24. Skye

They were beaming the whole way back from the courthouse the next day. They'd gotten a little dressed up for the occasion. Dress pants, shirts, and ties. Skye's tie was blue, and River's was green. And Skye had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road instead of on his husband as they drove home.

Husband. He couldn"t get used to the idea that River was his husband. That they truly belonged to each other. Forever. For always. He was River's and River was his. And he wouldn't have it any other way. He reached over to take his husband's hand, the one that now bore a silver wedding band, and squeezed it gently. River smiled at him, interlocking their fingers together, and holding their hands on his lap.

It had been a simple ceremony, and Nick and Jenna had both cried. Then they had gone out to brunch with their friends who were still very much together and very clearly in love. Skye wondered how long it would be before they tied the knot.

When they got home, Skye went around to River's side of the car before he could get very far and handed his keys to River.

"Here, take these," he said.

River looked at him in confusion but did as he asked, and the next thing he knew his feet were off the ground and he was in Skye's arms. He let out a surprised yelp, and wrapped his arms around Skye's neck.

"You're being way too romantic," River said, smiling up at him as Skye carried him up the front walk.

Skye smiled back. "You gotta open the door," he said, gesturing.

River held on to Skye with one arm and unlocked the door with the other. He opened it and they stepped inside. Skye planted another kiss on River's lips before setting him back on his feet again.

"Hey, don't you have a phone call to make?" Skye said. "The sooner we get you that medication the better."

"Oh, right," River said, pulling out his phone.

"All good?" Skye asked when River got off the phone.

"She called the pharmacy. They'll ship it to me. Should be here in two days. Hopefully I'll still be migraine free by then."

"And you're going to be okay with doing that to yourself?" Skye asked, shivering at the thought.

"You mean sticking a needle in my leg once a month?" River said. "If it gets rid of these migraines, hell yeah."

"More power to ya, angel," Skye said. "No way I could do that."

River grinned. "I know."

They spent the rest of the day together, cuddled up, watching tv, reading, always with their feet touching, or their hands together, or with River's head resting on Skye's shoulder, or in his lap, Skye's fingers stroking through his hair. It wasn't the wedding night that Skye had always envisioned, but that was okay. Because he had River.

And with River's head in his lap, both of them reading their books, Skye smiled softly and continued to stroke River's thick, dark hair, and thought of how lucky and blessed he was, that the man he so desperately loved, not only loved him back, but now called him husband.

"No way!" Gwen exclaimed the following day when she noticed the band around Skye's ring finger. "You got married?!"

And all of a sudden the room was bustling with questions.

"Seriously?" Kevin said.

"What?" Ben asked.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Gwen chimed again. "I'm hurt. Wait, is that why we had a sub yesterday?" She raised her eyebrow at him and suddenly there were forty eyes staring at him inquisitively.

"Yes, it is," Skye admitted, and he couldn't keep the smile off of his face. He looked at his ring and twisted it around his finger. It was exactly the same as River's. They wanted their rings to match. For some reason it made them feel like they belonged to each other even more.

"Details," Gwen said. "It's River, right? The super cute boyfriend who brought you flowers on Valentine's Day? That was adorable. You guys finally tied the knot? Who proposed? You or him? Wait, how long have you been engaged? You didn't tell us you were engaged?" Now Gwen was looking highly offended and she crossed her arms over her chest.

Skye couldn't help but laugh. "Guys, look, it's not the time for twenty questions, okay? Yes, I got married to my roommate, aka, the super cute boyfriend with the flowers." He smirked at Gwen. "It was really spur of the moment, so I didn't tell anyone other than my family and a couple of close friends. "

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Really?" she said. "You're not blowing smoke?"

"Really," Skye replied. "Scouts honor." He saluted her.

"Okay, you're forgiven," Gwen said, a smile escaping her lips.

And Skye noticed that the rest of the class was smiling too. "Thank you."

"Yes, Claire," he said, when the girl raised her hand.

"So, you didn't go on a honeymoon, or have a celebration, or anything?" she asked, somewhat timidly.

"Not yet," Skye said.

She nodded and bit her lip. "Well, congratulations."

"Thank you," Skye said again with a smile. "Now, you guys do have a test at the end of the week, so maybe we should talk about something other than my husband, because unfortunately he won't be on it."

