Chapter 11: chapter 10: why don't you do it?

As they arrived at Gyuvin's house, Gyuvin knocked on the door, and almost immediately, his little brother swung it open.

"Mom's in the kitchen," the boy said casually, eyeing Ricky curiously.

Ricky offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."

Before Gyuvin could say anything, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from inside.

"Ricky? Ricky?!" Gyuvin's mom came rushing out of the kitchen, her face lighting up the moment she saw him. "Oh my god, look at you!"

Ricky barely had time to react before she cupped his face in her hands, turning his head from side to side as she examined him like a long-lost son.

"You've grown so much!" she exclaimed. "And you've gotten even prettier! How is that even possible?"

Gyuvin groaned from beside them. "Mom, please—"

"Hush, Gyuvin," she scolded, still fawning over Ricky. "I haven't seen him in years!"

Ricky, a little flustered, let out a small chuckle. "It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Kim."

His politeness only seemed to endear him to her further. "Such a well-mannered boy! Come, come—the food is ready."

She ushered them into the kitchen, where a large table was set with an impressive spread of dishes. It was the kind of meal that only happened when guests came over—steaming bowls of soup, plates piled with grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and an array of side dishes neatly arranged in colorful bowls.

"Wow," Ricky murmured, taking in the sight. "This looks amazing."

Gyuvin's mom beamed. "Eat as much as you want, dear. You're too skinny!"

Gyuvin rolled his eyes, but as he pulled out a chair and sat down, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Ricky. There was something oddly familiar about seeing him here, in this house, at his dinner table.

As they sat down, Gyuvin's mom wasted no time diving into questions.

"So, Ricky," she began, scooping some rice into his bowl. "Why did you leave so suddenly back then? Where did you go?"

Ricky accepted the bowl with a polite nod. "It was because of my dad's work. We moved to Shanghai."

His mom hummed in interest. "And what brings you back here?"

"I intern at the university," Ricky answered smoothly. "I applied here and got accepted, so I moved back alone."

"Alone?" She looked at him in surprise. "You're living on your own?"

Ricky nodded.

"Wow," she clasped her hands together proudly. "Such a responsible young man! Independent, smart, hardworking—this is how a son should be."

Then, she turned sharply toward Gyuvin with a disapproving look. "Not like someone, who does nothing but goof around with his stupid friends and avoid studying."

Gyuvin scowled, shoving food into his mouth to avoid arguing back.

Ricky, on the other hand, let out an amused chuckle, covering his mouth with his hand. "Mrs. Kim, that's a little harsh."

"I'm just telling the truth!" she said, shaking her head. "You're such a good influence, Ricky. Maybe Gyuvin should start spending more time with you instead of those troublemakers he hangs around with."

Gyuvin shot Ricky a glare, but Ricky only smirked, clearly enjoying his suffering.

As they ate, Gyuvin's mom kept the conversation going with endless questions, her curiosity about Ricky seemingly never-ending. Ricky answered each one smoothly, but then she suddenly asked, "So, Ricky, do you have a girlfriend?"

Ricky blinked, then gave a small smile. "No."

His mom gasped dramatically. "No? Really?" She sat up straighter, looking at Ricky in disbelief. "You must be so popular. I bet people are competing for you left and right—even men! You have the kind of beauty that men used to go to war for."

Gyuvin nearly choked on his drink. Coughing, he set his glass down and waved a hand. "Mom, what the hell—"

"Don't you agree, Gyuvin?" she interrupted, turning to him expectantly.

Gyuvin felt his entire body heat up. He cleared his throat. "...Uh. Yeah. I guess."

Ricky's lips curled slightly, almost amused.

Then, as if the moment couldn't get any worse, his mom sighed, switching gears entirely. "It's funny, you know—Gyuvin actually had a very pretty, polite, and smart girlfriend last year. Sullyoon."

"She was so gorgeous I could barely believe she was dating him," his mom continued, shaking her head. "Such a lovely girl. But, of course, Gyuvin is dumb, so he lost her."

Gyuvin groaned. "Mom, please."

"I'm just saying the truth." She clicked her tongue. "She was perfect. And you let her go."

