too, sweetheart."
"Oooh, Riicchhiie. I'm gonna - can - can I?"
"Yeah, yeah. Of course, baby. Go ahead. Go ahead, love." Richie rocks harder, from the thought of Eddie coming inside of him.
"Ahh! Ah! Rich-"
"Oh! Oooh! Eddie!"
Their moans and breath mingle with each other, both of their breaths getting shorter and shorter as their rocking gets more irregular and jumbled.
"Rich. Rich. I'm gonna - I'm gonna-" Eddie's mouth comes unhinged, opening wide in a breathless gasp as his body tenses, shaking slightly. A broken moan escapes his lips.
At the sight and sound of Eddie - his eyes rolled back in pleasure with his needy, desperate moans - makes Richie's blood boil. The heat in his belly expands, more and more until it's all too much. Biting his lower lip, Richie lets out a deep moan, painting Eddie's stomach and chest white.
Richie falls forward, pressing his foreheads to Eddie's as both of them catch their breath.
A quiet moment passes, the only sound filling the room their huffed breathing.
"Oh, Richie," Eddie twists his head, catching Richie's eye. "That felt so good, baby. You're incredible at that."
"Guess I learned a few things from you."
"Well, I actually think I could take a few pointers from you."
"Nonsense. Your technique is flawless, babe. That roll of the hips you do always make me breathless."
"Well, maybe, I can do that for you tomorrow morning?"
"Ohh, fuck yeah, baby." Richie hugs Eddie close, running his hands up and down Eddie's slick back.
"Rich?" Eddie whispers into Richie's neck.
"Yeah?"
"Do you believe me now?"
"Believe you about what?"
"About how much I love your body?"
"Oh," Richie breathes out effortlessly, "Yeah, yeah. I - I do. Thanks, baby." And, surprisingly, he really does.
Pressing a kiss to Eddie's forehead, Richie rolls onto his back taking Eddie along with him.
Eddie pulls back, pushing strands of sweaty curls out of Richie's face. "Wanna get cleaned up, baby?"
"Hmm, in a second. I wanna cuddle a little bit longer."
Eddie nods, smiling. "Ok." He rests his head on Richie's chest, curling up against Richie.
Curling an arm around Eddie's shoulder, Richie runs a hand up and down Eddie's back. A few tranquil minutes pass.
"You know," Richie says, breaking the silence, "you were wrong earlier."
Eddie peers up at him. "Wrong about what?"
"When you said 'you don't know which part of me is the best.' I can tell you that. That's easy."
Eddie chuckles, "Oh yeah? What?"
"You, of course. The best part of me is you."
Eddie's smile is stunning. He swoops up, pushing Richie back into the bed, capturing his lips in a heated kiss.
/
The California sun is low in the sky, barely breaking over the horizon. Still, Richie - bare from the waist up - is baking from standing in the morning sun for half an hour, scooping leaves from the pool. Well, really attempting to scoop leaves out of the pool. The long pole is awkward to handle, so long its extended weight makes it difficult to maneuver. Attempting to scoop up mussy leaves, he ends up just pushing them around the pool. After about half an hour of walking to different sides of the pool, trying to get a better angle, Richie only has a small puddle of leaves on the deck and the beginning of a sunburn to show for all his work. His arms are even beginning to ache from holding up the long pole for so long.
With a frustrated groan Richie throws the pole into the lawn. Huffing, he rests his hands on his hips, frowning at the pool, watching the leaves swirl around, seemingly enjoying their carefree float.
He debates going back to bed, but decides against it when he remembers Eddie's out running. No point in getting into a bed if Eddie's not in it.
An idea strikes him. An idea that will guarantee absolute victory. Richie pulls off his ratty basketball shots and boxers, throwing them to the side, leaving him glowing, in all his glory, in the morning light. With a short run, he cannonballs into the pool. The cool water washes over his body instantly cooling his burning skin while at the same time smacking his glasses off his face, leaving him half blind.
Popping his head out of the pool, whipping his head side to side, he curses to himself. He can't remember how many times he's jumped into a pool, or the quarry, with his glasses on, subsequently losing them. When he was younger, one of the Losers would always locate them, the murky quarry water too dark for his half-blind eyes to see. Of course, he always liked it when Eddie helped him. When Eddie would pop back up with Richie's glasses in hand, Richie would pretend to miss, his hands accidentally smacking Eddie in the face instead of grabbing his glasses. Even now, in their own clear pool, Richie will still pull this same stunt, earning a light smack and then a kiss from Eddie.
He glances around, searching the bottom of the pool. All he can see are blurry dark circles, most likely lumps of wet leaves, but he doesn't know which ones are his glasses. Shrugging Richie starts swimming around the pool, hand scooping leaves out. He doesn't need 20/20 vision to do this.
It's about half an hour later when Eddie returns, sweaty in his tank top and red shorts from his run. Richie has managed to clear the surface of the pool and is now tackling the dark circles at the bottom of the pool. Although he still hasn't managed to find his glasses.
