Ship; reddie

Smut

By reddieforlove on Ao3

Eddies has a problem. To fix it, he goes to extreme measures and calls a phone sex hotline. Little does he know that the person who he matches up with will change everything.
Part six

~

"Bill, are you sure about this?"

Eddie wasn't ashamed to admit that he was dragging his feet. He hadn't even met the guy that Bill had spent the last several months flirting with, rather shamelessly if he was to be believed. To be fair, Eddie hadn't met his own crush but Bill barely knew anything about that so it really didn't matter right now.

"Stan invited me and t-t-told me to bring some friends," Bill said, leading them down the sidewalk towards the bar that was their destination. "He said that he's bringing friends too so it w-would be weird if I didn't."

Mike and Ben both shrugged when Eddie threw them a look.

"Makes sense," Ben said, supportive as always.

Eddie didn't say it aloud, but he really wasn't looking forward to spending a night with strangers. Especially when all he wanted to do was be at home on the phone with Richie. He didn't even know if Richie was available but he hadn't failed to answer a call from Eddie since they exchanged actual numbers and stopped communicating through the hotline. Even though he didn't want to be there, he sealed his mouth shut because he knew it was important to Bill. He seemed really serious about this Stan guy and if a night with friends could help make him happy, Eddie was willing to do it.

"You're buying me a drink," he grumbled, mostly teasing.

Bill slowed down a little and tossed an arm over Eddie's shoulders, giving him a sideways hug.

"I'll buy you two," he promised.

Eddie let a small smile tug at his lips.

"Deal," he said.

They reached the bar mere moments later and Bill's arm disappeared from Eddie's shoulders as he darted forward to open the door for them all. Eddie stepped inside and immediately felt accosted by loud music and even louder conversation.

"He said he'd m-meet me by the bar," Bill said.

"Lead the way," Mike said, nodding at him.

Bill's mood could only be described as giddy as he led them through the crowd of people trying to enjoy themselves on a Saturday night. Eddie couldn't quite help but scowl all around them, wondering why they all had to take up so much space. He was walking between Ben and Mike, knowing that they positioned themselves that way so he wouldn't get lost. As much as he hated to admit it, his height made it more likely than not. When they reached the bar, Bill guided them directly towards a tall man about their age with curly hair and a serious face. But his lips twitched into a smile as soon as he saw Bill and suddenly he looked warm, reaching out to take Bill's hand.

As he whispered something in the ear of Eddie's friend, Bill grinned and Stan smiled a little wider. That was enough for him. If Bill was happy, he was happy. Even in an overcrowded bar with the smell of stale beer and crushed peanuts in the air. Then a voice rose up from behind Stan and Eddie's heart stuttered in his chest for just a moment. It was impossible not to recognize the voice that he'd been hearing on a consistent basis over the past few months. The hint of huskiness. The near-constant undercurrent of amusement. The boisterous volume.

"Staniel! Introduce us to your beau, would ya?"

Eddie's eyes moved past everyone to the man who stood behind him. He was a few inches taller than Stan and about even with Bill. There was a redhead girl at his side that was quite a bit shorter than him with a wide smile on her face as she stuck her hand out to shake Bill's but Eddie barely paid her any mind. All that he could see was him . His dark hair was filled with wild curls and he wore black, thick-framed glasses. It was hard to see in the low light of the bar but Eddie could swear that there were freckles on his nose and cheeks and that his eyes were dark brown, almost black. His worn leather jacket and ripped jeans all fit him perfect and he looked like everything that Eddie imagined and more.

"... don't have to listen to half of what he says," Stan was in the middle of introducing him. "Richie'll talk a lot of shit. You can ignore him if you want."

Eddie's entire body jolted at the sound of his name. What were the odds of this happening? They had to be infinitesimal. Yet here they were.

"Stan the Man here is just putting on a show," Richie said, wrapping an arm around Stan's waist to press a kiss to his cheek. "He loves me."

Richie's eyes started to slide away from Bill and towards the rest of the them. Eddie took an automatic step back without thinking, turning his head away before Richie's eyes could meet his.