Gyuvin exhaled sharply, stabbing at his food. "We just stopped liking each other, okay? That's all."

His mom scoffed, unconvinced.

The air felt thick.

Gyuvin risked a glance at Ricky, who was watching him closely, his fingers tapping against his glass.

The dinner continued, conversation flowing easily as plates were gradually emptied. Laughter filled the space, the warmth of familiarity settling between them.

Then, Gyuvin's mom suddenly gasped, looking at the clock. "Oh my god, it's 11 PM?"

Ricky straightened slightly, setting his chopsticks down. "I should probably go now," he said, his tone polite as ever.

But before he could even push his chair back, Gyuvin's mom waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. It's too late for you to go home alone."

Ricky smiled, as if expecting this. "I'll be fine, really."

Gyuvin's mom crossed her arms. "No, you won't. You used to stay here all the time. What's stopping you now?"

Ricky opened his mouth to argue, but she didn't even let him get a word in. "It's the weekend tomorrow. It's settled. You're staying."

Ricky glanced at Gyuvin, as if expecting him to step in—but Gyuvin just leaned back in his chair, watching the exchange.

With a small sigh of surrender, Ricky nodded. "Alright, I'll stay."

Gyuvin's mom grinned triumphantly. "That's what I thought. You'll never win an argument against me, Ricky."

Ricky chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I should've remembered that."

Gyuvin swallowed. This was fine. It wasn't a big deal. Just like old times.

So why did he feel so on edge?

They stepped into Gyuvin's room, the air suddenly feeling heavier than before. Gyuvin cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly.

"So, uh... this is my room," he mumbled, as if Ricky hadn't been in there a million times before.

Ricky raised a brow, unimpressed. "Yeah. I know." His gaze swept over the space, taking in the familiar clutter. "Still as messy as I remember. Maybe even worse."

Gyuvin scoffed and, without thinking, grabbed a bundle of clothes from his closet and threw it directly at Ricky's face. "Just get changed and shut up."

Ricky peeled the fabric off his face with a lazy smirk. "So violent."

They turned away from each other to change. He glanced over at Ricky.

Sprawled across Ricky's chest, extending down to his belt line, was an intricate tattoo. The design was striking—a figure with massive, detailed wings, but instead of a face, there was a glowing sun, its rays stretching outward like a god-like presence. It looked ethereal.

"What the hell is that?" Gyuvin blurted out, still staring.

Ricky looked up, clearly amused by his reaction. "What? Never seen a tattoo before?"

"Not that," Gyuvin said, stepping closer. "I mean—that's huge. Since when did you get this?"

Ricky hummed, tilting his head. "Since last year." Then, with a knowing smirk, he added, "Wanna take a closer look?"

Gyuvin hesitated for a second but then, curiosity won over. He stepped forward, his gaze fixating on the details of the ink. His fingers twitched at his sides, resisting the urge to reach out.

"What does it mean?" he asked, voice quieter than before.

Gyuvin's eyes lingered on the tattoo, tracing the way the inked wings spread across Ricky's ribs, the sun in place of the figure's face radiating outward like something divine. It was bold—just like Ricky.

Ricky smirked, amused by his curiosity. "You really think you'd get it?"

Gyuvin scoffed. "I'm not dumb."

Ricky hummed, lazily running a hand over his stomach, right where the tattoo curved towards his waist. "It kinda is. It's about ascension. Power. Divinity." He looked at Gyuvin, eyes half-lidded. "You still keeping up, or did I lose you already?"

Gyuvin rolled his eyes. "I do have a brain, you know."

Ricky gave him a once-over, clearly not convinced. "Debatable."

Gyuvin groaned. "Just explain it."

Ricky exhaled dramatically. "Fine, dumbass." He tapped the sun at the center of the figure's face. "This? It's about someone who loses their identity in pursuit of something bigger. Power, knowledge, whatever. They sacrifice themselves to become something more."

Gyuvin stared at the design again, his brows furrowing slightly. "That's kinda... depressing."

Ricky tilted his head. "Is it?"

Gyuvin looked at him like he was crazy. "You literally just said the guy loses himself. Sounds tragic."

