Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In many ways, you’re going to miss education. It’s been a constant companion to you ever since you were barely taller than your parents’ kneecaps, filling your mind with both knowledge, and the opportunity to form many friendships.

While it’s safe to say the latter hasn’t worked out too well, the former has gone a little too well, to the point you’re now mere months away from hopefully earning a degree that will set you up for life, despite all the slander you’ve heard from those who say literature is a waste of time. If you can get through just one more year of study, you’ll be all set.

It’s just a pity your old professor has seen fit to retire, just as you reach the climax of your educational journey.

In fairness, it seemed likely that Professor Aumar would be retiring sooner, rather than later. You just wish he’d told you and your peers face-to-face, rather than sending out a hastily-typed chain email. Now you’re going to have to spend precious hours getting to know how your new professor works, what he expects from you, and most importantly, what he thinks of your work. Aumar was never once shy with his opinions, for better or for worse; you can't help but wonder if his replacement will share the same level of candour.

None of that matters right now, anyway. Class doesn’t start for a few days yet, giving you the time to focus on something truly important; your love life, or rather the lack thereof. Dating isn’t easy when you have a degree to earn, especially when your significant other refuses to appreciate that. The few relationships you’ve had since moving out of your home and into a small flat near your chosen university have all fallen apart, so until you’re done, you’re setting your sights a little lower. What you need more than anything is a hookup, just to clear the cobwebs away, but even that is starting to feel like an impossibility.

You’ve been on your latest dating app ever since you woke up, aimlessly looking through a sea of blank faces with uninteresting bios. You’ve seen everything from men wearing t-shirts with dodgy slogans to bios that read more like the start of a true crime novel. It’s not like you’re being unreasonably picky, either! You just want someone that looks and sounds perfectly fine. A bit easy on the eye, maybe, but that’s not a deal breaker. Not if this is just for sex.

Stretching out on the sofa, you take a large sip from a nearby mug, bracing yourself for the next batch of pure disappointment. Maybe you should start lowering your standards, after all. As long as they don’t seem completely mentally unhinged, you’re going to make a point of saying yes to the next five matches you see, no questions asked!

Bringing up the first candidate on your phone screen, you feel your will to carry on leaking from your very being, as you see a man dressed in what you think is anime cosplay of some kind, his greasy black hair catching in his eyes. His bio reads ‘Enver Gortash, 35. Looking for a special someone to rule the world with me. Normies need not apply.’

Groaning, you swipe his profile away, hoping the next one will be better. That hope evaporates as another man comes into screen. This time you're not put off by the man himself, but by the company he keeps; you’ve never seen so many spiders in all your life, and you’d like to keep it that way.

Swiping him away, your lips actually quirk into a smile at the sight of the third man. A good-looking young man smiles politely in the picture, a patch over an eye you assume is either injured or missing. His bio says ‘ Wyll Ravenguard, 24. Seeking a long-term partner for good times and raising a family. No hook-ups, please!’ You’re almost tempted to say yes and see where it goes, but honestly? You’d rather he finds what he’s looking for, rather than potentially wasting his time. You’re certain he won’t have to look long.

The fourth man really has your eyebrows raising. A suave-looking older man perches himself effortlessly in a plush red armchair, a glass of wine in his hand and a smirk on his face. This could be the man you’ve been looking for! You just need to read his bio;

‘My familial ties and age are unimportant, but you may call me ‘Raphael’. I seek a sweet little mouse to join me in my lavish abode. Must be able to follow basic instructions, and unafraid of acts of self-pleasure. And if you’ve spoken to my ex, don’t believe him. I can go for days with the right partner.’

You have to fight the urge to just toss your phone away and accept defeat, wanting to at least do one more profile so you can completely fail your self-appointed task. Taking a breath, you swipe away Raphael, your heart skipping a beat when a new photo appears in-screen.

Once again, it seems to be a more mature man, but his age is the last thing on your mind as you drink in his picture. Soft eyes that seem to carry so many emotions stare at an unseen camera lens, the smallest of creases forming beside them. Swathes of greying chestnut hair are pushed back from his face by one of his hands, slender fingers entwined in his locks. A single earring dangles from his left lobe, catching the eye of the cat in his lap. Clearly this is a selfie, judging by the fact that his other hand is nowhere to be seen, but that doesn’t matter; this man paints a delightful picture no matter the artist.

Trying not to get your hopes up, you read his bio aloud. ‘Gale Dekarios, 43. I like cats, good wine, and sparkling conversation. If you enjoy reading, and don’t mind a man that likes the sound of his own voice, please feel free to match with me. I’d love to talk to you about your favourite books.’ Never once in your life have you swooned, but after reading his profile you might just start. He sounds absolutely perfect for you! Sure, the age gap is here, and you’re sure that he’ll waffle on for most of the night, but apart from that he seems completely normal, and he’s undeniably attractive. For once, you’re happy to approve a match; you only hope he feels the same, when he sees your profile.

Placing your phone on the coffee table, you decide you’ve spent enough time looking now. You’re going to go out for a walk for a while, just to clear your mind and try to forget the more unfortunate profiles you’ve seen. You might even treat yourself to a pastry or something, just as a reward for putting up with so many awful profiles.

As you put on a jacket and grab your keys, you look over at your phone one last time, deciding to just leave it here for now. After all, it would be just your luck for the one man you’re interested in not to want anything to do with you, and you’d rather deal with that particular crushing defeat when you’re buzzed on sugar.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone on your walk instead? At this rate, that seems a far more likely prospect.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Your walk ends up taking well over an hour, to the point you’re actually glad to be back in your flat, chocolate croissants in-hand. While fresh air is lovely, it’s safe to say your mind has been firmly fixed elsewhere; you want to see if you’ve found a match, from one man in particular.

Approaching your sofa, you have to take a moment to compose yourself, ready to be disappointed yet again. Maybe this ‘Gale’ is looking for someone more his own age? Maybe he doesn’t think you’re attractive? You may have liked the look of him, but there is no guarantee he’ll feel the same…

Looking at your phone, you can hardly contain your grin when you realise you have a message on the app; it has to be him! The notification seems to be from about forty minutes ago, which you can hope isn’t too much time to have kept him waiting; you’ve had matches in the past that have been really shitty with you for taking longer than five minutes to respond before.

With a swipe, you open your phone, and read the message. ‘Hello there! It would seem we are a match. I must say, I’m incredibly flattered that such a beautiful young woman would take such an interest in me. So, what is your favourite book?’ The fact that he hasn’t seen fit to bombard you with other messages despite your lack of response is encouraging, but you can’t exactly call it a green flag; it’s more basic decency.

It’s at least good enough that you decide to message back, wanting to see where this goes. ‘Sorry for the delay! I just went out for a little walk. I have to say, you’re very attractive yourself. As for my favourite book, well, I usually insist on dinner before revealing such personal information.’ You hope that it comes across as playful. A thin-skinned man might take offence.

You don’t have to wait long before your phone buzzes, a new message from Gale now on your screen. ‘That’s quite alright. I’m just glad you answered at all. Thank you for the compliment. I’m new to this online dating thing, so please excuse me if I lack eloquence. As for dinner, that could be arranged, but I’d like to know a little more about you first. Just to make sure you’re not a total weirdo.’ You can picture him cringing moments after sending that, undoubtedly wondering if you’ve taken offence.

Taking a bite from your pastry, you write out an answer. ‘You’re doing just fine. What would you like to know?’ Now, this will be the real test. Getting him to ask a question will let him set the tone of the conversation, and should give you insight into what he wants.

It doesn’t take long to get a response. ‘Well, since your favourite book is off the table, do you like poetry?’ That’s… that’s not quite the question you were thinking he’d ask. This man really must enjoy reading a lot.

So you answer his question. ‘I do! Why, planning to write me one?’ Even if you’re only joking, it would be blush-worthy to have someone write a poem about you, assuming it’s any good.

There’s a few moments of waiting before the next text comes through. ‘Perhaps. I do have a weakness for well-written rhyme and verse. The fact that you share such an interest is enough to convince me you’re sane enough to take out to dinner. Unless you’d prefer we meet for coffee instead? I have no desire to make you feel unsafe by insisting we sequester ourselves away in a dimly lit restaurant.’ Okay, this man is getting lucky when you meet. Good-looking and respectful is a lethal combination, and you’re about to fall victim to it.

Assuming, of course, he is just as delightful in real life as he is on text.

With a decision now firmly made, you give him your answer. ‘I know it’s short notice, but I’m free tonight if that works for you? That’ll give me time to sharpen my knives for the dark alley I plan to drag you down later.’ You cringe as you write that, undoubtedly putting Gale off completely. Honestly, if you’ve missed out on a date with him because of a morbid joke…

To your relief, Gale decides to text back rather than block you. ‘What’s your favourite food? I’ll make us a reservation and send you the details, assuming I can find my stab-proof vest.’ Thank the gods he has a sense of humour! This man could be the very answer to your dry-spell despair! And who knows? If it goes well, you could always make it a regular thing. Not a relationship, since they always seem to sour of late, but a mutually beneficial hook-up thing. A way to scratch your itches, until he decides he’s done with you.

Giving him your answer, you eagerly await his reply, pottering over to the wardrobe as you do. You need an outfit tonight that screams sexuality, to show your date the kind of assets he might enjoy if he plays his cards right. Sexy underwear is also a must, assuming your outfit allows for it; a lot of these dresses hug your hips tight enough you might just have to go without it. Even better if you find a dress with built-in breast support…

Assuming Gale can make a reservation, tonight will be a night for him to remember.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Having received a time and location from Gale, the rest of your day had been spent choosing the right outfit, in between texting your date. You’ve already learnt more about him than you strictly need to, given what you want out of this, but the more you talk, the more certain you become that he’s… well, not exactly normal, but harmless. If you had to guess, he’s probably getting back on the dating scene after getting out of something long term, but by what means you’re not so certain.

Whatever the case may be, you know any exes will be the last thing on his mind when he sees you. In fact, everyone in the restaurant Gale chose seems to be staring at you as you approach the desk, informing them you have reservations under the name ‘Dekarios’. A low cut black dress hugs your body like a second skin, emphasising each and every one of your curves. If that wasn’t enough, the slits on the sides that flirt with your hips informs everyone in the vicinity that you’re completely bare beneath the inky fabric every time you take a step. You hope your date is already here, so he can watch as you saunter over; you think he might lose his mind.

It would really send him over the edge if he knew you’d packed condoms in your handbag, but you’re not likely to show him that in the middle of the restaurant.

Confirming your reservation, the waiter escorts you to your table, a somewhat familiar pair of eyes scanning your body as you approach. It seems you got your wish; Gale is already here, and if the hungry look he wears is any indication, he’s already sweating beneath that navy blue suit of his. Then again, he might just be hot, considering he’s already undone a few buttons and loosened his tie.

When you get a little closer, Gale stands, pulling out your chair for you. ‘You actually exist! That’s a great relief. I was beginning to think I was catfished.’ Unsure of if you should be flattered or not, you settled for taking a seat, allowing your date to tuck you in before settling down opposite you.

You decide the best thing you can do is make a joke, since you’ve already established he has a sense of humour. ‘Jokes on you. I’m actually three catfish in a dress.’ Smoothing out your dress, you give him a soft smile, hoping you’ve not already killed the mood.

Gale chuckles. ‘Are you, indeed? I must say, I’m thoroughly impressed by your disguise. There’s nary a whisker in sight!’ You can’t help but laugh in return, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. There’s an undeniable charm about the man opposite you that you’re already feeling drawn to, despite your brief acquaintance.

Keeping the atmosphere light, you place your bag safely until the table, making sure to lock your eyes with his before answering. ‘I made sure to shave my whiskers earlier, just in case I get lucky.’ That joke is a lot more serious than it might seem; you did decide to shave your body earlier, in the hopes that he’s worth spending the night with.

A delightful blush dusts Gale’s cheeks. ‘I see. Well, I think I’m the lucky one here. The photograph you put on your profile truly didn’t do your beauty justice. I won’t ask why you decided to match with me, but rest assured, I’ll do my best to make sure this isn’t a wasted evening.’ There’s the faintest hint of self-depreciation in his voice, one that makes you think he’s really not used to dating like this.

Either that, or he’s got a few bad experiences under his belt. Perhaps even a combination of the two.

You tilt your head slightly, looking him up and down for the briefest of moments. ‘I have faith in you. I’m already enjoying the view, if nothing else.’ You’re not sure if it’s the lighting in the restaurant, but this man somehow looks even more attractive in the flesh than he had in his profile picture. The urge to trace your fingers along the more defined elements of his face is almost unbearable…

Gale seems flattered by your assessment, seeming to visibly inflate. ‘If you like it now, imagine how you’ll feel after a few glasses of wine. Speaking of which, I do believe that’s someone coming to take our order.’ He gestures to a nearby waiter, one that does in fact seem to be coming over. Well, this is it. The official start to your date.

You’re really hoping this goes well, or else it’s back to mindlessly scrolling through the app.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

By the time you and Gale finish off your desserts, one thing is clear; you’re going to ride this man tonight, if he wants you, too.

You can’t remember the last time anyone engaged you quite like he has. The conversation between you has been flowing just as steadily as the wine, leaving nothing but a pleasant taste in your mouth. While there has been a little awkwardness between you, the way Gale speaks of history and literature has had you hooked on his every word, and wondering what it would be like to curl up next to him on a stormy evening with a bottle of wine and a good book.

Of course, something so domestic is out of the question now, but if he’s still available after your studies are over…

Gale scoops up a bite of his cake, offering you his fork. ‘Want to try it? It really is exceptional.’ You notice his hand twitching as he finishes his sentence, shocked by his own boldness. Clearly he also thinks things are going well between you, or he’d never consider making such an intimate gesture!

You gather some of your own dessert for him, dangling the morsel before him. ‘Only if you try mine.’ Gale raises an eyebrow at that before leaning in, his mouth wrapping around your cutlery as you take his fork into your own mouth. You make a point of staring into his eyes as you sample his cake, moaning sensually as you do your best to mimic doing something else with your mouth.

The flustered look Gale offers you in return is more than worth the embarrassing thought that someone might have been watching your display. ‘Your dessert is quite delicious. Thank you for sharing it with me.’ He begins hurriedly devouring what’s left of his own sweet treat, clearly trying to hide his embarrassment over your display.

A smirk tugs at your lips, pride swelling in your chest as you realise your tease had the desired effect. ‘It’s only fair we both get a taste of what the other has to offer. After all, isn’t that what dates are for?’ Emboldened, you brush a leg against his, wanting to see if he reacts to the contact.

If Gale’s is at all phased by the contact, he doesn’t show any signs as he flags down a nearby waiter, asking them to bring the bill as he turns his attention back to you. ‘Indeed. That’s a very intriguing way of putting it. I know I have greatly enjoyed the company you have offered me this evening, and if it’s not too bold of an assumption, you seem to have enjoyed mine too. The big question now is would you be willing to indulge me again, or will you be conveniently misplacing my details?’ He watches you as you finish the rest of your dessert, the waiter returning to take your empty dishes and place the bill on the table with some after-dinner mints.

You reach for the bill first, trying not to cough when you see the total. Paying your half is really going to bite into your monthly budget; you might have to try the ramen-only diet for a few weeks to make sure the rent gets paid.

Placing the bill back on the table for Gale to examine himself, you give him an answer. ‘I must admit, I’ve had a blast tonight. It’s nice to spend time with a fellow book lover. Most of the dates I’ve had recently haven’t been nearly as enthusiastic as you are about reading.’ Maybe that’s one more reason your relationships keep failing; the lack of a core common interest.

Gale briefly glances at the bill before dipping a hand into his pocket, preemptively producing his wallet. ‘I could keep you awake until dawn going through all of my favourite books in detail, but I think that might be a bit much for a first date. As it is, I shall accept your words, and allow myself to hope for another equally enchanting evening with you sometime in the near future.’ Despite only coming here with the idea of hooking up in mind, this man might be a threat to your plans. You wouldn’t mind another night spent in his company like this, assuming it‘s somewhere more budget-friendly… and that if you do have sex tonight, he’s not a total letdown in the bedroom.

The waiter returns, card reader in hand. ‘I do hope your evening with us has been a pleasant one. How will you be paying tonight?’ You start reaching for your bag, silently praying to any god that will listen that your card isn’t just flat out declined; you’re not sure you could cope with the shame.

Your date is quick to pull out his card, gesturing to the waiter. ‘Card, please.’ Before you can even begin to protest, Gale has slotted his card into the machine, typing in a few unseen numbers before it whirs to life and spits out a receipt.

As the waiter moves away, you look at your date, feeling a little sheepish. ‘Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that. I would have paid my share…’ Even as you say those words, your mind is sighing in relief. No dire budget changes for you this month!

Gale waves his hand, dismissing your concerns before repocketing his wallet. ‘It was the very least I could do, after you kept me company all evening. Shall we order some coffee while you wait for transportation? I hate to think of you waiting for your ride out there in the cold, exposed as you are.’ His eyes widen then, before his head shakes slightly. ‘That wasn’t a slight, I promise! I am merely concerned for your exposed limbs. The bountiful of flesh I’ve had on display before me has been nothing short of wondrous. Wait, no, that doesn't sound right, either. Forgive me. I may have had one glass too many.’ At least he’s not blind to your choice of outfit; in fact, he’s probably hyper aware of it.

You lean forward, deliberating pushing your breasts between your arms as you rest your elbows on the table. ‘And how are you getting home? I hate to think of you being delayed waiting for me.’ You punctuate your words with a pout, the evening now hanging on his answer.

Your date’s eyes linger on your chest long enough for you to take notice, before they dutifully return to your face. ‘My house isn’t too far from here, so I’ll just be walking.’ Oh, but that’s perfect! Now you have a good reason to hint your way back to his place, and try to seduce him in a more subtle way.

Keeping your eyes locked with his, you reach out, toying with the cuff of his jacket. ‘In that case, why don’t we have coffee back at yours? It’ll be far more comfortable.’ There’s an unreadable look in Gale’s eyes as he silently weighs up his options, trying to gage your intent based on the clues you’ve given him.

After a few moments, Gale nods, pushing back his chair so he can stand. ‘I’m more than happy to host you. Just be aware that my home is currently in a state of disarray.’ He pulls your chair out for you, offering you his hand to help you stand. You make sure to grab your bag before walking out of the restaurant with your date, the cold night air oppressive against your bare skin.

As you shudder, Gale removes his jacket, draping the still-warm article over your shoulder. ‘There you are. That should help with some of the chill. As for your legs, I’m sure I have a blanket at home that will help warm them up.’ He sets off walking then, and you follow, not wanting to fall too far behind your escort on a dark night; you never know who might be around.

An easy silence falls between you as your shoes tap the pavement in unison, heading to your destination. You’d give just about anything to be able to read Gale’s mind right now, if only to know if sex has crossed it already, or if he genuinely thinks you’re just going back to his to wait for a taxi.

Gale breaks the silence as the two of you cross a road, continuing your journey to his. ‘Nearly there now. How are you feeling?’ Honestly, you’d forgotten all about the cold, anticipating warming your body more than his jacket ever could.

That doesn’t stop you from pulling said jacket even tighter against you, appreciating the slight smell of your date that is trapped within the fabric. ‘Eager to get back to yours and warm up.’ You all but sing the final line, hoping to clear up any confusion over your intentions.

Your date hums. ‘I imagine you are. Fear not, for I shall have you warm again in no time. In fact, I may even have in my possession an electric blanket! Assuming I can find if…’ Okay, now you’re totally convinced he thinks your intentions are innocent; he’s in for a very sinful surprise!

Gale comes to an abrupt stop in front of a fleshly-painted red door, patting the front of his trousers. ‘Now, where did I put my keys?’ He checks each of his pockets in time before looking at you, gesturing at his jacket. ‘Excuse me.’ His wrist brushes against the side of your breast as he checks one of the inside pockets, your nipples immediately growing erect. For a moment, there was lighting under your skin, that one slight contact already making your body react to him in a way that few others have.

Yet the man before you remains oblivious, a metallic jangle informing you both that he’s found his prize. ‘Here they are.’ He turns away without further comments, his face and ears pink from nothing but cold. Unlocking the door, he stands aside, allowing you to enter before joining you, and locking the door behind you both.

The warmth inside of Gale’s home feels undeniably inviting, fighting off the chill of the night with ease. You hang the man’s jacket on a nearby coat hook before you head to what you think might be the living room, your date offering you no guidance as he rids himself of his tie.

A large cream sofa sits amongst a sea of cardboard boxes, each one of them full to the brim and marked with a brief description of their contents. ‘Sorry. I’m new to the area. Haven’t had much time to unpack.’ You just hope he’s at least had time to set up a bed, or at least lay down a mattress; big as the sofa is, you’re not sure if two people could enjoy a post-coital nap on it.

You smile reassuringly at Gale. ‘It can’t be helped. Did you move here for work or something?’ You hope that’s not too personal a question, but he’s been pretty forthcoming with information so far. In fact, you’re pretty sure he mentioned at some point over dinner that he’s a teacher of some kind, even if you don’t recall the exact details.

Gale chuckles, but it sounds ever so slightly humourless. ‘Something like that. I probably should have focused more on unpacking than my social life, but my best friend insisted that I make a dating profile. Wasn’t expecting to actually match with anybody so soon! Still, I’m glad I did. Our evening together has most definitely been the highlight of my time here so far.’ He heads off towards what you think is the kitchen then, leaving you to get comfortable.

A shame then that you’d rather get comfortable with him.

Tossing your handbag on a nearby box, you head off after Gale, finding him setting out two mugs as he boils a kettle. You’re quick to close the distance between you, settling yourself between him and the countertop. Subtlety hasn’t worked for you so far, so the time has come to be blunt with him, making your intentions so clear there can be no room for confusion or misreadings.

Your fingers pluck at Gale’s shirt buttons as he looks at you, a flash of hunger in his stare. ‘Can I be honest with you? The only reason I was on the app earlier is because I was looking for sex. I matched with you based purely on looks, and the fact that you seem normal enough to hook up with without things getting weird. How do you feel about that?’ From the way he’s been talking, and the way he’s been unwilling or unable to notice the signs you’ve been showing him, you’re worried that he’s going to turn you down flat, more interested in a relationship than some fun.

Gale breathes out a sigh, resting his hands on the work surface either side of your hips. ‘Honestly? I have mixed feelings about your intentions. On the one hand, I thought you and I made a genuine connection, and I was looking forward to exploring it more. Yet on the other…’ He leans in close, his hot breath tickling your ear. ‘I spent at least half of our dinner together imagining how you’d look bent over the table with my cock inside you.’ You whimper at his bold statement, leaning backwards for support as your knees tremble with need.

You swear you can hear the smirk on Gale’s lips as he continues, one of his hands trailing up your side. ‘I’m not blind, you know. I could read your intent from the beginning. Wanting us to meet up right away, wearing nothing underneath what I hesitate to even call a dress. Suggesting coming back to mine, asking to be warmed up… I was wondering how much ignorance I had to feign in order for you to be bold with me. Turns out all I had to do was flip on the kettle.’ He reaches for the aforementioned appliance then, halting its rumbling with the flick of a switch.

A moan rumbles in your chest as you undo another of his buttons, revealing a strange tattoo on his chest. ‘Well played. I thought you were completely blind to my advances. If tonight was a game, you’d be the winner.’ You work on the rest of his buttons then, untucking his shirt so you can access the final few.

Gale tugs at your dress, one of your unguarded breasts tumbling out as a result. ‘With any luck, we’ll both be winners this evening. Tell me, how many orgasms do you need to achieve before you consider the night a success?’ His hand paws at your breast then, taking your nipple between his deft fingers.

You stroke his leg with your foot, his shirt now completely undone. ‘As long as I get off at some point, that’s mission accomplished for me.’ You start tugging at the fastenings of his trousers, trying not to drool as your palms brush against something hard and throbbing.

Your date tuts, pulling back to look you in the eyes. ‘I’m almost offended on your behalf. It’s little wonder you’re looking for sex with strangers if a single orgasm is your benchmark. Show some self-respect. Tell me how many times you want me to get you off tonight.’ Gods, the way this man is looking at you, all fire and intensity as his nose brushes against yours, is enough to dampen your inner thighs. He seemed so mild at dinner; what’s happened to him since then?

Thinking back on previous nights, you give him an answer. ‘My record is twice in one night, so I guess if you’re looking to beat that…’ Honestly, if this man manages to get you off three times, you’ll be in his dms weekly, begging for more. You don’t exactly have high hopes though; the last man who promised such a performance finished in his underwear the moment you showed him your bare chest.

Gale nods, adjusting your dress until both of your breasts are free. ‘I see. Let’s aim for three, then. Do you allow men to kiss you on the lips on a first date?’ He pinches both of your nipples in union, your hips thrusting into his of their own volition.

You shake your head. ‘I can do much better things with my mouth.’ Things you’ll be more than happy to demonstrate for him, if he backs up enough to let you crouch for him.

Arousal swells in your cunt as Gale falls to his knees, pushing up your dress until he sees your bare sex. ‘That wasn’t an answer, and the lips on your face aren’t the ones I was referring to.’ Reaching a finger forward, he slides it between your folds, examining your wetness. ‘I didn’t realise my company was so stimulating. I’m incredibly flattered.’ You keep your dress raised for him as he moves closer, knocking your leg with the back of his hand until you spread them wide enough for him to settle between them.

Gale’s breath tickles your inner thigh as he continues to tease you with a finger, waiting for your answer. ‘You don’t… you don’t have to, but if you want to…’ Even as you say the words, you long to take them back, wanting nothing more than to feel this man’s tongue against your soaked flesh…

Your answer is enough for Gale, who plants a small kiss against your thigh before his stubble scrapes at the sensitive skin, his head tilting and his mouth now hovering over your clit. ‘Oh believe me, I want to. I really, really want to.’ Before he goes any further, your date lifts up one of your legs, resting it over his shoulder to give himself better access to your cunt. You lean back against the counter in response, body coiled in anticipation as you await his next move.

You almost growl in disappointment as Gale’s finger moves away, only to gasp when you feel his firm tongue take its place, the tip of it tracing the edge of your folds with agonising slowness. Your nails try to bite into the worktop as he takes his time with you, tracing the very outline of your body with just his tongue alone. The tip of it circles your entrance a few times before your date pulls it away, and starts to explore you anew.

One of your hands tugs at his hair, a potent mix of frustration and need flowing in your veins. ‘Gale…’ You don’t know if your cry is more plea than warning, or vice-versa, but it has the desired effect; your date plunges his tongue inside your waiting hole, unabashedly moaning with delight.

As if a switch was flicked in Gale’s mind, he pushes his face flush against your cunt, breathing in the scent of you. He reaches his hands behind you to cup your ass, pushing you as close to his face as he can as his tongue plunders your insides, tracing out a map of your flesh just as he has with your outer folds.

You try to meekly tug on Gale’s hair to get him to pull away, worried for his breathing, but your lover won’t stop, utterly consumed by the taste of you. Looking down to check on him, the sight is almost enough to make you climax on the spot; you’ve never seen anyone look like he does right now, with his eyes screwed shut, and arousal clinging to his stubble like dewdrops. You call out his name, to see if he’ll look at you, but hearing it only redoubles his efforts, until even looking at him proves to be too much; all you want is to lay back and take it.

Even your breasts seem to tingle at his touch, begging to be toyed with again. You do your best to tease them with your freehand, but you struggle to focus, Gale’s tongue shoving you towards orgasm faster than any other lover you’ve ever had. If he would only use one of his hands to tease your clit…

As if reading your mind, one of Gale’s hands rests on your lower belly, his thumb travelling down to stroke your clit. You can’t take anymore, a climax harder than any you’ve ever had hitting your body like a meteor. It’s all you can do to remain upright as your lover continues to devour you, lapping at the waves of your arousal until you have to push his head away, unable to take any more pleasure.

While you slowly come down from your high, Gale carefully untangles himself from you, making sure your other foot is firmly on the ground before standing. ‘That’s the first one sorted. I think we should take this to the bedroom now, don’t you?’ He leans down then, hastily removing his shoes and heading off up a nearby staircase. You remove your heels, trying not to stumble as you are once again left following your date, wondering what he’ll do to you next.

You don’t have to wait long to find out; no sooner than you enter the bedroom, Gale pushes you face first into his bed, the frame creaking as you fall onto the mattress. Slightly calloused hands push your dress up over your ass, and you instinctively spread your legs, wondering what he wants to do with you next.

Two fingers slide into your cunt without warning, tearing a moan from your throat. ‘Tell me, are you on birth control?’ Shit. You left the condoms downstairs in your handbag. You’re not sure if your legs will survive another journey…

Hoping it won’t ruin things, you shake your head. ‘No, but I do have a condom downstairs…’ Will it be too much of a journey for him, too? What if this is a dealbreaker?

