Title: Clueless
Author: Kacey
Rating: FRMA
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric/Ryan
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Just borrowing them for fun.
Warnings: Possible spoilers ahead in the warning. I repeat, possible spoilers ahead in the warning. (And possibly in the story.) Inspired by someone's comment about the Eric/Ryan/Natalia thing mentioned on nerdswithbadges about Ryan and Natalia fighting over Eric and/or Eric and Natalia fighting over Ryan, instead of Ryan and Eric fighting over Natalia. Of course, I picked the latter. Not that they really fight over Ryan because, of course, Natalia doesn't have a shot in hell. I couldn't help myself. That and this wouldn't leave me alone until I'd written it. I'm not sure if there are spoilers or not. (Probably not.) Be prepared in case there are. (Once again, probably not.) I don't think there are, but you never know. The start is set during Skeletons, (no baby scare! because eww! how disgusting is that!) but Eric and Natalia have already mutually decided not to socially see each other any more. Total AU, of course, do I write anything but? And, of course, totally made up the personal bits about their lives, just like I always do.

***

Ryan listened as DC kept rambling on in the break room about all the women Eric seemed to know at the volleyball match. Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he made his way down to Trace to work on the evidence Eric had left. Taking a small break about an hour later, he stood up and stretched, noticing Eric and Natalia talking in the hallways. Once again rolling his eyes, he went back to work to try and solve their latest murder, although he probably would have liked to have known what they were talking about, especially since they ended up talking about him.

"You can't get every man you want, Natalia," Eric said in exasperation. "Not every man wants you. What we had was fun, but that's all it was."

Natalia glanced over into Trace and saw Ryan leaning over the microscope, studying something. Returning her attention to Eric, she taunted, "Care to make a wager on that, Eric? I'll bet I can get Ryan in my bed."

Smirking at her, Eric shook his head and replied, "I'll bet you can't. Once you fail, I'll even tell you why you failed."

"I won't fail," she vowed.

"Whatever you say, Natalia," Eric appeased her. "Just don't come crying to me when he doesn't fall into bed with you."

"He will," Natalia insisted.

"If you think so. I've got to get back to work," Eric stated. "I've got to tell you, though, Natalia, you won't get him."

Not waiting for her response, he walked off in the opposite direction, amusedly wondering how long it would take Natalia to figure out just how oblivious Ryan could be. Look how long it had taken Valera, and she had had plenty of warnings from Alexx.

-----------------------------

Eric walked into the locker room later that evening just in time to hear Natalia ask Ryan out to dinner. Shaking his head in amusement, he listened as Ryan fumbled around to find a nice way to tell her no. Stepping around the corner so that they could both see him, he said, "Unfortunately, Natalia, Ryan has other plans tonight, don't you, my friend?"

"Yeah, I do, actually," Ryan warily said, shooting Eric a confused look and smiling hesitantly at both of them. "Um. Sorry, Natalia. Maybe some other time?"

"I'll hold you to that," she teased, looking back and forth between the two men. "I've got to go. See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for a reply, she left the locker room, Ryan wondering just what was going on. He turned his attention to Eric and asked, "I have plans?"

"Well, it sounded like you needed help," Eric answered. "Just trying to make it easier for you to say no. Although, I have to tell you, if you want to go out with her, go ahead. We're not an item."

"How did you know that's why I was going to tell her no?"

Smirking, Eric replied, "Calleigh told me that little gem was running throughout the entire lab thanks to DC. So, really, man, go for it, if you want."

"I don't think so, Eric," Ryan ruefully said, shaking his head. "She's...too much like Erica. I don't want another relationship like that. So, she's all yours or whoever's."

"What we had was fun, but she's not what I'm looking for," Eric responded, walking over to Ryan and shutting his locker door. "Since you're supposed to have plans, let's go."

"Where?"

"Food. I'm starving. Come on, man," Eric urged, pushing Ryan in front of him and out of the building.

------------------------------- One month later

Ryan walked into the garage and sighed heavily in frustration. Eric looked up from the car he had already started processing, amusement dancing in his eyes, and asked, laughter in his voice, "Why don't you just tell her you're not interested?"

"I've tried, several times," Ryan stated. "She's just like Erica and won't take no for an answer. She's a woman. Isn't she supposed to be able to pick up on things like this?"

Trying really hard not to laugh out loud at the confusion in his friend's voice, Eric suggested, "Just lay it out for her. If she keeps it up, have H talk to her."

"Oh, what a joy that would be," Ryan sarcastically responded. "Having my boss tell her no for me."

"You know H won't care."