Ricky chuckled. "Or maybe it's just the price of becoming something greater."

Gyuvin shook his head. "Whatever. It's cool, though."

Ricky raised an eyebrow. "Cool?"

"Yeah," Gyuvin nodded, still eyeing the details. "I mean, it looks cool. Very, like, mysterious and dark and philosophical—which is totally your vibe, I guess."

Ricky sat beside Gyuvin's bed, right in the spot where they used to spend hours talking, playing video games, and wasting time on the most random things. It had been two years, but somehow, just sitting there again made it feel like no time had passed at all.

Ricky exhaled, pressing his palms against the mattress as he glanced around the room. "We really sat here every day, huh?"

Gyuvin nodded, his voice quieter than usual. "Yeah." He let the memories settle between them for a moment before adding, "You sucked at video games, though."

Ricky scoffed, turning to face him fully. "I was not bad."

Gyuvin smirked. "You literally rage-quit every time we played."

Ricky rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You just had too much free time to practice." Ricky leaned back on his hands, tilting his head toward Gyuvin. "So? How will you entertain your special guest?"

Gyuvin scoffed. "What, am I supposed to put on a whole circus for you?" He started listing things off. "Well... Maybe we could play video games. Watch a movie. I can do a backflip if that's what it takes to impress you—"

Ricky cut him off with a deadpan expression. "Let's just talk."

Gyuvin blinked. "That's it?"

"Yes."

Gyuvin made a dramatic show of sighing, throwing his hands up. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Your Highness, for not fulfilling your expectations."

Ricky shrugged. "So funny." His voice dropped just a little, more serious now. "But we haven't seen each other in years. Talking makes sense, don't you think?"

Gyuvin stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah... I guess it does."

Ricky leaned back against the headboard. "Let's play Truth and Truth."

Gyuvin, sitting cross-legged on the bed, furrowed his brows. "You mean Truth or Dare?"

"No," Ricky said flatly. "I don't feel like doing dares. Just truth. I'm tired."

"Fine, whatever. I'll go first." Gyuvin took a second to think. "Where do you like it more—Shanghai or Seoul?"

"Shanghai," Ricky answered immediately, no hesitation.

Gyuvin blinked at his certainty. "Seriously? That quick? Not even a little bit of doubt?"

"Why would I doubt it?" Ricky glanced at him, expression unreadable. "Shanghai's bigger, faster, better."

Gyuvin leaned his elbow on his knee, propping his head up with his hand. "Then why did you come back?"

"Not your turn to ask," Ricky said smoothly. "It's mine now."

Gyuvin groaned. "You're really going to play like this?"

Ricky ignored him. "What was your first impression of me?"

Gyuvin exhaled through his nose, trying to recall. Then, he chuckled. "Oh. You mean when I hit you with that cake?"

Ricky rolled his eyes. "Right. That."

"I was mortified," Gyuvin admitted, shaking his head. "I mean, imagine—this new guy walks in all tall and intimidating, and the first thing I do is throw cake in his face."

Ricky gave him a deadpan stare. "I wanted to kill you."

Gyuvin laughed. "Yeah, I could tell. You looked like you were about to strangle me right there in the cafeteria."

"Still considering it, honestly," Ricky muttered, crossing his arms.

"But," Gyuvin continued, ignoring him, "what really stuck with me was when we went to the bathroom, and you washed it off your face. I just remember staring."

Ricky raised an eyebrow. "Staring?"

"Yeah." Gyuvin hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "You didn't look like anyone I'd seen in Korea. Especially your eyes."

A beat passed. Ricky tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "What about them?"

"They were... really big," Gyuvin admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Like, freakishly big. Like two coins staring straight at me. It caught me off guard."

For a second, Ricky just looked at him. Then, his lips curled into a slow smirk. "So what I'm hearing is—you were mesmerized by me from the start."

Gyuvin made a face. "Mesmerized? That's not what I said."

Ricky chuckled, effortlessly dodging another swing. "Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night."

Gyuvin scowled. "Alright, my turn. Your first impression of me?"

Gyuvin perked up, waiting.

"I thought you were a dumbass," Ricky said bluntly.