Gale’s fingers twist inside you, pumping in and out as he encourages your body to stretch around him. ‘You’re a very sensible young woman. I normally wouldn’t have any such thing in my possession, but after we arranged our date… Well, you can hardly blame a man for being optimistic.’ His freehand reaches over to open a nearby drawer, before he pulls out an unopened box of condoms.

You let out a breathy laugh, a third finger sliding into your already-sensitive body. ‘I think it’s safe to say your optimism was well-placed. Then again, I want your cock so badly I think I would have taken the risk even without one.’ You blush at your own confession, not expecting it to come out of your mouth. You’ve only known this man for a matter of hours, and already your brain is mush!

Gale slaps your ass with his freehand, the fingers inside you jolting. ‘I can’t be trusted to pull out. It’s a long-standing issue. I get so lost in the moment sometimes it’s like my brain… So, I owe you two more orgasms. Since you’re enjoying my fingers so much, I think they should do the trick.’ His free hand squeezes your ass firmly, watching the way his fingers dip into your skin before he moves the hand underneath you, once again looking to tease your clit.

Your hands tug at his bedsheets as Gale works you with his fingers, somehow managing to work a fourth one into you while your head is spinning. The tip of his middle finger occasionally caresses your cervix, a reminder of just how deep they are inside you. Your clit starts to ache almost painfully as it’s teased between your lover’s fingers, ecstasy milked from your body with each careful tug and squeeze.

It doesn’t take long for you to reach a second peak, your body still reeling from the first. Learning from earlier, Gale moved his fingers off of your clit, fucking you through your orgasm with his other hand. The sound of your arousal coating his fingers fills the room, punctuated by your lover’s occasional grunts of delight as he watches you come undone for him.

Finally, it seems Gale’s patience is at an end; he pulls his fingers from you, licking them greedily. ‘I must say, I think I regret not ordering you for dessert. You’re the sweetest thing I’ve had on my tongue for quite some time.’ He flips your body then, finding the zipper of your dress so he can finally remove it from you.

You prop yourself up on one elbow as you watch Gale undress himself, his shirt carelessly discarded as he finishes undoing his trousers. Your tongue traces your lower lip as he shoves them down along with his underwear, allowing his cock to spring forth; this man is very far from modest.

Gale smirks confidently at your reaction, giving his cock a few experimental pumps. ‘Alright, how about we make things more interesting? If I can get you off one more time, you have to spend the night sleeping in my bed.’ Bold of him to assume you were going to leave after all this; you’re not going to slink into a taxi smelling of sex.

Grabbing the box of condoms, you open them quickly, separating one from the rest as Gale finishes undressing. ‘You better get me off again. I want you to feel my cunt clenching around that huge cock of yours.’ You toss the now-naked man the condom, spreading your legs wide as he puts it on with a practised ease.

Now suitably covered, Gale presses the head of his cock inside you, looking you straight in the eye. ‘Ready?’ You nod, and that’s enough for him, his hips moving forward as your cunt is stretched open again, every delicious inch of him threatening to steal your breath away.

Your legs wrap around Gale’s hips as he leans over you, resting his forehead against yours. ‘Gods, the way you take me…’ He bites his lower lips then, hips bucking as he tries his hardest not to move, wanting to give you time to adjust.

You dig your nails into his shoulder, thrusting up your own hips. ‘Gale… fuck me. Just fucking do it. Make me scream! Make m- Fuck!’ Your pleas have Gale snapping his hips in and out of you with abandon, your name whispered behind gritted teeth as he abandons the last of his restraint.

The mattress dips beneath you as Gale surges forwards, the back of your thigh pressing against his chest as he completely covers you, one of his hands grabbing your hair as he starts to lose himself in your body again.

With Gale’s body pinning you, it’s all you can do to try and meet his thrusts, your nipples rubbing against his bare chest as he bites down at your shoulder, hard enough to leave welts in your skin. The hint of pain prompts you to react in kind, clawing at his back until you’re sure you’ve littered it with scratches.

Gale’s breathing comes out in laboured pants, a thin line of sweat at his brow as he tugs your hair, drawing a scream from your lips. ‘I don’t think I can last much longer, so be a good girl and finish for me, okay?’ His teeth tug at your earlobe as your body obeys his command, the promised third orgasm causing your cunt to clamp down hard on his cock so hard it causes your lover’s pace to falter.

The feel of your twitching around him is too much for Gale, his hips thrusting limply into you a few more times as he fills the condom, denying your body the warmth of his release.

Your lover only allows himself a moment to relax with you before he pulls out, removing the condom so he can tie it off and dispose of it. The bedroom door creaks as he leaves, and you lay on the bed, waiting for him to return as your mind tries to come back to reality. As far as hookups go, or even dated in general, this might be the best one you’ve ever had; assuming Gale hasn’t let go retrieve a knife.

When Gaw returns, he is carrying something, but it’s not a knife; it’s a glass of water, which he carefully offers you. ‘Here. You must be parched from all that screaming. Allow me to clean you up a little, too.’ He heads off again, to the en-suite this time, and you look around the room, eyeing a box that says ‘bedroom essentials’. That’s a strange category. You wonder what it contains…

Before you can investigate, Gale returns again, holding a wet flannel. ‘This might be a little cold, but you’ll get used to it.’ He uses the rough material to clean your sex, gently massaging it into you until the only dampness that remains is from the cloth itself.

You smile at Gale as he works, watching him with a smile. ‘Great in bed and a fan of aftercare? How are you still single?’ He freezes for a moment at that, his hand trembling for a few seconds before he reapplies himself.

After a reaction like that, you don’t expect a response, so you almost jump when you get one. ‘I’ve wasted a lot of time focusing on the wrong things in life, but that is a story for another time. Assuming of course you wish to see me again. I can understand if you had your fill of me, since this is only supposed to be about sex.’ That’s true, but with sex this good, you’d be a fool not to come back for more!

Taking a few more sips of water, you stroke Gale’s hair, taking the time to appreciate how soft it feels now you’re not clinging to it for dear life. ‘I won’t be losing your details anytime soon, if that works for you?’ As enthusiastic as he was, you somehow doubt your date is about to show you the door, especially since he knows that you can offer him more nights like this.

Gale just smiles. ‘Sounds perfect.’ Your own lips quirk in response, a comfortable silence falling between you. Whatever the future holds, you know it’s going to be quite spectacular, and for once in your dating life, you’re convinced nothing can go wrong.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

It’s been a few days since your night with Gale, and while the two of you have still been talking, you haven’t had the chance to see him again; you’ve been too busy preparing for your return to class, a situation you now find yourself in.

Although right now you’re starting to wonder why you even bothered preparing. Professor Aumar’s replacement is an entire five minutes late, and the entire lecture hall is abuzz with gossip, your peers all trying to speculate exactly what your new professor will be like. From what you can make out, nobody seems to know many details, save for the fact he was recommended by Aumar himself. He’s a total enigma, one that might not even exist at this point.

Pulling out your phone, you make sure no one is looking before you message Gale, not wanting anyone to read over your shoulder. ‘With the day I’m having so far, I’m going to need your cock inside me later.’ You send it before you lose your nerve, a little anxious about meeting again. What if he fails to live up to the expectations he’s set himself? That first night might have been a total fluke…

The door opens and the entire room falls silent, looking at the new arrival. ‘So sorry I’m late, class. I’m afraid I’m still new to the area, so finding my bearings has been a nightmare.’ Your heart stops beating for a moment, dread creeping into your veins. You know that voice. You’ve heard it before, the night that…

Professor Dekarios sets his briefcase down upon his desk, clapping his hands together. ‘Right, well, the time for introduction is upon us. My name is Professor Dekarios, and I’ll be teaching you literature this year. I trust that we’ll all get along swimmingly.’ You silently pray that the ground swallows you up before Gale- Professor Dekarios- becomes aware of your existence, and realises just how well the two of you get along.

Just as things were starting to look up, it seems that life has thrown you yet another pile of shit to deal with.

Chapter Text

Shit.

That’s about the only word you can think of to describe your current situation, as you try to surreptitiously sink into your seat to avoid Gale’s gaze. Yet even that seems like a pointless act: it’s only a matter of time until he sees you, and you’re not sure what you’ll do if he does.

Will he be able to keep a straight face? The last time you saw this man, he was kneeling on his kitchen floor, fucking your dripping cunt with his clever tongue. Not to mention what he did when he finally got you upstairs… Fuck, but he might have been the finest lay of your life, and now he’s supposed to be your professor?! Not even the finest Greek tragedies could compare to your plight.

Fortunately, your attempt at hiding seems to have worked, as Professor Dekarios’ eyes pass over your form without lingering. ‘There are few things more disappointing in life than being met with a wall of silence, but I suppose I’ll survive. Now, how do we all feel about Iambic pentameter?’ He opens his briefcase then, producing a rather tattered collection of Shakespeare’s poems. Your peers all produce a similar tome, and you follow their example, not wishing to draw any attention to yourself.

As you settle the book on a random page in front of you, a sense of inexorability falls over you. Sooner or later, Gale is going to find out that he had sex with one of his students. No amount of hiding will save you from that. If you somehow manage to avoid his gaze for the next hour, you’ll still have to approach him once the lecture is over and tell him everything. It’s the right thing to do, even if it does rob you of your newfound happiness. You’re just grateful that you’ve only had the one night with him, because if it was anything more than that, you doubt you’d be willing to think rationally about your situation.

When he is once again greeted with nothing but the sound of books hitting desks, Professor Dekarios sighs. ‘Look, I know Elminster subscribed to the philosophy that a student’s job is simply to listen, but I think learning is much more effective when combined with conversation befitting the chosen subject. In other words, as long as you wait for a pause in my speaking, I don’t expect you to remain silent if you have any questions or nuggets of wisdom. There is many a great mind in this room I’m sure. Imagine what we might accomplish if we put our heads together.’ Gods, but him saying that just makes you think once again about the things his head is capable of…

With the whole class remaining silent, Professor Dekarios rolls his eyes before flicking through the pages of his book. ‘Very well. I’d like you all to find Sonnet One Hundred And Thirty.’ That’s quite a random pick. Either your professor thinks that it’s a particularly shining example of Iambic Pentameter, or it’s a personal favourite of his.

The sound of turning pages fills the halls as you and your classmates all search for the poem in question, a lot of them flicking through at random while others have the sense to read the table on contents first. You manage to find the sonnet in question quickly, giving you time to scan it while the others catch up.

Dread pools in your stomach as it becomes immediately clear what said sonnet is about.

Now that everyone is on the same page, Professor Dekarios clears his throat. ‘Now, since you seem to have all resigned yourself to silence, how about I read, hm?‘ He takes a deep breath, preparing himself to read for you;

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips red.
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses demasked, red and white;
But no such roses see I in her cheeks.
And in some perfumes there is more delight;
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know;
That music hath a far more pleasing sound.
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare;
As any she belied with false compare.

For a few tense moments, the entire class is silent as your professor’s words sink in, before finally a woman a few rows away from you speaks up. ‘What a load of shit! What gives Shakespeare the right to speak about a woman like this?! Is this supposed to be romantic?’ Oh. It seems as if you and her have some differing opinions on the sonnet.

Professor Dekarios nods. ‘I see. Well, I’d invite you to take up a conversation with him, but I’m afraid that chance has long since sailed into the Styx. Is that a sentiment you all share?’ There’s a few murmurs and nods around you as everyone echos the first woman’s thoughts, with a few people even rolling their eyes over what they assume is a straightforward analysis.

Shit. You need to speak up. After all, what harm can it really do? Gale is going to find out you’re his student the moment the lecture ends anyway, and you’d rather he found out through what you hope is an accurate assessment of a romantic sonnet.

So, before Professor Dekarios can speak, you open your own mouth. ‘I don’t. I disagree, I mean.’ You watch as Gale’s eyes are blown wide for the briefest of moments, before he settles his face back to a neutral expression.

Your Professor gestures his hand towards you. ‘Then by all means, share it with the class.’ The way his eyes are fixed on you makes you shift uncomfortably in your seat, the ghost of arousal kissing your cunt just as firmly as the man before you had.

Giving yourself a moment to arrange your thoughts, you finally feel ready to answer. ‘It might seem harsh on the surface, but honestly? I think the bluntness is romantic in its own way. It’s so easy to shower false praise onto a lover, to only see them through rose-tinted glasses, but love isn’t like that. It is imperfect and messy. It can delight and horrify. Shakespeare also demonstrated the dangers of flattery in King Lear, so it doesn’t surprise me that he’s repeating the sentiment here.

‘In addition, notice how the last two lines are offset from the rest. This is the only time in the poem he’s complementary to his subject, suggesting that he made this split deliberately to separate two kinds of truths; the ugly and the beautiful. Yet those final words speak the loudest, because they change the entire meaning of the sonnet. Without them, it is just a random wall of insults, but on their own, it’s easy to argue that they encapsulate the truest of his feelings; that he loves this mistress of his, flaws and all.’ Gale’s eyes aren’t the only set burning into you as your rambling comes to an end, with most of the class now staring at you.

A wide grin spreads across Professor Dekarios’ face. ‘An excellent analysis. Comparing it to King Lear was also particularly shrewd of you, I must say! For those of you who are unaware, in Shakespeare’s play King Lear, the titular king declares that he’ll leave his kingdom to the daughter who loves him the most. The first two shower him with false flattery, while the third tells him quite simply that she loves him, no honeyed words required.’ Well, since you’re already acting like a teacher’s pet…

You give Gale a confident smile. ‘‘Good my lord, you have begot me, cherished me, loved me; I return those duties as are right fit. Obey you, love you, and most honour you.’’ Your showing off earns you a few glares, but you don’t care; the gleam of excitement in Professor Dekarios’ eyes makes it worth it.

Professor Dekarios claps his hands together. ‘Exactly that. She’s honest, without embellishment. If you want to find out how well that worked out for her, I recommend that you read King Lear, but do not expect a happy ending.

‘As for this sonnet, I suppose all poetry is subjective, but I tend to agree with the sentiment that these barbed works are actually a true expression of love. So often we overlook the flaws of the ones we love, only for them to come back to bite us in the end. Yet to see them, and acknowledge them? That is a rare expression of love.

‘Besides, there can be beauty in the flawed. Little dimples on cheeks flushed red from laughter. A scar that tells a story all of its own. Bruises left on the thighs of a lover… Yes. Imperfection has a grace all of its own, if we are willing to embrace it.’ Gods, you can’t take this anymore. Hearing Gale say things like this only makes the flames of your desire grow hotter, even as you would snuff them out. How are you supposed to keep yourself away from him, despite what an affair could mean for you both in the future?

A pity then that you have no choice; as soon as the lecture is over, you’re ending this.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, your lecture is finally over; it’s time to face the music for real.

You remain seated as the others in the hall disperse, at one point dropping your book on the floor to play for time. Thankfully you don’t have anything to do after the lecture other than study, so taking a few moments to talk to Gale is more than achievable, assuming he doesn’t boot you straight out the door…

By the time you’re packed and standing, the room is all but empty save for you and Gale, the latter shooting you a look before closing and locking the doors behind his other students; you’re alone with him, in as private a place as either of you can create right now.

Gale perches on the edge of his desk as you approach him, nervously tugging at the bottom of your shirt. What can you even say? You’ve been rehearsing a little speech to him in your head for the last few minutes, but now that you’re alone before him, the words are all but gone. This whole situation sucks, but at least seeming mature enough to have an opinion on the matter would have made it a little easier to swallow.

It’s Gale that breaks the silence, a bitter chuckle escaping his throat. ‘You know, I was only just thinking when I might see you again. I was hoping it would be over far more auspicious circumstances, but it seems the monkey’s paw has once again shown its devious fingers. I must apologise most sincerely. Had I thought for one moment that you were a future student of mine…’ His gaze moves away from you, and for the briefest of moments, an unwanted hope blooms within you. If he can’t so much as finish that sentence, it means one of two things; he’s either truly disgusted at himself, or not nearly disgusted enough.

You shrug, smoothing your palms against your stomach. ‘It was an honest mistake. Neither of us knew what we’d become to each other. Let’s just… we should draw a line under what happened. Yeah, it was incredible, and I wish it could continue, but it just wouldn’t be appropriate now…’ In hindsight, adding that last part may have been a mistake if your new professor is indeed horrified by what happened. Yet on the other hand, if there is even the smallest part of him that’s ready to break the rules and continue your little affair…

Gale’s eyebrows raise for a moment before he gets them under control, clearly taken aback by your words. ‘Yes, well, regret is a terrible emotion to dwell on. Nothing will take away from the fact that we both had a phenomenal night, but it would be unwise to continue. I don’t want anyone to think I’m taking advantage of one of my students, and I don’t want anyone to accuse you of seducing me for your grades. Not that you even need to, of course. You’ve got a brilliant mind in that head of yours!’ You wish the compliment made you feel warm inside with pride, but another thought crosses your mind; how it would feel to have this man telling you what to do to yourself, and praising you for your obedience; you’d be such a good girl for him…

Fighting the urge to rub your legs together, you give him a smile. ‘Thanks, but I don’t think I’m all that brilliant. Professor Aumar used to spend so much time talking at us that I think a few people find it hard to take things at anything other than face value. I’m sure you’ll help break that habit.’ He’s already tried to engage everyone in actual conversation; it’s nice to have more than one voice in the lecture hall for once.

Your professor shakes his head. ‘Nope, I won’t accept you arguing with me over this. I’ve seen a great many of your talents lately- including ones I’ll need to forget for the sake of my continued sanity- and none of them have been found wanting. You’ll be leaving this class with a high mark indeed, I’m certain.

‘That being said, do not feel as if you have to lose my contact details. If you are at all struggling with the materials or need advice, please reach out. I’ll offer whatever help you need to excel during your final year of study.’ That’s… well when he puts it like that, maybe everything has worked out for the best. Sure, every time you look at him you’ll be thinking of that night, but once you’ve moved on from that, this can surely only be a good thing.

So you try not to seem too excited as you nod at his suggestion, even as you swear you can physically feel your spirit lifting. ‘I’d appreciate that so much! As long as you’re not going to feel too awkward about it. I know this can’t be easy for you…’ He’s at least handling it better than you seem to be, barely even flinching when he spotted you in his class. Age doesn’t always bring with it maturity, but in Gale’s case, they seem like they might be bedfellows, after all.

Gale sighs. ‘Oh, it’s incredibly awkward. I only planned to use that sonnet in the first place because… You know, that’s completely irrelevant now. But yes, it will be uncomfortable at first, but we are also both adults and, equally as important, human. Mistakes are in our nature. If anything, they’re character building. One to tell the grandkids, eh? Just wait until they’re a little older, alright? I don’t want to be responsible for traumatising the youth of tomorrow, no matter how small a part I might play in the grand scheme of things.’ He looks like he’s about to playfully pat your shoulder before thinking better of it, clearly wanting to avoid physical contact for now… and probably forever.

With your conversation seemingly at an end, you start to make for the door, Gale walking at your side to unlock the door. Yet with every step, you seem to find your body inching closer to his, like iron filings to a magnet. How easy it would be to reach out to him. To close the distance between you, and let your lips press against his. To cup the front of his trousers, and see for yourself if he’s excited at such a thought, or repulsed by it.

To drag him back towards his desk, and beg him to fuck you again.

Gale makes eye contact with you, and you immediately look away, as if doing such a thing will allow him to read your thoughts. You need to get over this. This man is now officially off-limits, both in reality and your fantasies!

As Gale unlocks the door, you think back to the start of the lecture, ice shooting through your veins; you sent him a text earlier, before he walked in and you found out the truth! If he reads it later, he might think you’ve changed your mind…

Before Gale can push the door open, you grab his hand, ignoring the rush that travels through you. ‘Wait! Earlier, before you walked in, I may have sent you a horny message, so when you check your phone and see it…’ As if things couldn’t get more embarrassing for you, now he has to see how depraved your thoughts get just waiting on a teacher to arrive!

Gale seems to curse under his breath, before laughing it off. ‘Consider it ignored. Thank you for telling me now, rather than leaving it for me to discover. That would have led to no small amount of awkwardness later! Please try to enjoy the rest of your day, and if you have any further issues, feel free to contact me as discussed.’ He pushes open the door before snatching his hand back, allowing you to leave. You do so quickly, not wishing to linger any more than he wants you there; you’re not sure you trust yourself to.

Now finally free of the classroom, you start walking away at a brisk pace, eager to be away from it for fear you’ll turn around and rush to Gale. Damn it. The new few weeks are going to suck, but if you can keep your impulses at bay, it should get easier with time. Maybe you should search for another one night stand? Someone to make you forget all about the handsome, clever, talented…

You have to pinch yourself. You can’t allow your thoughts to spiral. You’re done with Gale. He’s just plain old Professor Dekarios now, the man who is going to guide you through your final year of study.

That’s all he can be.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

By the time the weekend arrives, you’re left regretting your life choices.

Every. Fucking. Night. That’s how many times you’ve dreamt of Gale. Your unconscious mind has drifted back to that night more times than you care to admit, and it’s driving you insane. It doesn’t help that you have to see him every day, think about what happened between you, and then try to act like everything is okay when inside, you’re still burning for him, aching for his familiar touch.

What’s worse is that there’s nothing you can do. Touching yourself over him will only make you want him more, and that’s not even taking into account how unsatisfactory it’ll feel compared to the real thing.

Yesterday, you’d caved and looked on the app, but that only made you pine for Gale more as you looked through a sea of faces that weren’t his, and profiles that either bored you to tears or made your stomach churn in a less than favourable way. You need him. Right now, there is nobody around that can fuck you like he can. That can send your body over the edge three times and act like it was just another night in the bedroom. Maybe if you could talk him into just one more fling- with the understanding that it’ll be your last- you’ll be able to get him out of your mind. You’ll scratch your itch, and be free to move on at last.

That’s why you’re currently curled up on your sofa on a Friday night, a lukewarm drink left half-finished on a nearby coaster as you try to think of a way to talk Gale into letting the affair drag on for just one more night. Given your chosen degree, persuasive writing should be your bread and butter at this point, but you’re dealing with a man who has far more experience in the exact same field. He’ll see through any tricks. In fact, if he was feeling particularly mirthful, he could grade your attempt at seducing him and send it back as extra credit…

No, he wouldn’t do that. At best, he’d ignore you, and at worst… well, what was it he had said about making mistakes? Surely he won’t turn you in over a single lapse in judgement? That would mean having to tattle on himself, and as long as the situation doesn’t get to the point where he feels you’re making him unsafe, you highly doubt he’d throw away his career over it. You just need to think of the right words, something clever…

Or, alternatively, you could keep it casual. After all, it’s almost ten at night now. The last thing you want is to jumpscare the poor man with an overly-flirtatious text, assuming he’s still even awake; his first week of teaching at a new place must surely have been exhausting.

Casual it is, then. But what? You allow yourself a wry smirk as the phrase ‘U up?’ pops into your head, but you decide on something a little more formal. ‘Can we talk?’ Wait, no, that’s too vague. What if he thinks something is wrong?!

Before you can lose your nerve, you hit send, your phone almost leaping from your hand as it immediately buzzes back at you, signally an incoming message from Gale. ‘Are you awake?’

Your hands tremble and you read the message over and over again, the situation dawning on you; Gale didn’t send this as a response; he was messaging you at the same time!

Another buzz sounds from your phone, only this time you don’t flinch, expecting a message. ‘I’ll take that as a yes. What’s on your mind?’ Well, this is it. Might as well seize the day- or rather, the night.

Trying to calm your trembling hands, you manage to type out a response. ‘You, mostly. Sorry if that’s too forward.’ The last part feels redundant, but you leave it in anyway, trying to give yourself an out if things don’t go your way.

You can almost imagine Gale’s smirk as his next message comes through. ‘No more forward than texting your professor on a Friday night in general, I’d say. Yet I get the feeling you’re not thinking of me as your professor right now.’ At least he’s picked up on the tone you were going for, so that’s a step in the right direction!

This next message will determine how the night goes, and you know it; here goes nothing. ‘Would it bother you if I said you were correct? That I haven’t been thinking of you like that at all lately, save for when I’m actually being lectured by you?’ The last part is only a half-truth; you’ve checked him out more than once in class this week if you’re honest with yourself, but he doesn’t need to know that.

The reply from Gale is swift. ‘Naughty girl. We agreed to keep things strictly cordial between us.’ You can’t tell what tone he’s going for through text, but you’re praying it’s playful disappointment; you might die of embarrassment if you get a genuine scolding from a teacher at your age!

Pinning all your hopes on the former, you text back. ‘If you think I’m naughty now, wait until you hear the dreams I’ve been having about you.’ You can feel your face heating up as you press send, your eyes transfixed on the screen. It’s finally make or break. Everything hangs on the next message…

Your heart skips a beat as Gale’s answer lands in your inbox. ‘Careful. You keep talking to me like that, and I might have to find a better use for your mouth.’ Bingo. He’s down for crossing the line again, something that comes as a welcome relief to the moisture now forcing your underwear to cling to your cunt like a second skin.

Shifting in your seat, you text back. ‘I don’t know about that, sir. I have a big mouth. It’ll take something pretty big to gag me.’ Thinking of that night again, you know Gale has something that’ll do the job nicely; his cock is far from lacking.

You resist the urge to slide a hand down into your underwear, but as Gale’s next message comes through, you find it almost impossible to refrain. ‘Sir now, is it? Very well. Now, I want you to send me a picture, if you’re comfortable with that. Take three of your fingers, and put them in your mouth. I want to see how your lips look stretched around something.’ Fuck, but you weren’t expecting things to escalate this fast; at least you’re not the only one pent up.

Without even thinking of future consequences or how you look right now, you shove three fingers into your mouth, sending it over with some accompanying text. ‘An unfair test, really. My fingers hardly compare to your cock.’ You almost cringe as you see the picture again, not realising beforehand what a state your hair is in. Will that put Gale off?

Gale’s answering message is immediate. ‘Oh, dear. Someone forgot to call me Sir, after she herself came up with the idea? Well, there’s really nothing for it. Either you get yourself over to me tonight, or the next time I see you, I might just have to pull down your trousers and smack your pretty posterior raw.’ You’ve never arranged transport so rapidly, thankful you’d had the good sense to write down his address for future encounters.

Ride confirmed, you type back. ‘I’ll be with you soon, sir. If I’m not choking on your dick before midnight, I’m not going to be happy.’ Placing your phone down, you rush to your bedroom, pulling out something more appropriate to wear. Since your underwear is already half-ruined, you might as well keep it on, but slip a spare pair into your handbag for the morning. As for the rest, a knee length skirt and a thin jumper ought to do the job; not too sexual as to alert your lift as to the purpose of your late night trip, but at least you look presentable.

Making sure to slide extra condoms and some money for your ride into your bag too, you head back to the living room, smirking at Gale’s reply. ‘Then prepare to be a very happy woman indeed.’ Slipping your phone into your bag, you make to pour the last of your long-abandoned drink into the sink; the last thing you want is to clear that up tomorrow when you’re still dazed from a well-needed fuck.

All that’s left is to wait for your ride, and see where the night- and indeed, Professor Dekarios- takes you.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

As you approach Gale’s house, clarity washes over you. At no point did you specify this is a one-off. That you’re not going to make a habit of asking for sex like this. That you just need to scratch your itch.

Fuck it. You can tell him later, when you’re too thoroughly fucked to move.

Hastily paying the driver, you make sure you have your bag and its contents before leaving the car, rushing to Gale’s door. Your ride drives away just as you knock, apparently content that you’re safe; in their defense, your hook up does live in one of the nicer places around here.

You don’t have to wait long before Gale opens the door, clad in a pair of well-fitting chinos, and a purple shirt with half the buttons already undone. He grabs at your waist and pulls you inside, pushing you against his door to close it.

As one of Gale’s hands locks the door behind you, the other collects both of your wrists, pinning them to the door above you. ‘I have to say, modern technology is a real marvel. Just a few words on my phone, and I can have a bad girl at my door in less than an hour. I hope you gave your driver a tip for being so expedient.’ Door locked, his mouth immediately goes for your throat, his beard scratching your sensitive skin as his lips get reacquainted with your body.

You moan freely, not wanting to hold anything back. ‘Forgive me sir, but there’s only one tip on my mind tonight.’ You raise up one of your knees, lightly brushing it over the rather prominent bulge in Gale’s trousers.

Gale snickers, pulling his head back to look you in the eyes as his fingers twitch around your wrist. ‘You’re getting more than just the tip tonight. Unless you’re concerned about it hitting the back of your throat? Or maybe knocking at your cervix? Maybe you fear for your colon, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous tonight.’ His free hand slides under your jumper and heads straight for your bra, groping at the clothed flesh of your breast without the slightest hint of shame over his words.