"I know," Ryan sighed. "Why can't she just accept the fact that I don't want her?"

Feeling sorry for him, Eric lightly explained, "Because I made a wager with her."

Ryan, who'd started processing the other side of the car, jerked his head up and stared at Eric with wide, shocked eyes. "Wh...What?"

"She pissed me off. I might have made a small comment about every man not wanting her," Eric shrugged.

Shaking his head in exasperation and laughing, Ryan asked, "So, how in the hell did I end up in that conversation?"

"You happened to be in our line of sight. That's all. If it had been Aaron, she would have bet on him. She would have won with him. I'm just glad she saw you first. I knew you wouldn't want her," Eric explained.

"How exactly did you know that, Eric?" Ryan asked, mirth in his voice.

"Yes, Eric, how did you know that?" Calleigh's voice came from the doorway.

Ryan groaned in mortification and muttered, "No more personal conversations at work," burying his bright red face in his hands.

Eric snickered and turned his attention to Calleigh, standing up and walking over next to Ryan. "Well, Cal, Ryan happened to mention one day just how much Natalia reminded him of Erica Sikes. And, since I also happened to overhear their breakup conversation," smirking and patting him on the back at another mortified groan, "I knew that he wasn't interested in anyone like her. Plus, he told me that he doesn't believe in one night stands."

Calleigh valiantly tried to hold her laughter in, she really did. Ryan just sighed and murmured, voice muffled by his hands, "Go ahead, Cal. I've already been humiliated today. What's a little more?"

At that, Calleigh let loose with her laughter, leaning against the wall next to the door in order to keep herself standing up. "Sorry, man," Eric apologized. "I didn't know she was there."

"It doesn't matter," Ryan smiled up at him. "She's been pestering me to tell her what's up with Natalia. I'm pretty sure she would have figured out the whole thing soon. Before I would have, anyway."

"Don't feel so bad, Ryan," Eric laughed. "I've been toying with the idea of telling you. Between trying not to laugh at your attempts to fend her off and to tell her to leave you alone, you've provided quite the entertainment for me."

"Glad I could provide you with some entertainment," Ryan quipped. "Now, if the two of you are finished making fun of me? We have a car to process, Eric."

"Such a slave driver," Eric teased.

"Don't forget that, Delko," Ryan warned. "Since you started this whole mess, you get to clean it up. Get her to back off."

"Yes, sir."

"Eric."

"All right," Eric acquiesced, "I'll talk to her today. Will that make you happy?"

"Yes," Ryan affirmed. "I'll even buy you dinner for taking care of this."

"Great. You can take me to my favorite place then."

"Like we ever go anywhere else," Ryan muttered, rolling his eyes.

Raising her brow in interest at that last statement, Calleigh wondered just how oblivious one person could be. Going out, spending time together at work and away from work, talking, because they did a lot of that these days, hanging out, eating together. They were dating, even if Ryan hadn't quite grasped the concept so far. Seeing the smirk on Eric's face as he looked at her, she knew that he had manipulated the situation to his advantage. Shaking her head in amusement, she smiled at him and left them to their work. Ryan was going to be surprised when Eric finally did something with his advantage.

-------------------------------

As soon as his shift was over that day, Ryan quickly left and waited in his car, slouching down as far as he could in order to hide from Natalia. It wasn't that he was scared of her, because he wasn't, it was that he didn't want to even see her. Eric, he could understand making a bet about him, after all, he'd given the other man plenty of ammunition to choose from. But, Natalia, he'd thought she was his friend. And sex was so personal.

Startled out of his thoughts by someone knocking on the window of his car, he turned his head and saw Alexx standing there, concern written all over her face. Smiling, he rolled down his window and asked, "What's up, Alexx?"

She smiled back at him and replied, "I was about to ask you that, honey. Normally, you don't sit here in your car after work. Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," he laughed. "I'm just waiting for Eric. I owe him dinner."

"He finally told you about that stupid bet, then?"

"Did everybody know about that?"

"Everybody but you, honey. I told him to tell you about it, especially when it became obvious that you were about to say something that would hurt Natalia's feelings, something I know you don't want to do," Alexx explained. "I guess he took my advice."

"Yeah, he told me today," Ryan shrugged. "I'm not pissed off. More hurt than anything. I can totally see Eric doing something like that, simply because I've given him plenty of information to work with. I know he's not being serious or trying to hurt me. But I thought Natalia was my friend."

"Oh, honey, she's not trying to hurt you. She just wants something from you that you're not willing to give her."

