Nice (sequel to Naughty)

I know why the baby cries

Its way into the arms of a mother’s love

And I know why true love survives

And it is more than the red hot fire of another’s touch

--Jeff Black, Bless My Soul

For months of their non-courtship, Reno met Cloud at Seventh Heaven after work every afternoon to bitch, drink, mock, and generally solidify their friendship and maybe something beyond. Lately the smiles had been warmer, the touches more lingering, and Reno more confused. And horny.

And after that day’s lunch, Reno didn’t really know whether Cloud had issued an invitation or not. He ran his fingers through his hair and encountered a forgotten leaf. Damn, had he missed any more? And would it be too much for Cloud to speak plain English?

Finally after hours, or perhaps minutes, or maybe Reno had actually been a little early, Cloud bounded down the stairs. Reno decided he looked happy. What am I, sixteen?

“So what went on at lunch today?” Damn it, he had forgotten Tifa was there. He decided to feign ignorance. Sadly it was less than effective.

“Rude said you bolted out after Cloud called, forgot your sandwich, and came back with a twig in your hair.”

“That’s way too many words for Rude.”

“He emailed.”

“Emailed what?” Cloud finally made his way to the bar.

“You know, I’d like what I do in the bushes outside my office to stay in the bushes outside my office…Want to get a table?” Suddenly Reno felt like a bit of privacy. For a change.

Cloud laughed. “Like getting busted by Tseng wasn’t enough, now it’s Rude and Tifa? I’d love to say I’d never have come by with that if I had known…” His eyes sparkled with mischief. Reno wondered if there was anything more beautiful.

He sipped his beer and decided there was no time like the present. “I have no regrets. First, you’re right, it was just flat ass funny. My sides still hurt. I can’t tell you when I last laughed that fucking hard. Hell, I’m still laughing, every time I think of it. Second, I got to see you laugh and you’ve had enough grief in this life. Third, I felt your heart beat under my hand and that was the most wonderful and the most erotic thing I’ve known so far. Though I hope to hell it gets replaced in that category soon. I meant what I said before you left. I know we both have issues but we’ll work around it. Please, gods, say something.”

“I was waiting on you to draw breath. And beginning to wonder if you’d grown gills.” Cloud smiled and reached across the table, pulling Reno’s hand away from the death grip he had on his beer bottle. “It’s ok.”

Neither said what was ok, both just knew that it was.

Cloud paid for their beers and led Reno out of the bar, back to his apartment. “You seem awfully calm about this.”

“I’m just slower than you to panic. That’s not the same thing as calm, Reno.”

“Whatever. I think I’m going to pass out.”

“After that speech, you’d better not. You’re the one that’s been getting me all worked up since…hell. I don’t know. You’re staying conscious if I have to…”

“What? Have to what?” It was Reno’s turn to grin.

Cloud was out of composure. It was either panic or fuck, and he had no intention of panicking. He pressed Reno against the outside of the apartment door and kissed him. When they came up for air, his bright blue eyes were heavy lidded with desire. “Reno…”

“Hmmm?”

“I don’t…I mean. I don’t know how to do this…casually. I can’t do this in halfway measures. Not with you. Do you understand?”

Reno kissed him, gently, quickly. “I’m messy. Can’t cook. Don’t know shit about using a calendar. I won’t remember to take out the trash or do laundry. I don’t have a driver’s license because well…never mind. The only word I can conjugate is fuck. Are you sure you want me?”

“Gods, yes. Move so I can open the door or we’ll get arrested for public lewdness, and we’ve already nearly done that once today.”

They slipped inside in whispers, even though they were the only two there. Clothes came off immediately; Reno was never so happy he refused to wear a tie in his life. Toeing off his shoes, he was strides ahead of Cloud who was cursing his boot laces in the bedroom door. Reno grabbed him and tossed him on the bed.

“Need some help?”

“Fuck you.”

“Take the boots off first.”

Whatever response Cloud had was swallowed up in Reno’s mouth, which was suddenly devouring him. Cloud finally managed to unlace his boots and get his pants off. Reno moaned.

“You’re beautiful. Perfect.” He was running long cool fingers up Cloud’s muscled legs and hips. Cloud stopped him, grasping his hands. “What?”