They all chuckled and opened their books.

Skye awoke to a gentle arm around his waist and River's chin pressed against his shoulder, his stubble rubbing up against Skye's cheek.

"Skye?" River said, slightly above a whisper.

"Hmm?" Skye murmured, barely awake. He placed his arm over River's and interlocked their fingers together on his stomach as he felt River's nose against his neck. But the minute he heard his husband's breath hitching, his body was on alert.

"River?" he said, as he sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. River was shaking when Skye turned to face him again, tears sliding down his cheeks. "River, what's wrong?" he asked, scooting close to him and stroking the side of his head with his fingers.

"I'm sorry, Skye." River wiped tears away. "I tried to fall back asleep, but I couldn't."

"It's okay," Skye said. "You know it's okay. Did you have another nightmare?"

River nodded. "I haven't had one in a while, but this one was especially bad. It was like I was reliving it all over again." He shook as he sobbed, and Skye took his husband into his arms and held him close, just like he always did when River cried. When River hurt. "Shh," he soothed. "I've got you. I'm here, angel. You're safe."

It was several minutes before River eased his grip on Skye, sniffling and wiping his eyes. "Skye, do you think…do you think you could touch me?"

Skye blinked, and then pulled away and stared down at his husband. "What?" he asked.

"I want you to touch me," River said again, reaching up to place his hand on Skye's chest, and looking into his eyes. "Please?"

Skye's heart was hammering in his chest and he was sure River could feel it. He couldn't breathe. "But, but you just had a nightmare about being assaulted, Riv, you…"

"Exactly. The only time I've ever experienced sexual touch has been by people who wanted to do me harm. Who were being cruel and hurtful, and were taking advantage of me, and…I want to be touched by someone who loves me. Someone that I trust. Someone that I love." He pressed his lips to Skye's and Skye's breath hitched. Tears stung his eyes when River pulled away.

"I want this," River said, stroking his cheek. "I want you. Please?"

Skye bit his lip as his tears fell freely now and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against River's as River rested back on the pillow, smiling up at him. River planted soft, tender kisses on Skye's cheeks as he cried.

"I love you," River said.

"I love you, too, Riv," Skye said. "So much." He let out a deep breath.

"You okay?" River asked, running his fingers through Skye's hair.

Skye smiled. "Yeah, I'm just," he wiped away tears, "I'm overwhelmed, River."

River took both of Skye's cheeks into his hands and kissed his forehead. "Whenever you're ready."

Skye nodded. "You want me to take your pants off?"

"Please," River said with a smile. "This time I'll help you. And maybe it won't be as awkward."

Skye chuckled, thinking about the last time he'd undressed River, and how he'd had to try not to think of his best friend in a sexual manner, and how wonderful it was that he could do so now, that he was meant to do so now. River was his husband. River wanted him to undress him. River wanted him to touch him. He was going to see River naked for the first time. And his hands were shaking slightly as he sat up and gripped the waistband of River's pajama pants, and his briefs, and pulled them down as River lifted his hips.

As soon as they were off, Skye tossed them to the floor and then looked back at his husband, laying on the bed, fully erect, his cock long and thick, surrounded by dark pubes, twitching under Skye's gaze. Fuck, that was beautiful.

His gaze wandered up until it locked with those gorgeous blue eyes staring up at him.

River swallowed. "You're making me nervous," he said. "Please say something."

But Skye couldn't speak. He had more tears filling his eyes as he looked into River's, and kissed him, lying down again and wrapping his arms around his husband, pulling his naked body close, their legs tangling.

"God, River, you're so damn beautiful," he said once they pulled away. He traced a finger down River's side and over the swell of his perfectly round ass. He squeezed his ass cheek and River moaned slightly, pressing his forehead to Skye's, their cocks brushing together. Skye moaned in turn, his cock throbbing at the knowledge that he was about to touch River for the first time.

"Please touch me," River pleaded softly.

Skye was still shaking slightly, and he kept his forehead against River's as he reached his hand down and began to stroke his husband's shaft. The feel of River's cock in his hand was something he thought he would never experience, and it was everything. Full, and thick, and dripping with precum as he continued to move his hand up and down in slow, firm strokes, hearing River's breath hitch and feeling his cock twitch in his grip as River bucked his hips forward, thrusting into Skye's palm. River"s moans and whimpers filled his mouth as Skye kissed him and slid his thumb over the slit of his engorged cock.