Gyuvin's jaw dropped. "What the hell? Are you serious?"

Ricky just shrugged. "Yep. First thought that came to mind."

Gyuvin scoffed, offended. "Wow. Great. Love that for me."

Ricky smirked, clearly enjoying his reaction.

"You're such a jerk," Gyuvin muttered. "At least put some effort into your answer. What made me seem like a dumbass?"

Ricky sighed, as if Gyuvin was exhausting him. "Fine. My longer, more thoughtful answer is that you genuinely came off as an arrogant jerk. The kind of guy I wanted to stay away from."

Gyuvin groaned dramatically and flopped onto the bed. "Unbelievable. I give you a whole detailed story about my first impression of you, and all I get is arrogant dumbass?"

"Yes," Ricky said, deadpan.

Gyuvin grabbed another pillow and threw it at him, but Ricky caught it effortlessly. "You're so annoying."

"And yet, here we are," Ricky mused, tossing the pillow back at him.

Ricky stretched his legs out, settling into the bed as he looked at Gyuvin with a lazy smirk. "Alright, next question."

Gyuvin raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."

Ricky tilted his head slightly. "What did you think when you saw me at the exhibition?"

His usual easygoing demeanor faltered as he fell silent, his expression turning serious. He leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed, staring at a random spot on the wall as if gathering his thoughts.

"Well..." Gyuvin finally spoke, his voice lower than before. "I've imagined that moment a lot, you know?"

Ricky's eyes narrowing as he listened.

"Back when you weren't here," Gyuvin continued, his fingers absentmindedly playing with a loose thread on his blanket. "I used to think about what I'd do if I ever saw you again. How I'd react."

Ricky leaned forward slightly, interested. "And?"

Gyuvin exhaled through his nose. "I always told myself that if I ever ran into you again, the first thing I'd do..." He paused, glancing at Ricky before continuing. "...is punch you. Really hard."

Ricky let out a low whistle. "Ruthless."

Gyuvin huffed a small laugh, but there was something almost nostalgic in his expression. "Yeah, well. You kinda deserved it."

Ricky raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Gyuvin looked down at his hands, rubbing his palms together as if trying to find the right words. "But then..." He hesitated for a second before sighing. "Right after punching you, I'd probably hug you."

Ricky blinked. That, he wasn't expecting.

Gyuvin scoffed at his expression. "Don't look at me like that."

"I'm just processing," Ricky teased, crossing his arms. "So, let me get this straight. You wanted to physically assault me and get all emotional in the same breath?"

Gyuvin rolled his eyes, but his ears were noticeably red. "I mean, yeah, I was pissed when I saw you there. Of course, I was. But at the same time..." He trailed off for a second before looking at Ricky again. "The happiness of seeing you standing there—real, not just some memory—kind of took over."

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Ricky just stared at him, expression unreadable.

Then, his lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Damn. You missed me that much?"

Gyuvin immediately scowled, shoving Ricky's shoulder. "Shut up."

Ricky let out a soft chuckle, clearly enjoying how flustered Gyuvin was getting. "It's cute."

Gyuvin groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I take everything back. Should've just punched you and left."

Ricky shook his head, still smirking. "Nah. You wouldn't have."

Gyuvin peeked at him through his fingers before muttering, "Yeah, whatever." But the tiny, almost reluctant smile on his lips didn't go unnoticed.

Gyuvin fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve before glancing at Ricky. "Did you miss me?"

Ricky scoffed, as if the answer was obvious. "Of course I missed you. Why would you even ask that?"

Gyuvin shrugged, looking away. "I don't know. It just doesn't seem like it."

Ricky frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You left without telling me anything," Gyuvin muttered. "And then when you came back, you didn't even tell me. Of course, I'd think you hated me or something."

Ricky didn't respond—at least, not verbally. Instead, he grabbed a pillow and chucked it straight at Gyuvin's face.

"Hey!" Gyuvin yelped, the pillow hitting him square in the chest. He grabbed it and threw it back, but Ricky dodged it effortlessly.

"Shut up," Ricky huffed. "Of course I missed you. You were my closest friend. My closest person, overall."