“This is going to be brief enough as it is, damn it. Explore later,” but Cloud was just as busy admiring Reno’s slim form beneath him. He could no more resist touching than his lover.

They grinned at each other, suddenly. Cloud laughed into Reno’s knee which he had been busy kissing. “Shit,” Reno muttered.

“What?”

“Was just wondering about…never mind. It’s awkward.”

“Reno, I’ve never known you to not speak your mind. Jaybird naked in bed with me is not the time to start.”

“Experience, ok? I have zero. Dude-wise. There. I said it.” He stared at the ceiling.

Cloud kissed his way up Reno’s body, licked his neck, thoroughly tongue-fucked his mouth, and fished a bottle of lube out of the nightstand, all in one coordinated arc. Reno was suitably impressed. “Well, I have more than that but not by much. A few single dates composed of decent sex, offset by agonizing small talk that made it not worth calling back the next morning. I’m thinking this will be better. Are you sure about this?” Cloud started to stroke Reno’s inner thigh and finally, gently wrapped his warm hand around his shaft. “No other man has touched you?” He was so breathtaking, lying there naked in Cloud’s bed, he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around the concept.

“Well, I have,” Reno chuckled wryly.

Unbidden, the image rose to Cloud’s mind of Reno’s head thrown back in pleasure as he fisted ­his own cock, his finger pressed against himself entering, massaging to bring himself to completion. He nearly bent double with lust.

“Cloud?”

“Sorry, just one hell of a mental picture there.”

“Please, I probably look as absurd as the next guy jacking off.”

Cloud leaned up to kiss him once more. “I’ll bet you’re beautiful when you touch yourself,” he smiled. “I plan on finding out later.”

Reno’s eyes widened at that. Cloud slicked two fingers and pushed into him. Not too hard but leaving no doubt as to what the man was after. Then without warning, he bent his fingers slightly and suddenly flipped his wrist over. The motion rubbed his knuckles directly over his prostate. Reno was sure he had died, right there on the bed. “I love you. Are you ready?”

Still speechless from whatever the hell Cloud had done with his wrist, Reno had to make do with a “just do it already!” look, which fortunately Cloud interpreted with no trouble. He coated his own shaft with lube, groaning himself with sensitivity now, and slid into his lover, thrusting in and out with what he hoped was some semblance of control.

But it was growing thin. Reno was arching off the bed and clutching the sheets in his fists. His hair was plastered to his body, down to the waist, with sweat, his eyes screwed shut in passion. Cloud thought abstractly that he had never seen a more gorgeous sight and here he was, buried in him, his own pleasure rapidly overtaking.

Gods, he could just give up on the lottery right fucking now.

Then Reno began to pump his own shaft and the visual alone was enough to shred Cloud’s last connection to sanity. His hand joined Reno’s and he moaned, emptying into him at the same time. Reno cried out only seconds later.

Catching his breath, Reno rolled them to the side. “I hope to hell that was better than your other dates, Strife.” Cloud laughed and pulled him into a kiss, and then another.

“Let’s shower and I’ll think about it.”

They stood in the heated spray, washing and shampooing every inch of each others’ bodies, not missing anything. Only the occasional tickle, gasp, or kiss would interrupt them; they hadn’t been joking when they promised to explore later. When they couldn’t possibly get any cleaner, they kissed until the hot water ran out, then dried each other as thoroughly as they had washed.

It was a long time, they felt. The catching up was considerable. Every bit of flesh, tongues and teeth, had to be catalogued for future reference. Knowledge was a powerful tool, after all.

In the end, they landed on Cloud’s sofa as they always had, as friends, with a joint, two beers, and a bag of Cheetos. The only difference being that Cloud was curled into Reno’s side like a wisp of smoke and Reno was licking orange Cheeto dust off Cloud’s fingers, and the joint had gone out hours ago. The television that would have kept them captivated had faded to an inane infomercial sometime past midnight.

“When the fuck did it get to be two in the morning babe?” the endearment rolled naturally off Reno’s tongue.

“Don’t make me refresh your memory.” It was nice, Cloud thought, to just sit here. To do nothing, really, and not have barriers, not have to navigate around the snags and sandbars of each others’ need.

“Hmmm…actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea.” Reno grinned as he tossed the bag of Cheetos onto the coffee table and covered Cloud’s body with his own.