"Skye," River said, and he was crying now too, his body trembling.

"River, are you okay?" Skye said. "Do I need to stop?"

River shook his head, his hands gripping Skye's face. His hips stopped moving. "No. They're good tears, happy tears, Skye. I'm… oh, God," River closed his eyes and moaned Skye's name. "This feels amazing, and I just…I can't believe how much you love me, and…" he was breathing heavily, more tears falling. He brought Skye's face down to his and kissed him again and again and again even as he cried, and Skye continued to stroke him. River thrust upward again and whimpered into Skye's mouth.

When River released only moments later, they were both crying and smiling, and laughing, and peppering each other with kisses. And Skye knew that he had never experienced anything more beautiful in his entire life. To have River in bed with him, naked, to be holding him, pleasuring him, to be the reason for his orgasm, to hear his name on River's lips as he climaxed. It was everything he could have asked for and more.

"Can I taste you?" he asked, and when River nodded, a slightly stunned expression on his face, Skye didn't waste any time. He lowered himself and lapped up the cum covering River's abdomen, feeling River shudder underneath him, his stomach sinking in. He swallowed, moaning as he did, and didn't miss how River's cock twitched. River moaned again as Skye lowered his face once more and licked the last remaining drops of cum from River's cock.

"Fuck, that's hot," River whispered, his eyes blown wide.

"You taste amazing, baby," Skye said, savoring the saltiness of River on his tongue and letting it slide down his throat. "Fucking perfect." He kissed his husband again and River moaned into his mouth. They kissed for a moment longer before Skye pulled away and collapsed on his back. But River was hovering over him in a second, his smile wide.

"Your turn," he said.

Skye jerked when he felt River's hand in his pants, and his breath hitched.

"May I?" River asked, grinning, and nuzzling Skye's nose with his.

"You don't have to," Skye said, breathless, as River rested on his elbow.

River's gaze was steady, his voice firm but gentle. "I want to." Skye nodded.

River knelt and pulled Skye's pants and underwear off together, and then tugged at the hem of his shirt. Skye took the hint and sat up slightly, slipping the shirt off and tossing it to the floor as well.

River smiled wider as his gaze trailed over Skye's body, taking it in, just as Skye had done with him. "Wow," he said. "You're perfect."

Skye blushed fiercely because there was nothing but sincerity in River's tone.

"Shut up," he said, but he was smiling, and pulling River back down to him.

"I love you," River said, pressing a kiss to Skye's nose as they both lay, moments later, basking in the afterglow of their orgasms, and relishing in the fact that they had made each other come.

The smells of sweat and sex permeated the room, and Skye didn't think he'd ever been more content.

"Does this mean we can change in front of each other now?" Skye asked as River snuggled up next to him and rested his head on Skye's shoulder. He began to run his fingers through River's hair and he heard River humming softly in approval as he did.

"Yeah," he said. "I'd like that. I know this wasn't quite sex, Skye, but it was pretty good, right?"

"It was better than good, angel," Skye said, wrapping his arms around his husband and kissing his hair. "Even if this is all we ever do, I'd be satisfied."

"It won't be, Skye," River stated matter of factly. "I promise. I want more. And I'll get there."

"I'd like that, River. But there's no pressure."

"I know," River said, and he lifted his head and planted a kiss against the smooth skin of Skye's jaw.

Skye reached for his phone and groaned when he saw what time it was. "We should probably get dressed and get some sleep. It's getting late. Or early, depending on how you look at it. And we both have work in the morning."

River stuck out his bottom lip. "But I don't want you to get dressed. I'll miss you." He glanced down at Skye's mostly flaccid cock and then looked back up at his husband with puppy dog eyes.

Skye chuckled. "Sorry, angel," he said with a grin. "Say goodnight to Skye junior. He'll come out to play again later."

River chuckled and looked down at Skye's cock again. "Bye little fella," he said, waving at it. "See you next time."

Skye raised an eyebrow. "Little?" River laughed. He kissed Skye and then slid out of bed, and they finished cleaning off.

Once they were both dressed again, and back in bed, Skye took River into his arms as they drifted to sleep, warm, and sated.