*****

Xander clicked off the television, frustrated beyond belief at the utter lack of any programming aimed at people under the age of 55. He sprawled out on his bed, cursing his luck that the first day he'd had off since the Fourth of July was grey, rainy and dismal.

Anya was gone, exploring the female rituals of shopping and sleep overs. Mrs. Summers was out of town, and Buffy was having a full fledged girl's night. Unfortunately, since he was possessed of the other kind of equipment, he was out of luck *and* a night's fun.

Riley didn't know why he bothered showering. His air conditioning went earlier in the day and every tech in town wouldn't work on outside units in the rain. Not that he could blame them. He used to hate PT in the rain. But that didn't leave him with much except a horribly claustrophobic room and the big three networks on his cableless TV.

Upon further reflection, Riley realized, as he plopped down onto his bed, these were the least of his problems. He'd been in a miserable mood since the 4th of July and he was taking it out on the world. "Fuck," he said quietly as he stared at the 7 o'clock news credits rolling up the screen. "I have to do *something*."

Xander stared at his ceiling, idly debating the thought of masturbating, but the lethargy held him captive. And, if he was honest with himself, he hadn't been in the mood since the 4th. The hostile interchange with Riley had disturbed him more deeply than he'd been willing to admit, even to himself.

Riley knew the house. He had been taken there when he was sick and going through the Initiative Wonder Drug withdrawals. He had found his way there time and time again after that, in search of Buffy and... and the rest of the gang. Tonight, he found his way there to find peace.

Riley didn't knock very loud. He had learned from one of his previous visits that Mrs. Harris hated the noise. Plus Xander never heard the knocking anyway, no matter how hard the pounding might be. Mrs. Harris led him through the house and Riley said a silent, random thank you for working central air. Then once at the door, he thanked the older woman and slowly made his descent into Xander's basement.

Xander barely stirred at the opening and closing of the door. "Mom, I *told* you that I was off today. You don't have to worry about me losing another job." He sighed and pulled his pillow over his face to preemptively block out his mom, listening for the footsteps to recede and leaving him to his sulky contemplation of his life.

Riley watched Xander's still form as he spoke and found the tone and resignation in his voice very disturbing. He drew in another breath and then swallowed back his... fear. Riley stopped when he reached the bottom of Xander's bed. He sunk down to sit on the edge, his eyes never leaving the boy sprawled there. When Xander didn't move or respond to his presence, Riley reclined next to him. "You really shouldn't lay there with a pillow over your head, Xander. It's a suffocation hazard."

Xander yanked the pillow off of his face, shocked at hearing a masculine voice, rather than his mother's distinctively shrill whine. When he saw Riley sitting on his voice, like the living incarnation of a thousand fantasies, Xander's mouth opened in a perfect O.

It was almost sublime. The reaction he had illlicited from Xander by simply... being there. And, he smiled. He smiled almost broadly as he cupped Xander's cheek and pulled him close until their lips touched, and then meshed together.

Xander's eyes opened in shock, and then closed in the dreamy suspension of reality, as he lost himself in the sensations of just kissing Riley again. He snuggled closer, his hand drifting up involuntarily to ruffle Riley's hair.

Riley's hand snaked behind Xander's head, and he grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled back on it. He took a deep breath and looked at him, taking in every delicate change in the boy's expression. And he smiled again.

Xander's dreamy reverie ended suddenly, doused in a furious rage. "What the fuck are you doing? You push me away, avoid me for days, and then just waltz in here and kiss me senseless?"

"Are you complaining?"

Xander thought. "No. But... why?"

Riley shrugged sloppily, his fingertips drifting along the skin at the back of Xander's neck. "It wasn't going to go away. I mean I can't even..." his voice trailed away and he felt his cheeks begin to burn as he stared down at his nether region. "It hasn't been a busy week, let's just say that."

Xander nodded in comprehension. "Yeah. I'm there with ya, buddy." He found the rage gone, replaced by a curious warmth. Cocking his head to one side, he regarded Riley. "So, what now?"

"I'm not sure. I'm entering totally new territory here."

Xander thought quickly and fairly incoherently, the only thing he could think of was "Um, I forgot the map?"

Riley smiled and closed his eyes. "I think we just wing it."

Xander took a deep breath, leaning in, closing the space between them. He brushed his lips across Riley's, taking his time, learning the feel of them, all over again. The guilt and confusion that had been tormenting him since the bathroom episode drifted away and all he could think of was getting closer to Riley. His hands moved to cup Riley's face and he edged closer, until their bodies met.

It was odd really; the musky male smell that was all Xander, the feel of skin that was calloused and rough, and the similar hardness that met with his thigh. It unnerved him a bit to allow himself the feeling but at the same time it excited him beyond belief. And he found himself responding to Xander in kind, opening his mouth against him, pulling his bottom lip with between his teeth and sucking. It was almost exquisite.

Xander fought back a moan as Riley's teeth nipped gently at his lip, and he moved his hands tentatively to the bottom of Riley's t-shirt, hands skimming against the waistband, fingertips teasing the ridiculously soft skin exposed as his shirt rode up. He broke the kiss, hands still firmly in place, looking into Riley's eyes uncertainly, questioning the simple contact.

For a moment, Riley couldn't breathe. This wasn't his own personal dream theater playing out in his own bed, this was the real thing. This was the crossroads to say 'yay' or 'nay' and live the rest of his life remembering that one little word. If it went wrong, that one word would stay forever etched in his memory but if it went well, and god, if the bulge in his jeans was any indication... well he'd remember everything after the word.