From the pool Richie can see Eddie, a blurry figure, puttering around the kitchen. Seemingly catching sight of Richie, he slides the side door open to the backyard to make his way toward Richie. Richie's heart picks up its pace, something that happens anytime Eddie comes towards him.
Standing at the edge of the pool, Eddie crouches down. "Hey. Whatcha doing, Rich?"
Swimming to the side of the pool, Richie rests his arms over the edge of the pool, spilling water over the concrete and Eddie's bare feet. He shrugs, "Just cleaning up."
Eddie hums, his eyes running over the clear water. His eyes lock onto Richie's again. "I like your swimsuit," he grins.
"Thanks. My momma gave it to me." Richie bats his eyelashes.
Laughing, Eddie runs his fingers through Richie's wet hair. "Oh my gosh, Rich, where are your glasses?"
"Huh - I'm assuming somewhere down there." He points toward the bottom of the pool.
"Oh my gosh, Rich."
"I'll find them eventually."
"Sure, sure."
"Hey, that my phone?" Richie motions toward Eddie's hand which is holding Richie's phone.
"Oh, yeah. Liam was calling. He called multiple times so I thought it must be important."
"Oh, thanks, babe. Let me - huh - let me give him a call." He swims to the side, walking out of the pool, the water dripping off of him and onto the concrete. Grabbing a towel, he dries himself off, grabbing the phone from Eddie.
Plopping down on a lounge chair, Richie dials Liam. With the phone ringing in his ear, he watches Eddie pull his sweaty tank top over his head and kick off his shorts. He cannonballs into the pool just as Liam picks up.
"Richie!"
"Hey, Liam. What's up?"
Richie watches Eddie pop back up, whipping his wet hair out of his eyes.
"I got it, Rich," Liam says.
Richie catches Eddie's eyes who is swimming butt up in the pool.
"Got what?"
"The ring! I got the ring, Rich!"
"Wha - what?" Taken back, Richie's eyes swing away from Eddie.
"It just arrived! I mean, it looks amazing, Rich! He's going to love it!"
"Oh my god-"
"Want to pick it up? I'll leave it here for you."
Richie's mind is whirling. It seems like months since he picked out Eddie's ring; in reality it's only been three weeks.
Richie's phone buzzes, vibrating against his ear. Looking at his screen he sees a text from Bill.
*Bill*
Good news!
Audra and I can join for the holidays
It's the Losers group chat so Bev immediately responds.
*Bev*
Losers holiday celebration!
*Stan*
So, does that mean everyone's in?
Patty and I are in.
*Mike*
I'm absolutely in.
Just tell me where!
Richie responds quickly, fingers typing fast, hearing Liam's distant voice. "Rich? Rich, you there?"
*Richie*
Eddie and I are IN!
Losers Hanukkah/Christmas!
"Yeah, yeah. I'm here. I'll - uh - I'll come pick it up tomorrow." Without another word Richie hangs up, his eyes locking onto Eddie again.
Throwing his phone and towel to the side, Richie jumps up, runs, jumps, and cannonballs into the pool, splashing Eddie.
When he comes up he hears Eddie half-yelling, half-laughing. "Rich! Oh my god! What the fuck!?"
"I have good news, babe." He swims, pulling Eddie into his arms. The cool water does nothing to extinguish the heat between their naked bodies.
Wrapping his arms around Richie's neck, Eddie says, "Oh yeah? Did Liam have some new news on your Emmy nominations?"
Richie shakes his head. "Nope! It's way better than that."
"Better?"
"Yup," Richie says, popping the p. "Bill & Audra are in for the holidays! It's going to be a Losers Holiday Celebration! Isn't that great, baby!?"
"What!? That's amazing! It's been forever since we've all been together for the holidays. Where are we going?"
"No fucking clue. I'm sure Bev or Stan will figure it out though."
"Well, we're not going camping. That's for fucking sure."
"Oh, I don't know, honey. You would look so cute in your hiking boots, all covered in bug spray-"
"Nope. Not happening." Eddie bats at Richie's chest.
"With your fishnet hat-" Gripping Eddie tightly by the waist, Richie slows his kicking, allowing his body to slowly sink into the water, pulling Eddie along with him.
"We're not going anywhere for Christmas where I need a fishnet hat. Huh, Rich-" Eddie notices the water rising higher. "Rich!" Eddie's laugh gets swallowed by water.
They sink slowly into the clear water; multicolored rays of sun slither through the water and across their bodies. Eddie relaxes in Richie's arms, anchoring himself by wrapping his legs around Richie's waist.
Cupping Eddie's cheek he pulls him into a kiss. Eddie melts, molding his body to Richie's.
It comes to him while he's floating weightless, kissing Eddie - the perfect way to propose. Going in for another kiss, a thought floats by in Richie's mind.
I can't wait for Christmas.
/
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Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! When I first started writing It Was Always You, I never thought I would write a six part series! I just love these two - and the rest of the Losers - so much! I want to give them their happy ending.
I know I say this every time, but I have plans to write more! I promise a Losers Christmas/Hanukkah celebration and a Richie style proposal so please subscribe to me as an author to get notifications.
Also, please leave kudos and comments. Comments give me life!