Gyuvin's expression softened slightly, but the question that had been gnawing at him for years still lingered at the back of his mind. "Then why did you leave?"

Ricky exhaled, his gaze dropping. "I already told you. It was because of my dad's work."

Gyuvin shook his head. "No, that's not it. You wouldn't just blindly listen to your dad if you really didn't want to go," Gyuvin said, voice quieter now but firm. "There was something else, wasn't there?"

Ricky hesitated for a moment before clicking his tongue. "Fine," he muttered. "But you probably don't want to hear the answer."

Gyuvin's brows furrowed. "That's exactly what I want."

A heavy silence settled between them. Ricky shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Gyuvin's gaze. Then, after what felt like forever, he finally spoke.

"Remember the last night before I left?"

Gyuvin nodded. Of course, he remembered. That night had been burned into his memory.

Ricky exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I couldn't imagine how I'd look you in the eyes after that." His voice was quieter now, more uncertain. "And I knew... I knew you'd probably think I was disgusting."

Gyuvin sat up straighter. "I would never think that."

Ricky let out a dry laugh. "That's the problem."

Gyuvin's lips parted slightly in confusion. "What?"

Ricky swallowed, his fingers gripping onto the fabric of his sweatpants. "Even despite the rejection, you'd still be nice to me. You'd still be kind. You'd still care." He let out a bitter chuckle. "And that would've made it worse."

Gyuvin just stared at him, processing his words.

"I didn't want to put myself through that," Ricky admitted. "I didn't want to... stick around and fall even more for someone I knew would never feel the same."

Gyuvin cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. "Uh... I'm sorry."

Ricky's expression remained unreadable as he let out a short breath. "Don't."

Gyuvin looked at him, confused.

Ricky leaned back against the headboard, crossing his arms. "Don't apologize like that. Like you pity me or something."

Gyuvin hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

A brief silence settled between them before Ricky suddenly clapped his hands together, forcing a change in mood. "Anyway," he said, his voice lighter now, "let's talk about something else."

Gyuvin glanced at him warily. "Like what?"

Ricky smirked. "You and Sullyoon."

Gyuvin blinked. "What about me and Sullyoon?"

Ricky gave him a pointed look. "Well, you guys dated," he drawled. "I think I deserve to hear more about it."

Gyuvin scoffed. "There's not much to tell."

"I'll decide that," Ricky said, raising an eyebrow.

Gyuvin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We were just friends at the beginning of last year," he started. "Then, out of nowhere, she invited me to go somewhere with her on Valentine's Day."

Ricky frowned. "And you still thought she just saw you as a friend?"

Gyuvin shrugged. "I don't know! I just thought—"

"You're so clueless," Ricky interrupted, shaking his head in disbelief.

Gyuvin huffed. "Okay, anyway—she confessed that day. And that's it."

Ricky tilted his head. "That's it?"

"What do you want me to say?" Gyuvin chuckled. "She confessed, I liked her too, we started dating."

Ricky hummed, looking thoughtful. "And why'd you break up?"

Gyuvin exhaled. "It just... wasn't right."

Ricky's gaze sharpened slightly. "Didn't seem that way during the exhibition," he pointed out.

Gyuvin shook his head. "No, it's not like that. My feelings for Sullyoon left a long time ago." He leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling. "She's just... a really good person, you know? The type you want to like."

Ricky watched him for a moment before speaking. "But you didn't."

Gyuvin hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

There was a long pause.

Then Ricky exhaled through his nose, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "So basically, she carried the entire relationship while you stood there, confused the whole time."

"Shut up," Gyuvin grumbled.

"I'm just saying," Ricky said, shrugging, "somehow, you keep proving my point."

"What point?"

"That you're an idiot."

Gyuvin lunged at him, but Ricky dodged effortlessly.

Gyuvin leaned back against the bed, arms crossed as he eyed Ricky. His thoughts had been circling this question for a while now.

"What about you and Jeonghyeon?"

Ricky barely reacted, just tilting his head slightly. "What about us?"

Gyuvin tapped his fingers against his knee. "Are you guys... together?"

Ricky scoffed, shaking his head. "Didn't I already say we're not?"

