On the Mountain

by Riley Hart

“Hey, Cyrus. You’re a little early today.” That’s because I’m trying to stalk a mountain man.

“I know…I see it in you. The sadness. It clings to you even when you smile.”

“For someone who’s been alone for over ten years, you sure do know how to use your heart better than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Yes, I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

“Only need you. Mine.”

“I love you,” I whispered, then held my breath.

“Because I was meant to love you. I exist to love you, to belong to you.”

I didn’t want to sleep because then I couldn’t just look at him and the softness of his features and the roundness of his nose. At the freckles I knew by heart and at his pink tongue when he licked his lips.

“You are the only person I ever want to be around.”

“No one has ever been this nice to me. No one has ever made me feel like I matter. I’ve always been something people can throw away. I don’t know how to deserve this.”

“She said you were her sun, but you’re mine too.”

“Giving you what you need, that is my purpose.”

Now I knew my salvation was the man in front of me, and it was beautiful and right and I would never let him go.

How, I wanted to ask him. How can you love someone as broken as me? But then maybe that was why he could—we’d both been dropped time and time again, cracks in our armor, little pieces of us breaking off, but somehow, together, we filled in each other’s imperfections.

“I want to do this for you. I want to give this to you. You’ll never have to face anything alone again.”

“You… I…have never been loved like this. I know my mom did, but I didn’t feel it daily. Not the way I do with you.”

“Jesus, Crow. I’ll love you like this every day for the rest of your life.”

“You deserve more, but you’re mine, so I’ll keep you as long as you let me.”

“I keep painting because they never turn out as beautiful as you are.”

“You didn’t hurt me. You…you’re healing me.”

“Thank you for giving yourself to me.” “Thank you for wanting me.”

A drop of moisture fell to his face, a stray tear of mine sneaking out. Crying wasn’t something I’d done much of, and never because something was so beautiful, so perfect.

“You are my sun too. My life was darkness until you gave me your light.”

“I…I love you,” I told him, then kissed his tearstained lips. I pulled my hips back, then thrust into him again.

“Look at me, little lamb. Look me in the eyes while you come on my cock and take what’s yours.”

I don’t want to let him go. Ever. I can’t stop painting him. I love him, I love him, I love him.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For loving me.”

“You don’t have anything to thank me for. I’m so fucking lucky I get to love you.”

“You are…everything to me. My salvation, my reason for being.”

“I love you, Crow. You’re my reason too.”

And he would be my reason for everything, every day, for the rest of my life. Just like I knew I would be his too.