The first time Kevin held him like this, he had just told him he loved him.

The orgasm that followed shook them both and Kevin didn't let him go for the rest of the afternoon. If it wasn't for Edd's father coming home from another business trip, he'd stayed put for forever as far as he was concerned.

That was damn near two months ago and he hasn't had a moment alone with him since.

He was sure he'd never let him go again.

"Kevin, you're pulling my hair," Edd rasped in his ear and he pulled back apologetically.

"Sorry," Kevin muttered, but with his hair free from Kevin's strong forearm, he could lean up to kiss him.

"Move."

Kevin buried his face in the crook of his neck and did his best to move as slowly as possible. He knew that if he could just hit that spot that turned Edd from shaking and in pain to shaking and moaning, they'd be fine.

Edd shifted his own hips on the third hip roll and when Kevin thrust back inside the moan that left him had Kevin shaking.

"Again," the ravenette ordered as he wrapped himself tighter around him and Kevin quickly complied.

Edd's hands flew into his hair as he brought him in for a feverish kiss and then rolled them over.

With Edd on top, he was in total control.

And the needy look in his eyes let Kevin know that his boyfriend needed this.

As they grew up and matured, they developed their own friendship that was unlike the rest they developed with the rest of their neighbors.

Kevin's snark was only matched by Edd's sass.

Edd would never have Kevin's brute strength but Kevin didn't mind helping him hone his workouts with the swim team.

Kevin's book smarts were highly above average, but sometimes his pride would get in the way of asking for help, so Edd figured out how to offer without bruising his ego.

Edd's love of nature helped them both when Kevin wanted to get out and play in it and wanted Edd to tag along.

Edd's own hobbies and interests weren't as boring as Kevin thought, and Kevin wasn't just another jockhead hooked on pop culture and ESPN.

On the surface they were opposites, but when one peeled their layers back, they had way more in common than anyone would ever truly know.

Even themselves.

A chance meeting in the library freshman year had led to the exchange of a borrowed book needed for a shared class and from there, either by choice or chance, whenever they shared a space, they would always leave the other with something to remember him by and slowly, but surely, they started to bond.

A happy hug over a won homecoming game won Edd a blush that year.

A motorcycle ride home after Edd forgot to let anyone know he was studying all afternoon for fall midterms sophomore year at Peach Creek's downtown library got him the most exhilarating ride home he had ever had the chance to take.

And Kevin got his number.

A joint study session during last spring's finals led to lunch, then a movie, then dinner, and the first of many kisses goodbye at front doors.

By Edd's birthday last October, they realized they had fallen into something as they fell into Edd's bed and his new planetary mobile spun overhead.

At spring break, Kevin put feelings into words that Edd had been feeling since Christmas but was too scared to vocalize.

They had been saying it ever since, but hadn't had the chance to show it because Kevin's family needed him.

And it made Edd fall in love with him all the more.

With every move of his hips he showed him and with nearly every breath he told him.

Kevin matched his movements and his words til they could say and move no more.

In the dizzying afterglow, they heard a car door slam and then Rosie squawking loudly about something.

"Do you have to go?"

Kevin looked down into pensive blue eyes and shook his head.

"Not unless they call me," he half shrugged as he pulled Edd closer.

Edd's sigh could only be described as one of relief and Kevin giggled.

"Don't laugh at me," Edd pouted and Kevin kissed apologies to his curly head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I did miss you, though."

"I can tell," Edd smirked as he rubbed the bite mark on his neck.

Kevin sucked in a breath as he looked at the blossoming purple mark and then gave Edd his best puppy dog pout.

"Please, Sir," Edd cooed at him as he drew him in for a kiss, "can I have another?"

Edd got his kiss and his neck got a nibble before they settled down for a nap.

When Edd woke up, his head was still on Kevin's chest, along with a puddle of drool that Kevin was ignoring as he tapped away at his phone's screen.

He pulled away, fully embarrassed and expecting Kevin to be grossed out, but the redhead just pulled him back in for a wet smooch as he said, "I know I'm hot, Babe, but daaaaaamn."