A gasp escapes your lips as you awkwardly kick off your shoes, not wanting to deal with them later. ‘Throat first, please. Let me show you what my mouth can do for you.’ You lick your lips before chewing at the bottom one, trying to make it look more swollen.

Embolden, Gale leans forward, taking your already abused lip between his teeth and giving it a firm tug. ‘Oh, but what man could resist such an offer? One more thing before we continue though. I notice you keep alternating between sir, and no honourific. Please clarify what you want from me tonight. Do you want Gale, or do you want Sir?’ His question confuses you slightly, especially when he decides to punctuate it with a pinch to your newly-discovered nipple.

It takes you a few seconds to form a coherent question. ‘What’s the difference?’ The wicked look in Gale’s eyes tells you you’re going to regret asking, but you have to know.

Gale pressed his forehead against yours, the tip of his nose caressing your own. ‘You already know what a night with Gale is like. A little teasing perhaps, but your pleasure is assured. Sir on the other hand, well… authority makes monsters of us all in the end. If you’re looking for a night of being used, of having to earn your pleasure, then that’s the option you want.’ Your knees buckle beneath you, your lover’s grip on your wrists the only thing keeping you upright. You should have known Gale has a kinky side after that first night, but this…?

Your head spins as you think of what an evening with Gale in full domineering mode might be like, but since you didn’t come here with that in mind, you opt to dial things back. ‘I’m not sure I could take a full night with Sir, but maybe just for the cocksucking we could…?’ Is your intent clear enough? Surely you don’t need to spell it out?

Slipping his hand out from under your jumper, Gale holds up two fingers, before tapping you on the nose three times. ‘That’s your safe signal, since your mouth will be far too full for a safeword. Any doubts, tap thrice. It can be with your hand or foot. My body or anything else within reach. Even if you can’t quite manage it, I’ll be looking out for an intent. You do that, and we stop what we’re doing, and Gale rushes in to check on you. Good?’ Fuck only having one more night with him. You want this man every night that your schedule allows.

You give him an affirmative nod, rasping your knuckles thrice against the door before you. ‘Understood, sir.’ You practically sing as you wait patiently for the first half of your night to begin.

The change in Gale is immediate. Dropping your wrists, he walks away from you, folding his arms over his chest before finally taking a seat on one of the lower steps of his staircase. You make to move, but think better of it; he’s the one in control right now.

Gale’s eyes drink you in, before he gives you an approving nod. ‘Good girl. You made a wise choice, waiting for me to summon you rather than just moving of your own accord. Now, I want you to hang your bag up, and then you’re going to take off your jumper and skirt, and put them in a neat pile on top of your shoes.’ His request feels odd, but out of fear of disappointing him, you do exactly as he asked, even putting your pile of possessions neatly against the wall.

With his request complete, Gale nods. ‘Now, hang your bra up with your bag, and get on your knees.’ Your fingers tremble with excitement as you release the clasp of your bra, your nipples immediately hardening as they hit the slightly chilly air of the hallway. With that article disposed of as instructed, you sink to your knees, awaiting your next order.

Exhaling sharply, Gale squeezes the outline of his cock through his trousers. ‘Crawl to me. Show me how much you want to taste this.’ Your body moves without you even ordering it to, lust saturating your blood. Each moment causes the soaked crotch of your underwear to rub enticingly between your fold, stimulating you with each inch traveled. Your palms and knees ache against the floor, but you keep going, mouth almost watering as you picture your reward.

Finally you find yourself at Gale’s legs, staring at his crotch hungrily as one of his hands threads its fingers through your hair. ‘So obedient for me. You deserve a treat. Unleash me.’ You don’t need to be told twice, deftly undoing his trousers- despite your almost debilitating arousal- before carefully freeing his cock and balls from his underwear, fighting the urge to lick the small amount of precum that leaks from it as it stands proud in the open.

You can’t help but talk, almost awestruck now that his dick is mere inches from your face. ‘You’re bigger than I remember, sir. I don’t know how much of you I can take.’ Fuck, but you want it all. Breathing isn’t that important in the grand scheme of things, right?

Gale shifts his hips forward, resting his cock on your face. ‘You’ll take what I give you. I want to test your limits so I know where you need to be trained up. Now, I think it’s about time you showed some respect to the instrument of your pleasure.’ You close your eyes before planting your lips against the shaft, inhaling deeply as you start to worship him with your lips. He smells slightly of lavender, with an earthier tone coming through in delightful notes that make you moan into him. You make sure to caress his sack with one hand as your mouth reaches the tip, and your tongue laps up something with a salty tang; he tasted even better than you were hoping.

Satisfied with your praise, Gale gives your hair an appreciative tug. ‘If I knew the kind of reverence you’d give me, I’d have had you on your knees earlier. Now, open your mouth, and lay your tongue flat.’ You take in a few deep breaths before you comply, unsure when you’ll next get the chance; yet despite his warning, Gale pushes into you with a surprising steadiness, watching you for any discomfort.

When you gag, Gale starts to pull away, nodding to himself. ‘I think I can work with that. Just remember; tap thrice if it’s too much. There’s no shame in admitting defeat, not least at the hands of such a formidable foe.’ Hearing him talk about his dick like that almost makes you laugh, but the noise is soon cut off as he thrusts it back into your mouth, stopping just shy of making you gag again.

Both of Gale’s hands grip your head as he pumps his cock in and out of your mouth, barely allowing you to take a breath. You brace yourself by clutching at his legs, your neglected core crying out as it silently begs for the same rough treatment your mouth is currently receiving.

Saliva starts to coat Gale’s shaft as you drool around him, jaw straining with effort as he continues to fuck your mouth without mercy. You realise his hips are hardly moving, your lover making your mouth do all the work as his grip on you becomes almost too painful, yet never quite crossing the line.

For his part, Gale stares at you as you take him, sweat beading on his patch of bare chest as his skin starts to grow flush. ‘Gods, and here I thought your other passage was spectacular, but this? This is something else. You are something else.’ His hips jolt forwards, and you have to fight against your gag reflex as he accidentally goes too deep. ‘Shit, I’m getting close. I want to finish in your mouth, and I want to watch you swallow.’ He tries to slow down, to give you the opportunity to tap him in disapproval, so you start bobbing your head of your own accord, spurring him on with unspoken consent.

The pleasure soon becomes too much for Gale as something warm and tangy fills your mouth, your body reflectively drinking down every drop he gives you. The look of awe in Gale’s eyes makes the ache of your jaw worth it; you know he just had one of the best orgasms of his life.

As Gale pulls out, you grab his cock, pumping it one more time as more cum leaks from the tip. ‘We shouldn’t waste any, sir.’ You tell him as you carefully take the tip back into your mouth, cleaning it off with your mouth.

When you release him, Gale uses his grip on your hair to drag you onto his lap, forcing his tongue into your mouth before you have time to protest. Your own tongue is quick to do that same, and you silently hope your lover won’t be put off too much as he tastes himself on you.

You have to push away for air before Gale can explore further, your lungs starving for air after what he just did. Meanwhile, your lover readjusts his trousers before standing, cradling your ass as he carries you up the stairs.

The moment you hit the upstairs landing, Gale has to set you down, gasping for a few breaths of his own. ‘Sorry. A potent mix of ecstasy and middle age, I fear. A younger me might have carried you all the way to bed.’ Your legs wobble slightly as you make your way to Gale’s bed by yourself, the room looking a lot different than it did last time you were here; he’s clearly been busy since you were last here.

Settling on Gale’s bed, you lean backwards and support yourself on your palms, appreciating the man’s freshly-fucked look as he comes to a halt before you. ‘So, now that Sir is gone, do I get the incredibly generous Gale back?’ You shoot him a playful pout as he strips, not missing the way his eyes immediately dart to the final strip of clothing on your body.

You widen your legs to allow Gale to stand between them, your bare back now resting against his duvet. ‘Oh, he is back with a vengeance I most assure you, but first I wanted to share something with you. Cast your mind back if you will to our first meeting. Do you recall Sonnet One Hundred And Thirty?’ As if you could forget. The embarrassment you’d felt that day has left it permanently scorched into your brain.

So you nod. ‘Of course I do. I had a fantastic seat to a live reading of it.’ Gale adjusts your legs until he can remove your underwear, flinging the offending fabric somewhere across the room.

Gale smiles at you as his fingertips trace your thighs. ‘I think I can do you one better than that. See, I was thinking of you when I chose it for my lecture, and how our relationship is a perfect parallel. Allow me to explain?’ You want to shout out that you didn’t let him fuck your face just to be lectured on Shakespeare, but if he insists…

Taking your silence as agreement, Gale starts his lecture. ‘We’ll work up from the bottom, shall we? Now, as you pointed out, in the sonnet, these are the two lines that are truly reflective of the writer- presumably Shakespeare himself- and his true feelings, yet there are few true feelings between us, save for the all-consuming flames of lust.’ Grabbing your ankles, your lover rests then on his shoulders, your curiosity now thoroughly piqued.

Gale continues. ‘The rest of the sonnet is laced with insults at worst, and backhanded compliments at best. And while your speech on false flattery was excellent, I can apply genuine flattery to you.’ He strokes your legs. ‘‘I grant I never saw a goddess go. mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.’ Yet the way you light up a room with your mere presence does have me questioning your divinity. Not to mention these gorgeous legs of yours. They’re worthy of worship alone.’ He closes his eyes then, tracing your legs wherever his mouth can’t reach, his lips taking a moment to ghost across your skin.

Your eyelids flutter as your lover continues, reluctantly pulling his mouth away from you and setting your legs down on the bed either side of himself. ‘‘I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound.’ Beautiful as your voice is, it’s nothing compared to the sounds you made that night. There’s never been a song quite like it.’ His fingers brush over your clit, and you moan in response, singing for him just like you did before.

Half-kneeling, Gale’s nose brushes along your thigh, finally settling in the crook between your leg and vulva. ‘I’m sure you remember what comes next, and you’re about to berate me for comparing your natural musk to perfume. However, there is no other word for it. The mere scent of it that night was almost enough to drive me to despair. I have had my share of lovers, and of one night stands, but with you… you were truly unique. The thought of spending more nights together- even if it was only ever about sex- made my head spin almost as much as the scent of you did.’ You blush deeply as Gale inhales deeply, so close to the place you need him the most right now.

As Gale moves on, he looks up at you, before resting his mouth in front of your clit so that every word forces air against it. ‘I’ve always loved flowers. I can’t say roses are my favourite, but I can safely say that I have seen many roses, and while I don’t see them in your cheeks persay, I do see some rather beautiful petals that need my attention.’ His head moves downwards before he takes one of your labia into his mouth, careful not to bite or tug at it too hard. You grip the bed as he does so, not expecting him to focus on them, of all things.

One of Gale’s thumbs circles around your clit as he decides to abandon his lecture in favour of tracing his tongue over your dripping cunt, his breath hitching before he dives in earnestly, little moans of appreciation sending vibrations shooting up into you.

It’s your turn to grab Gale’s hair as he almost devours you, losing himself in the taste and scent of you just as surely as he lost himself in your mouth. You’re worried for a moment that he can’t breathe, and try to push him away, but that only makes him force his face closer to you, unwilling to part with you.

You lose the will to argue against his wishes as pleasure starts to spread like a fire beneath your skin, every nerve alight as Gale’s free hand shoots up, blindly grasping at your body until he finds a nipple. The slightest tweak of it, combined with Gale’s other efforts, has you screaming his name, an entire week of yearning and frustration unshackled at last. You manage to tear a few stands of your lover’s hair out in your haze, so lost in sensation that you forget for a moment the reason you’re in this state; Gale is still fucking you with his tongue, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Your orgasm doesn’t have the chance to fade away before it’s once again worked into a frenzy, the man between your legs finally taking the time to acknowledge your state by shooting you a wink before applying himself again, somehow still breathing despite how firmly he’s buried against you.

The hand not grasping at Gale toys with your other nipple, and you try hard to mimic his skilful movement. You allow your eyes to close as you imagine your hand is his, and that he’s tweaking both of your nipples as his mouth works powerful magic between your legs; a spell to make you orgasm so hard the entire world disappears.

It doesn’t take long for Gale to push you over the edge again, tears prickling in your eyes. You’re not sure if you can take a third orgasm like this; as nice as it is at least having his tongue to finish around, you need more than that.

As your second orgasm subsides, Gale finally pulls away, biting your sensitive thigh hard enough to make you yelp. ‘Where was I? Oh, right. Let’s talk about your breasts.’ In a flash, he’s pushing you further up the bed, finally allowing him to kneel on the mattress.

Gale’s gaze is fixed firmly on your breasts, arousal glistening on his beard. ‘This one needs no explanation. I’ll hear no slander against such perfect breasts.’ His beard is coarse on your skin as he starts to litter open-mouthed kisses over your breasts, occasionally sucking hard enough to leave red welts in his wake.

You’re so enraptured by Gale’s mouth that you whimper when he pulls it away, barely registering the fact that he’s leaning across the bed to fetch something from a nearby nightstand. It’s only when he’s kissing your breasts again- and you feel something firm parting your lower lips and slowly breaching your cunt- that you release he was grabbing a condom.

Thanks to his efforts, Gale sinks himself into you with ease, your lover pulling his head back so he can look you in the eyes. ‘Perhaps there is one shared truth. ‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.’ No sun could ever burn with the same fire I see in you.’ He shoves his face into the crook of your neck as he starts to snap his hips enthusiastically, the mattress protesting with every thrust.

You claw at Gale’s back like an animal as he fucks you, your toes curling and your back arching as his sweat mixes with your own, both of you dripping with effort. Your abused clit protests his every angle, a few overstimulated tears finally falling from your eyes as Gale continues with an unforgiving pace, his earlier fitness issues doing nothing to dampen his desires.

Gale hooks one of your legs around his waist, allowing himself to go deeper until his balls slap against your ass, every delicious inch of him somehow fitting into your body perfectly. It’s too much, too…

The third orgasm hits you without warning, startling Gale as he chokes on your name before finishing himself, the sudden feel of you clenching around him too much for him to handle.

As you try desperately to catch your breath, Gale pushes himself off of you, stumbling onto the floor in his haste with a thump. ‘Shit…’ Despite your body protesting, you sit up, trying not to laugh at the sight; Gale is flat on his ass on his bedroom floor, a freshly-used condom clinging to his half-hard dick as he rubs his lower back in small circles.

You offer him your hand, even if you have little strength left with which to help him with. ‘You alright?’ He takes your hand gratefully, but does most of the work standing himself, using his free hand to push himself upwards.

Now on his feet, Gale slides the condom off, tying it in a knot before tossing it into a nearby bin. ‘I am very far from alright. I feel transcendent… and a little guilty, if I’m allowed to be transparent with you.’ Before you can answer, Gale hobbles off into the bathroom, the sound of running water filling your ears.

Gale returns to you with a glass of water, yet you can still hear the taps pouring in the other room. ‘I’m guessing it’s not about getting to finish twice, since you damn near ruined me in return, so is it safe to assume it’s about our situation instead?’ You take several big gulps of your drink, surprised by your own thirst.

Unsurprisingly, Gale nods sheepishly in response. ‘I’ve been teaching adults my entire career, and not once has this line ever been crossed. I know it wasn’t intentional at first, but after that… Look, I want you. I think I’ve made that abundantly clear. I can’t remember the last time I had sex that satisfying, and judging by your reaction to some of the most basic bedroom etiquette, you’re in a similar situation yourself. If we draw our lines out very clearly, and refuse to let what happens outside the classroom seep into the classroom…’ Is he really suggesting you make this a regular thing? After being so strongly opposed mere days ago?

Even if the change is sudden, you can’t say you’re against it. ‘Look, when I messaged tonight, I was just looking for one more night to get you out of my system, but I think I was just fooling myself. That there was always going to be one more night. I want this. And you’re right, of course. I’ve never had a fuck buddy quite like you…’ One who has- over the course of just two sessions together- made you see stars six times, provided post-coital water both times, and even sponged you down last time. He’s incredible, and if having him means needing to be discreet, you’ll be the sneakiest human alive in order to keep him.

Gale nods, a broad grin on his face. ‘Glad we have been able to reach an accord. Now, if it’s at all to your liking, I am running us a bath to share. I appreciate that I got rather carried away more than once tonight, and I doubt a damp cloth will make up for that. I will of course be providing complimentary backrubs, and I’ll even give you a choice of presumably-oversized pyjamas for the night. Oh, and remind me tomorrow to reimburse you for your ride. I don’t expect you to foot the bill every time Little Gale is desperate for attention.’ Said ‘Little Gale’ is now finally hanging limp before his master’s legs, looking as exhausted as you feel.

You chuckle. ‘Are you sure your friend won’t get ideas if we’re having a bath together?’ You wouldn’t be surprised. Even as overstimulated as you are, the thought of being all lathered up with soap by Gale us setting your imagination alight.

Your lover scoffs. ‘I’m lucky he managed twice, to be honest. But there was no way I was missing out on enjoying your body again. You’re too hard for me to resist, apparently.’ That’s something you and he must have in common, then; you’re both irresistible to the other.

Well, if that’s the case, then why bother fighting it? It’ll probably fizzle out before too long, but for a while at least, you’ll have an incredibly sexually talented man to explore, and be explored by; what’s to hate about that deal?

There’s just one more question you need answered. ‘By the way, what’s with the whole ‘sir’ thing?’ It’s like he really was a different person for a while, but you can’t deny that you enjoyed it…

Gale’s cheeks are kissed pink with embarrassment. ‘Ah. That. I’ll explain another time. For now, the bath is singing her siren call. We can’t leave her waiting, can we?’ Yet another secret he’s keeping from you, but you’ll let it slide. You’re too tired to argue, and right now, a bath sounds like the best idea you’ve ever heard, especially since he’ll be in it with you.

If things are going to keep on like this, then your final year of study is going to be incredible.

Chapter Text

It’s now over a month since you knowingly entered into an affair with your professor, and to say that your situation is better now than it has been since you started higher education. No longer are you forced to scour dating apps or bars looking for mediocre sex every time your sexual frustrations distract from your studies; now, all you have to do is text Gale to receive guaranteed orgasms.

If anything, knowing you have that as an option has made your libido even worse. Now, the thought of going more than a few days without his dick inside you is almost enough to bring you to tears. In the past, when you’d heard people talk about craving another’s touch, you’d laughed, unable to see how such a thing could even be possible. Now, it’s your reality, one you are unwilling to change unless circumstances demand it.

For his part, Gale seems far more composed about the situation than you are. He never seeks you out, always waiting for you to instigate things before dialing the situation up to eleven. You’ve had to change his name in your contact details to ensure they can’t be traced back to him, because if anyone saw the filth he sends you, you’re certain he’d be fired on the spot.

Now, as your final Friday lecture comes to an end, you can feel heat pooling between your legs, your body already deciding that it wants to be fucked senseless this weekend, preferably tonight. In fact, in an ideal world, you’d love to spend the next few days and nights at Gale’s mercy, letting him use your body however he sees fit. Fuck, but the way he’d have you limping into his lecture on Monday…

Your lustful musings are cut short by the very man they’re about; Professor Dekarios is addressing the entire class, a book in his hand. ‘Remember, classic literature is considered quintessential reading for a reason. Stories like Twilight are barely fit to be considered toilet paper, nevermind timeless. Honestly, I expected better. Since I set this assignment at the start of the week, it was my hope that it would be finished by now. To think that a little under half of you can’t think of one single piece of genuine literature to analyze for your first assessment of the year is disheartening. Either come to class with a sensible option on Monday, or I’ll assign books for you. The choice is you.’ He glares at the class, but you know his ire is not aimed at you; like a true teacher’s pet, you’ve already picked something up to his standards.

The final bell of the day sounds, and everyone rushes out, keen to leave as soon as physically possible. Everyone that is except you, as you pack your things deliberately slowly, just waiting for Gale to wander over.

Sure enough, a familiar shadow looks over you just as you put the last of your belongings into your bag. ‘If you continue to dwell in my lectures like this, you’ll set tongues wagging. The rest of the class will assume you’re pleasuring me under the desk to maintain your impeccable grades.’ Your jaw aches at the mere thought of such a thing, remembering the discovery of his ‘sir’ persona, and the way he’d abused your poor mouth that night.

You haven’t summoned that side of him since, but you’re wondering if he’d be up for it again soon; there’s at least one other part of your anatomy begging for his ruthless treatment.

Smirking at Gale, you stand. ‘I don’t need to suck your cock to succeed. I do it because you’re delicious.’ You have to fight the urge to cup him through his trousers, hyperaware that the door is half open and unlocked.

Gale takes a small step back, enough to allow you to pass, but not enough that your body doesn’t have to rub past his in order to do so. ‘I’ve been told that my cooking is also delicious. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.’ Bingo. There’s the magic words your cunt has been longing to hear all day. Getting to go over for sex is one thing, but being offered food first? Damned if this man isn’t the perfect fuckbuddy.

Trying not to seem too keen, you saunter past him, deliberately allowing your ass to press against his crotch. ‘I should really be studying this weekend. Homer’s Odyssey is so long and hard, after all…’ You won’t forget the way Gale’s eyes lit up when you told him of your chosen book for study, the man immediately commending your impeccable taste.

Keenly aware of your game, Gale thrusts his hips forward, almost knocking you off-balance before you’re finally free of the narrow passageway his body created. ‘In that case, why don’t I make you a deal? Come over tonight, and if you like what I have to say, I’ll help you study in such a way that it will forever burn The Odyssey into your brain.’ If it’s anything like how he helped you stuff that sonnet a month ago, you want it, but if he dares to compare you to the cyclops or something…

Yet as you remember exactly which area of the story you need tutoring on, you sigh. ‘That sounds perfect, but I actually don’t think I need to study that much, anyway. The themes and tone are all pretty clear to me. The only thing I’m really struggling with are names, and I’d rather you didn’t spend all evening muttering other people’s names into my skin, even if they are fictional.’ Neither of you have openly discussed the idea of seeing other people during your sexual entanglement, but Gale has made it clear in no uncertain terms that you are enough fun for him, and you know you’re unlikely to find anyone better than him anytime soon, so why even bother looking?

Gale hums. ‘Very well. I think I can cater to that. Dinner is at eight sharp. Show up late, and I’ll be dishing out punishment after the meal is concluded.’ Now that he’s said that, you almost want to be late, just to see what kind of punishment he’d give you for such a transgression! Then again, that punishment could involve denying you sex, and who are you to risk such a thing

So you nod, before shooting him a playful wink. ‘I’ll make sure I’m there on time. Is there a special dress code I should follow?’ You have a few dresses that could be considered fancy enough for a formal dinner, so at least if that’s the theme, you have it more than covered.

After a few minutes of thinking, Gale has an answer for you. ‘Underwear optional. Whatever you choose is unlikely to make it past dinner, away. Just be prepared for a long evening, because if things go the way that I’m hoping, you won’t be getting a tremendous amount of sleep.’ Knowing your lover as you do, you recognise a promise when you hear it; you get the feeling you’ll be passing out in his bed, rather than sleeping in it.

You smirk again. ‘Sounds like my kind of evening. I’ll see you at eight, Professor.’ You sing that last part, playfully poking at the barrier the two of you agreed to erect. Before Gale can protest, you’re gone from his sight, joining the throng of other students all scrambling to get home, exhausted from another week of study.

On the way back home, you can think only of Gale, and what he might have in store for you. Realistically, you can think of only two things; either he wants to unleash his other persona for a longer play session, or he has another kinky secret that he’s yet to reveal. But then, what does that have to do with study?

A thought comes to your mind, and you find yourself looking around, paranoid that someone nearby might somehow be able to read your thoughts. You can picture Gale’s ‘sir’ persona pulling at your hair and asking you trivia questions as he thrusts himself inside you, fast and unprotected. If you can’t answer a set number of questions before he’s satisfied, he’ll finish inside…

You have to stifle the moan that tries to force its way out of you, equal parts aroused and horrified by your vision. If you were to make a list of all the things that could ruin your life at this moment in time, a baby would probably be number one. Studying at this level of education is hard enough without having pregnancy hormones rushing through your body at all hours of the day! Sure, plenty of women manage it, but you’re pretty sure you’d struggle to the point of wanting to drop out. At least with a steady career Gale could probably make reasonable support payments, but the moment word got out he was paying such a thing to one of his former students, his career would be ruined!

On the flip side, if you remove the risk of pregnancy from the equation, the idea of him spilling inside you is undeniably hot as hell. You’ve never really noticed how much he pumps out when he finishes, with him always dutifully disposing of the condom before you get the chance to really analyse it. Yet when he fucked your mouth to completion and ordered you to swallow, it felt like a lot. He even had a dribble left over, much to your delight. It’s so easy to imagine taking his cock in all its raw glory, feeling a new kind of heat inside your body as he pumps you until he’s utterly spent.

Maybe now would be a good time to look into birth control pills, rather than condoms. Sure, it can be more expensive, but you could always ask Gale to split the cost, assuming he also wants to make a change. If not, then your kinky little fantasy can stay just that; a fantasy. You’ll not take life-altering risks just for the sake of your horny thoughts.

Then again, isn’t that exactly what fucking your professor is in the first place? There will be life-altering consequences for the two of you, if you’re caught…

No. You’re not letting yourself go there, because you’re not going to get caught. Neither of you is stupid enough to let that happen. You’re taking enough reasonable precautions to avoid that. You’ve even cursed his very name to a few of your peers just to throw them off the scent. Everyone assumes that you’re sucking up to him, rather than straight up sucking him.

The latter might be on the agenda tonight though. If it is, you’ll have to pay closer attention to how much that man deposits in your mou-

Your horny thoughts are interrupted by the sight of your own front door. By sheer luck, you’ve managed to navigate your way here, not a moment waylaid by your thoughts. Now you just have to find something sexy to wear, and order a ride that’ll get you to Gale comfortably before eight.

Tonight is going to be spectacular.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Once again, your plans are in tatters. Not only was your ride delayed, but the usually short journey to his house was beset by traffic jams; by the time you finally arrive at Gale’s door, you’re a full ten minutes late.

You fuss with your little black dress as you knock on his door, concern now at the forefront of your mind. Will he really punish you for being late if it was outside of your control? You booked everything perfectly, it’s hardly your fault it all went to hell. Maybe if you tell him you took his suggestion to heart- and decided to forgo both your bra and underwear- he’ll be more lenient with you?

A voice in the back of your head tells you that it’s a very faint hope.

After what feels like an eternity standing out in the cool evening air, Gale finally opens his door, revealing himself to you in all his chino-wearing, half-buttoned glory; does this man have any other clothes? ‘You’re late. Was it intentional?’ He steps aside and allows you to enter, not expecting you to stand out in the cold any longer than necessary. Noticing your lover is barefoot, you take the time to slip off your own shoes, pondering his question further.

Yet in the end, all you can do is answer honestly. ‘It was an honest mistake. My ride was late, then I got stuck in traffic. I’m really sorry. Please tell me dinner didn’t get cold…’ You hope that Gale at least had decided to eat his food hot in your absence, or else you’ll feel truly awful about it.

Gale waves off your concerns. ‘Fear not! Our moussaka is still being delicately caressed on a low heat by my oven. Perish the thought of serving my guests something cold.’ He gestures for you to head into his dining room. As you enter, you notice two place settings opposite each other, a bottle of wine between them. Your lover pulls out a chair for you and waits for you to sit before tucking you in, and your cheeks flush slightly; this is quite the welcome

With you settled, Gale grabs the wine, popping open the cork with ease. ‘Would the lady care for a glass of wine with her dinner tonight? I assure you, it’ll pair exceptionally well. Or, if you’d rather not partake, there is a non-alcoholic beverage available. You'll just have to excuse my own imbibing of the real thing.’ You tell Gale your choice, and he happily fills your glass, making sure it’s full before filling his own with the wine.

As Gale heads off to fetch the food, you take a sip of your drink, anxiously awaiting his return. He doesn’t seem too annoyed that you’re late, though that could easily be a front so he can spring a punishment on you later when you least expect it. Then again, he did ask earlier if you were late on purpose… maybe his comment was a test of sorts? He wants to know if chastising is something you desire, and if that’s the case, you wish you’d lied; you’d love to see what being disciplined by him entails.

There’s a warmth radiating behind you as Gale brings in your dinner, setting the piping hot dish onto the table before shirking off his oven mitts. You inhale deeply, allowing the scent of his cooking to fill your lungs; it’s almost enough to make your mouth water! If it tastes as good as it smells, then sex with your lover might be relegated to the second best part of the evening.