"I know, but..." Gyuvin's voice trailed off for a second before he huffed. "Friends don't kiss each other."

Ricky let the words settle before exhaling through his nose.

"Fine," he said finally, voice smooth. "Maybe there is something."

Gyuvin's stomach twisted. He wasn't sure if it was frustration, irritation, or something else entirely.

His fingers curled into his palms. "Then why aren't you dating?" His voice came out sharper than he intended.

Ricky's gaze flickered to him, amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "Why do you care so much?"

Gyuvin scoffed, suddenly feeling too warm. "Obviously, I would care who my friend is dating."

Ricky's eyes didn't waver. "Are you jealous?"

The question hit Gyuvin like a slap.

He blinked. "What? No."

Ricky leaned back against his hands, looking far too entertained. "Fine."

Gyuvin huffed, running a hand through his hair. "I just don't get it. If you're so physically close—" he shot Ricky a pointed look, "—then why not just date?"

Ricky let the silence stretch before answering. "Jeonghyeon never suggested it. We don't have enough time to commit to a serious relationship anyways."

Gyuvin made a sound of disbelief. "That's a dumb reason."

Ricky raised an eyebrow. "Is it?"

"Yes. If he really liked you, he would. He'd make time for you. He'd put everything aside."

Ricky tilted his head, watching him with an expression Gyuvin couldn't quite place. "And what if he doesn't?"

Gyuvin didn't even think before saying, "Then he doesn't deserve you."

The air between them shifted.

Ricky's lips parted slightly, as if tasting the weight of Gyuvin's words.

"And what about you?" Ricky's voice had dropped lower, quieter, but somehow more intense.

Gyuvin frowned. "What?"

Ricky leaned in just a fraction, enough to make the space between them almost nonexistent. "If you think I deserve all that... why don't you do it?"

Gyuvin's pulse jumped.

His throat went dry, heart hammering so hard he thought Ricky could probably hear it. "That's—" He shook his head, trying to laugh, trying to deflect. "That's not the same thing."

Ricky's fingers suddenly brushed against Gyuvin's cheek. His thumb moved slowly, tracing the sharp line of Gyuvin's cheekbone before dragging lower.

"Why not?" Ricky asked. His voice was still impossibly calm, but his gaze was anything but. It was searing—steady, waiting, daring.

Gyuvin swallowed hard. His body tensed, but he didn't pull away. Couldn't. His skin burned where Ricky touched him, his breath growing uneven, chest rising and falling with the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

And the worst part was—Ricky knew.

Then, Ricky tilted his head just a little, just enough that his breath ghosted over Gyuvin's mouth. His lashes flickered as his eyes traced the curve of Gyuvin's lips, lingering there for a beat too long.

And then—he snapped.

Before he even realized what he was doing, Gyuvin surged forward, crashing his lips against Ricky's in a way that sent them both tumbling.

Ricky let out a small, surprised sound as his back hit the floor, Gyuvin landing right on top of him. But neither of them stopped—if anything, it only made it worse, made it messier.

Ricky's hands flew up, fingers tangling into Gyuvin's hair, pulling him even closer, as if there was still too much space between them. The kiss was desperate and messy—like neither of them had the patience to figure it out, like they had been waiting too long for this moment.

Gyuvin barely registered his own movements, his hands sliding over Ricky's sides before bracing against the floor beside his head. But his body stayed pressed against him, pinning Ricky down, feeling the sharp hitch of his breath, the way Ricky arched up just slightly, just enough for Gyuvin to feel how much he wanted this too.

Ricky's grip in his hair tightened, a low, breathless noise slipping from his throat as Gyuvin deepened the kiss, tilting his head, dragging his teeth across Ricky's bottom lip before chasing after his mouth again. Ricky's nails scraped lightly against the back of Gyuvin's neck, sending a full-body shiver down his spine.

It was intoxicating. The heat, the urgency, the sheer desperation of it. Like they were making up for all the time lost, for the things left unsaid, for every lingering glance and unspoken thought that had built up between them over the years.

Gyuvin felt lightheaded—like every thought had melted away, leaving nothing but the warmth of Ricky's skin beneath his, the press of their bodies, the way neither of them were pulling away.