Ryan sighed and plaintively asked, "Shouldn't she be able to sense that? You and Calleigh are always insisting that women are able to sense these kind of things. Why can't she?"

Alexx laughed and replied, "I think she's got her sights set on winning this crazy wager with Eric so much so that she's ignoring anything else, including you and your feelings on the matter."

"It's not that I'm mad, it's more that I'm..." he trailed off.

"Upset?" Eric volunteered from behind them.

"Maybe," Ryan reluctantly admitted. "I just...Oh, hell, I don't really know. Anyway, how did your little talk go?"

Eric grimaced, "Not so well. She wants you to tell her to her face that you don't want her."

Groaning in embarrassment, Ryan stated, "Fine. However, you're going to be there as well, Eric."

"I assumed as much," Eric teased. "You have a hard time telling women no, my friend. Tomorrow at the beginning of shift. Meet me at DNA."

"Sure," Ryan nodded. "Now, are we going to eat?"

"Are you driving?"

"I might. Why? Where's your vehicle?"

"Marisol has it for the week."

Turning a quizzical look on him, Ryan asked, "How did you get to work then?"

"She drove me," Eric shrugged. "However, she did tell me I was on my own for the rest of the week."

Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Ryan ordered, mock annoyance in his voice, "I'll pick you up for the rest of the week, Eric. Get in."

Alexx watched the whole scene with a great deal of amusement. Ryan had absolutely not picked up on the fact that Eric was flirting with him. Nor the fact that he had neatly maneuvered Ryan into picking him up and taking him home for four straight days. The boy really was clueless. Shaking her head, she waved goodbye to both of them as Ryan drove away.

Calleigh and Horatio walked up right after Ryan pulled out of the parking lot. "He hasn't figured out what Eric wants from him yet, has he?" Horatio mirthfully asked.

"No," Calleigh affirmed. "Not at all. He's either really naïve or really dense. I hope it's the former and not the latter."

"I don't think that's it, actually," Alexx thoughtfully replied. "I think it's more the fact that he's...turned off his switch, so to speak, when it comes to Eric."

"What do you mean?" Calleigh asked.

"I mean, I think he's seen Eric with so many women that he's automatically turned off the idea of Eric being interested in him as a reflex," Alexx explained. "Just like he did with you, Calleigh. I think it's also the fact that Ryan is still adjusting to their friendship. He can't see beyond that at the moment. He's still so used to the tension between them that he's shoved it to the backburner and never examined it. In this case, Eric's going to have to explain this to him. What I wouldn't give to hear that conversation."

Calleigh just nodded her head in agreement. Exchanging goodbyes, all three of them left to go home and relax.

-------------------------

They sat at their normal table at Eric's favorite restaurant, the waitress that always helped them hadn't even bothered to bring them a menu or to ask them what they wanted, as both of them always ordered the same thing. She was surprised when Ryan handed her the money when they were about to leave. "You paid last time, Ryan. Did you lose a bet or something?"

"No, Maria," Ryan laughed. "I just owe Eric."

"Oh, okay. See you soon," she called out to their retreating backs, wondering how much patience Eric actually had. Ryan was the only person that Eric had ever brought back. She could also tell by their body language that they weren't intimate, yet. Knowing Eric, though, he wouldn't hold out much longer before he flat out took what he wanted. And, from the way Ryan unconsciously reacted to Eric, he wouldn't protest that much. Smiling and shaking her head in exasperation at men in general, she quickly cleaned up the table, hoping that the next time they came in, they'd be together.

------------------------- Two months later

Alexx watched as Ryan shook his head and turned around and walked away from Natalia before he said or did something that would really hurt her feelings. Ryan had told her, more than once, both with and without Eric's presence, that he didn't want her. He hadn't yet gone to Horatio, although Alexx knew that Horatio was about to step in. The tension between Ryan and Natalia had gotten noticed by the captain the last time he was visiting. He'd told Horatio to get it taken care of.

Before she turned away to go find Ryan and make sure he was okay, she noticed Horatio walking up to Natalia. Hoping he was finally going to lay down the law, Alexx turned and made her way to the locker room. Opening the door silently, she stepped around the corner to find Ryan and stopped short. Eric was there, leaning against the wall, Ryan in his arms, whispering something to him. Raising her brow slightly in surprise when Eric looked at her, she smiled and left. Eric would take care of him.

------------------------------

Later that night as she was leaving, Alexx watched as Eric drove off, Ryan following him in his own car. Praying that Eric would finally do something, she smiled and went home to her husband and children.