Gale takes your plate from you as you lick your lips, watching him dish you out a reasonable portion. ‘This smells divine, Gale. I can’t wait to taste it!’ He hands you your plate, and you have to fight the urge to immediately dig into it, wanting your lover to have a full plate of his own before you partake.

Cutting and plating his own piece, Gale beams with pride. ‘A high compliment indeed, but I can’t take all the credit. This is my mother’s recipe, and my life wouldn’t be worth living if I neglected to mention it. I wasn’t sure she would part with it so easily, but when I mentioned I had company for the eve, well, what mother would see his son slip into the cold embrace of loneliness over a few sliced aubergines?’ When he puts it like that, it makes you wonder just how lonely he really is, and if your visits really do make a difference to that…

Not wanting to dwell on sentiment, you take a bite out of your moussaka, a moan slipping out as you chew and swallow. ‘Holy shit, this is orgasmic, Gale!’ You can’t help but start shoveling it into your mouth, only really pausing to breathe or to drink. Several years as a broke student has taught you to appreciate good food when you have the chance to eat it, but this is something else.

Gale takes a moment to chuckle at your enthusiasm before taking a few bites of his own, albeit with less gusto. ‘I’ll admit, this is rather delicious, but I’d hardly call it orgasmic. I’d be inclined to reserve such an adjective for dessert.’ You almost choke on your mouthful as your lover easily finishes his, mischief in his eyes after making you struggle.

However, the mention of dessert does remind you of why you’re here. ‘Earlier, you told me there was something you wanted to talk about. I think now is as good a time as any, right?’ With your dinner and drink half-gone, you’re certainly feeling more up to conversation.

To your great anxiety, Gale doesn’t answer straight away, continuing to enjoy his meal as if you never made a suggestion. That’s odd. Is he ignoring you, or simply taking a moment to collect his thoughts before explaining himself? Or maybe he never heard you at all? Should you repeat yourself?

Before you get the chance, Gale speaks. ‘Very well. So, I think it’s safe to say that after a month of this, we understand each other. Or rather, we both know what the other needs, and how best to use our bodies to ensure that it happens.’ That’s a weird way to phrase the insane chemistry between you, and Gale’s equally insane bedroom talents.

Nethertheless, you nod. ‘We have mind blowing sex. You make me cum until I can’t feel my legs. Is there something about that arrangement that you aren’t happy with?’ Maybe he wants something more real. More than just sex. If that’s the case, then this might well be the end of this; as much as you’re willing to admit a fondness for him, you’re still not ready to officially commit.

Gale looks slightly alarmed by your words. ‘No! No, not at all! There is plenty in our arrangement to keep me more than satisfied. However, I will admit that I feel… guilty. At the end of the day, I am just a man. There’s a limit on what I can do to you with my body alone. However, if you were open to introducing a few new elements, I could do more than merely satisfy you. I could break you down, and rebuild you anew countless times over. What do you say?’ You almost choke on the last of your moussaka, his proposal knocking the air right from your lungs. Fuck, and just when you thought you couldn’t want this man anymore, he drops something like this on you?!

It does, however, explain one thing that’s been playing on the back of your mind. ‘The first night I came here, there was a box in your room. ‘Bedroom essentials’, I think it said. Was that full of…?’ You can’t say the word, as much as you want to. It seems like a stupid time to falter, since if you’re right, the contents of that box might end up becoming very familiar…

Unsurprisingly, Gale nods. ‘It’s exactly what you’re thinking, but you might be interested to know that I’ve had something of a clear out as of late. While I’ve kept- and heavily disinfected, I hasten to add- my favourites, I’ve purchased a few things just for you. It doesn’t feel right to have a new woman in my bed without some toys of her own.’ While there is only a small amount of food on your plate, you know you’re not finishing it now; why waste time on that when you could be riding the man before you with wild abandon?!

You’re so taken aback you down the rest of your drink right then and there, steeling your nerves. ‘Well then, since you’ve put in so much effort, who am I to deny you the chance to try them out?’ You catch sight of his chest in the artificial light, the tattoo that seems to blend in with the rest of his body now capturing your full attention. ‘Is that what your tattoo is about? Are you part of a secret BDSM cult or something?’ Gale flinches, and you realise you’ve fucked up, thought hopefully it’s not too bad.

Gale plays it off, downing his own wine. ‘A question for another time. Right now, I want you to bend over the table and stick out your pretty posterior for me, so I can correct your tardiness.’ It’s a little frustrating to have your questions constantly brushed off, but it’s not as if he owes you any answers; you however owe him penance for being late to dinner.

So, without argument, you stand, moving a nearby chair so you can bend over more easily. ‘Like this, sir?’ You wiggle your ass at Gale, the fabric of your dress shifting freely with no underwear to rub against. You know you’ve just invited a greater punishment by invoking his other persona, but what a better way to start the night than to let his more domineering side take control?

Seeing your intention, Gale stands, his once warm smile replaced by one that is colder, yet full of promises. ‘Willingness to accept your punishment is a good start, but don’t think it will earn you any mercy. Now, since you were ten minutes late, I think ten hits will do it. Make sure to count them out for me.’ Fuck. You should have guessed this is about to turn into a spanking; you hope he can’t tell how turned on that makes you.

As Gale slides your dress up, you lift your hips a little, trying to make his task easier. ‘If sir’s hits are too much, can I still do my three taps?’ You doubt your partner would ever revoke your safe signal like that, but you’d rather check before you get yourself into an inescapable situation.

Your ass now bare, Gale’s warm hands grope your cheeks, admiring the way your flesh yields for him. ‘That goes without saying. Though speaking of, I think you need a safeword, too. Anything come to mind?’ Well, considering your mutual love of reading, and remembering that night a month ago where you first broke down and started this, there is one phrase that comes to mind.

You feel almost smug as you say it. ‘Iambic, sir. That’s my safeword.’ You feel Gale’s fingers twitch against your skin, pride rushing through you at the thought you’ve managed to affect him so much with two small words.

To your disappointment, Gale moves his hands away, only to bring one down onto your left cheek. You cry out the number one, barely catching your breath before a second hit lands on your right cheek, and you’re forced to cry out a second number.

Your cheeks sting as Gale’s pauses, admiring his work thus far. ‘So rosey after only one hit each. How easily your skin marks, like the most delicate of fruits. It makes me wonder if you’ll be able to take all that I have planned for you this evening…’ His soft-spoken doubts don’t stop him from hitting each of your cheeks again, harder this time, as you dutifully count them out.

Gale hits each cheek a third time, your punishment half-done as it becomes harder to focus on counting them out. ‘Actually, that’s a lie. I know you’re going to take it all, because you’re my good girl. All you want is pleasure, and I know how to bestow it upon you with unrivaled generosity.’ Two more hits, two more numbers. You can feel the skin of your ass really stinging now, and your cunt clenches at the thought that there might be a perfect outline of your lover’s hand on each of your cheeks, undeniable proof that he’s the one that smacked them raw.

The final two hits are so hard the noise bounces around the room, and you almost tear off the tablecloth as you try to brace yourself for them, something that makes Gale chuckle. ‘You truly excel in accepting punishments. This most definitely bodes well for the rest of the evening. Now, I’m going to put away the leftover moussaka, and you’re going to take your beautiful self up to my bedroom.’ Before you can stand, your lover bends over, blessing each of your cheeks with a small kiss by means of apology.

When he finally lets you stand, you give Gale an enthusiast kiss on his lips, tasting the last traces of his wine. ‘Don’t keep me waiting too long, or I’ll show you what a bad girl I can be if left unattended.’ You bite his bottom lip, appreciating how plump it feels between your teeth.

Rather than deepening the kiss, Gale pulls away, but not before giving your breasts a cheeky grope. ‘If I’m longer than five minutes, you have the right to punish me instead.’ You don’t even know when you’d begin trying to discipline a man with so much more experience at that than you, but you know you won’t get the chance; there’s no way he’s going to be any longer than he needs to be.

Excited, you all but sprint from the dining room, heading through the now semi-familiar halls of Gale’s house and straight up the stairs.

The moment you arrive in the bedroom, you can’t help but take a few moments to look around, trying to find his box of tricks to give yourself some forewarning as to what he might have in store for you. He seemed to hint at more punishments, but you’re not sure what you’d have to do to earn them. Maybe being left alone like this is a test, to see if you’ll wait patiently, or try to ruin the surprise; if that’s the case, then you are most certainly in for it when Gale catches up to you.

One thing you do take note of is Gale’s phone, resting on one of his nightstands. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you tap the screen, wanting to see his background image. You smile to yourself as you’re greeted to the sight of a cartoon cat, its paws posed as if it’s pressing against the glass, trying to escape the phone. That does seem fitting for Gale.

Alas, you can’t find a thing, so you give up, carefully laying down on the bed. Despite the spanking, Gale’s bed is at least comfortable enough that your ass doesn’t sting too much, or at least no more than it did when you were standing. As soft as it is, you easily find yourself slipping into daydream, a wholesome thought coming to mind for once. You and Gale laying here together, reading a book or discussing your favourite poems. He did promise earlier that he’d help you study a bit if you came over, so maybe that’ll be part of tonight’s aftercare? He’ll scoop you into your arms and talk about The Odyssey with you, until you inevitably pass out from sheer exhaustion…

It seems as if no time at all has passed before Gale enters the room, a large cardboard box in his arms. ‘Here we are. All the tools I’ll need to make tonight truly unforgettable. I thought you and I could conduct a very private study session tonight. A game, of sorts.’ You sit up on the bed so fast you start feeling dizzy, only to be greeted by the sight of Gale removing his shirt, his totally bare chest a feast for your eyes as always.

You rub your legs together in what you hope is a seductive manner. ‘I was assuming we’d study after you’d fucked me silly, but if you’d rather do both at the same time, who am I to argue, sir?’ Your earlier fantasy comes flooding back into your mind, and you wonder if it may have been more of a premonition than you’d first assumed.

Gale chuckles. ‘I don’t think you want to call me sir right now. The punishments I have in mind are harsh enough as it is.

‘Now, I have assigned one item to each question, but if there is a punishment you’re uncomfortable receiving, we can swap it out for another. You’re too bright to get all the questions wrong, so I’m sure there will be plenty of leftovers to choose from. Since you were struggling with names in The Odyssey, that’s what the theme is. And, as always, you can back out at any time. This is only ever supposed to be about pleasure.’ You wish you knew exactly what you were in for, but if the past month has taught you anything, it’s that you can trust your lover not to push you too far, or do anything that makes you uncomfortable.

So, you nod, conscious of how wet you’re starting to feel between your legs. ‘I’m far too curious as to what you have in that box to back out now. You told me earlier you could break me down and build me up with the right tools. Prove it.’ You don’t know why you’re trying to provoke Gale right now; he needs no further incentive than your consent.

With said consent freely given, Gale takes a few supplies out of the box, your heart skipping a beat as you examine each one; handcuffs, body tape, and a bottle of lube. ‘Some of your punishments will require accessories. As for the handcuffs, I want to cuff you before we begin, just to make sure you can’t interfere with the consequences of your own lacking knowledge. May I?’ He puts the tape and lube on the bedside table next to his phone before walking over to you with the cuffs, dangling them from one of his fingers.

They make you a little nervous, but you trust Gale enough to stand up, and push your dress onto the floor. ‘I trust you. You can restrain me if you wish.’ Your lover smiles comfortingly before burying his face into your neck, distracting you with soft kisses as he gathers your wrists behind your back, snapping the handcuffs into place with a firm click.

Gale tugs softly at your restraints, making sure they’re not too tight. ‘Is this okay?’ The metal of the cuffs feels cold against your wrist, but they’re not uncomfortable. They might bite into your skin if you squirm too much, but for now, they should be perfect.

You hum. ‘This is perfect. Just promise you’ll go easy on your favourite student.’ You settle back down on the bed, spreading your legs wide to grant Gale a clear view of the state you’re already in thanks to him.

Your lover can’t help but run a finger between your lower lips, examining you properly. ‘I make no promises when the mere thought of this has you threatening to ruin my bedsheets. Oh, but since you seem to be getting off on the idea of being punished, it goes without saying that if you deliberately give me a wrong answer, there will be consequences.’ He slips two fingers into you, and you moan for him, clenching around him as he pulls them out as if your body is silently pleading with him to stay.

Alas, Gale walks away, heading back to his box of tricks and pulling out a few notecards. ‘Since you’re ready, let’s start off with the first question. Which character serves as the primary focus of the story?’ Well, at least he’s starting you off easy.

So easy, in fact, that it almost feels like a trap, but you answer confidently. ‘Odysseus.’ Gods, if you’ve gotten that wrong, there really is no hope for you.

Thankfully, Gale nods, swapping cards. ‘Correct. And his father’s name?’ Shit. You’re not sure you can remember that one. You’re sure he says it a lot…

Wait, you know this! ‘Telemachus?’ Is that right? You know you’ve read that name a lot recently.

The wicked smile on Gale’s face tells you that you’ve messed up. ‘Incorrect. His father is Laertes. Since this was one of the easier questions, it earns you a harsher punishment. One of the toys I picked out just for you.’ Your heart beats faster as he pulls out two items, recognition sparking from within you; a vibrator, and a remote control. You have to keep from moaning.

Taking note of your reaction, Gale heads over to the table, grabbing the body tape. ‘Usually this one would slip inside you, but since you made such a basic mistake, I’m going to tape it to your clit instead. Let you experience what it feels like to climax without something inside you.’ He places the vibrator at the apex of your thighs, knocking your knee against his until you wordlessly spread your legs even wider.

When he’s happy with the position, Gale tapes the vibrator to you before walking away, twirling the remote in his hand. ‘I made sure to put batteries in both before you arrived, so let’s see if this works…’ He pushes a button on this remote and the effect is immediate, the toy buzzing to life between your legs. You clench your legs together in response, only for the toy to start moving faster, your partner turning up the settings until you whimper for you.

Helpless, you writhe on the bed, almost missing Gale’s next instruction. ‘Bad girl. Sit at the edge of the bed and keep those legs spread for me. Maybe then I’ll turn it down.’ Shit, but if he keeps going like this with you squirming your legs, you might just finish…

No, you need to behave. There’s no way he’d allow you to climax if you don’t do things his way.

So, with great effort, you make your way back to your original position, your body now covered by a thin sheen of sweat. ‘I’m sorry. It just feels so good.’ You whine as the vibrations start to fade, settling onto their initial intensity.

Gale smirks. ‘Oh, I know. Just try to stay focused, and tell me the name of Odysseus’ son.’ For a moment, you’d forgotten this was supposed to be about studying, and the question takes you aback. What is his son’s name?

You try your previous answer again, convinced that you mistook grandfather for grandson. ‘That has to be Telemachus.’ At this point, if you’re wrong again, you’re just going to have to use this answer for every question, because you’re certain someone in The Odyssey has that name!

To your relief, Gale nods. ‘Excellent. One last question regarding Odysseus. What is his wife’s name?’ Okay, this one you do know. She’s his whole reason for getting home, after all.

Just as you’re about to answer, the vibrations between your legs intensify, driving you to distraction. ‘Gale!’ You cry out, fighting to keep your legs open against the relentless movements between your legs.

The moment you say the wrong name, the vibration calms down, and Gale reaches back into the box. ‘It’s Penelope, actually. I hope that slip up wasn’t on purpose.’ He’s teasing you! He’s not taking this seriously at all! You would be mad at him, if you weren’t already dripping from his treatment so far; you’ll let his game continue for now.

Gale walks over to you with a metal bar, two shackles at either end. ‘This should stop you trying to misbehave.’ He attaches the spreader bar to your legs and you experimentally try to push them together, a thrill rushing through you as your efforts prove futile.

With you now cuffed, spread open, and vibrating, your body has never felt more vulnerable. You are totally at Gale’s mercy now, the only safety net being his promise to honour your safe word and signal. You aren’t sure you’ve ever put this much faith into any partner before- especially after such a brief amount of time knowing each other- and the idea makes you shudder in both fear and excitement.

Your trepidation does not go unnoticed. ‘Have I taken things too far already? I can remove one of your restraints if that would settle you. I appreciate how difficult it is to allow yourself to be so vulnerable, but I swear on my life, you can trust me not to harm you.’ He says it with such sincerely that your anxiety starts to melt away, the tension in your body lessening. The fact that he even noticed you were struggling and was willing to relent without even being asked to is enough to put you at ease, and allow you to relax- at least, as much as the situation permits you to do so.

Confident, you shake your head. ‘I want to continue this. Just promise me I get to take your cock later for being such a good girl.’ It’s a pity Gale has yet to fully undress, before you can only imagine how his cock must be looking right now; rock hard and desperate to sink into you.

Gale looks like he’s fighting the urge to pounce, but he somehow keeps his composure. ‘You are four questions down, with half of them correct. I want a score of at least five if you want me between your legs. Any less, and you can get on your knees and apologise for wasting me time. Tell me the name of Odysseus’ kingdom.’ You feel the vibrations increasing again, but you’re not going to succumb this time, as much as you want to; you’re going to win this game of his.

Trying in vain to put your legs together and relieve some pressure, you blurt out your answer. ‘Ithaca.’ You expect the vibrations to go down again, but they don’t, this intensity apparently your new normal.

Your partner seems proud that you didn’t succumb to his tricks a second time. ‘Good girl. You’re doing well. Remind me, who turned Odysseus’ men into pigs? No clever remarks about how men are already pigs mind, or you and I may have to cut this short.’ You’d laugh at his remark if you weren’t now on the cusp of climax, the vibrations against your clit working you into a frenzy.

You sigh, falling back onto the bed and enjoying the feeling between your legs. ‘Circe.’ The name sounds a little too much like a prayer on your lips, but you don’t care, not when you’re about to be pushed over the edge.

Before you reach the end, the vibrations come to a halt.

Your immediate reaction is to cry out in frustration before you sit up, Gale giving you a quirked brow in return. ‘I don’t think you’ve quite earned that yet, do you? Maybe if you hadn’t failed such easy questions I’d be a little more generous, but as it is, you’ll have to work harder for your pleasure.’ The smugness on his face is unmistakable, and you’d gladly walk over there and wipe it off, if you weren’t in such a precarious situation.

Instead, you whine, mourning the loss of sensation as your orgasm fizzles to nothing. ‘Not fair…’ You cry out before the vibrations begin anew, poking at the embers of your failed climax.

Gale shrugs. ‘If you think this is tough, I’d advise you to answer the next question correctly. Give me the name of the Goddess who supports Odysseus and Telemachus at every chance available to her.’ This should be an easy one, and you know the punishment for this one will be harsh because of that, but a wicked thought crosses your mind. Currently, you’ve gotten four right out of six, which means if you wanted to, you could allow things to… escalate. Sure, he said the punishments would get worse if you deliberately gave him a wrong answer, but if you make it seem like an honest mistake, there’s no way he’ll know!

With a devious plan in mind, you think of a goddess that has a similar enough name to the right answer to make it seem like a simple slip up. ‘Aphrodite?’ Your cunt clenches in anticipation, knowing you’re playing with fire now.

You flinch as Gale turns the vibrator up to its max setting, the shock almost knocking the wind out of you as pleasure takes hold once again. ‘If you were anyone else, I’d be lenient and accept that you were probably mixing up plot elements from The Iliad, but I know you. You’re too smart for that. Alas, if you want to be punished, who am I to deny you? I’ve been looking for an excuse to suck at your nipples all evening, anyway.’ He pulls a small chain from the box, and you almost climax at the mere sight of the nipple clamps in his hands, your breasts suddenly feeling very exposed under his lustful gaze.

You try to hide how close you are- knowing that the right stimulation to your nipples will be enough- but Gale once again sees right through you, halting the vibrations. ‘I should confess to you right now that I am nothing if not attentive in the bedroom. This past month I have spent our every moment together making a note of your every small moment or hitched breath. The way your toes curl, or your eyes grow heavy… I have studied you in detail, and I am nothing if not a fast learner.’ He latches his mouth straight onto one of your swollen buds then, and your arms start to wrestle with the handcuffs, fingers longing to thread themselves through his soft locks and keep him at your breast all night.

With no way of doing that, it doesn’t take long for Gale to pull away, flicking your nipple once to make sure it’s fully erect before attaching one of the clamps. ‘Here we go. That shouldn’t be too tight. Consider yourself lucky I talked you into submitting to my softer side tonight, or you’d really be feeling the pinch tonight.’ You shouldn’t say it. You know you shouldn’t. You’ve already provoked him enough tonight, and you still need to get one of the next three questions correct in order to earn you your reward.

Yet as Gale lovingly prepares and clamps your other nipple, wickedness overtakes you again. ‘Is that a challenge, sir?’ Your lover seems taken aback for a moment before he tightens the clamps, the unexpected pressure making your knees weak.

Instead of backing away now that your nipples are locked down, Gale instead reaches for the body tape again, attaching the clamp chain to the vibrator. ‘No. The real challenge comes later, and I’m not sure even you can take that much punishment on a first attempt.’ He moves away then, flicking the remote as he does. Now that you have to endure multiple places being stimulated at once, you’re not sure if you’re going to last; these finally three questions can’t come soon enough, and neither can you.

Back to his original place, Gale finally moves on to the next question. ‘Earlier we spoke of Circe, but which god aided Odysseus and his attempts to resist her powers?’ This is it. If you get this question right, you’re guaranteed to get fucked after all of this. After all of Gale’s teasing, you know you need his cock to make it worthwhile.

A name springs to mind. ‘Hermes.’ You’re pretty sure he’s a god in his own right, as well as acting as divine messenger.

Gale nods. ‘Correct. That makes five out of eight answered correctly so far. Your throat can rest easy for the night. Since the stakes are now lower, I think we should raise them again. I want you to choose a question to answer, a or b. Get it right, and I’ll stop teasing you, and make you see entire galaxies behind your eyes. Get it wrong, and I’ll punish you in a way that I think is thematically relevant to the answer in question. What do you say?’ Gods, but this is a hard one. On the one hand, his punishments feel incredible, but on the other, if you’re denied orgasm again…

Fuck it. You’re going for it. You can’t wait to see what he’ll do to make things up to you when you get his question right.

With a newfound confidence, you make your choice. ‘Question B, please.’ They’ve all been relatively simple questions so far, so you doubt these last two will be anything that you’re completely unable to answer.

Choice made, Gale smirks yet again. ‘Interesting choice. The question you rejected was ‘Which god acts as a divine adversary to Odysseus?’, the answer of course being Poseidon. For the sake of my soft furnishings, I’m glad you didn’t choose that one. So, ready for the final question? I promise you, you’re going to want to get this right.’ Oh, and you intend to; the buzzing between your legs and on your chest is finally going to push you over.

You nod. ‘Make sure you apologise to my cunt for all your teasing, when I get this question right.’ That part of your anatomy is sensitive enough that a stiff breeze could send you over right now, if it hit you just right.

Holding the final card aloft, Gale reads the final question. ‘What is the name of Poseidon's son, blinded by Odysseus in an attempt to escape?’ Gale once again put the vibrator to its maximum setting, and you stare at him in quiet dread as you realise your mind has drawn a blank; you can’t remember his name!

Falling back onto the bed as your body is once again wracked with fruitless pleasure, you try to think. ‘H-he’s the cyclops, right? He was blinded by Odysseus, and cursed his name, prompting Poisidon’s ire?’ That’s not an answer, but if you’re going to scramble through the last of your thoughts to find a name, you need to know you’re on the right track

The mirth in Gale’s voice almost makes you abandon your attempt completely, resignation to your fate sinking in. ‘Indeed. But what is the name of the cyclops himself?’ Oh gods, you don’t know. Out of all the times to draw a blank, you couldn’t have picked a worse one!

Finally, you’re forced to admit defeat, body shaking as Gale wordlessly denies you orgasm for a fourth time. ‘I can’t remember. I can’t remember his name… fuck…’ He’s lucky that you trust him, or the fact that your punishment relates to the cyclop’s fate would make you succumb to fear; you’re rather fond of your eyes.

Gale tossed the card away in triumph. ‘Polyphemus is the name you were looking for, and it’s one you’re never going to forget. Now, as for your punishment…’ He puts his hand into the box, producing… a blindfold. The relief that rushes through you is almost euphoric.

You try to sit up again, but Gale stops you, instead flipping you over and pulling you until you’re standing, only your chest now pressing against the bed as your nipples sting in protest. ‘As you’ve already correctly stated, Polyphemus was robbed of his sight when his only eye was penetrated by a spear. So, naturally, the first step of your punishment is to remove your sight.’ He affixes the blindfold to you then, cutting off your vision almost completely.

Air rushes in front of your face, as Gale presumably checks to see if you are indeed blinded. ‘Excellent. Now, part two of your punishment should involve penetration, and I have just the thing in mind to help with that.’ He leaves you then, before coming back and placing something in your bound hands. The material is firm, yet there is some yield to it, and it seems to be mostly tapered…

A squeak slips from your lips as it dawns on you that you’re holding a buttplug, and a rather large one at that; suddenly, that lube on the bedside table makes perfect sense.

The thought of trying something like this with Gale makes your heart thump in your chest. Even in your most depraved thoughts, you had no idea he’d want to try something like this with you. If this wasn’t a punishment, there’s just one thing you’d change, but the chances of him agreeing…

Deciding that the worst he can say is no, you make your request. ‘I know this is supposed to be a punishment, but could you please take off my handcuffs? I want to grip the sheets while you… you know…’ You can feel your cheeks blazing as you lose your nerve, unable to describe your situation out loud.

Gale strokes your back with one hand, retrieving the plug with the other. ‘I might be willing to grant you some leniency. You just have to promise me you’ll be a good girl, and let me punish you.’ He taps the tip of the plug against your anus, his meaning clear; he really wants you to take it.

You don’t hesitate to nod. ‘I promise, I’ll behave. Please take off the cuffs, and punish me.’ Your words are enough for Gale, a faint clicking filling the room as the once-cool metal leaves your lightly-chafed wrists

As you stretch your arms forward, the vibrator whirs to life on its highest setting. ‘I’m going to put the remote on the table. Keep focusing on your pleasure while I see to mine.’ That’s all the warning you get before you feel something cool and sticky covers your back passage, preparing it for insertion; this is going to sting.

To your surprise, the plug isn’t nearly as big as it looks, feeling slender as it slips inside you. Taking Gale’s advice, you focus on your own pleasure, body shaking as it knows it will no longer be denied. You grip your lover’s sheets as you softly call his name, letting him know how good you feel.

More lube is applied to you, and you’re about to make a comment before you’re filled again, the intrusion feeling… different. Your eyes widen underneath the blindfold as it occurs to you that it’s not the plug inside you, but Gale’s fingers, your lover taking the time to fuck you open on them rather than trying to shove the plug in straight away.

You mewl for Gale, touched by his consideration. ‘If this is a pun-unishment, why are you being kind?’ It’s the wrong word for this, but with your body once again being dragged towards a climax, words are difficult enough to think, nevermind say.

Gale pinches your ass cheek, still a little sore from his spanking. ‘Because you trust me not to harm you, and I take trust very seriously. Now, relax for me, and don’t hesitate to speak up if it’s too much.’ He keeps fucking you open with his fingers, and you can’t take it anymore, your entire body tensing up as climax finally hits your body, your knees threatening to buckle as you scream your lover’s name.

Said lover gives you a moment to catch your breath before he pulls his fingers out, presumably to prepare the plug. Your body squirms on the bed as a second climax begins to build inside you, your erogenous flesh given no reprieve from the intensive buzzing of the vibrator. It’s enough to make you bite at the sheets to keep from screaming again, the pleasure so intense you can feel your mind growing blank.

Something hard pokes at your hole for a moment before pushing in, a curious mixture of pleasure and pain coursing through you. It feels weird, being spread open like this, but knowing who is doing this to you, and why, makes you thump your fist against the bed, curled toes biting into the floor.

The plug stops moving, and Gale smacks your ass hard, almost pushing you over the edge. ‘Breathtaking. I’ve never seen such a sight. I wonder if you’d allow me to take a picture, so that I can show you later?’ If it was anyone else asking, you’d tell them to fuck off, but with Gale…

You start panting as you turn your head, sweat and tears staining the blindfold as your second climax approaches. ‘Only if you fuck me after. I can’t take much… more…’ You finish for a second time, keenly aware of the emptiness in your cunt. It gets even worse as the stimulation continues, your clit starting to hurt under the relentless abuse. Your nipples aren’t doing much better, each accidental tug of the chain only serving to make them grow even more sore. Your body can’t take much more of this.

The pleasure is almost enough to make you pass out as you finally feel Gale sliding past your lower lips, his trousers brushing against your leg cuffs as he fills you. You’ve never felt so full before, both your holes stuffed so full you know you’ll be sore for days yet to come.