Chasing himself out of his head, Riley choose no words at all. He slipped his hand into the other man's hair, just at the neckline and pulled him down to him. He waved a pleasant goodbye to tenderness and crushed his lips against Xander's and with a free hand guided Xander's fingers to the waist band of his jeans and below.

Xander mentally gulped, measuring the bulge that rested below his fingers, and realizing that Riley was far from unaffected by the earlier kiss and even now, by their closeness. He wondered briefly if this should feel as fucking right as it did, as Riley's hands played through his hair.

Xander brushed his hands along Riley's thigh, teasing just a little bit, while his other hand moved up and under Riley's t-shirt, tracing meaningless patterns just to feel the skin jump under his fingers. Giving a mental shrug to impropriety and possible mistakes, he traced the hardness under Riley's zipper, before quickly unzipping the jeans.

Giving just as good as he got, Xander arched into the hand at the back of his neck, and used the tip of his tongue to trace the outline of Riley's lip, before grabbing his hand and slowly sucking on the tip of his finger, their eyes meeting as wordless agreement passed quickly between them. Xander knew that this time there would be no turning back, no harsh anger or timely exits.

Riley felt only slightly relieved after Xander unzipped his jeans. He had actually found himself holding his breath for a moment, waiting for the feel of his hand against the very sensitive flesh now screaming for him. Cupping Xander's cheek, Riley stopped all movement. It hurt too much to even breathe. "Xander..."

Xander slowly moved the fabric of Riley's boxers aside, smiling at the need in Riley's voice, shifting uncomfortably against his own nearly painful hardness. He delicately ran one finger up the underside, a brush meant more to inflame, than to relieve.

Maddened by the sudden need to feel Riley's skin against his, the t-shirt seeming to chafe at him, Xander yanked his t-shirt over his head, immediately returning to his ministrations. He looked down at the hardness in his hand, familiar and yet not, smiling at the look on Riley's face, an interesting mix of begging and pleasure. Xander started moving his hand over Riley, the way he himself liked it, quickly becoming absorbed in his exploration.

The initial contact stole his breath and caused his whole body to stiffen. As if taking his reaction as a cue, Xander continued and Riley arched into it, feeling it wash over him and through him. He groaned against it, felt it build and... fuck, it happened so fast and he couldn't control himself as he came hard into Xander's hand.

Xander looked down, awed by Riley's intense reaction, yet somehow oddly disappointed. He definitely felt ill at ease, looking at Riley, envying him his gasping completion. He shifted, awkwardly, unsure whether he was attempting to minimize his state or draw Riley's attention to it. He settled for grabbing a tissue box and wiping his hand, while he searched for words.

Drawing in his breath as he tried to formulate some sort of apology, Riley pushed his frustration aside and tucked himself back into his shorts, not bothering with the tissues. He then grabbed Xander by both of his wrists and eased him onto his back.

Comforting himself with how he could make Xander feel, Riley threw a leg over across his thighs and straddled him. Sitting up, he eased his hands along the smooth plane of Xander's chest. Following the slight treasure trail down to the button of his jeans, Riley's fingers worked to unfasten Xander's trousers and work them over his hips.

Xander's eyes widened, as Riley moved into action. He swallowed convulsively as Riley pinned him down and stripped his pants off, wiggling to kick the pants off, hardly daring to hope. Unwilling to relinquish complete control, Xander drew Riley's head down, crushing their lips together, until he had to let go, almost desperate for relief.

It was all hands and fingers at first. A sweaty palm circling tender flesh. Riley thought he heard a groan and it made him smile. It gave him the confidence to slide his tongue over the head, to circle the shaft with his mouth, to take him completely into his mouth. He grew more confident with the movement of Xander's body. Taking more in, ignoring the gag reflex, and learning to use his tongue as he applied suction.

Tasting the beginning evidence of Xander's arousal. Deeper then, cheeks contracting with his motion. God, the reaction. Fingers digging into the fleshy part of his thighs; holding on as he moved faster.

Xander closed his eyes, groaning at the pressure, the warmth surrounding him. This was what he'd been imagining when he tried to masturbate, and, he'd be honest, the real thing shot his fantasy all to hell. Xander lost the power of coherent speech, and quite probably the ability to think, right around the time that a firm tongue swept up and down his shaft.

He was gasping out words, a please here and there, Riley's name, and he had to arch up, thrust deeper into this delicious feeling, his hands grasping at the bedsheet.

Riley couldn't have imagined a better reaction. He couldn't dream that he had the ability to elicit it. But he did and it drove him harder. His mouth moved over him, tongue in circles. He released Xander's thigh and started fingering his balls, feeling them tighten with his impending orgasm.

Xander tensed, his body humming with his imminent release. He opened his mouth to warn Riley, and as their eyes met, Riley nodded, never stopping his movement. Xander, granted permission, let go, muffling his yell in a hastily grabbed pillow, as the frustration and yearning of many days leaked out of him in a wrenching spasm that seemed to go on endlessly.

Riley's mind whirled as he the warm fluid hit the back of his throat. Without thinking about it, he swallowed quickly, turning his head discretely as he gagged slightly. He then slid next to Xander, feeling completely sated and very tired.

Xander looked over, trying to formulate words. He was fairly certain that they were going to have to have a talk, of the variety that he generally tried to avoid with Anya. For right now, though, he was content to throw a lazy arm over Riley.

Xander realized that he should say something. "I think the good part here is, we both wanna sleep." He heard a slight snore from Riley's direction, as he let his eyes drift shut.

~end~