------------------------------

Eric opened the door to his apartment and waited until Ryan had walked in before he shut and locked the door. Ryan was still upset with Natalia, and it showed in how quiet he was. When Ryan was really upset, he went silent, speaking very rarely. As much time as they had spent together since they'd become friends, he'd learned Ryan's habits and routines. So, he knew what Ryan was feeling by the way he was acting. Since neither one of them had to be at work until Monday, he'd made plans for this weekend. It appeared that he'd have to alter those plans slightly. While he wanted to make Ryan his lover, they were friends first, and he wasn't going to ruin that if Ryan wasn't ready for more. Ryan knew what he wanted. Eric had told him a week ago, as he had gotten tired of waiting for Ryan to figure it out.

Ryan had been shocked. He hadn't even considered a relationship with Eric, at all. He'd been so sure that Eric wanted Calleigh. His first words after that had been to request time to think about what Eric had said. Eric, of course, had agreed. That didn't mean, however, that he wasn't going to do his damnedest to try and seduce him. One thing he wasn't going to do, though, was take advantage of Ryan. Until Ryan finally said yes, their friendship came first.

Ryan flopped down on the couch, curling into the far corner. Smiling, Eric dropped his phone, keys and wallet on the table in front of the couch, while Ryan tossed his onto the floor. Leaning over the couch near Ryan, he asked, "Do you want to order out or raid my refrigerator?"

"Having seen the science experiments hiding in your refrigerator, I think I'd rather order out," Ryan spouted off.

Laughing, Eric went to grab his cell phone when there was a knock on his door. Wondering who would be coming over to his place on a Friday night, he stepped over and looked through the peephole. Groaning to himself in dismay at seeing his parents, he unlocked the door and partially opened it. "Momma, Poppa," he quietly greeted. "What are you doing here?"

His mother raised her brow in question at his actions. He was trying to hide the inside of his house, obviously not wanting them to see inside. Rolling her eyes in exasperation, she simply pushed her way past him and into the living room. Stopping short at the sight of the young man curled up in the corner of her son's couch, she quickly walked over to him. Fairly positive that this was the man Eric had told her about, she introduced herself and her husband, as their son had simply sighed and waved his father in.

"I'm Clorinda Delko. This is my husband, Pavel. And you are?"

"Momma!"

Waving off Eric's embarrassment, Ryan smiled up at Clorinda and replied, "Ryan Wolfe, ma'am. I work with Eric."

"Well, then, you can come along with us to eat," she said, holding her hand out to help him up. "We're meeting Eric's sisters for a family dinner."

"That's all right, ma'am," Ryan shook his head. "I'll just go on home."

"Nonsense, you're going with us. Now get up."

Turning startled eyes on Eric, who simply shrugged his shoulders at him, Ryan looked back up at Eric's mother and noticed that Eric had inherited the same stubborn expression that his mother was currently sporting. Silently resigning himself to the fact that he was going with them whether he wanted to or not, Ryan took her hand and pushed himself up off the couch with his other hand. He allowed her to lead him towards the door.

"Wait," he called out.

Letting go of her hand, he stepped back over to the couch and reached down for his things when he noticed Eric holding them out to him. Looking up into Eric's laughing eyes, he rolled his own and took his things. Eric's parents had left the apartment and were waiting in the car for them by then.

"I can't believe you didn't rescue me from your mother," Ryan complained to Eric.

Smirking, Eric shot back, "If I have to suffer, you have to suffer, my friend."

"She's not going to ask embarrassing questions, is she?" Ryan asked as Eric pushed him towards the front door.

"Probably. I'm sure she'll tell you all sorts of embarrassing stories about me, so we'll be even."

"Oh, gee, that makes me feel so much better, Eric," Ryan laughed.

Gently shoving Ryan out the front door, Eric locked up and then dragged him along as he walked to his parent's car. They both got in the car and answered Clorinda's questions on the way to the restaurant.

-------------------------------

Sitting down at the table next to Clorinda, Ryan snagged Eric's sleeve when he went to sit down across the table next to one of his sisters. Shaking his head, Ryan said, not caring how horrible he sounded, "If I have to answer your mother's embarrassing questions, Eric, then you have to sit next to me and endure them with me."

Clorinda laughed, and Pavel quietly commented, "He'll fit right in, love."

Ryan shot an unreadable look Eric's way. He turned his attention back to Clorinda when she casually said, "So, Ryan tell me a little about yourself."

Smiling at her, he asked, "What do you want to know, ma'am?"

"All right, young man, my name is Clorinda. You are going to use it," she sternly ordered, glaring at her four children when they tried to smother their laughter. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Ryan replied, mischievous smile on his face.