All you can do is thank him as he wasted no time, grabbing your hips and snapping his hips against yours. When you climax a third time, it feels so intense with him inside you that you swear you lose consciousness for a moment, mind a complete blank slate for his dick to reinscribe as it chooses.

Gale grunts from behind you. ‘You’re marvelous. Incredible. You’re…’ You keep repeating your thanks as your lover showers you with praise, in awe of how well you’re taking his punishment. A fourth climax builds inside you, and you find your safeword is already preparing to slip past your lips, ready to end this if it all gets to be too much.

Before you get the chance, Gale bites down against your shoulder blade, transforming your words into incoherent moans. You lose all control of your body as your hips awkwardly push back, urging him to go harder and deeper. Your mind goes back to your earlier fantasy as you picture him not wearing a condom at all, getting ready to spill himself inside you so fucking deep…

Your fourth climax is too much for Gale, who screams out in triumph as he finishes. He allows himself a few moments to fuck his way through his pleasure before he’s pulling out of you, the now painful vibrations coming to a quick halt.

You barely have time to catch your breath before Gale is flipping you over, taking your clamps off one at a time. He takes a moment to gently massage them as he does, inspecting them for damage. Only when he’s content that you’re in one piece does he remove your blindfold, his naked body a welcome sight even in the intruding light.

Gale leans down and kisses your forehead. ‘I hope that wasn’t too much for you. I should have held back more for our first time playing like this, but I couldn’t help myself…’ If you weren’t so exhausted, you’d heavily berate him for his words of doubt, knowing they have no place here; he doesn’t need to apologise after giving you the best fuck of your entire existence.

Instead, you use your energy to focus on the immediate issue. ‘Can you… the plug… out?’ Realising his mistake, Gale carefully extracts the plug from your body, taking it off into the bathroom with his trousers still at his ankles and a condom half-stuck to his cock. You hear the familiar sound of hands being washed before the taps of the bath spring to life, your partner settling into his usual aftercare routine: a nice, warm soak.

True to form, Gale also returns with water, his trousers and condom now missing. ‘You really need to hydrate tonight. Still, I’m immensely proud of you. Your body is such a wonder, it’s a real privilege that I get to be the one that enjoys it. Know that if there’s ever anything I can do- excluding changing your grades- you have but to ask.’ You’d never ask him to do that, and he knows it; he just likes to be overly cautious.

Yet now you have his attention, it’s the perfect time to discuss your earlier thoughts, even if he is on his knees right now removing the spreader bar. ‘There might be something. I was thinking about going on the pill moving forwards, and I was wondering if you’d be willing to split the cost with me.’ The way that Gale’s head pops up from between your legs is almost comical, but the worried look in his eyes in anything but; have you said something to offend him? Is it because you’re asking for money?

You’re about to backtrack before Gale composes himself, taking a seat beside you on the bed. ‘If that’s really what you want, then I’ll be happy to fully cover it, but… I need you to promise me that you’ll be honest with me about if you’ve taken it and when.’ His words have you confused, and despite your aching body, you manage to put your water down before you turn to face him properly.

Registering that this is probably a delicate subject for him, you take your approach carefully. ‘Gale, I promise you that this isn’t me trying to baby trap you. I can’t raise a child right now, and even if I could, I would never do that to you. I can even send you a video of me taking it every day, if that would comfort you?’ It’ll be a bit of a hassle to do so, but with an arrangement like yours, you understand him wanting to be cautious, and you’ll happily meet him halfway.

Gale shakes his head. ‘You don’t need to go that far. I’m happy to take you at your word, just as you were happy to trust me with your body. I don’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable about this. It’s just… I won’t burden you with the details, but my last relationship was far from harmonious, and children are something of a sore spot for me. But I swear, it won’t affect us in the slightest. This is just a good time, after all. No need to get sentimental.’ Hearing him say that, the words cut into you deeper than you ever thought they would. Sure, this is about sex, but that doesn’t mean he can’t open up to you.

You reach a hand out to Gale, unsurprised when he doesn’t take it. ‘Sex or not, you can still talk to me. Understanding each other can only make things better, right? Like how you can apparently read my body like an open book just because you’ve made me scream a few times.’ A skill that to you is both impressive and terrifying, but also incredibly useful.

Reassured, Gale takes your hand. ‘And you can apparently read my needs. I’ve never been that fond of condoms, if I’m honest. I understand the necessity, and I never let the thought of wearing one discourage me, but there is something special about diving in raw, so to speak. Of course, we’ll still need to use them for a little while to let the pill work, but after that… I'm going to enjoy finishing inside you.’ Gods, but despite the way your body screams at you, you’d still be willing to climb into this man’s lap and ride him until sunrise…

With the heavier part of your conversion now over, you remember something else. ‘Did you take that picture in the end?’ You have no way of knowing if he even managed to get his phone out, as focused on you as he was…

The flush in Gale’s cheeks is adorable. ‘I did. Would you care to see it?’ He’s already reaching for his phone before you can answer, apparently making the choice for you. Not that you mind; you want to see it, as embarrassing as it might be.

With a few taps, Gale unlocks his phone, turning it to you so you can see the image in question. You’re grateful that you had the sense to put your water down, or you’d be choking right now; you hardly recognise yourself. This is what your lover finds so sexy? Well, if that’s the case, then maybe you’ll let him snap a few more pictures in the future.

You’re about to tell him just that when a message pops up on-screen, your eyes scanning it automatically. It’s an email-something completely normal for any person to receive- but the subject matter makes you feel sick to your stomach; ‘YOU WILL DIE ALONE’.

Gale notices the look of shock on your face and turns his phone back to himself, reading the email notification. ‘Damn it all! I thought she’d finally given up on trying to torment me. Whatever. I can deal with that in the morning. Right now, someone has earned themselves a bath, a full body massage, and maybe even some more food. I think I have some ice cream hiding in the freezer, if I can tempt you?’ You can’t believe he’s going to brush over this so casually. Is someone harassing him?! If so, you won’t stand for it. He needs to give you their email address so you can investigate.

You tell Gale that, but he just sighs. ‘It’s the same toxic ex I told you about a moment ago. She likes to remind me of my place everyone once in a while, despite apparently moving on. It used to bother me a lot, but I’ve had quite the distraction of late.’ You’re happy that you’ve helped him in some small way, but you’re still dissatisfied that there’s nothing to be done…

… Or is there?

Your wicked side once again makes herself known. ‘You should send back that picture of me. Show her just how alone you are, fucking a sexy younger woman on a Friday night.’ You’re almost taken aback by your own words. When was the last time you referred to yourself so positively?

Gale chuckles. ‘Not a chance. That view is for my eyes only. At least, I assume it is? I hope that I’m keeping you satisfied enough that you haven’t been outsourcing your pleasure.’ You only just have enough energy for Gale most of the time; you’d never be able to cope with a second partner.

Giving Gale’s hand a reassuring squeeze, you wink. ‘You’re all the man I need. Come on, then. It’s bath time!’ You make the mistake of trying to stand, your legs still too weak to fully support your weight; you’re about to collapse into a heap, but Gale saves you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

Gale pulls you to your feet, encouraging you to lean on him for support. ‘I might be able to help you get to the bath… if you can tell me the name of at least three of Penelope’s suitors.’ You playfully shove his chest and he laughs, helping you into the bathroom despite not getting an answer. Tonight hasn’t played out as expected, but in many ways, it’s been much better.

The only thing concerning you is Gale’s ex, and the ways she might yet impact your own relationship with the man. The last thing you want is to be caught in the middle of them, but it’s clear whatever she did cut him deep, and you’re not about to let her hurt him again.

Even if this is just a fling, that doesn’t mean you’ll stand for him being harmed by his past.

Chapter Text

To say that Gale’s life has taken an interesting and unexpected turn is an understatement of almost criminal proportions. In just over two months he’s gone from being forced to take a job further away from his previous home than he would have liked for personal reasons, to having a sordid affair with his brightest student. If someone had told him things would turn out in such a way, he would have scoffed at the very notion.

Now, he can’t help but feel just the tiniest bit smug.

As Gale prepares for his next lecture, he smiles to himself. What man wouldn’t feel smug, having such a beautiful woman in his bed at least weekly? At this stage in his life he’d almost given up on the idea of companionship completely, but now he finds that he can’t stand the thought of spending the weekend without her.

A quick glance at his phone confirms what Gale already knows; it’s Friday. In just a few short hours, she’ll inevitably ask what he’s doing this weekend, and he’ll make it clear that his schedule is completely open. It’s the same dance every week, but he never tires of it; why would he, when the final moves of said dance never fail to push him well past the throes of ecstasy?

Then again, it can be nice to spice things up a little. Maybe today he’ll take some initiative and send her a few… enticing messages. He has had the entire week to think of all the ways he wants to enjoy her the next time they meet privately, so he’s hardly short of material; when it comes to her body, inspiration is one thing Gale is never lacking. There are a million ways he could worship it, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t show her each and every one of them.

For now, he needs to focus on calming himself a little. His next class is in half an hour, and she’s part of it. Her final lecture of the day, and his personal favourite; as much as he craves her body, her mind is also a thing to behold. It’s refreshing to have such an active participant in the debates he constantly initiates with his class.

Gale sighs, the sound entirely too loud in the empty lecture hall. Thinking of how much he enjoys her company outside of the bedroom is dangerous. She’s made it abundantly clear more than once that this is purely sexual, and he doesn’t want to jeopardise things by trying to make it anything more. Sure, he’d love to have nights with her where he did little more than get to know her- to bond with her soul, rather than just her body- but he’s concerned that if he tries to deepen their connection, she’ll have second thoughts about their arrangement, and he can’t risk that; it means too much to him.

A faint knock on the door to the hall catches Gale’s attention, snapping him out of what was almost certainly going to be a spiral of purest melancholy. ‘Come in.’ If he had to guess, it’s probably going to be one of his students, coming to complain that they’re struggling to come to terms with the book they were assigned for their assessment. If that’s the case, he has little sympathy; had they simply made the effort to choose their own book, they wouldn’t be in this situation.

However, Gale is taken aback when a familiar head of dark red hair steps into the room, the owner of it marching toward his desk as if she owns the place. ‘You’re looking terribly maudlin today, Professor Dekarios. Perhaps you feel guilty about ignoring my calls.’ Shit. He should have known it would come to this. She’s always hated being ignored…

Gale shakes his head. ‘Ignore you, Tara? Perish the thought. I’ve just been a very busy man of late.’ Trust his childhood best friend to travel several hours to check up on him after a single missed phone call. If it was anyone else, he’d call that stalker behaviour.

Tara scoffs. ‘Too busy for your oldest friend? You really aren’t painting yourself in the best of lights, Gale. Don’t think it’s escaped my notice that you’ve taken down the dating profile we spent so long setting up for you, either.’ Ah. That. In hindsight, Gale could probably have left it up on the site, but that felt wrong somehow. Like cheating, even if he’s not in a conventional relationship.

At his friend’s accusations, Gale merely rolls his eyes. ‘Does His Majesty know you make a habit of perusing through dating sites?’ Tara’s eyes narrow at the mention of his teasing nickname for her husband, one that goes back to their college days; he’s always been a bit of a prince, turning his nose up at the state of their dorms on many an occasion.

Tara’s arms fold over her chest. ‘He was right next to me the entire time, and he’s wondering the same thing I am. I don’t see any evidence online of you being in a relationship, and yet your profile has vanished. Don’t tell me you’ve already abandoned hope. Your mother will be inconsolable.’ It’s a low blow from Tara, using his mother like this, but Gale knows she’s right. His mother has never been at all subtle when it comes to her hopes for her only son; a family of his own, whatever that might consist of. Hopefully grandchildren, but at this point, she’s willing to settle for her son not being alone.

Abandoning his prep, Gale takes a seat behind his desk, contemplating his answer. ‘Look, Tara, it’s complicated. I’ve found… something. It’s not exactly what I was looking for, but it’s enough that there’s no point in me continuing my search.’ Knowing his friend has he does, he knows he’s only inviting more questions, but that’s better than refusing to give any kind of answer.

A flash of something gleams in Tara’s eyes. ‘You old dog, you. A casual sex partner? At your age?’ She perches herself on his desk and stares down at him, looking every bit like a cat about to devour a pigeon.

Gale mocks being offended, placing a hand on his chest. ‘You wound me, Tara. There’s no upper age limit on that kind of arrangement, as far as I know. Besides, what does it matter? I’m enjoying myself, and I’m making sure she’s enjoying herself just as much.’ If anything, she’s having more fun than he is; he has to ensure she’ll want to come back for more, after all.

Tara pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘There are some things in this life, Gale Dekarios, that your best friend does not need to know. That being said, please tell me she’s closer to your age this time, rather than your mother’s?’ That assessment would sting Gale if it wasn’t so accurate. At least the age gap was slightly smaller last time around, even if it did go in the other direction…

Knowing he can’t ignore Tara’s question, Gale is forced to answer. ‘She’s actually younger than me this time. Rest assured however that she is very much a woman, even if there is a bit of an age gap.’ Great. The fact he felt the need to clarify that she’s an adult will only make it sound like she’s not. That only makes him curse himself internally, annoyed that he can’t just introduce his new partner to his friend; he isn’t sure how Tara would take the news that he’s seeing a student, even if their relationship of sorts predates either of them discovering that.

A look of shock paints Tara’s face. ‘Not your usual type at all, then. She must be delightful in bed for you to be open to this sort of change. I just hope she is more receptive to talk of a future than Mystra was. I’d rather not watch another woman dangle the idea of a family in front of you, only to snatch it…’ It’s too much. Gale can’t be having those memories dragged up before a lecture.

So, Gale cuts her off. ‘It’s hardly that serious, Tara, and even if it was, relax. I’m not going down that road again. It’s just some casual fun between two enthusiastically consenting adults. There’s no real future in sight for us.’ Yet even saying the words makes his heart ache, the knowledge that this affair won’t last past her final year enough to snatch the wind from his proverbial sails. It would be nice to think that the two of them could build things into something more, but they have more chance of them being caught than things developing into something real.

Tara sighs. ‘I know you, Gale. You don’t do casual. The sooner you realise that, the better it’ll be. For both of you.’ She’s right. If he had any sense, he’d end it now, before his attachment really takes root.

A pity, then, that he has no intention of doing so. He lacks the strength and the motivation. Besides, heartbreak isn’t so bad, really. It’s little more than the painful realisation that what you once had was real, just as it’s stolen from you forever. It’s a bitter trade, but it’s the price all humans have to pay for happiness.

Gale fusses with some of his papers, trying to collect his thoughts. ‘And here I thought this was going to be a friendly visit. Can’t you just tell me that I’m looking especially handsome in my new suit? I had this tailored specifically before I started teaching here.’ And thus far, not one person has complimented him. Not even his lover; she prefers how it looks on his bedroom floor.

Tara chuckles. ‘I find myself unable to compliment your choice of attire when the rest of you is so scruffy. Where was the last time you introduced your chin to a razor, hm? I’ve seen hedgerows more kempt than that thing on your face.’ Damn, and here Gale was thinking it rather suited him. Not to mention the delicious sight of his lover’s inner thigh turning a delightful shade of pink every time he sticks his face between her legs…

Just as Tara reaches out to tilt Gale’s head and examine his newly-acquired facial covering for herself, the door swings open again, with the object of Gale’s desire being the one to enter this time. ‘Oh. Professor Dekarios. I had no idea you were busy. I’ll come back later.’ Before he has a chance to explain, she’s gone, leaving the lecture hall without further explanation or question.

Gale’s mind immediately starts whirring. What is she going to think?! She just saw a strange woman sitting on her partner’s desk, her hand touching him in a way that looks intimately familiar! Worse still, it technically is, but not in the way it seems! The only thing troubling him more is the fact that he can’t chase her down, because that would draw too much attention to him. He’s going to have to wait until he can text her, which will hopefully be before her next lecture, or that’s going to be the worst hour of his adult life.

Tara hums to herself, thinking back over the brief exchange. ‘It would seem that one of your students would prefer to have you all to herself. Are they all like that?’ Gale would rather not indulge his friend’s questions right now, especially since he can tell what she is implying; Tara always has been terrifyingly astute when it comes to things like this.

Gale does his best to play it off. ‘I’m a very popular man. That being said, I really must get on. We can catch up properly another time.’ Assuming she’s here for more than just one day… Well, if she is, she’s out of luck. He suspects he’ll have to do no small amount of groveling to try and rekindle his affair, and if that’s the case, he’ll need to be free tonight.

Hearing the firm dismissal- and ill-concealed panic- in Gale’s voice, Tara stands. ‘Very well. Make sure to actually answer my calls in future, then. If you think I’m dragging myself here every time I’m ignored… then you’re entirely correct.’ With that, she leaves, and Gale immediately reaches for his phone, searching for a familiar name in his contacts.

He just hopes it isn’t too late.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Well, fuck. This isn’t how you wanted your Friday to go.

In hindsight, maybe it’s your own fault. You usually warn Gale in advance if you’re on your way to see him, but today you’d decided to throw caution to the wind. It’s almost the weekend, after all, and that means you finally get the sweetest of rewards for your efforts throughout the last five days; Gale’s cock, however he sees fit to deliver.

Oh, and you have an idea of how you’d like it delivered tonight. It’s been almost a month since you started taking birth control pills (which Gale has very kindly been helping you finance, as promised), yet he’s still insisted on using condoms, wanting to make sure they have a chance to get into your system and work before taking that chance. It’s a caution you greatly appreciate, even if it’s not needed; with the way your cycle fell, your pills would have been effective less than a week after you started taking them.

Still, even a man as cautious as Gale has to admit that a month is long enough, and since you’ve been sending him evidence of you taking the pills in question (despite him insisting that he trusts you and therefore doesn’t need it), there’s no reason at all why you have to keep using condoms; you want to feel him inside you, flesh-on-flesh.

Well, you did. Now you’re not sure what you think.

That woman in the lecture hall… you’ve never seen her before. You don’t know who she is, but she seems to know Gale pretty fucking well. The way she was just casually sitting on his desk, putting her hand on his face… The two of you never fully agreed on exclusivity, but even still, this feels like a slap in the face. Are you not enough for him? Sure, you can only meet once a week, but you make up for it by getting wild in the bedroom. Is he looking for quantity over quality now? Because there’s no way this mystery woman sucks dick as good as you do… does she?

As you settle down in the corner of the library, you find unwelcome tears pricking at the corner of your eyes, jealousy swelling in your chest. What right have you to even feel like this? It’s not like he’s your boyfriend. It’s just sex. Incredible, toe-curling, world-shaking sex, but still just sex. If he wants to fuck other women, that’s his right. Sure, you’re not going to go off and sleep with other men, but that’s because you know no one can compare to him.

Wiping the tears from your eyes, you pull out your phone, taking a few deep breaths before bringing up your messages with Gale. While you don’t have a right to be angry- and while it would be easy to act as if you’re not hurting right now- you don’t want to let your emotions fester inside you. You feel wounded, and it’s not healthy to act as if everything is okay. Besides, maybe this is a misunderstanding? You’ve never once heard Gale mention a sister, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one; maybe you’re blowing this out of proportion?

Before you get the chance to message Gale, you get one through from him. ‘Please allow me to explain myself.’ You can see he’s already typing out another response, planning to give you that explanation whether you want it or not; he must be in quite a panic right now.

Even if you know you’re getting a response regardless, you decide to answer. ‘I’m listening.’ The words sound blunt, but all things considered, your bluntness is the least of his potential issues.

A much longer message comes through this time. ‘The woman on my desk is- was- Tara. She and I have known each other since childhood. Not only is she married, but I think of her as a sister. The idea of anything going on between her and I makes me feel physically sick. What you saw was her examining my stubble, which she finds to be greatly offensive. I know this sounds like a truly pathetic excuse, but it is the truth.’ Instantly, it feels like a weight has been lifted from your chest. A married friend. More like a sister. Your tears have been shed for nothing.

You can barely hide your relief as you message him back. ‘It’s alright, I believe you. Not like it matters, anyway, since we aren’t an actual couple. I was more offended at the idea that I wasn’t enough for you.’ Or- heaven forbid- that you might have been a piece on the side for your married professor to enjoy. If that was the case, you’re not sure if you could forgive yourself…

Gale’s response is almost immediate. ‘You are more than enough for me, or for any man come to think of it. Although maybe you and I need to discuss the idea of exclusivity within our agreement. Allow me to initiate such a debate by telling you plainly that I feel far from overjoyed at the idea of another man enjoying you while we’re still entangled like this.’ That’s the most long winded way you’ve ever seen anybody state that they don’t want you to sleep around, but it seems fitting for Gale somehow.

So you text back. ‘Likewise. I can’t stop you sleeping around, but I would rather be the only one.’ If he’s asking for exclusivity from you, he better be willing to give it back, or else this whole arrangement is doomed.

You get a response in a timely fashion. ‘I believe we are in agreement, then. At least Tara’s meddling has had a positive effect on us in the long term. For as long as we are continuing this affair of ours, we will be forgoing sexual contact with others. That being said, I would rather enjoy some sexual contact tonight, if you are available?’ You smirk to yourself at his smoothness, his charm always catching you off guard during moments like this.

At least it’s an easy answer. ‘It’s not truly the weekend until I’ve had your cock inside me.’ At least things seem to be back to normal now, despite such a rocky morning. Now, your Friday can continue on as normal; you can go to your lectures, relax for a bit, then make your way over to your professor for an advanced anatomy lesson. Truly the perfect day.

You just wonder what tonight might entail. You’ve yet to have a full evening with Sir, but maybe if Gale is feeling guilty over what happened today, he’ll let that side of himself out for you? It would be quite the treat, seeing him being fully in control…

For now, you’ll have to push these thoughts aside, but later? Later you’re going to indulge in them, and hopefully he’ll indulge you.

With an arrangement like that, it’s no surprise you allowed jealousy to overtake you. Who wouldn’t be protective of such a thing? It’s not like you have any deeper feelings developing for Gale. That would be ridiculous! Unheard of! Impossible!

At least, that’s what you’re going to keep telling yourself as you count down the hours until you can be with him again.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The evening comes faster than you could have hoped for, the last of your lectures going by in a daze. All throughout, Gale had shot you a few reassuring glances, as if trying to let you know that he meant what he said over text; that it was truly a misunderstanding, and that while he didn’t apologise, he is sorry for hurting your feelings unintentionally.

He’d all but said that at the end of the lecture too, keeping you behind after class and saying that all-important ‘S’ word before asking you once again to come over to his as normal. He’s even promised to tell you more about Tara, though you don’t think it’s necessary; he’s told you she’s just a friend, and you have no real reason to question him further. Besides, you’ve agreed to exclusivity now- even if it was over text- and you’ve never once known Gale to go back on his word. You trust him.

After such a confusing morning, you were hoping to show up to his wearing something incredibly sexy by means of an apology for jumping to conclusions, but autumn seems to have other ideas; it’s too cold to wear a dress tonight. Even sitting in the back of a car- body wrapped up in a jumper- you’re freezing, with your fingers being a particular sore spot both metaphorically and literally. They seem locked against the straps of your bag as you will them to reach for your money, paying the driver before stepping out in front of a now-familiar house.

Walking up to Gale’s front door, you can’t help but feel apprehensive. You’re not used to showing up to his home in such casual attire, and while you know your clothes will be nothing but clutter on his bedroom floor in a few short hours, that doesn’t help you feel less self-conscious. What if he turns you away at the door for not making enough of an effort for him, especially after you narrowly avoided an arguement earlier?

A few seconds after you knock, the door swings open, and you almost laugh as you see Gale wearing the same outfit as always, right down to the number of buttons left undone. ‘I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you showed up tonight. After earlier, I was concerned that you might decide to stay home. You would have been well within your rights to do so, after what happened.’ He stands back, allowing you to enter his home. It’s warm enough that you can feel your cheeks grow pink from the difference in temperature, your fingers starting to feel sore as they warm up.

Gale closes the door behind you, and you approach him, resting your hands on his chest. ‘I won’t lie. Seeing another woman touch you did sting a bit. I know I don’t have much right to be selfish, but…’ Warm hands cover your own, gently squeezing your chilled fingers.

Leaning in, Gale rests his forehead against yours. ‘Be a little selfish with me. It’s quite flattering, honestly. Now, let’s get you warmed up. I’ve got a nice stew waiting for us, as well as some pictures I think you’ll find interesting.’ Pictures? Oh gods, he must have been serious about proving his innocence.

You give him a weak laugh. ‘Gale, it’s really okay. You don’t have anything to prove. We’ve talked things through, and that’s good enough for me.’ Besides, the more it’s brought up, the more it looks like there is something to discuss, and you’d rather not fall out with him tonight; not when you could both be having more fun.

It’s hot enough heading to Gale’s dining room that you decide to ditch your jumper, hanging both it and your bag on the post of Gale’s stairs. That leaves you in a vest, which is definitely sexier than your previous covering; it’ll give your partner an unimpeded view of the top of your breasts, a sight you know he’s fond of.

When you make it to the dining room, you notice that the two bowls of food have been placed next to each other for a change, with a large rectangular book on the table between them. You wait for Gale to pull out your chair so you know where to sit, and reach to take a sip of the drink he already has poured for you, clearly optimistic you’d show up despite what he told you.

As soon as Gale is in position next to you, he gestures to the book. ‘My mother insisted upon photographing every moment of my life. While you don’t have to suffer through all of my baby pictures, I’d like to back up what I told you earlier.’ He starts to flick through the pages as you take a few bites of your dinner, the warming effect on your body almost instant; you never thought you’d find a man with such a talent for cooking.

Your eyes are drawn to one of the pictures, and so you reach out of Gale, getting him to stop. ‘Okay, you need to tell me the story being that one.’ In the picture in question you see a small child of around three, a trowel at his bare feet as he holds his nappy open with one hand, and drops what you think are worms into it with the other.

Gale’s cheeks immediately flush. ‘I built a worm hotel out of mud, and when I didn’t have any takers, I decided to find some. What my mother didn’t photograph was the consequences of my actions, as I immediately screamed at the top of my lungs when I realised that worms are rather lively when they want to be.’ You try not to laugh, but you can’t help yourself, almost choking on a mouthful of food as you do. You can see in your mind’s eye the look of horror on the face of child Gale as he comes face-to-face with the consequences of his actions.

By the time you calm down enough to talk, Gale looks visibly ashamed of himself, so you put a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. ‘You were only a little baby. Why didn’t your mother stop you?’ Then again, considering it resulted in that picture, you’re glad she didn’t; if you were Gale’s mum, you would have had that framed for posterity.

Gale shrugs. ‘My mother liked to let me make my own mistakes, as long as they weren’t harmful. It’s why she never took a picture of me diving headfirst into the fish pond, as much as I craved such excitement as a child.’ You can see him doing that too, possibly to escape the creatures living in his nappy.

With his humiliation finally fading, Gale skips forward a few pages, before drawing your attention to two children, both of them beaming. ‘Here. This is the first picture of Tara and I that was ever taken. It was a school nativity, and I was six. Tara switched schools just as the new term started in September, and decided that I was going to be her friend. I couldn’t bring myself to argue with her, and that was that. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had just made a friend for life.’ In the picture, you see a young redhead with a tea towel tied to her head, and a young boy with a gappy smile, covered head-to-toe in yellow.

The image makes you smile. ‘You both look adorable.’ It doesn’t escape your notice that child Gale is grabbing the sleeve of child Tara’s outfit, clinging to his friend for what you’re assuming is emotional support.

Gale laughs, a faraway look in his eyes. ‘It was a long time ago now. I remember when they told me I was going to be the star of the nativity. I was so proud. I went home, told my mother, and she was happy for me. Of course I didn’t realise that I was the literal star, and my only job was to stand on stage with a torch. You can take my word though that I owned that role. It was one of the proudest moments of my childhood, even if I did have terrible stagefright.’ You can’t help but squeeze his hand out of support, as if you can sense him feeling that same sense of anxiety just talking about it.

After a few moments lingering, Gale decides to move on, this time showing you a picture of him in tears, a freaky-looking clown in the background. ‘From triumph to trauma. I’ll never know where my mother found Dribbles, but I wish she’d left him there. He had no right being at a child’s birthday party! Still, it wasn’t all bad. Tara tied his shoes together, made him fall over. He called her a stupid little bitch, and let me tell you, by the time my mother was done with him, he never worked again.’ The more you hear about Tara, the worse you feel about your initial mistake. It’s clear that she’s an irreplaceable friend, but past that, there really is nothing to worry about.

You nod, narrowing your eyes at the clown. ‘I think she spared a lot of children in the long run.’ If that thing turned up at your house, even as an adult, you’re not sure you’d ever sleep again.