Edd pouted into his pillow as Kevin laughed and wiped his chest off with a tissue from the nightstand.

"C'mon, Edd," he said gently as he rubbed Edd's back.

A muffled, "No," was all Kevin heard as Edd's face was still hidden in his pillow.

"Please?"

Edd whined as Kevin pleaded with him to come out of his hiding place and he came out to see Kevin's forward facing camera opened up on his phone.

"Take a selfie with me?"

Edd used to be horrified by Kevin's request because he was always afraid that somehow someone would find the phone and out them and he couldn't imagine dealing with the fallout. But nothing had happened in the near nine months they had been quietly dating, so now he was game for silly faces with silly filters, especially since it made Kevin so happy.

But then Kevin's phone rang with a call from his mother that Edd only understood about half of because it was in Spanish and Kevin was speaking at such an extraordinary clip that it was hard to keep up.

He figured that someone named David wouldn't be a problem anymore and Edd thought that the look of relief on his face was as close to the look only Edd himself got behind closed doors.

When Kevin got quiet and thoughtful he had thought the phone call was over, but the redhead didn't move the phone from his ear and when he spoke again, it was in English.

"Yeah, Mari, it's me…I know you're not gonna like this idea, but you need to give it a shot…Go up to the Wendy's on Broadway and 21st and ask for Eddy or Angela Jackson. Tell them you're my cousin and you need a job…Trust me, Marisol. You can do this and y'all need this…I mean you can try, but Dee's only a cashier up there. Eddy and Ang are managers and they need more…Yep!...Ok, ok….Mari….Mari…Mari, I'm getting off the phone now…Love you, bye!"

He hung up the phone on a snicker and then leaned over to give Edd another kiss.

It was softer than his earlier kisses, and Edd could feel some sense of relief in it but kissed him back just as eagerly.

"Everything ok?," he asked as Kevin leaned back into the headboard and his shoulders looked more relaxed then Edd had seen them in months.

"Yeah, now," Kevin snorted. "They finally put Mari's ex in jail and got her and Rosie a restraining order that goes into effect as soon as he gets out."

"But she needs a job?"

"Yeah, she's got her GED and her associate's degree in business," Kevin said as he brought up some pictures of the young woman Edd had met a couple of months ago. "She was working as an assistant manager at the Sonic in Lemon Brook until he knocked her up and made her quit."

"And now she has to go back to work since he obviously can't," Edd said as he took the phone from him and scrolled through the pictures that looked to be a graduation party.

"Jackass better be glad he's still alive," Kevin sneered as he peered at the pictures over Edd's shoulder.

"What happened?!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to take them back because the look in Kevin's eyes hurt and he had promised himself that he wouldn't hurt him.

Ever.

"Got mad when she picked him up late from work one day because Rosie's doctor's appointment ran late. Beat the stones out of her in the car in front of God and everybody," Kevin said as he clinched and unclenched his fists and Edd shuddered. "Ang called the cops and pulled him off of her and beat his ass til they got there."

"What?! When did that happen!?"

"About three months ago?," Kevin mused.

"So that's why Ang's hand was broken after spring break!"

"Yep," Kevin sighed. "She gave him a concussion, though. If she hadn't gotten him into the hospital…"

Edd handed him his phone back and snuggled close.

"I'll start saving for your bail money now, then," he said as he gave him a soft smile and Kevin blushed.

"She's my cousin, Dee. I gotta –"

"I know," Edd said as he took his hand into his own. "Taking care of family is important."

"Thanks for that," Kevin said as he gave his hand a squeeze, his cheeks still a dusty pink.

"You're welcome," Edd whispered as he gave the corner of his mouth a quick kiss and slowly started to push him out of the bed.

"I take it you need a shower," Kevin grinned as he stood up from the floor Edd forced him on and Edd held out his hands.

"You know me so well," he giggled and Kevin rolled his eyes, but lifted him up bridal style and carried him to a much awaited shower.