"Am I going to have to treat you like I do my own son?" Clorinda threatened, smile tugging at her own lips. "You must be spending too much time with him. You have his smart mouth."

"No, I don't. If you ask my uncles, they'll tell you that I've always been like that," Ryan refuted.

"What about your parents?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Ryan answered, "I have no idea where they're at. They left me on my uncles' doorstep when I was four. I haven't seen them since."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that," Clorinda apologized.

"It's no big deal, ma'am," Ryan assured her. "I had a great childhood. My uncles were great, better than my parents were anyway. So, really, it's not a big deal."

"Your uncles lived together?" Clorinda asked in confusion.

"Actually, Uncle Ron is my blood relative. Uncle Roman is his partner," Ryan explained. "They've been together for a long time. Since before I was born."

"That's nice. What about your other relatives?"

"I'm fairly positive I don't have any other relatives," Ryan shrugged. "Both sets of grandparents are dead. Uncle Ron assures me that my mother didn't have any siblings, and he's my father's only sibling. And, I'm an only child, as far as I know."

"You poor thing," Clorinda said. "Weren't you ever lonely as a child?"

Shooting her a confused look, Ryan quickly glanced at Eric for direction, and receiving no help there, then warily replied, "No?"

"Oh, honey, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Why don't you tell me how your eye is really doing?" Clorinda asked. "Especially since you won't share that information at work."

Glaring balefully at a smirking Eric, Ryan said, "My eye is fine at the moment. My doctor gave me more antibiotics to take."

"And that's all?" Eric inquired.

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion at him, Ryan questioned, "And why do you want to know exactly?"

"I promised Alexx I'd let her know what you said."

"Figures."

The waiter stopped by then, bringing them menus and asking them what they wanted to drink. Everyone except Ryan ordered an alcoholic beverage and ice water. He also ordered ice water and sweetened ice tea. When the waiter came back with their drinks, they were all ready to order, except for Ryan. Eric looked at him and teased, "Do you trust me?"

"With my life, yes. With eating, hell no," Ryan teased back. Laughing at the mock hurt look Eric sent his way, he waved his hand and said, "You know what I like. I believe you can find something that I'll eat on the menu."

Eric ordered for both of them in fluent Spanish, Ryan rolling his eyes at him. Clorinda laughed at the two of them and asked, "Don't you speak Spanish?"

"I should, living in Miami and all, but, no, I don't. I'm fluent in several other languages, but I haven't gotten around to learning Spanish," Ryan responded.

"What languages do you speak?" Pavel asked curiously.

"Russian, Romanian, Czech, Dutch, Italian, German, Polish and Flemish. I can also read and write those languages fluently, as well."

"Why those languages?" Marisol inquired.

"Uncle Roman is a linguistics and languages expert for the NSA. Those are the languages he taught me before college. After that, I didn't have much time for learning more."

"What does your other uncle do?"

"He's a mechanical and aeronautical engineer for NASA. And, no, I have absolutely no talent in that area. My mind can't wrap around the engineering part, which is pretty funny. Math and science have always been my favorite subjects, aside from languages. Engineering, though, I've never been able to grasp that concept. It goes completely over my head."

They continued with several different avenues to their conversation by the time their food arrived. Talk was very little and far between as they consumed their meals. As they were getting ready to leave, Eric's parents refusing to let Ryan pay for his meal, Ryan looked up and softly groaned, slouching down in his chair, "Eric, would you tell her that she's blind if I quickly hide under the table?"

Eric's question he was about to ask was answered when Natalia stopped next to him, two of her friends, he assumed, behind her. She smiled coolly at him and then turned her attention to Ryan. Her smile became much warmer, as was her tone when she spoke. "Hello, Ryan. Delko."

Completely interrupting Ryan's greeting, Eric dryly greeted her. "Boa Vista. What brings you out and about tonight?"

"Since someone," she archly declared, looking meaningfully at Ryan, who simply slouched further down in his seat looking like he'd rather be anywhere but where he was at, "said they weren't going out tonight, we decided to make a night of it. What are you doing here, Ryan?"

Once again, Eric interrupted. "We weren't going to go out, Boa Vista. My mother wouldn't take no for an answer, not that it's any of your business, anyway. Why don't you run along now? See you at work."

Not waiting for her response, Eric turned to Ryan and asked, "Ready to go home?"

Ryan was trying really hard not to laugh at Natalia's mask of outrage at Eric's frigidness. "Sure, whenever you are, Eric. See you at work next week, Boa Vista."

With that, he stood up and helped Clorinda out of her chair, escorting her out of the restaurant, Eric behind them, and Eric's family following in confusion.