Gale nods in agreement before skipping forward a lot, to two faces that you almost recognise. ‘My first night out, or at least, it should have been. I overdid it with the pre-drinks and ended up passing out before I ever left the house. Tara and my mother took it in turns to see what they could draw on me before I woke up.’ He points out another picture, and this time you make no attempt to hide your laughter. An unconscious Gale has become a canvas of sorts, with all kinds of things scrawled on his face. Most noticeable are the whiskers covering his cheeks, but you also notice a small dog, half a dozen stars, and what looks to be the continent of Australia on his forehead…

When you question that last one, Gale just shrugs. ‘It was the biggest thing Tara could think of, apparently. She wasn’t exactly sober at the time.’ That only makes you laugh more, a tinge of something bitter hitting you. If you were Gale’s actual partner, you could meet Tara, and hear about all the shenanigans they got up to together in their youth. Instead, it’s likely that your incredibly brief run in with her in the lecture hall will be the only time you ever see her in person. You don’t know why that stings; you just know that it does.

You take a few bites of food to distract from your melancholy before urging Gale onwards. ‘Anything else to show me?’ He’s probably covered most of it now, even if he did miss out large portions of his life.

Gale nods, flicking forward to a picture of four people, all dressed in formal attire. ‘Tara’s wedding. She married her college sweetheart. Since I’m her only real friend, she told me I was her mate of honour, rather than maid. I said I’d be whatever she wanted, as long as I didn’t have to wear a dress.’ As promised, picture Gale is wearing a rather delightful three piece suit, one that is almost enough to make you swoon. To his left is Tara, her red head pinned to her head in delicate braids. On her left is a man you’ve never seen before, presumably her husband. He looks proud to be there, even if he seems to be angling his head in a way that you can only assume is hiding a bald spot. That only leaves the woman on Gale’s right. An older woman, her dress is a little too dark for a wedding, but if she’s allowed to be there, then maybe you’re just old fashioned?

It might be a bad idea, but you decide to point to the mystery woman. ‘Who’s she? I’m assuming it's not your mother?’ You don’t know why, but even though the woman is slightly older than Gale, you don’t think she’s old enough for that. Besides, she looks nothing like him!

Gale visibly tenses up. ‘That’s my ex, Mystra. And before you ask; yes. She is the one that sent the email. We were together from my final year of college up until a year ago, and yes, she is an older woman. Not quite my mother’s age, but there isn’t much in it.’ That surprises you. Considering your own relationship with him, you wouldn’t have had him down as the kind of man that enjoys women that much older than him. Still, it’s not like you can talk; you apparently prefer older men.

Not knowing what to say, you nod, hoping the words will come to you. ‘I see. That’s a long time to be with anyone. What… no, ignore me. You don’t have to tell me anything.’ With your relationship as it is, it’s hard to know what lines can be crossed. Asking about an ex seems like precarious territory, and while you can infer that it ended badly, you shouldn’t push him for any details; he wouldn’t owe you them even if you were in a relationship.

Yet to your surprise, Gale gives you a sad smile. ‘You can ask. It’s a pretty sorry tale, though. We wanted different things out of life, but she never had the heart to tell me that. She made me thing she shared in my dreams, only to pull the rug out from underneath me. Even then, and I’m not proud of myself for saying this, I loved her. I would have settled for living how she wanted us to live, but even that wasn’t enough for her. She said I was immature, and that I had no idea what it meant to be truly committed. So I had her name tattooed on my chest. Of course, she said that it proved her point, and she left me. I covered the tattoo with the design you see now, and I moved on with my life. Eventually.’ He shrugs at that, and you fight the urge to pull him into a hug, unsure of what to say. It sounds like a terrible tale, and you’re sorry he wasted his life on someone like that…

All you can really do is nod, until something else comes to mind. ‘I see. Why has she been messaging you, though? If she ended things?’ Is she doing it just to torment him? Just how petty is she?

Gale gives a bitter chuckle. ‘Because she was expecting me to grovel, and I refused. Being away from her made me reassess what I want from life, and she no longer has a place in my present or my future. I thought she finally got the message, since she herself has decided to move on, so I was truly blindsided by that email. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’ll never get what I wanted out of life after wasting so much of it on her, but I must admit, I rather like where my life is right now. A job that I love, and an illicit affair with a beautiful woman. Doesn’t get better than that, from where I’m standing. Well, sitting.’ He makes a point of shifting in his chair, and you almost laugh, but the sorrow in his words hurts you too much. Has he really given up on all his dreams because of one woman? If Mystra was here right now, you’d give her more than just a piece of your mind…

Instead, you reach for Gale, grabbing his hand firmly. ‘It’ll get even better later, when you take me to your room, and I make you forget all about her.’ You bring his hand up to your mouth, leaving an open mouth kiss on his palm.

You hear a chair creak as Gale adjusts himself, allowing you to continue littering kisses against him. ‘You don’t need to take me to bed to do that. Just being in the same room with me is enough. In fact, being with you has been one of the biggest factors in my reassessing things, if you don’t mind me saying. Spending time with a woman that is genuinely interested in the same things as I has really shown me what I’ve been missing out on, and suffice it to say I have enjoyed making up for lost time immensely.’ Carefully, Gale takes his hand from your grasp, opting to cup your cheek with it instead.

It feels so natural to lean into his embrace, giving him a small smile. ‘It feels nice, having a fuckbuddy that actually sees me as I am. I’ve had so many hookups that made the whole thing about themselves that I was getting tired of it. Sure, sex is nice, but being tied up and questioned over The Odyssey is something else entirely.’ Your ass might never recover from the treatment it received that night a month ago, but you know that every time you feel a slight discomfort sitting down, you’ll remember him, and your time together.

Gale smirks. ‘I think I’m getting rather good at reading your desires, and while I don’t have another quiz prepared, I do have something special planned. Something I think you need.’ Fuck, but when he says things like that… when it comes to reading your body, this man has yet to put a foot wrong.

But then, you also had something of your own to propose tonight. ‘Actually, I was wondering… when will I get to see more of Sir? It’s not that I’ve grown bored of our time together! I’m just… curious.’ As well anyone would be, if their partner had an alter ego that only seems to come out and play in bed.

At your question, Gale nods. ‘Well, tonight is out of the question, since I already have something planned. Next week, maybe? Or I could try and get into that headspace later tonight, once I’ve done what I have planned?’ He’s agreed to this more readily than you thought he would, which makes you wonder if he’s been thinking the same thing…

You smile at his acceptance of your request. ‘We’ll just see where the night takes us. Speaking of which… I think I’m done with dinner. Got any dessert?’ You grab his shirt at that, undoing his buttons with what has become a practiced ease.

Gale smirks at you. ‘I might have something upstairs, but you’ll have to earn it.’ He pushes his chair back, and you waste no time, climbing into his lap and locking your lips with his, pushing his shirt from his shoulders.

You can feel Gale’s chest rumble as he chuckles at your eagerness, your lover breaking the kiss by nipping at your lower lip. ‘Keep going like that, and I’m the only one that’ll be having dessert.’ He sneaks a hand between your legs to rub at your clothed crotch, as if that’s going to discourage you in any way; if anything, the idea of him having you for dessert is even nicer than the alternative.

Standing, you wrap your arms around Gale’s neck, pulling gently until your ass hits the table. ‘Help yourself if you want it. Careful, though. It’ll be a very messy feast.’ You don’t need to check to know that your underwear is already in danger, threatening to be consumed by the wet patch Gale always manages to conjure every time his body gets close to yours.

Abandoning his shirt on the chair, Gale finally gets to his feet, making a point of nuzzling your cleavage before standing properly. ‘My favourite kind. Come, we should head to the bedroom.’ Placing his hands on your hips, he guides you away from the table, manoeuvering you towards the stairs. You make a point of brushing your lips against his chin and neck, silently begging him to dip his head down and claim them with his own. Yet he resists, entirely determined to get you to his room without further distraction.

It takes careful movements to get you to walk up the stairs backwards, but with Gale’s guidance, you somehow manage, making your way into his bedroom with his hands still glued to your hips. ‘So, here we are, then. Whatever do you plan to do to me, now that I’m in your lair?’ You trace your hands over his bare chest, making a point of tweaking his nipples as you go.

Gale doesn’t stop guiding you until you reach the bed, before encouraging you to take a seat. ‘Punish you. Well, maybe that’s the wrong term. Re-educate you is a term that seems more aligned with my plans. Top half off.’ You don’t hesitate, removing your vest for him before tossing it across the room. You run your fingers across your bra for a while, unsure if he means for you to take it off too, but when he makes no move to stop you, you finally reach for the straps, discarding it with an equal amount of enthusiasm.

Your chest bare, Gale nods approvingly. ‘You’re so good at following orders. Lay back for me, and put your hands together above you.’ You’re about to lean back where you are right now, but something occurs to you; does he plan to tie you to the headboard?

Assuming that’s the case, you reposition yourself, settling down with your head between the pillows and your arms brushing the wooden bars at the top of the bed. ‘Like this?’ It feels weird, only having your top half exposed like this. More vulnerable, even if your lower body is still very much clothed.

Drinking in the sight of you, Gale once again nods. ‘It seems my clever woman has once again figured out my plans. Remind me of our safeword?’ He moves over to his bedside drawer, producing a familiar pair of handcuffs.

You watch as Gale takes a seat next to you on the bed, cuffing one of your wrists before threading the cuffs through one of the wooden bars. ‘Iambic. Failing that, I should tap three times.’ You appreciate the fact that he always takes the time to go over this with you, rather than him just assuming you remember; it shows that he’s taking it seriously, and is fully willing to let you use them if you’re uncomfortable.

The cuffs click into place over your other wrist, securing you in place. ‘Excellent. I must say, I love the sight of you at my mercy like this. It’s intoxicating. But here, allow me to make you more comfortable.’ He takes one pillow from next to you, and encourages you to raise your head so he can slip it underneath. Then, he takes a second pillow, and slides that under your bare back, offering support for your spine, too.

The tenderness of his actions are almost enough to make you weep, but you fight the urge, not wanting to ruin the moment. ‘I guess you plan to keep me here a while? Somebody has big plans for my body.’ You lift your hips at him, eager to be touched.

Gale chuckles at that, before he starts to remove the rest of your clothing. ‘Only the grandest of plans will suffice when it comes to your body. However, I’m starting to think that I’m the only one who sees it that way.’ Your legs feel a slight chill as they’re left bare, your partner even going so far as to remove your underwear without a hint of fanfare, as if he’s undressed you like this a million times before.

His words give you pause. ‘Are you upset that other men aren’t crawling all over me? I would have thought that makes things easier for you, since you want me all to yourself.’ Unless he’s secretly one of those people that gets off on watching his partner flirting with others…

One of Gale’s fingers traces along the inside of your thigh, and you spread your legs to allow him better access. ‘I care little for the opinions of other men, although I feel quite certain you have more than a few secret admirers. I was referring to you, and the way you speak about yourself.’ You furrow your brow at that, genuinely confused. When have you ever spoken about yourself negatively around him?

After desperately trying to come up with an answer, you find yourself drawing blanks. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever said anything bad. Sure, I’m not constantly singing my own praises, but I’m not out here calling myself ugly either.’ Why does this matter so much to him, anyway? He clearly likes your body enough that he keeps using it, so why does your own opinion matter?

Gale shakes his head. ‘If you ever said that, I’d have no choice but to spank that pretty backside of yours raw. If you must know, it was your text from earlier that triggered this. You thought I was seeing another woman without your knowledge, and one of your first thoughts was to blame yourself. To think that you aren’t enough for me. That’s completely unacceptable behaviour, and I won’t stand for it.’ What?! That’s what this is about?

You roll your eyes. ‘I was only half-serious, Gale. I didn’t really mean it. I was hurting, and I tried to make light of things, but we’re past that now. You proved Tara is a friend, and we’ve moved on. No need to dwell on this.’ Maybe you should have left the room without a word earlier, just to avoid this situation. If he’s going to keep beating himself up over a simple misunderstanding, it could have a massive impact on your situation…

Your lover frowns, unsatisfied with your answer. ‘This is no longer about Tara. This is about you, and your apparent lack of confidence. You are an incredible woman, and yet it crossed your mind that you might not be enough for a disaster of a man several years your senior. If I was seeing someone else, then I would be the problem, not you. You need to see yourself as I see you, so if some lesser man breaks your heart in the future, you see that it’s his fault, not yours. Let me build you up so you can flourish, no matter how things eventually end between us.’ Just the thought of being with someone other than Gale makes you feel uncomfortable in ways you’d rather not examine right now, but you can’t deny that you appreciate the sentiment. Maybe just this once, you could see this through, and allow him to show you what he means?

With that in mind, you submit. ‘Alright. I think it’s futile, but I’d do just about anything to get your hands on me.’ Especially since you know what those hands are capable of…

Gale claps his hands together, making you jump. ‘Excellent choice. This is going to be fun.’ With that, he stands again, this time making his way over to… his work briefcase? What could he possibly have in there that he plans to use in the bedroom? Unless part of his plan is to read out something you’ve written for his class, which would probably have the opposite effect of what he’s going for; you’d probably shrivel up and die from embarrassment on the spot if he read something you’ve written back to you.

Thankfully, instead of paper of any kind, Gale produces… a fine-headed marker pen? ‘Here we are. This is the instrument of your reeducation. Now, fear not, for it is completely safe to use on skin. I like to write notes on the back of my hand sometimes. The only issue of course is that it does take a few days to fade, so anything I write ends up lingering for quite a while.’ What does that have to do with anything? Is he planning to take notes?

You make no attempt to hide your confusion. ‘What does that have to do with us?’ He mentioned that it’s safe to use on skin, so it’s fair to say he plans to do just that, but past that…

Gale scoffs. ‘Come, now. I’m sure a woman of the world such as yourself has at least heard of body writing. It’s hardly some esoteric practice only performed in tight knit fetish circles. Not that I’d know anything about them, of course.’ That’s a lie and you know it. You suspect he’s broadminded enough to try just about anything once, but that’s not what you should be thinking about right now; you should be focusing on the pen in his hand, and what he intends to do with it.

As Gale approaches, you keep your eyes focused on him, anticipation stirring in your lower belly. ‘I don’t see how drawing on me will improve my self-esteem, but I don’t mind being your canvas for the evening.’ A devious voice in the back of your mind calls out and says that you’d rather he painted your insides white, but you decide to keep that thought to yourself.

Satisfied, Gale removes the pen lid, placing it on the other end of the pen for safekeeping. ‘Now, the question is what should I write? At first I thought about rating each of your body parts in turn, but it would get dreadfully tedious writing ten out of ten over and over again.’ He hovers the instrument of tonight’s play above you, choosing where to strike.

Yet his words catch your attention. ‘You can’t honestly think my entire body deserves a perfect score. That means you don’t have a favourite.’ Now that you think on it, you’re not sure which part of you would qualify as the part Gale enjoys the most. Your breasts, maybe? That’s a safe bet with most guys…

Gale hums, beaten by your flawless logic. ‘You’re right. There is one place I favour above all overs.’ He brings his face down then, nuzzling his nose into your inner thigh. ‘This is the closest to divine ascension any man could ever hope to achieve. Such a tender, sensitive part of the body…’ He starts to press kisses along the flesh in question, making you squirm against your restraints.

Only when you try to angle your leg away due to overstimulation does Gale finally pull away, replacing his mouth with the tip of his pen. ‘Now, let me see…’ You crook your head to watch him, making out the words as he goes. ‘Biteable. Kissable. A worthy altar from which to worship my woman.’ You find your body growing hotter with every letter carefully traced out in a precise hand, the hint of possessiveness making your head spin so much you find your eyes fluttering shut.

When he’s finished, you lean back, taking a moment to enjoy the feelings now rushing through your veins. ‘Where next? My breasts? My ass?’ Where else can he admire? Surely he won’t write on your face?

You hear the slight hint of exasperation in Gale’s voice. ‘I’m starting to think you’ve been brainwashed into thinking your only assets are the ones that you’ve been told are… suggestive. And yes, while I will be providing a detailed analysis on both of those areas later, there are more pressing parts to attend to.’ With your eyes closed, it’s impossible to predict where the pen will land next until you feel something vaguely scratchy against your side, loitering in the gap between your ribcage and hip.

The pen glides across your skin. ‘Another place so painfully overlooked, but you have no idea how it feels to grab you just above your hips, and cling onto you as if you’re about to fade away.’ You can’t tell what he’s writing, but it feels lengthy, his pen dwelling on you for what feels like an age before it finally moves on.

A gasp escapes your lips when the lid of the pen nudges your chin, compelling you to open your eyes and meet Gale’s own. ‘Woefully, I have to leave your face unaltered, but believe me when I say that it is exquisite. Your lips, so quick to smile, and the lines that appear every time you express your feelings. Not to mention your eyes. Gods above, if I only had the time, I could explain to you how easy it is for me to lose myself in them, and how little motivation I have to ever leave them.’ Your legs curl around Gale’s waist, trying to force him closer, but the man merely offers you a smug grin before pulling away, offering a cheeky nibble to the side of one of your breasts.

You thrust your hips up, silently begging for stimulation. ‘You have beautiful eyes, too. Like a gemstone, or a memory…’ They’ll be forever burned into your mind, at least. Every time you close your eyelids and touch yourself, you’ll see his gaze in the darkness, hypnotising you until you force your body into a frenzy you’ll never truly be able to calm.

Gale ignores your compliment, placing his pen just above your pubic hairline. ‘Now, this is a double point area. On the surface, this area is fantastic for nuzzling, but underneath? That’s where we might find your womb, and since you and I are exclusive partners in this carnal dance, it seems only right that I mark my territory.’ You see your lover’s hand scrawl ink across your skin, marking out something you’ve seen many times before; his signature.

Impossibly aroused, you shift your hips up again, this time causing the pen to slip until the tip is dangerously close to your clit. ‘Oh dear. You are an impatient one tonight. I wonder if you’d grind yourself against my leg, for the slightest hint of pleasure…’ Right now, with the pressure building between your thighs, you can’t think of anything else. If he’d only be kind enough to lend you a couple of those clever fingers, he could tease you over the edge in moments…

You wrap your legs around one of Gale’s, the fabric of his trousers rough against you. ‘I’d do anything for pleasure right now.’ To your annoyance, Gale stands, only for you to smirk at the visible wet patch you’ve left behind; when he notices it, there’s surely no way he’ll be able to resist you.

Sure enough, Gale follows your gaze to his trousers, tutting. ‘Oh, dear. You’ve made quite the mess of me. And here I was ready to wax lyrical about your body until dawn, it would seem you’re growing impatient with me. Very well. I have a few other words I can use, but first, I should make you more comfortable.’ He walks over to his wardrobe then, undoing his trousers as he goes.

As Gale searches and undresses, you rub your legs together again, your wrists starting to chafe a little in the cuffs. ‘The most comfortable thing in the world right now would be having your cock inside me. Can’t you just fill me up?’ Your partner looks over just as you spread your legs wide, a visible lump in his throat. It’s clear that you both want the same thing; why is he wasting time looking for something when he could be inside you?

Finally, Gale walks over to you with a few things in his hands, discarding his clothes as he walks. ‘Now, while I don’t plan to bring back our old friend Polyphemus, I do want to blindfold you again. I want the rest of my scrawlings to be a total surprise.’ He seems to have something else in his hands besides the dark cloth he intends to cut off your vision with, a chain glinting in the light. Is he bringing back the nipple clamps?!

You lift your head so Gale can blindfold you, body awash with anticipation. ‘I don’t care what you write. Just touch me. Please?’ You would give him a pleading look if your eyes weren’t totally covered now, making such a thing impossible. Surely the tip of his pen isn’t the only thing he’s going to press against you tonight?

Listening closely, you try to figure out Gale’s next move, only to yelp when cold metal brushes against your nipples. ‘I love the way you look in these. I’d have you wear them all the time, if such a thing wouldn’t wreck havoc with your circulation. Rest assured, I’ll be on hand to kiss them better when we’re done, as always.’ One-by-one, your lover attaches the clamps, giving them a soft tug when he’s done. You mewl helplessly as he does, as yet another fruitless tease leaves your body aching for more.

Satisfied with his work, you feel the air shift as Gale walks away, before feeling two slender fingers poking against your arousal-slicked entrance. ‘I think this is what I appreciate about you the most. No matter how outlandish my bedroom suggestions are, you never fail to meet them with the utmost of enthusiasm. It’s enough to drive a man to desperation, at times.’ He pushes his fingers into you, a moan tearing from your lips. He wastes no time pumping them in and out of you, twisting and flexing them as he goes. Experienced fingertips make sure to brush your most sensitive places, until it’s all you can do to keep your legs from closing.

Meanwhile, the head of Gale’s pen begins its assault on the rest of your body, starting with the ankle of your one clear leg and working its way up. You have no idea how he can focus on writing while he’s playing your body like an instrument, but it only turns you on more, cunt yearning for something thicker than his fingers.

The way Gale’s pen moves is without hesitation, words pouring straight from his mind and onto your skin. Try as you might, you can’t even begin to guess what he’s inking on you, an orgasm threatening to overtake your mind at any moment. You writhe in desperation, making your lover tut and the metal clamps on your nipples shift, only heightening your pleasure. Just a little more…

Something warm and wet laps against your clit, your screams of ecstasy filling the room as you’re overtaken by climax. It’s all you can do to fuck yourself on Gale’s hand, trying to draw out your pleasure even further. Throughout all of this, Gale’s pen remains unperturbed, tracing lines underneath your breasts even as his tongue flicks your sensitive bundle of nerves.

When at last you start to come down, Gale withdraws his fingers, pen moving to your breasts themselves as he tries his best to ignore your nipples. ‘Nearly finished now, although we seem to have a bit of an issue. I neglected to buy the proper contraception when I last went shopping. That is to say, if you want me, you’ll have to take me as I am, so to speak.’ You can hear the slightest hint of fluster in Gale’s voice as he tries to tell you he doesn’t have any condoms on hand tonight, but you’re not sure why; you’ve been waiting for this moment for almost a month.

Without a hint of embarrassment- perhaps due to the lack of eye-contact- you answer him. ‘Fuck me raw, Gale. I want to feel every bare inch of your cock inside me as you pound me into the mattress.’ You blink rapidly as light pours back into your vision, your blindfold quickly tossed aside as the last of Gale’s patience fades. To your surprise, he removes the clamps as well, sucking your nipples in tune before they too are discarded. Finally, he places the cap back on his pen, placing it carefully on the bedside table.

Gale moves into position, kneeling between your legs before humming. ‘On second thoughts, I want to remove the cuffs, too.’ You eye him with curiosity as he unshackles you from the bedpost, placing your restraints with the pen.

Before you get a chance to question why, Gale repositions himself, spreading his knees apart and resting the backs of your thighs against the tops of his own. ‘That’s better. I don’t want anything to interfere with this.’ You rest your hands lazily above your hair, waiting for Gale’s next move.

Your patience is rewarded by the head of Gale’s cock pushing into you, your lover taking in a deep breath. ‘I apologise in advance if I can’t make this last. You already feel so incredible that I…’ You move one of your hands so you can place a finger over his lips, silencing his doubts with a single gesture.

There’s a look of awe in Gale’s eyes as he finally pushes in, grabbing your hips and pulling your ass onto his lap as he fills you. The feeling of his bare cock inside you is almost too much, and your hand slips from his lips to rest at his shoulder, clinging onto him for dear life.

Gale wails in delight as his eyes snap shut, drinking in the sensation of your cunt surrounding him. He has to steady himself before he can move, using his grip on your hips to guide himself back and forth inside you. You wrap your legs around him until your heels press against his ass, allowing you to urge him forwards as he starts to work himself into a rhythm.

As he grows more confident, Gale’s body surges forward, one of his hands moving up and linking with the one above your head, pinning you against the bed. His eyes lock with yours as he hovers over you, half-lidded and filled with passion. You’re tilting your head up for a kiss before you even register what’s happening, your lips and tongue locking with his as the hand from his shoulder reaches up to tug at his hair.

You and Gale moan into each other’s mouths, losing yourselves faster than ever before. It’s only when you feel heat rising once again in your core do you finally pull away for air, chanting your partner’s name like a prayer as your sweat slicked bodies remain entangled.

When Gale speaks, it’s in a strained whisper. ‘I can’t… I need to pull out…’ You wrap your legs tightly around his body, trying to force him closer.

Despite your best efforts, Gale keeps trying to pull away, causing you to cry out in desperation. ‘No… inside. I want you to finish inside me.’ Something in Gale’s eyes seems to shatter to pieces as he kisses you again, abandoning his attempts to move away and replacing them with a frantic urge to be as close to you as possible. The hand on your hip slips between you to stimulate your clit as your nipples brush against his chest, desire coiled so tightly inside you it won’t take much for it to break…

Gale breaks the kiss to moan your name before he finally gives in, rocking his hips as few final times as he spills himself inside you. The sensation sends you over your own edge, your cries drowning out his own as your toes curl and tears prickle at your eyes, your lover once again sending you to heights of pleasure you didn’t know existed.

It feels like an eternity passes as your stare into each other’s eyes, your thoughts and emotions spilling into one. You really hope that whatever you have with Gale lasts past your graduation, because the thought of not having this to look forward to every weekend eats you up inside.

And yet, if you allow yourself to think like that, you’ll want more than either of you can give. Maybe if that’s the case, you should end…

Your thoughts are cut short when Gale gives your chin a tender kiss, his lips curling into a smile. ‘I hope I’ve cleared up any silly misunderstandings about you not being enough for me. As long as I have you, other lovers would be surplus to requirement.’ He hesitates for a moment before pulling his semi-hard cock from you, the evidence of your combined enjoyment trickling in the wake of its removal. You’ve never let anyone do that to you before, but with Gale it felt… right. Natural. As long as things continue between you, you know you can’t go back to using condoms; you’d miss these sensations too much.

Gale sits up then, kissing one of your knees before gently massaging your thigh. ‘Do you think you can walk to the bathroom so you can see my work in all its glory, or shall I bring the mirror to you?’ You’re shocked he can move after what just transpired between you; your legs are still twitching from the aftershocks.

Still, you sit up, your body groaning in protest. ‘You might need to help me get to the bathroom. You damn near bent me in half just a moment ago.’ Even as you say the words, you can’t help but hope he’ll put you in that position again, before the weekend is over…

Ever the gentleman, Gale stands, grabbing your hands and pulling you to your feet. ‘It seems I’m responsible for a few other ailments, too. I can attend to the slight chafing on your wrists in the bath later.’ He kisses your wrists in apology before leading you into the bathroom, where you know a mirror awaits you so you can see his handiwork.

Yet as he positions you in front of it, you can only giggle. ‘Gale… you do realise all the writing is backwards now, right?’ The sheepish look of the Gale in the mirror is enough to make you laugh in earnest, your partner so excited to show off his handiwork that he overlooked the finer details.

It’s only when he starts to look genuinely mortified that you collect yourself, resting your foot against the side of his bathtub so you can examine the inner thigh he scribbled on while you were blindfolded. ‘It’s okay, Gale. At least I know I’m ‘eldabeerd’, whatever that means. How long will it take to fade?’ You’ll have to avoid wearing anything low cut and any dresses for a day, that’s for sure.

Gale quickly seems to snap out of his chagrin. ‘A few days, depending on if you choose to exfoliate. I would take care not to show any of the writing in public, especially the one on your midriff.’ You don’t need to ask him why that one needs to be kept secret; his signature on such an intimate part of you would be a very clear giveaway that the two of you are having an affair of sorts.

You trace your fingers of his signature, your thoughts drifting back to mere moments ago. Maybe you’re not the only one hoping that your time together will last? Gale is undeniably an attractive man- not to mention his brilliant mind or his legendary bedroom skills- but he also has precious little in the way of self-esteem, despite catering an entire evening around ridding you of your own issues surrounding it. You can’t even begin to imagine how much courage it took for him to reach out to someone who expressed an interest in him, or how eager he’d be to do it again. Maybe, somewhere in his mind, he’s having the same thoughts as you.

Maybe he’s in no rush to end things, and maybe there’s a tiny part of him yearning for something more.

Your reflection blushes back at you. No, you’re not thinking that. He might be, but you’re certainly not! This is just sex. That’s the only thing you’re here for. The jealousy you felt over Tara was just you wanting to keep a good thing going, and the yearning you feel… it’s not even that. You’re mistaken. It’s just a physical thing.

But if that’s the case, why did things feel different tonight? The way you coiled around each other, desperate to be one…

No. You’re not going to explore these feelings. Not with Gale here. If he really is just in it for the sex, unwanted feelings will have him ending things in a heartbeat. Besides, he has a toxic ex on his plate already. You can’t burden him with your own treacherous emotions! Things can just continue as they are; you meet up, you fuck, you go back to being practical strangers. That’s the only way this works.