"You okay?" Mike said, noticing his retreat.

Eddie looked up at him, shaking his head.

"I, um..." he trailed off, feeling his eyes on him.

He tried not to look. He really did. But it was far too tempting to briefly glance his way. Sure enough, Richie was staring at him with a slight furrow in his brow, his mouth sealed closed for once as he looked at Eddie like he was trying to figure it all out.

"I have to go," Eddie whispered, making sure his voice was quiet enough that only Mike could hear him. "I need air."

He spun away before Mike could say a word, pushing his way back through the crowd to the door. It was hard work to get there but he finally managed to stagger out onto the street. Tilting his head back, Eddie inhaled the cool night air and let it calm his shaking body as he ignored everyone else around him. Inside, Bill was turning around to introduce his own friends only to find one of the three missing.

"Where's Eddie?" he asked with a frown, looking between Mike and Ben.

Before either of them could answer, realization struck Richie.

"Shit!" he said, practically throwing himself forward.

The other five all looked on, feeling somewhat bewildered as Richie took off in the same direction as Eddie. He managed to make it outside just as Eddie began walking down the street. He had no idea where he was going. Only that he needed some distance to keep from totally freaking out.

"Hey!"

That familiar voice rang out from behind him and Eddie stopped in place, his eyes wide and his hands balling into fists at his side. He didn't count on Richie figuring it out. At least not that fast. He debated continuing on but there was barely a crowd on the sidewalk and Eddie knew that Richie's longer legs would probably catch up to him in no time. So he decided to face the inevitable and slowly turned around, tilting his head up to meet the gaze that he'd been dreaming about since that first phone call. Richie had stopped a few feet away from him. His eyes darted all over Eddie's face for several long moments before fixing on Eddie's eyes.

"Holy fuck," Richie breathed out, running a hand through his already messy hair. "It's really you."

Eddie could have easily said the same. He took a hesitant step forward, feeling braver now than he had before in the bar.

"Hi," he said quietly, wondering if Richie even heard him.

When a smile broke out on the other man's face, bright and beautiful and real, Eddie felt warm all over and couldn't help but smile in return.

"You're fucking gorgeous," Richie said, closing more of the gap between them. "You never told me that."

Eddie knew that he was blushing.

"It would be pretty self-centered of me if I said that," he said.

"Well you've earned it, baby," Richie said, his eyes roving over Eddie completely.

Warmth turned to heat as every word of every conversation they'd had came flooding back. It was almost impossible, figuring out what to do now. There was very little they hadn't talked about over the phone but now that they were face to face, Eddie had no idea what to do or say. There was so much that he wanted but the tiniest fear crept into his chest that he wasn't ready or that he wasn't good enough. Richie was more than beautiful. His high cheekbones and dark eyes and lovely pink lips were everything that Eddie could have imagined and more. He was intimidating and yet familiar all at once.

Then Richie stepped forward, closing the last of the distance between them as he slowly lifted his hand. When his fingertips barely brushed over his cheek, Eddie's eyes fluttered closed and he remembered that second conversation. It had been the first time Richie talked him through anything remotely physical. It was extremely tame compared to some of the stuff they got up to later. In a hushed, gentle voice, he told Eddie to imagine him touching him just like this. Softly. Slowly. Eddie let himself relax into the touch, tilting his head towards Richie's hand as his fingers stroked his jaw. Then his thumb brushed over his lower lip and Eddie gasped a little, his lips parting beneath Richie's touch.

"Fuck, I want to kiss you," Richie said in a low, thrilling voice.

Eddie could feel warmth radiating off of him as they stood on that sidewalk, as close as they could get without completely wrapping around one another. He tilted his head up and opened his eyes, staring into Richie's dark, wanting gaze.

"Please," he murmured as Richie lifted his other hand to stroke through Eddie's hair.

"What do you want, Eddie?"

Hearing his name on Richie's lips for the first time in person alone was enough to make his knees feel weak.