Once they were at the car, Clorinda rounded on her son and demanded, "What in the world was that about, mi hijo?"

"I made the mistake of attempting a relationship --" Eric glared at Ryan who'd erupted in laughter at that, "with her. It didn't work out. She pissed me off. I made a wager with her that ended up involving Ryan. She hasn't let up since then."

"Well, that explained...absolutely nothing, young man," she scolded him. "What did the bet involve?"

"Nothing, Momma. Trust me, you don't want to know."

"If you say so, Eric."

"If you don't trust him, which, by the way, I really wouldn't blame you if you didn't," Ryan called out as he ducked away from Eric's attempted swat at his head, "then trust me. You really don't want to know. I didn't want to know, and their wager was about me."

Turning to face him, Clorinda nodded her head and said, "All right, young one. I'll accept that. However, if this wager ends up getting you in trouble, you tell me. I'll make Eric do something about it."

"Yes, ma'am," Ryan laughed, letting Eric tug him in the backseat with him.

"You didn't have to agree with her, Ry," Eric pouted.

"Yes, I did," Ryan argued. "This way I have your mom on my side, Eric. It's easier to get you in trouble that way."

"Gee, what a friend you are."

"And don't you forget it."

-------------------------------

Ryan followed Eric into his apartment, after waving goodbye to Eric's parents. Placing his phone, keys and wallet by the door, he slipped his shoes off as well and sat down next to Eric on the couch. When Eric picked up the remote to turn on the television, Ryan took it from him and sat it on the other side of the table, out of Eric's reach. Eric turned a quizzical expression on him. Taking a deep breath, Ryan reached up and pulled down until their lips met.

Figuring this was Ryan's way of telling him that he'd made his mind up, Eric immediately took control. Plundering Ryan's mouth with his tongue, Eric turned somewhat, wrapped his arms around him and pulled him over tightly to himself. When Ryan needed to breathe, he shifted back slightly and demanded, "Is that a yes?"

A solemn nod of Ryan's head was his answer. Not accepting that, he ordered, "You have to tell me, Ryan. Say it."

Swallowing heavily, Ryan quietly replied, "Yes, Eric."

"Yes, what?"

Biting into his lower lip nervously, Ryan whispered out just loud enough for Eric to hear, "Yes, I want ..." he paused slightly before rushing out with, "I want to be your lover."

Exhaling in relief, a brilliant smile crossed Eric's face, and he lightly teased, "I was afraid you were never going to answer my question, Ryan."

"It's only been a week, Eric. I needed to think," Ryan earnestly explained.

"It's okay. I was just teasing," Eric soothed. "I would have waited until you gave me an answer, regardless of what that answer was."

"And if I had said no?"

"I would have been very disappointed, but we would have remained friends."

"And if this doesn't work out?" Ryan fearfully asked.

"We'll do our damnedest to make sure it does," Eric vowed. "And if doesn't, then we'll do our damnedest to maintain our friendship."

Nodding his head in acceptance, he looked up at Eric expectantly. Laughing mentally to himself, Eric stood up, bringing Ryan with him, closely attached as they were. Pushing Ryan along in front of him, Eric walked them to his bedroom. Wrapping one arm around Ryan, he used the other to open the door. Letting go of Ryan, he stepped around him and into his bedroom. Turning around, he saw the trepidation written on his face and held out his hand, waiting for Ryan's decision.

Taking a deep breath, Ryan placed his hand in Eric's and stepped forward, reaching behind himself and shutting the door. Eric pulled him over to the bed slowly, instinctively knowing that if he moved too fast Ryan would bolt. Now that he finally had him where he wanted him, he wasn't going to lose him, not to his own impatience, anyway.

Letting go of Ryan's hand and laying down in the middle of his bed, Eric turned the lamp on the lowest setting and once again awaited Ryan's decision. He could see the fear in his eyes, fear of not knowing and fear of something new. Just afraid in general. Eric was concerned, but then realized that Ryan wasn't afraid of him; he was afraid of his own emotions and the repercussions of them. And, he was so very afraid that this wouldn't work out, and he would lose his friend, as well as his lover.

Ryan bit into his lower lip and then hesitantly took that last step forward, ending up on the bed, slowly crawling forward on his knees until he was next to Eric. Reaching out with one hand, he touched Eric and then whispered, "I've never done this before, you know...Let me amend that. I've done this before, but never with someone I cared about as more than a friend."

"We won't do anything you don't want to do," Eric assured him.

"That's not the problem," Ryan shyly smiled. "The problem is I want to do everything with you."