… Isn’t it?

Chapter Text

You never quite manage to figure out everything Gale scribbled on you last month.

You give it your best attempt, but much to your disappointment, it faded long before you had the chance to go over each section in detail. However, from what you did manage to pick out, you’ve been able to conclude a few things;

First and foremost, Gale seems to be utterly enraptured by your body. Every crease, every blemish, every so-called imperfection to him is a treasure. He even went as far as to circle a favourite mole of yours, something that had made you giggle; trust him to find a way to inject such levity into what you assumed was a serious mission of his.

Second, he seems to have accidentally let slip his favourite part of you; your thighs. While your entire leg had been annotated (including a small note calling you his own personal Achilles heel, located on the eponymous tendon itself), your thighs had entire paragraphs scattered on them. The way they feel underneath his fingertips, how much he loves to wrap them around his hips or throw them over his shoulders, the light bruising he causes when his passions run beyond his desire to be gentle… It was also on your thigh that you found the most surprising word of all, nestled in between all of his poetical waxing; breedable.

It seems your darling Professor has been holding something back.

Honestly, Gale apparently having a bit of a breeding kink is surprising. He waited until you’d been taking birth control for almost a full month before screwing you without a condom. You would have thought he’d get off on the idea of being just that little bit too eager, and your metaphorical guard being down, but it seems that if he is interested in such a thing, his common sense outweighed his desires. If that is the case, you’re grateful; you’d like to avoid any accidents like that until you’re done with education.

Even with that in mind, it doesn’t mean you’ll deny him the chance to finish inside you. You’re fast becoming addicted to the feeling of having sex without barriers. Every time Gale spills himself inside you, your head buzzes with excitement, and your entire body grips him with all its might. You’re beginning to wonder if you’re getting off on the incredibly small risk yourself, as stupid as it sounds; you don’t want to have the child of a man that you’re only seeing for sex, even if it is Gale.

Though thinking of sex makes your mind snap back to your current reality, as dull as it is; it’s your final lecture of the day, and you’re already so bored you’re tempted to feign illness to get out of it.

It doesn’t help that this week has been particularly stressful. After four months, you’re finally getting a whole seven days away from this place, but at a cost; this entire week has been full of tests and assessments, and it’s made you so anxious you’re beginning to wish you had twice the amount of time away.

Things may have been a little easier on you if you’d tried to use your relationship with your professor as a way to access information about the testing ahead of time, but you couldn’t do that. Whatever is happening outside of education has no business mixing with what’s inside it. He rarely ever mentions it when you’re alone, and you don’t like to bring up either, partially because you feel the lightest trace of guilt over what Gale could lose if anyone ever found out…

Still, as hard as it’s been, there is at least an upside; you’re not the only one with a free week. While it’s true that Gale will probably have marking to do, he can do that from the comfort of his own home, and when that’s over… well, you know a perfect cure for boredom.

Just thinking about it makes you shift in your seat a little, Professor Ancunin’s voice sounding further away than ever. You’re pretty sure Gale is done with his lectures today, so you could always send him a playful text… or five. Just to let him know that you’re thinking about him, and all the sinful things you can get up to next week.

Trying not to draw too much attention to yourself, you bring out your phone, taking advantage of the fact you’re sitting behind two much larger classmates to hide the device from your professor. ‘Can I ask you a question?’ That should catch his attention, and seem innocent enough if he’s left his phone unattended somewhere; you don’t want to risk getting him into trouble over a horny text.

You get a reply in seconds. ‘Technically, that is a question, but I suppose I’ll let you have another one. Just one, mind.’ Gods, but you want this man to argue semantics between your thighs. Just thinking about his talented tongue has you wanting to rush straight over to his office and give him a much better end to his working day.

Instead, you settle for sending another text. ‘How much of next week are you planning to spend with your cock inside me?’ In your mind's eye you can picture Gale taking a mouthful of tea- slightly smug after correcting you- only to paint the desk with it after reading your message.

Unfortunately, Gale is far too composed for that, as evidenced by the fact you don’t have to wait long to hear back from him. ‘With all the marking I have to finish, only half as much time as I’d like to. Is this you fishing for an invitation to mine tonight?’ He should know by now that even having a week of freedom won’t steer you away from your current routine; if your Friday night doesn’t involve you finding your way into your lover’s bed, then it’s a bitter disappointment.

Making sure no one is watching you still, you reply. ‘That depends. Can you make some time for me? I’ll make it more than worth your while to abandon your paperwork for an evening.’ If you weren’t in a public place, you’d be tempted to pull your shirt down and snap a pic of the tops of your breasts for his private enjoyment.

Gale answers. ‘I think I have a better idea. How would you like an entire evening with my mysterious alter-ego? I warn you now, I’ll need to set some ground rules with you, but I know you expressed an interest in him before, and I think I’ve delayed this long enough.’ You hope no one notices how red your cheeks have become, because you don’t want any uninvited questions; an evening with ‘Sir’. You were beginning to wonder if this would ever happen.

Despite what he said the night of the body writing, Gale backtracked on his idea of showing off his devious persona. He said the timing felt wrong, that he wasn’t sure how well you’d react; you’re not sure what’s changed in the weeks since then, but if he truly feels comfortable with this…

You don’t hesitate to answer. ‘I’ll follow whatever rules you give me, and if you want to back out at any point, you can. The safeword is there for both of us.’ Not that you’ve ever put Gale in a position to need it before, but you hope your reassurance will help him overcome the struggle his reluctance seems to hint at.

The next message from Gale takes longer to arrive. ‘Alright, ground rules. For this to work, I’ll need to be in-character until we’re done, so unless you decide to end the session, you must address me as Sir, or be punished for your disobedience.

‘Furthermore, I want you to arrive on time, fed and watered enough to get straight into the more entertaining aspects of the evening.

‘Finally, I want a list of your hard limits. I should have asked for one a while ago, but alas, I’ve been having so much fun that it slipped my mind. Of course, you’re still free to stop me- or Sir- from doing anything you’re uncomfortable with at any time, but it would be good to have some guidelines to work with.’ Professor Ancunin coughs, and your eyes snap up to him, only to realise he just has a tickle in your throat; as if your heart needed another reason to beat out of control right now.

Now you know you’re not in trouble, you take a few moments to let Gale’s demands sink in before you answer him. ‘It’s harder to think of things I wouldn’t let you do to me, but I’ll try my best. I can’t wait to meet Sir.’ You don’t know what tonight is going to bring, but there is one thing you know for sure; this lecture is going to go on forever!

With Gale not messaging back, you’re forced to at least feign paying attention to your current lecture, even if you’d rather be doing something- someone- else right now. Still, you doubt you’re the only one thinking that, if rumours are to be believed; sounds like Professor Ancunin has been getting it on with the biology professor. While you don’t particularly care, it does make you just a little jealous. They won’t get into any trouble, if the rumours are true, but if people found out about you and Gale, it would be the end for him…

Is it cruel of you, to want to keep things going with him? If it all comes out, you probably won’t face too many consequences. You might be labeled a whore until you graduate, and you may have to retake a few tests to prove you weren’t fucking him to get better grades, but that’s nothing compared to losing your career and having your reputation torn to shreds. Gale is taking all the risks here, for you and for sex. You just wish you understood why.

If the two of you were more, you could understand it, but with a hidden timer on your affair, you’d think it’s not even worth it to him. His future is on the line with each text, each secret smile, each night spent together. Would it be wrong of you to hope that maybe he’s starting to see this as more than just a temporary thing? That at some point, he might want more than stolen moments and separate homes?

The answer leaves a bitter taste in your mouth; it is wrong to hope, and furthermore, you’re breaking your own rules by thinking it. This was only ever supposed to be about sex. Damn Gale for being just as amazing outside of the bedroom as he is inside. You’re not even sure if you’re truly looking forward to tonight- as much as you asked to meet Sir- because you’ll miss out on those precious moments before you head to bed that your partner really seems to open up to you. To show you pieces of his past that you want to scoop up and protect for him at all costs so that one day, you can present them to him, and prove to him just how much you care, how much you-

Your mental tirade is interrupted by the door to the lecture hall opening, and a familiar face entering. ‘Pardon the intrusion, but could I borrow a pencil sharpener? Mine managed to snap as I was using it. The plastic casing, I hasten to clarify. I haven’t quite gathered up enough strength to break metal.’ This explains why you never got an answer back. Does Gale know this is your lecture, or is this some kind of strange coincidence?

Professor Ancunin rolls his eyes, but tosses your lover a sharpener regardless. ‘Honestly, Gale. Would it kill you to feign competency for just one day? Some of us actually become teachers to teach, not to play around with pencils and be a general nuisance.’ A few of your classmates chuckle, and you fight the tidal wave of anger rising from your gut. That was completely uncalled for! How dare he speak to Gale like that?!

Despite your best efforts, you can’t hold your tongue for more than a few moments. ‘It’s hardly his fault his sharpener broke. You were ten minutes late to our lecture yesterday because you couldn’t get your hair the way you liked it, but none of us called you names!’ Everyone turns to look at you in stunned silence, including Gale; clearly his arrival here was just a coincidence.

A flash of pale pink dusts Professor Ancunin’s cheeks. ‘Yes, well, I… Oh, whatever. I wouldn’t expect any of you to understand the sacrifices I make for perfection. Now, if Professor Dekarios would leave us be, you’re still mine for another half an hour.’ You’re honestly surprised you weren’t screamed at for that, but you’ll take it; you’d rather not have a mark against your personal record for verbally thrashing a teacher, as deserved as it was.

Gale steps back a few times, placing his hands up in mock surrender. ‘I understand completely, and thank you for your generous assistance. Oh, by the way, I bumped into Professor Silverbough on the way here. Poor man seems to have a rather unusual gait at the moment. Quite similar to the way you were walking last week, in fact. I do hope we don’t have an endemic on our hands. Or rather, in our trousers.’ He walks away before Professor Ancunin can retort, earning him twice the snickers his temporary rival’s comments earned.

Your professor has to fight to take control of the class after that, his blush deepening further all the while. Not that you’re paying much attention, of course. You’re too busy freaking out, now that the dust has settled; it was a mistake to make an outburst like that.

What if people think you have a crush on Gale? That could lead to rumours, and rumours have a nasty habit of evolving into gossip, and then gospel, and then that reaches the heads of staff and…

No. You’re catastrophising. The most anyone will think is that you’re some kind of sycophant, and you’re fine with that. Even if they do think you have a crush on him, that’s not exactly a crime, and you doubt you’re the only one. It’ll all be fine. You just hope Gale isn’t so embarrassed by you fighting his battles for him that he decides to call your evening off entirely.

Your heart stops as your phone informs you of a message, only to beat again when you open it. ‘Don’t bother wearing underwear tonight. It’ll only get ruined.’ It seems safe to assume that Gale is more horny than angry, something that does little to calm you; it just makes you anxious for an entirely different reason.

You just hope ‘Sir’ has you riding his cock until sunrise, because right now, that’s the only thing on your mind.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

You decide to eat dinner as soon as you make it home, giving it time to settle in your stomach before your meeting with Sir. After confirming a time and arranging a lift for an entire ten minutes before said time, you spend your time picking out something to wear that will really rile up your partner, eventually settling on a dress that cuts off just above your knees, and a pair of strappy heels. Your thinking behind the dress is that it’s short enough to tease, but not so short you risk exposing the fact that you’re completely naked underneath it; that’s something nobody but Gale ever needs to know.

The actual drive to Gale’s house is as uneventful as always, but nerves still tangle in your guts. You have no idea what to expect tonight, other than the fact it’ll be intense; you’ll probably end up with a strange gait of your own, even if you won’t be around anyone who will notice- when you’re not having sex, you’ll be at home studying instead.

The car comes to a stop at its normal place just a few minutes before the time Gale gave you, and after paying the driver, you make your way up to the door, only to find it slightly ajar with a note attached.

It reads ‘Enter, lock the door, go upstairs, and enter the second door on the right.’ Assuming the note is for you, you do as instructed, letting yourself inside before turning the key in the lock. You hang your bag on the stairs as always, but don’t take off your shoes; they can take a while to remove, and you don’t want to risk being late.

As you ascend the stairs, you take in a few deep breaths, your body finally starting to relax a little. You’ve been to this place so many times that it’s starting to feel like a second home, one with many positive memories attached; now, you’re off to make one more. You get the feeling this isn’t going to be a night you forget in a hurry.

Reaching the second door to the right, you find it closed, the faint glow under the door the only indication that anyone is even inside. Deciding not to risk being rude, you tap your knuckles firmly against the wood, before listening intently for an answer.

You hear Gale’s voice from the other side, though it sounds deeper than usual. ‘Enter.’ With a confident smile, you swing the door open, your eyes immediately fixing on your lover. He’s… fully dressed, and sitting at his desk, the stack of paper on it illuminated by a lamp. He doesn’t even bother turning his head to look at you, too absorbed in his work to even make the effort.

Yet the moment you fold your arms and huff, Gale’s head whips around to glare at you so fast you flinch. ‘I don’t owe you my attention. You have to earn it, and right now, you’re doing a very poor job of it. Come here.’ He snaps his fingers, and points to a spot beside his chair. Your heels click as you carefully make your way over to him, doing your best to maintain eye contact.

When you reach your designated spot, Gale smirks, his eyes drinking you in. ‘Polite enough to knock, and able to follow basic instructions? Not a total loss, then. Take your dress off.’ The way he talks is so cold and calculated that if you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t think that it was the same man you’ve been seeing for months if you didn’t know better.

You nod, tugging at the zip of your dress. ‘As you wish, Sir.’ You allow the dress to fall from your body and pool around your heels, your body now bare for Gale to appreciate. You try your best to keep your arms to the side so he can see everything, but the intensity of his gaze has your hands twitching with the need to cover up.

Gale- Sir- reaches out to you, cupping one of your breasts. ‘Not bad.’ He pinches your nipple, making you yelp in response. ‘Unfortunately for you, I’m a busy man tonight. If you want me to entertain you, you’ll have to do something for me first.’ He cups the now-apparent bulge in his trousers, and you understand what he wants; looks like you’ll be earning your pleasure with your mouth tonight.

With your task apparent, you make your move, slipping in between Gale’s chair and his desk before falling to your knees. ‘Anything for you, Sir.’ Taking the initiative, you work on the fastenings of Gale’s trousers, deliberately brushing his bulge with the backs of your fingers until his hips buck for you. His cock springs forth the moment you pull down the waistband of his underwear, and you can’t resist licking the tiny bit of precum gathering at the tip; looks like you’re not the only one that got excited for tonight.

Papers shuffle on the desk above you before Gale grabs a handful of your hair, pulling your face straight into his cock. ‘Tease me again, and I’ll spend the rest of the night repaying you in kind.’ With the message well and truly received, you open your mouth wide, moaning as your lover doesn’t hesitate to start fitting his cock inside it.

Grabbing Gale’s thighs for purchase, you set an easy pace, trying to gage how much of him you can fit in your mouth at once. The second he makes you gag, you know you’ve reached your limit; now you can begin sucking cock in earnest.

However, before you get a chance to set the pace, Gale makes your head freeze in place with his grip on you. ‘Ah ah ah, this simply won’t do. You need to be trained to take me better.’ With his freehand, your lover goes back to shuffling his papers, before you hear the click of a pen; is he really going to work with you like this?

Your answer comes in the form of Gale humming to himself. ‘I’m starting to think my students are hopeless. If I knew I’d have to read through a five thousand word essay on where the optimal place to insert the F word into each of Tolkien’s major works is, I’d have refused the offer. Still, some points to them for originality, and for including The Silmarillion.’ Tears prick in the corners of your eyes as you try to move, wanting to prove that you can give him so much more pleasure with just a little more freedom.

Gale’s hips move as he shifts in his seat, his cock slipping a little deeper until you gag on it. ‘Breathe through your nose. I want to see how long you can hold it.’ You try to switch your focus to your breathing, but it’s difficult, especially with the scent of your lover filling your nose with each olfactory intake. If he keeps this up much longer…

Drool collects at the corner of your mouth as your gag reflex finally starts to desensitise a little. The taste of Gale’s cock coats your tongue so perfectly that you can’t help but moan with satisfaction, proud of yourself for accommodating such an unexpected desire of his.

The grip on your head tugs it back, alleviating the pressure at the back of your mouth. ‘That was a promising start to your training, but I think we’ve wasted enough time. Place your knees either side of my legs.’ The points on your heels scratch against your skin for a moment as you position yourself as intended, quickly realising Gale’s intent; with your knees spread like this, you can’t rub your legs together for stimulation.

With Gale’s grip being so weak, you try to pull your head back to speak, shocked when he allows you to get away with it. ‘Please let me suck your cock, Sir. A reward after the fact will only make my training easier.’ The sharp inhale of breath your lover takes at that makes you want to slide a hand between your legs, even if that will mostly likely only cause him to punish you.

Gale nods, looking a little more flustered than normal. ‘Fine, but only use your mouth. I want your hands teasing your nipples at all times.’ You surge your head forward before he’s even had time to finish his sentence, taking his cock right up to the back of your aching throat before settling into an easy pace, locking eyes with him as you start playing with your breasts.

For a moment, it looks like Gale is going to try to go back to his work, but he is quick to abandon it, relaxing into his chair as you work his length. ‘Gods, the things you do for me, I… I-I expect nothing less from a slut! That’s it, let me use you for all your worth you worthless… um…’ His face turned redder than you’ve ever seen before, almost causing your pace to falter in surprise. You thought Sir was supposed to be the ruthless alter-ego, but if that’s the case, why does he seem less confident than ever?

You don’t get a chance to ask when Gale starts to thrust his hips up, covering his face with his free arm as his other hand refuses to relinquish its grip on your hair. An almost pathetic whimper escapes his lips before a muttering of your name, one filled more with tenderness than authority.

Meanwhile, a distance sense of embarrassment tugs at the back of your mind, as you realise the constant stimulation of your nipples- coupled with being almost drunk on the feeling of Gale using your mouth for his own selfish pleasure- has your neglected cunt weeping for him, threatening to stain the floor beneath you. If you could only show him how much you want him, you could ruin Gale in an instant…

The closest thing you get to a warning before Gale erupts in your mouth is another weak cry of your name, and you almost choke on the sheer quantity of his release. He must have been neglecting his needs all week waiting for this, assuming he had planned tonight in advance; you swallow every last drop with a purr, even going so far as to lick his cock clean as he finally pulls it from your mouth.

It takes a few moments for Gale to calm down enough to talk, his chest heaving and his shirt now covered in sweat patches. ‘Straddle my thigh. Now.’ Your legs feel weak from being bent and spread, but you clamber into position anyway, the chair creaking thanks to your added weight.

You keep your hands on your breasts as you lean forwards, bringing your lips to Gale’s ear. ‘You should take your trousers off fully, Sir. I’m so fucking wet right now I worry I’ll ruin them completely.’ One of Gale’s fingers slips between your thighs to validate your claim, only for the man himself moans as his finger slips over your clit and between your labia with ease.

Gale examines his finger as he pulls it away from you. ‘Filthy girl. Fortunately for you, these trousers need a wash, so wipe yourself off on them.’ You don’t need to be told twice, already shifting a little until you can find the best angle from which to grind against his leg. It would be easier if you could brace yourself on his shoulders, but you’re reluctant to move your hands for fear of being denied release.

So, you do your best to thrust your hips forward, exhaling sharply as pleasure darts right through you. Trying to set a pace using just your legs and hips is difficult, but that doesn’t matter; right now, even an uneven friction is delicious. Not even the limited purchase your heels gives you make the slightest bit of difference; the only one who could control you with any amount of control is Gale,

You lock eyes with Gale, hoping he can see the ecstasy building inside you. ‘I could grind on your thigh all day, sir. I just wish it was your cock instead. It feels like such a waste, wiping all my juices off on you when you could be taking advantage of them to fuck me so deep you leave an impression of your cockhead on my cervix.’ You try not to wince as you imagine how painful that would be in reality, not wanting to take away from the fantasy.

Gale gives you a breathy laugh, his half-hard cock twitching. ‘You’ll be receiving my cock again soon enough. Though really, I should punish you. I had all these plans to work on marking while I kept your mouth full, but you derailed them completely. You better put on a pretty show for me to make things right.’ He slips his thumb into your mouth, and you flick it with your tongue, giving it the same treatment you gave to another part of him mere moments ago.

Meanwhile, you try to make a show of playing with your breasts as you struggle to keep your balance, the occasional brush of your nails on your nipples causing you to flinch and further hinder yourself. Gale’s eyes dart across your body faster than you can keep up with, trying to drink as much of you in as he can. The sheer desperation reflected in his jewel-like irises excites you more than any kind of stimulation could, and it pushes you even closer to your inevitable release. There’s only one thing that could make it better, to have your cunt twitching around nothing as you temporarily lose contact with reality.

Your breath mingles with Gale’s as you rest your forehead against his, struggling against the tide of pleasure reaching a crescendo inside you. ‘Sir… Please, kiss me. I need you to kiss…’ You’re not even allowed to finish your sentence before your lover is locking his lips with your own, his tongue not bothering to ask permission before slipping into your mouth. You reply in kind, abandoning the grip on your breasts so you can cradle his face and keep him close, never wanting the moment to end.

You scream Gale’s name into his mouth as you fall apart on his lap, your leg twitching so hard your heel hits the arm of the chair, snapping off without ceremony. It means less than nothing to you as you feel slender fingers bury themselves in your hair, neither of you willing to let this kiss end without a fight. Even as your breath runs out, and your head begins to spin, you stay firm, your mind trying to capture this moment forever, if only to trick you into thinking this is an act of pure passion, rather than a way to silence you before his neighbours complain about the noise…

It’s Gale that pulls away first, panting desperately. ‘That was… i-it was fine. Sloppy. Do better in the future.’ His cruel words wash over your ecstasy like the coldest of waters, stinging so much that you almost cry in response, lowering your hands from his face. You honestly thought you’d lost your mind for a moment there, and all he can say is that it’s fine?! At least that proves that your fantasies are nothing more than that, if he didn’t feel something then.

And yet… Oh. But this isn’t Gale. It’s Sir. The alter-ego he’s mentioned time and again, and had warned you against. Even so, just hearing such words coming from him feels… wrong. Your lover is many things- especially in the bedroom- but outright cruel? That isn’t one of them. This isn’t right.

Gale gives you a pained look before continuing. ‘For a performance like that, I suppose I’ll have to punish you. A few slaps on your whorish backside might correct your behaviour.’ The words seem so alien on his tongue, and he looks… uncomfortable. Like he’s hurting himself with each careless syllable far more than he’s hurt you. The only question is why?

The answer hurts more than his words ever could; it’s because you wanted to see Sir. He’s doing this for you, even if he hates it. He’s broken his own rule, trying to please you; he hasn’t used the safeword, even though he’s no longer having fun.

As the realisation sinks, you know there’s only one thing you can do. ‘Iambic. I want Gale back, right now. Please.’ You cup his cheek, trying to offer him some form of comfort. Will he even listen to you? You might have used your word, but he probably thinks you’re doing this out of pity, rather than concern…

Gale sighs earnestly, breaking character in an instant before covering your hand with his own. ‘I’m sorry. My heart just… I can’t be Sir with you, no matter how much either of us might want it. You don’t deserve such cruel treatment. Tying you up and teasing you is one thing, but this… Forgive me. I didn’t realise it would affect me like this.’ There’s a deeper issue here, one that he’s never fully touched on. You’re sure it has something to do with his ex- a bitch you plan to slap in her stupid face if you ever get the chance- but past that, you’re unsure you can even begin to guess.

Instead, you settle for kissing his forehead, trying to ignore the slight chill brushing over your bare body. ‘You should have told me, Gale. You can’t promise me you’ll stop no matter what but then put yourself through something you’re not comfortable with. You have to be open with me, or this can’t continue, and that is the last thing in the world that I want.’ A tear lands on Gale’s cheek, and it takes you a moment to realise that it’s one of your own, trickling down your lover’s face before disappearing down his neck.

The soft smile Gale gives you almost makes you sob. ‘You surprise me, you know? I’ve never had anyone quite like you in my life. Someone who appreciates who I am, not just what I can do. It’s refreshing- not to mention enlightening- but also terrifying in a way. It has me thinking of my past more often than I care to, and seeing it in a light I never thought I would. Thank you for that.’ He leans forward and kisses your chin, sighing into your skin.

You hum. ‘Funny. I’ve been thinking that nobody has ever appreciated me the way you do, either. I guess that’s why I felt so uncomfortable, when you insulted me as Sir…’ With your post-orgasmic bliss all but gone, guilt blooms in your gut. You should have never mentioned an interest in Sir. It’s only caused both of you hurt.

As if sensing your true feelings, Gale wraps his arms around you, cradling you as best he can with you straddling one of his legs. ‘While we’re being so transparent with each other, I almost called the whole thing off after what transpired with Professor Ancunin earlier. I’ve spent so long as a proverbial punching bag that I almost fainted when someone decided to fight in my corner for once. I suppose that’s all the more reason to salvage tonight, if you’ll let me?’ You aren’t sure what he means by that. As far as your carnal activities are concerned, you’re pretty certain your uttering of the safeword has completely put an end to things.

So you pull back, shooting Gale a look of confusion. ‘What did you have in mind?’ Part of you really hopes he’s going to suggest bathing together, followed by a night of you being cocooned in his arms, but there are some fantasies that are too extreme even for him.

Gale gives you a wicked grin. ‘Well, you may have banished Sir with the utterance of your magic safeword, but Gale Dekarios is still very much with you, and hyperaware of the state of things between your heavenly thighs. I don’t suppose you’d allow me to clean you up, would you? I promise you, my tongue is far softer than any towel or cloth could ever be, and far more thorough.’ The look of hunger in his eyes kills any thoughts you might have had in regards to turning him down, not to mention the fact that he’s got a point; you’re a mess down there right now.

So you stand up, immediately regretting your decision as you collapse into a heap on the floor, forgetting about your busted high heel. ‘Fuck!’ You lay down on the ground and you rub your lower back, hoping you haven’t done any real damage.

Your lover seems caught between mirth and concern, eventually settling for falling to his knees and settling between your legs, his trousers and underwear slipping to his knees. ‘Oh dear. What am I going to do with you?’ He takes one of your ankles into his hands, making surprisingly quick work of the straps. ‘Please be careful. There’s only one of you, after all. You’re utterly irreplaceable, and should be cherished at all times.’ He kisses your leg before moving onto your next heel, removing it just as effortlessly as its twin before placing his hands on your calves, stroking them slowly.

You shift on the floor, the pain in your back easing. ‘So are you, Gale. You better take your own advice to heart, or I’ll break into your house one night with a roll of tape and all the bubble wrap I can find.’ Your lover chuckles at that before crawling forwards, taking the time to nuzzle and kiss your legs in random places as he goes.

When he reaches your mid-thigh, Gale sighs, resting his cheek on the sensitive skin there. ‘I could live for another fifty years, and still I’m certain I’d never find a more comfortable place than this. It feels like coming home, even if I do need to get the mop out on this occasion.’ With that, he tilts his head, licking your thigh with a broad sweep of his tongue.

His touch makes you giggle and sigh in the same moment, the latter overtaking the former as he gets closer to your exposed core. ‘I think my cunt is more like a second home to you at this point. Sure, you have to knock, but you’re always free to come inside.’ Your cheeks heat up, the double meaning between your words only just dawning on you; what is Gale going to think of you, accidentally making a joke of sorts when you were trying to be seductive?!

Gale’s back arches up before he rests his head on the floor between your legs, his whole body shaking. You sit up fast- worried that he’s having some kind of attack- only to hear the familiar sound of laughter pouring from his mouth, only broken by the sound of him gasping for breath.

The sound of Gale’s laugher- combined with the unfortunate timing- has you join in with a few uncontrollable chuckles of your own, your breasts wobbling a bit as you both give into the unexpected hilarity of the moment. You’re sure you’ve said plenty worse during sex in the past, but it’s never affected him like it has tonight; it’s probably wise to accept that, despite your lover’s best efforts- neither of you are in the mood for sex tonight.

With that in mind, you wait until Gale calms down before you stand on aching legs, offering him a hand up. ‘I think you’d be better off cleaning me with a rag and some water, as soft as your tongue is.’ Your gesture earns you a small look of appreciation before Gale takes your hand, getting onto his feet before rubbing his kneecaps and hissing to himself.

You’re about to ask if he’s okay, but he waves a hand dismissively. ‘Must be a storm coming. If you’d like to wait for me in the bedroom, I’ll go and fetch more appropriate cleaning materials.’ You give him a peck on the cheek before heading to his room, the familiar sight of his bed bringing unexpected warmth into your heart. There’s nothing you’d like more than to curl up underneath his sheets, but that’ll have to wait; you can hear Gale coming back to you.