"Kiss me," Eddie said, reaching up to curl his fingers into Richie's t-shirt. "I want you to-"

He didn't get to say the rest. Richie's lips brushed over his gently, letting them both get used to the feeling. Eddie felt like he could melt into the taller man right then and there. He pushed up on his toes and inadvertently pressed their lips more firmly together, pulling a groan from deep in Richie's chest that made warm shivers run down his spine. All that Eddie knew was that he wanted more. In spite of their many conversations, he felt inexperienced all over again. It was only when Richie dropped his hand and pulled him closer by his hip that Eddie followed his instincts and pulled away a tiny bit only to part his lips and brush his tongue tentatively over Richie's bottom lip.

"Fuck," Richie's curse was muffled against Eddie's lips.

Then he was kissing him fully, nipping at his lips and kissing him like he was starving for more. Eddie opened his mouth to him, letting out a soft whimper when their tongues brushed. He had never felt quite like this. It was like his body was floating in the air yet Richie grounded him at the same time, keeping him close to his chest as they kissed again and again. The entire world faded away and there might as well have been a stampede of elephants on the street for all they knew.

It wasn't until someone cleared their throat loudly behind Richie that they broke apart, lips swollen and red and cheeks flushed. Eddie sunk his teeth into his lower lip, knowing exactly who would be standing there. Richie's eyes followed the motion and he looked like he wanted nothing more than to kiss Eddie again. Or maybe even do more. The thought made warmth rush to Eddie's lower belly and he gripped Richie's t-shirt tighter, trying to keep a hold on his own libido.

"I-is there something you want to t-tell us?"

Richie finally turned and looked over his shoulder, leaning just enough to the side so that Eddie could see past him at their friends all standing there. Bill and Stan were holding hands and both looking at them with raised eyebrows. The others were staring at them with a mix of wide-eyed curiosity and amusement. Eddie fought the urge to hide his face in Richie's shoulder, feeling embarrassed that he'd been caught.

"What? You're the only one allowed to have a hottie on your arm?" Richie said, shrugging one shoulder shamelessly.

Eddie tried and failed not to smile as Richie's arm slid around his shoulders. It was far more intimate with him than with Bill and he welcomed the proximity.

"How do you two even know each other?" the girl asked.

Judging by what Eddie knew of Richie's life, he assumed that she had to be the infamous Beverly who participated in my many of Richie's shenanigans. She definitely fit the person that Eddie imagined. Richie opened his mouth to answer her but Eddie beat him to it.

"It's a long story," Eddie said, hoping to God that he wasn't actually about to spill how they met.

He definitely wasn't ready for that. Maybe later, but not now.

"You could almost say that he's the voice of my dreams," Richie said with a smirk.

Eddie dug his elbow into Richie's side and earned a bark of laughter and a kiss to his temple.

"It's been a long ti-time since Eddie's been with anyone," Bill said, his eyes fixed on Richie.

It was impossible not to hear the hint of protectiveness in his voice. Maybe he knew more than he let on about the truth behind Eddie's aversion to relationships. Eddie certainly wouldn't be surprised.

"It's okay, Bill," he said, looking at his oldest friend with a serious expression. "He's good."

Bill stared at him for a long second before nodding, accepting his words.

"It's nice to meet you," he said to Richie, who nodded and returned the sentiment.

"We should get back inside," Stan said, tilting his head towards the bar.

Eddie felt the slightest disappointment that he could see reflected in Richie's eyes when their gazes met.

"We have to go," he said, knowing that they couldn't ditch their friends even though something monumental had happened.

Richie sighed heavily and nodded, reaching up to stroke a thumb over Eddie's cheek.

"Then I'm getting you all to myself," he said, the words sounding like a promise.

A thrill of anticipation and desire coursed through Eddie and he nodded, licking at his lips as he remembered just how amazing the kiss was. If something that simple could be so good, what did the rest feel like?

"I'm gonna hold you to that," he warned Richie.

"Good."

With that, they followed the rest of their friends back into the bar.