"I don't see that as a problem," Eric laughed. "I most definitely want to do everything to and with you."

"Well, as long as our plans match, then why don't you do something about them?" Ryan playfully teased.

Raising a brow in slight surprise at Ryan's brash dare, Eric quietly asked, voice and expression completely serious, "Are you absolutely positive, Ryan?"

Matching Eric's expression, Ryan slowly nodded his head and whispered, "Yes. I want you, Eric."

"That's good to know, but, first, we need to set down a couple of ground rules."

Looking down at him in confusion, Ryan inquired, "We do?"

Eric's decisive, "Yes," cut through the otherwise silent room.

"About what?"

"First, we tell our friends and family. I don't want them not knowing," Eric replied, watching with a great deal of interest as Ryan blanched white, but slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"And?"

"And, you'll keep us updated on your eye."

Eric's tone left no room for argument. Ryan looked ready to protest, but one glance at the resolute expression on Eric's face, and he simply nodded his head in agreement. "Anything else?" he asked in a strained voice.

"No one else, Ryan," Eric gritted out, jealousy and rage in his voice at the thought of Ryan with someone else.

Ryan shifted slightly closer to him and soothingly responded, "There's not been anyone else for me ever since I met you, Eric"

Smiling, Eric reached up and pulled him down on top of himself. Eric's growled out words were a few of the last coherent things he understood for the rest of the night. "Good. I'm going to enjoy keeping it that way."

Sitting up, Eric began to strip Ryan of his clothing, taking his jacket off and throwing it on the floor. And then the t-shirt. Running his hands down Ryan's shoulders and back, around to his abdomen, Eric stopped on his belt and undid it, unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans in rapid succession. Ryan by then had Eric's shirt and pants unbuttoned, but he went completely still when Eric's hand slipped inside his jeans and boxers. Eric went still as well and asked, "Ryan?"

His head snapped up, and he bit into his lower lip before he whispered, "I'm sorry, Eric. This is just a little fast for me."

Grinning, Eric huskily murmured in Ryan's ear, "Just let go, Ryan. I promise you'll have lots of fun."

"I don't think...Eric!...I don't think that having fun will be a problem," Ryan panted out, hands coming up and grasping Eric's shoulders as his hand began to explore at will. "It's the letting go...Eric, please...that I've always had the problem with."

"Well, we'll just have to work on that then, won't we?"

Ryan laughed and muttered, "Maybe we should work on getting out of these clothes."

Chuckling, Eric stopped his ministrations and finished stripping Ryan of his clothing. Slipping out from under him, he stood up next to the bed and hastily got rid of the rest of his. By then, Ryan had turned on his side and laid down against the pillows, facing Eric. Eric could practically feel his gaze as he slowly slid his eyes up and down his body. "Like what you see?" he nonchalantly asked as he climbed back on the bed next to Ryan.

Looking Eric in the eyes, Ryan appreciatively said, "Very much so. Now get over here."

Laughing, Eric did as he was told. Leaning up on his elbow, Eric pushed Ryan onto his back and followed him down, rolling his body on top of Ryan. A small whimper escaped Ryan at the feel of skin on skin, and Eric, being himself, smirked and slowly rocked his hips forward and then back. Ryan whined subvocally and murmured, "Eric, stop teasing me."

"All right," he agreed. "Ryan, what do you want?"

Glazed eyes stared into his own before Ryan whispered, "I want you, Eric."

Smiling, Eric said, "You've already said that. What do you want from me?"

"Maybe the question should be what do you want from me?" Ryan inquired.

Sighing, Eric growled, "I want to fuck you into my mattress."

Ryan's smirk and amused, "What's stopping you?" were too much for Eric's frustration.

"Just remember, you asked for this," Eric warned Ryan.

Shaking his head in exasperation, Ryan casually remarked, "Eric, I'm not one of your little club girls. I can take whatever you dish out. You remember that."

Smiling ferally, Eric's reply was physical. Running his hands down Ryan's sides to his knees, Eric grabbed them both and pushed up and out until he was firmly planted in between Ryan's thighs. Squirming around until he was comfortable, Eric then leaned down and kissed Ryan, tongue delving inside to explore and map. When he had to breathe, Eric tore himself away from Ryan's mouth, head dropping onto his shoulder.

Eric turned his head and lightly bit where shoulder and neck met. Ryan gave a surprised cry, hands coming up and clutching Eric's biceps. Eric soothed the sting with his tongue. Pulling back slightly, Eric stared down into the flushed face of his lover before looking down at his pale throat. A predatory smile flashed across his face as he used one hand to gently push Ryan's head back, baring his throat. Nuzzling into Ryan, Eric stopped at a spot above what he knew Ryan's shirts covered and bit down harshly. The gasp of shocked pleasure he received was well worth the minute guilt that flashed through him.

Sucking lightly, Eric began work on leaving his mark. He knew that Ryan wouldn't really be happy with him in the morning, but he didn't care all that much at this particular moment. Although with the way Ryan was arching up into him, maybe he wouldn't be. Leaning back, Eric glanced down at his handiwork and a flash of satisfaction ran through him. Ryan would probably wear clothes that would cover his mark up, but anyone who saw it would know that Ryan belonged to someone. Plus, he would have the pleasure of knowing that Ryan wore his mark, at least for a few days.

The hand on Ryan's face drifted down, and he lightly ran his thumb across the dark hickey. Ryan whimpered lightly before he whispered, "Now that you're finished marking me, do you think maybe you could hurry up and get on with it?"

"I suppose," Eric teased, "if you think I must."

Reaching over, Eric opened and fumbled around in the top drawer of his bedside table, finally finding what he was looking for. He hurriedly opened the condom and slipped it on, tossing the wrapper over the side of the bed. Grabbing the lube, he rapidly, but thoroughly, prepared his lover, not wanting to hurt Ryan, although if Ryan hadn't been with anyone since he'd met Eric, eighteen months ago, there probably would be some discomfort, anyway.

Ryan's whimpers and cries of pleasure, as well as his squirming and writhing beneath him, were seriously distracting Eric from his purpose of making sure he kept his lover's discomfort to a minimum. Tossing aside the last of his patience when Ryan demanded, "Hurry up," Eric, a vice grip on Ryan's hip that was sure to bruise, leaned down and kissed him, harsh and demanding, making Ryan focus on him. While he kept Ryan distracted with that kiss, he swiftly thrust forward, his mouth muffling the cry of pained pleasure from Ryan and his own cry of pleasure.

Not moving in order to give Ryan time to adjust, Eric broke off the kiss, placing his head on Ryan's shoulder, panting to try and catch his breath. When his lover shifted beneath him, Eric growled and thrust forward the rest of the way. A soft moan was Ryan's response, as well as the tightening of his grip on Eric's biceps. Apparently Ryan wouldn't be the only one bruised tomorrow.

Eric kept himself under control. Smooth, careful thrusts that hit the right spot every time, and that were driving Ryan crazy. Ryan let go of his biceps and moved his hands up to his face. Yanking Eric down, he kissed him, pulling away slightly, closing his eyes and mumbling against his lips, "Eric, I'm not going to break. Now fuck me."

The last of his restraint shattered, Eric buried himself to the hilt and stilled, drawing a surprised and disappointed whimper from Ryan who opened his eyes and stared unbelievingly into his own. Wolfishly smiling, Eric released his hips and lightly ran his hands up Ryan's body until he found his hands. Entwining their fingers, Eric used them as leverage as he let go. Thrusting insistently and harshly, he did exactly as he wanted and fucked his lover into his mattress, Ryan's cries and movements only encouraging him further. Gathering Ryan's hands above his head, he placed them both in his left hand and let his right wander freely over the flushed, damp skin beneath him.

His hand eventually, after making several stops along the way, found what he was looking for. Grasping his lover's erection, Eric lightly stroked, smirking at the way Ryan arched up into him, his breathy moan of pleasure enough to make him want to hear it again and again. Which he made sure he did. Teasing him, Eric slowed down both his thrusts and his hand. Ryan opened his eyes and lowly growled out, "If you ever want to do this again, Eric, I suggest you hurry the fuck up."

That startled a laugh out of him. "Yes, sir," Eric whispered, thrusting forward sharply and causing Ryan to simply forget whatever he had been about to say. Keeping up a steady, hard rhythm, Eric tightened his grasp on both Ryan's wrists and his erection. Stroking firmly, he brought his lover to orgasm, his thrusts faltering when Ryan's body tightened in climax. The breathy moaning of his name from Ryan was enough to make him smile smugly. Two thrusts later, he buried his head in Ryan's throat and bit down brutally, drawing both blood and a shocked cry of pleasure from his lover, in order to drown out his own cry of release.

Panting heavily, Ryan squirmed around until Eric eventually let go of his hands. Wrapping his arms around Eric, Ryan pulled him even closer to his body and drowsily asked after he'd caught his breath, "Shouldn't we go take a shower?"

"In a minute," Eric replied, shifting until his entire body weight was resting on Ryan. "In a minute."

***