Sitting on the bed and spreading your legs, you smile up at Gale, taking note of the damp washcloth in his hands and the fact he’s now ditched his clothes entirely. ‘You have an en-suit, you know. You could have just taken it from there.’ Wouldn’t be the first time he’s done that, either; he never likes leaving you alone for long after sex. It’s one of the many things you’ve come to appreciate about him.

Gale leans over and starts to get to work, the water saturating the cloth semi-warm and comforting. ‘I needed a moment to compose myself. That’s twice tonight I’ve ruined the mood, but I assure you, this is a one-off. Next time you grace me with your presence, I’ll make sure it’s worth your while.’ He kisses your knee when he’s done, before walking over to his bathroom door and tossing the used fabric into the bath to be dealt with later.

Now clean, you shuffle up the bed, resting your head against the pillows. ‘It’s okay, Gale. You don’t always have to give me multiple orgasms for me to feel satisfied. And don’t ever feel you have to have me over if you’re not in the mood for sex. I don’t have to come over every week if you’re busy or just not feeling it.’ Have there been other nights when he’s felt like this, and just not mentioned it? Just thinking about it makes your stomach churn…

Your lover settles next to you on the bed, turning his head to face it. ‘Believe me when I say tonight was the exception, not the rule. I crave these nights we share together, and even having you over for a round of disappointing sex is better than sleeping alone. I just put myself into a position I would have done better to avoid, and I know now that it was a mistake. I will not be repeating it, if it’s all the same to you.’ Even if it didn’t make him actively uncomfortable, you wouldn’t request Sir again. Not when you could have Gale instead. You just wish you knew why tonight has troubled him so deeply.

Cautiously, you reach out to him, placing your palm over his chest. ‘Do you want to talk about it? I won’t push you, but I want to understand you better so you’re never put in a position like this again. Your feelings matter to me just as much as mine do to you.’ His heart rate quickens under your palm, and you know you’ve hit a nerve of some kind; you can only hope that’s not a bad thing.

Gale sighs. ‘Back when I was a student, I was much like you. I had a small string of relationships that never lasted long because of my studies, and I was fine with that. I was so determined to make a future for myself that my happiness in the moment seemed like an afterthought. Then, in my final year, I met her. Mystra, I mean. And I was so captivated by her that even my future seemed like an afterthought. All that mattered was her and I, and the time we spent together.’ You can already feel the pain radiating from him as he breaks for a moment, taking in a deep breath.

Instead of interjecting, you allow him his moment, waiting for him to continue. ‘I was a student, in my final year, and she was my professor. From the moment I walked in and saw her, I knew that I would love her. It was such a forgone conclusion that I didn’t even try to fight it. Even when I heard rumours that she was locked in an affair with another professor of mine, nothing changed. I’ve always been terrible at controlling my heart’s direction, something Tara has pointed out to me more than once.’ He gives you a sad smile then, and for a moment, you’re not sure he’s even talking about Mystra.

The moment fades, and Gale carries on, tracing his fingertips over the back of your hand. ‘Mystra took notice of me academically within days of meeting me, which is hardly a surprise. I’ve always been something of a know-it-all, a fact I’m sure hasn’t escaped your rather brilliant mind. Within a month, she was tutoring me, and within half a year… I was meeting with her to do far more than study. I fell hard, just as I knew I would, and she never gave me any indication that she felt any different.’ A shiver runs through you as you consider just how easily this could be the story of your affair with him, if you hadn’t already hooked up before you knew who he was…

Gale takes a deep breath. ‘It’s all-too easy to tell people I’m married to my job, and few ever question me when I do. The life of a professor is a demanding one, after all, and even in the early days of my career I was perhaps a little too consumed by it.

‘And yet, those words are a lie. I love my work- truly, I do- but it’s not everything to me. I never wanted to live a life where all I ever did was teach. I wanted a life outside of that. I wanted a wife, a family of my own, and with Mystra… I was so certain that I’d found it. Even then, I was willing to compromise. She told me many times that she isn’t the marrying type, and I was fine with that. It’s little more than a piece of paper at the end of the day, something far less concrete than I perceived her love to be. As for children, I may have pushed the subject a little harder than I should have, and maybe that’s what drove her to do what she did…’ Gale trembles softly, and you remove your hand from his chest to link it with the one resting between you, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Your gesture seems to be enough to give him the strength to continue. ‘One night, she told me that she was finally ready. That she was getting older, and that even though she worried about my own maturity levels, she was ready to have a child. I was delighted, of course. We made love every night for months, talked through every detail of the life we were trying so hard to create. I held her through every failed attempt, did whatever she asked of me, anything to make it work. I was even poked and prodded by doctors, just to make sure I wasn’t the issue.’ You’re curious as to what the doctors said, but now isn’t the time to ask; this tale is about to reach its climax, you can feel it.

Gale grips your hand almost too hard. ‘Then, I saw it. She didn’t even try to hide it. An empty box of birth control tablets, sitting right at the top of the bin. All of it was a lie, and I fell for it. She never wanted a family. She was just going to lie to me until nature took the option away for her.’ He laughs bitterly. ‘It’s funny, really. To me, she was a goddess, someone worthy of worship. But I forgot the number one rule of praying to the gods; they are fickle, and more interested in fuelling their own desires than giving into the so-called whims of mere mortals. I was always willing to compromise on just about anything for her, but her will refused to bend no matter the subject.’ If your head was on his chest right now, you’re certain you’d hear his heart shatter. At least this explains his hesitation when you’d mentioned birth control; he’s been manipulated with it once before, even if it was in the opposite way.

You kiss his shoulder in confort before encouraging him to bend his elbow, allowing you to cuddle his forearm whilst keeping your fingers linked with his. ‘What did you do next?’ You want to offer him words of sympathy, but you worry he might take that as pity, and the last thing you want is to wound his pride on top of all this.

Gale’s head turns to face you, looking at your interlinked fingers. ‘I wish I could say that I walked out and never came back, but that’s a lie. I blamed myself. Told myself it was all my fault, and that it was what I deserved. Still, that didn’t stop resentment growing within my heart, and that’s where Sir comes into all this. Mystra… She likes to be in control, but there were some nights in bed where she would hand the reins over to me. She wanted me to prove to her that I was mature enough to be with a woman like her.

‘To Mystra, maturity means misery, something I eventually came to realise. A total lack of the simple joy over being alive that we are all blessed with at birth. She just wanted a husk to do whatever she said and desired, and in a way, that’s what Sir is. A cruel, twisted persona, fueled by bitterness and lacking joy. I would say it was a way to torment her, if she didn’t enjoy it so much. I think that’s why I couldn’t be Sir for you. While you can be a little bit of a brat at times, you’ve never once wronged me. In fact, you’ve fought in my corner, something she would never have done.’ He kisses your forehead, seeming to brighten up a little even as tears start to form in your eyes. You had no… if you’d known…

Your heart only breaks further when it’s Gale that’s forced to comfort you, brushing alway tears as they start to spill over. ‘Please don’t weep for me. It’s all in the past now. Even if I may have given her what many might call the best of my life, she will take no more, and that’s her doing in more ways than one. It was her pushing me to prove my maturity that drove me to getting a tattoo for her, something that showed her true colours all-too clearly. By the time she sought me out to, and I quote, ‘give me the chance to beg for her forgiveness’, whatever spell she held over me had finally broken. Besides, even if I merely thought about returning to her, Tara and my mother would chastise me until my ears bled.’ You choke out a laugh at that, the tears still flowing uncontrollably from your eyes. To think that anyone could hurt this man like Mystra did, when he did nothing but love her… when the sorrow finally breaks, you know nothing but rage will be left every time you think of her name.

It does raise another issue though, one you’ve been aware of for a while. ‘Is that why you always put yourself down, even as you’re raising me up? Has Mystra’s treatment of you made you think so little of yourself that you’d put me at a much higher level of importance, to the point you’d fake a smile or do something you’re not entirely comfortable with just because you think I want it?’ If that’s the case, you’ll need to do two things. You’ll have to discuss things more thoroughly the next time you have a request, and you’ll need to find a way to improve his confidence, because he doesn’t deserve to feel like this.

Gale nods. ‘I should have known you’d see through me eventually. But then, you’re not entirely correct, either. Watching you fall apart because of something I’ve done excites me in a way I’ve seldom felt before. Knowing I’m the reason your body writhes in pleasure, that I make you lose your mind for the sweetest and most fleeting of moments… I don’t think about my past when I’m with you. Only our present, and the desire to continue this arrangement of ours for as long as you’ll allow.’ If that’s the case, and it’s on your terms, he’ll have an impossible time getting rid of you…

You unlink your fingers so you can nestle your cheek in the palm of his hand. ‘What about the future? Do you still want what Mystra denied you? A wife, a family, that kind of thing?’ If things keep going like that- if you fall for Gale any deeper- you could give him those things. Well, you have little control over children, but marriage? You could happily see yourself becoming Mrs Dekarios, if he ever asked you to.

Your lover shakes his head. ‘No, I don’t think I do. I think my chance at such things has passed me by, but I don’t mind. I’ll take whatever happiness I can find, and cherish it. That being said however, I wonder if we might discuss the immediate future. Next weekend, to be specific. I’m going to be busy marking for most of the week, but… well, I thought it might be nice if you and I could go away together, just for a few days. Of course if you’d rather not, I understand. I just wanted to put the idea out there and see what you think.’ A few days alone with Gale sounds like a dream, even if you will probably have to spend a bit of the time studying…

Reaching forward, you tuck a few strands of Gale’s hair behind his ear, letting your touch linger for a moment. ‘That sounds like heaven. It’ll be nice, getting to spend more time together. You’re as good company outside of the sheets as you are in them, after all.’ That, and getting to know him might trigger some deeper feelings in him that can match your own growing fondness, but you know you can’t count on it; he could be taking you away just to fuck you in peace for a few days.

Gale takes the opportunity to grab your hand and kiss your wrist, a wry smile on his face. ‘That’s either a huge compliment, or a terrible slight against my performance in the bedroom. For the sake of my pride, I’m going to tell myself it’s the former.’ You both laugh softly at his joke, even if you know you should be chastising him. However, words just feel… wrong right now. What use is talking when you could just lay here and lose yourself in his eyes, and all the emotions swirling within them? Maybe- if you look hard enough- you’ll be able to see for yourself exactly how he feels about you. About your relationship. About the future he once pictured for himself.

Maybe this weekend away will give you the strength you need to show him a few hidden emotions of your own, but you’ll need to tread carefully. Knowing that his heart has been broken once before- that he’s been broken countless times before- just makes you want it all the more. To treasure it, so that from now on, it knows nothing but love.

Love?

It feels too soon to think of love, but what other word is there for what you’re starting to feel for him? You’re falling in love with him, and you have no control over it. If you did, you’d stop it before it became too strong, but you can’t. Part of you wonders if this is the same sense of inevitability as Gale felt in his youth, but you know it’s different. You know if he told you he felt the same, he’d mean it; he would not play with your emotions the same way someone tortured his own. You know that to be true with all your heart.

You just hope he’d be willing to trust you with his heart in the same way, if you ever have the courage to say these thoughts out loud.

Chapter Text

The week seems to cruise by faster than it has any right to, especially with all the work and study you’ve had to do. If the entire point of giving the students time off was for them to relax, the education system is truly broken beyond repair; you feel more stressed out now than you did before your time off.

Still, it’s all going to be worth it; in exactly one hour, Gale is coming to collect you and your suitcase for a wonderfully cheeky getaway, to a locale far enough away that you won’t have to worry about being seen together in public, should you choose to dine out.

Then again, you’re not naive enough to think that this is a romantic getaway. With your current arrangement still very much in place, having a few uninterrupted days with him can only mean one thing; sex, and a lot of it. You’re going to feel sore and thoroughly used for weeks, and it’s going to be incredible.

Even if that is the case, there’s still something gnawing at you, heart and soul. It’s getting harder to deny even to yourself that you’ve caught feelings for him, in those tender moments between countless acts of passion. One day soon, you just know your emotions are going to get the better of you, so you want to do things on your own terms. If you can drop in a little hint that you want more than just sex from him, and see how he reacts, then you can decide how to proceed. If you want to commit to him- to do the one thing you said you didn’t want to do, in your final year of study- or you can end this, before your heart gets broken.

So much for a casual fling.

The thought of putting out even a fleeting hint about your true feelings has your stomach in knots already, and it’s almost enough to make you want to back out of this weekend entirely. What if you’re overestimating how Gale feels? He’s impossibly kind, and wonderful to be around, but that doesn’t mean that you’re anything to him other than a piece of meat to be used when the urge takes him. What if he laughs in the face of your confession? Calls you a silly girl that clearly can’t set emotional boundaries in an arrangement she presented? So many potential outcomes is a terrible thing when mixed with a fragile heart…

No. You can’t think like that. Surely it is more than just sex for him? You can’t just be imagining all the moments of tenderness between the two of you. This is just your mind spiraling down a path you’d rather it didn’t, especially since you’re spending an entire weekend with the man your mind is going crazy over.

It doesn’t help that you’re not occupying yourself. You’ve just been sitting staring at the wall for the last fifteen minutes, only pausing to sip water or check the clock. If you think about confessing anymore, you’ll make yourself sick. It’s something you’ll just have to do organically, when the mood feels right. Maybe when both your guards are down, laying naked in bed after being at the mercy of his tongue for an hour. When you’re so blissed out that nothing seems impossible, and you can convince yourself that a man like Gale might start to love you.

Just thinking of the ‘L’ word has you standing up, pouring your half-finished water down the sink. You keep fighting against the word, but isn’t that exactly what this is? You’re not a stranger to love- or what you had once thought to be love- but this is… different. Powerful. When you think back to Gale, and what he’d told you about Mystra and the abuse she put him through, you can’t help but wonder what it would be like if you were given the same choices. If your lover asked you to marry tomorrow, would you say yes?

You’re not sure if it’s a good thing that you know for a fact you would. You’d marry Gale without hesitation, and that scares you in a way. The fact that you’re in so deep you wouldn’t have to think about the possibility of spending the rest of your life with him, and maybe even building that family he always dreamt of having…

A knock at your front door catches you off-guard, causing the glass to slip from your hand and smash across the floor, narrowly avoiding your bare feet. Shit, but who is that?! You’re not expecting anyone? That means it’s probably cold-callers of some description, and there’s only one thing for it; you’re going to have to get them out of here before Gale arrives.

Careful not to step on the multitude of glass shards, you make it over to your door, bracing yourself to be polite but firm. ‘I appreciate that it’s your job and all, but I’m actually expe- Oh, Gale! Y-you’re early!’ You can feel your cheeks heat up at the sight of your lover standing before you, clad in the same thing as usual. Did you misread the time when you were organising this? Good thing you’re already packed, or this could have been a little awkward.

Gale beams at you, smile of unabashed delight. ‘I am indeed. I thought I’d surprise you and see if you need any last-moment packing assistance. May I come in?’ You’re already moving aside before he’s finished his question, equal parts eager to see him and hyper aware of the fact that anyone could look over and see your professor entering your abode, potentially bringing up some unwanted questions.

Not that anyone would know he’s your professor specifically at a mere glance, of course, but it’s still better not to take any unnecessary risks.

As you close the door again, Gale looks around, humming to himself. ‘I wish I had an abode like this when I was a student. I spent most of my studies living with my mot- oh, dear. What happened here?’ His eyes fixate on the kitchen floor, shards of broken glass reflecting back at them.

His observation does nothing to calm your flustered mind. ‘O-oh, that was an accident I had earlier. I was just about to clean it up. Please stand back.’ You just need to find something to put on your feet before you do, because you’d rather not start your weekend away with an injury!

Gale shakes his head. ‘Allow me. You’re not exactly dressed for the task right now.’ He looks you up and down, a dilemma forming in your mind. While on the one hand, you don’t feel great about having a guest- a man of great personal importance to you, no less- clean up your mess, if he does do that, you can finish getting ready, and start your holiday almost an hour earlier than planned…

With some degree of reluctance, you gesture to one of the kitchen cupboards. ‘There should be something under there to help you sweep it up. I’m just going to finish getting ready.’ All you really have to do is decide what shoes you’re wearing, pack a spare pair, and then drag your suitcase out of the building and into Gale’s car. Should be easy enough.

Heading to the bedroom, you are caught between two pairs of shoes; trainers or sandals. Since your partner hasn’t specified if you’ll be near a beach or not, sandals seem a little redundant, but it’s better to have them than to want them later. Besides, while they’d go with your current outfit- the tightest jeans you could squeeze into and a top with a neckline that flirts dangerously with the tops of your breasts- trainers will make it easier to move your suitcase around. Oh, and on the off-chance you do dine out, you need to pack heels, in case it’s somewhere classy.

With that now decided, you perch on the bed and slip on some socks and trainers, stopping just short of tying them up when you hear a noise from the kitchen. ‘Ah!’ The exclamation has you rushing straight to the source, only to find Gale with his hand in the sink, cool water stained red as it trickles down the drain.

Seeing Gale injured has you rushing to his side, unphased as the last of the glass crunches underfoot. ‘Did you cut yourself? Let me see.’ Your lover hesitates for a moment, but doesn’t resist when you pull his hand away from the water, allowing you to take a clearer look.

The thin slice across Gale’s hand makes tears prick at your eyes, the knowledge that this is your fault flashing into your mind. ‘I’m so sorry, Gale. I shouldn’t have let you clear the glass! Keep it out of the water for now and let me find my first aid kit.’ You rush over to one of your drawers, glad that you decided to buy such a kit for emergencies just like this one.

Gale sighs, looking a little sheepish as he turns off the water. ‘I thought it would take me longer than five minutes to make an ass of myself today…’ The deflation in his tone upsets you more than the injury does, especially when compared to how excited he was when he turned up at your door.

Pulling out an antiseptic wipe, you clean along the wound, relaxing a little as you finally examine it properly. ‘It doesn’t look too deep, at least. Do you want to get it checked out? I can pay for a ride to the hospital.’ Wound cleaned, you move on to dressing it, trying to recall how to do it properly.

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Gale’s face growing redder. ‘That really won’t be necessary! Besides, you and I have plans, and I’ll be damned if I let a silly little cut get in the way of them. Just let me finish clearing up and we can go.’ You’re about to protest when your lover puts two fingers from his free hand under your chin, forcing you to look at him whilst covering your lips with his thumb. ‘There’s no point in risking an injury to us both. I’m fine. Your concern is deeply appreciated, but not strictly necessary.’ He kisses your forehead then, and your heart thumps against your ribs before you tear your face away from his hand so you can finish bandaging his hand.

When you’re done, you take his injured hand in both of yours, placing a kiss over his wrapped wound. ‘Okay. Sorry that this is how the weekend started. I promise, I’ll make it up to you however you’d like…’ You trail your mouth up until it reaches his middle finger before bringing your tongue into play, dragging it all the way to his nail before taking the tip into your mouth…

Gale swallows thickly. ‘I’m sure that can be arranged. For now, I would appreciate it if you just finished getting ready. At least your little suggestion seems to have sent the rest of my blood traveling south, so I daresay my hand has stopped bleeding now.’ A quick look confirms that your lover isn’t exaggerating; he’s sporting an impressive semi right now, one that you’d like to help him with before you go.

Noticing your intent, Gale boops your nose with one of his fingers. ‘There will be plenty of time for that later. Now go on, finish getting ready. We have a very long weekend ahead of us, and I intend to make the most of it.’ Under different circumstances, you’d argue that now is the perfect time to start the holiday as you mean to go on, but he’s right. You have days to dedicate your time to such a thing. You should focus on tying your shoes and wrestling your suitcase, all the while praying that Gale doesn’t injure himself a second time.

Still, at least this weekend can only get better from here, right?

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

A little while later, as you look up at the gray cloud lurking on the horizon far too close to Gale’s mystery holiday destination, you’re beginning to think that your optimism was misplaced. Even the radio is against you today, telling you time and again that there is a storm coming, one that is set to last the whole weekend; you only hope your home for the next few days is warm and waterproof.

Your concern must show on your face as Gale hums, keeping his eyes focused on the road ahead of him. ‘I don’t suppose you packed a raincoat? An umbrella, perhaps? Shower cap?’ That last one almost makes you laugh. In what world would you pack a shower cap and not an umbrella?

Alas, all three items garner the same response. ‘Nope. I didn’t think I’d need one, to be honest. Not like we’ll be going out much.’ Maybe taking several different kinds of shoes has jinxed you both in some way? Some people do say that travelling with certain things always leads to disaster… But does this mean that Gale was planning to take you out after all?

Gale frowns. ‘I see. I was hoping we’d get the chance to visit some of the local restaurants, but if you’d rather not be seen in public with me, I understand.’ Well, that’s twice now you’ve ruined his day. At least this little misunderstanding is easier to clear up than a broken glass.

You lean your hand over, placing it on his thigh. ‘You know that’s not true, right? I’m happy to be seen at your side, or I would be if circumstances permitted it. I just thought that since you have me all to yourself for a few days… I wouldn’t spend too much time away from the bed.’ The idea of inching your hand closer to his crotch crosses your mind, but you know that would be a mistake; at the rate things are going today, he’d crash the car in a state of distraction.

Yet your lover keeps his focus dead ahead, turning the car left and heading up a dirt road. ‘This isn’t just… I don’t think I have the stamina for that. Though if that’s truly what you want, you know I’m more than happy to work on your body until my tongue is completely numb.’ He chuckles a little, but you know he’s serious; you could never accuse your lover of being anything less than generous in bed.

Before you can answer, you lose your train of thought entirely as the car pulls up in front of an unfamiliar building, but one that you suspect you’ll know very well by the end of your stay; this must be your home for the next few days.

Looking at it brings a smile to your face. Trust Gale to rent out a cozy little cottage for the two of you, just far enough away from the nearest town to be private without being so far away that it’s impractical. The way the roses twist over the trellises on either side of the pathway triggers an almost wistful nostalgia over you, like you’ve seen it before. Perhaps you have, in a fairytale…

Turning the car off, Gale watches you for a moment, taking in your look of awe. ‘I take it the lady approves?’ Gods, but why does your heart hurt so much? This place looks so picturesque and perfect, but it feels… tainted. Like it’s a place meant for true lovers, rather than whatever you and Gale are…

Still, you refuse to let melancholy ruin this for you. ‘It’s perfect! Have the owners hidden a key for us under the plant pot?’ Looking either side of the door, you can’t see a little safe box or the like, so maybe they really have.

Gale fishes a set of keys out of his pocket, grinning. ‘No need for that. I’m on good terms with the owner. Just as well, really, since she’s my mother. Now, why don’t you go off and have a look around while I get our bags sorted?’ He tosses the keys to you then, and you barely catch them, too taken aback by his words. If his mother owns the cottage, does this mean he’s been here before? How often? Did he… did he ever take Mystra here?

The pin of jealousy threatens to burst your rapidly-deflating bubble of joy prematurely. No matter what happens, you always seem to be in that bitch’s shadow. You’d give just about anything to rid Gale of the memory of her- of the abuse he suffered at her hands- but no matter what, she’s always around. Like an unwanted ghost…

Unsurprisingly, Gale notices your look of upset, and rests a hand on your shoulder. ‘It isn’t too late to back out, you know. Just say the word, and I’ll take you straight home without question. If you aren’t comfortable with the idea of being isolated with me like this, I completely understand. I just need you to talk to me.’ Why is he like this? Why does he insist on being so kind and wonderful to you, making your fall for him even harder?

You shake your head, grateful that your tear ducts are behaving themselves for once. ‘It’s not that. It’s nothing, really. Just a stupid thought I had. I’ll be okay in a moment.’ You’re just going to put your unstable emotions down to nerves over telling Gale how you really feel about him. Maybe it would be better in the long run to just blurt them out now and see what happens? Better an awkward ride home now than an awkward ride home after a wonderful weekend.

Gale slides his hand up to cup your cheek. ‘I don’t think you’re capable of having any stupid thoughts, but I won’t push you. If you say you’re happy to stay, that’s good enough for me.’ He flicks your lips with his thumb before leaning away, stretching his arms above his head. ‘It’s been quite some time since Morena last surrendered those keys to me. She’s very particular about who she lets stay here. Doesn’t want negative energies to seep into the woodwork, she says.’ He opens his door then, and you do the same, clutching said keys in your hand.

Appreciating a lungful of fresh air for a moment, you turn to Gale, jingling the keys in your hand. ‘Positive energy it is, then. I’ll see you inside.’ You’ll drive yourself mad before the day is done if you keep lingering on your feelings. You’re certain there will be an opportunity to slip in a confession naturally within the next few days. You just have to wait until it feels right.

As you watch Gale rub at his bandaged hand for a moment before wrestling with a suitcase, you find yourself hoping to get that chance sooner, rather than later.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

After helping yourself to a brief tour of the cottage, you decide to make your way to the kitchen, hoping to lend Gale some kind of assistance today. It had been discussed beforehand in great detail that he’d be the one bringing food for the trip, so he’d asked you what you like before going off and doing the shopping in private. As such, you’re not sure what he settled on in the end, but you’ve sampled his cooking enough times to know that your stomach is in safe hands.

Yet when you reach the kitchen, there’s no sign of Gale; only an open back door, two abandoned suitcases, a box of food, and a trail of what you think are breadcrumbs, leading out of said open door.

The playful gesture has hope rising in your heart again, coupled with those now-familiar stirrings of affection. You were only gone for a moment. Gale must have rushed into the house like a mischievous gust of wind and set this up before you had a chance to catch or question him.

Well, it would be a shame to let this effort go unnoticed.

Careful not to step on too many of the crumbs, you follow the trail left by your lover, catching sight of him at the other end of the garden spreading out a… picnic blanket? Did he prepare lunch in advance?

Gale catches you watching as you approach, smoothing out the edges of the blanket as he talks. ‘Ah. I was hoping you’d be just a little bit longer. Well… surprise! I thought it would be nice to start our private getaway with lunch in the garden. Care to take a seat?’ He gestures for you to settle on the picnic blanket first as he brings over a wicker hamper, a ziplock bag full of breadcrumbs resting on top of it.

The fact that Gale had this all planned out in advance has you grinning like an idiot as you settle down on the blanket, stretching your legs out in front of you. ‘Even if I am earlier than you planned, it’s still a wonderful surprise. What’s on the menu today?’ You’re not entirely sure what constitutes a picnic in the Dekarios household, but your gut feeling tells you it’s probably going to involve cheese.

Placing the hamper between you, Gale begins to take the items out one-by-one, showing each of them to you. ‘I didn’t want us to have too heavy a lunch in case we went out this evening, so my offerings are a little more humble than usual. We have a cheese board, some grapes, strawberries, a few pastries, and a bottle of wine to pair it off. I hope it’s all to your tastes.’ You lick your lips subconsciously as you eye up your lunch, keen to have those flavours in your mouth as soon as possible.

As Gale picks up the wine glasses out of the hamper, you arrange the food down on the blanket before putting said hamper away, allowing you to edge closer to him. ‘I’m sure I can find something to sink my teeth into. Thank you, for all of this.’ He hands you a glass then, and you lean back slightly, resting your weight on your free hand as you stare up into the sky.

When his own glass is full, Gale mirrors your position, inclining his glass towards the clouds on the horizon. ‘A pity about the weather, but I think there is a subtle beauty to the rain. The world looks so different after rainfall. The trees seem more vibrant, the air fresher, and the sun brighter than it was before. In some ways, it reminds me of humans. We are taught from such a young age to bottle our emotions up that when we are finally forced to release them, the world seems ever changed in the aftermath. The sorrows seem less harrowing, and the joys? Life changing.’ He looks at you then, a twinkle in his eyes you can’t quite place. Is he trying to tell you something? Or are you looking for meaning where there is none?

Instead of acknowledging his stare, you keep focusing on the clouds, frowning slightly. ‘Do you ever see things in them? The clouds, I mean? Like bunnies or something?’ You cringe at your own question, afraid that you’ve made yourself sound stupid, or that you’ve upset Gale by changing the subject completely.

Gale chuckles. ‘I’ve never seen a rabbit in the clouds, but I see other things. Take our looming storm cloud as an example. Look at the way it twists and freys along the edges. To me, that looks like a battle, and a vicious one at that. It helps, of course, knowing that the fighting will soon extend to us mere mortals down here on earth. Perhaps we will be forced to hide away for the weekend, disheartening a thought as it might be.’ Looking closely at the cloud, you can see where your lover is coming from. It doesn’t help that the sky seems… angry almost, like it’s just looking for someone to unleash its fury upon.

You sigh. ‘I really hope that’s not the case. Now that you’ve mentioned going out, staying in all weekend would be quite the tragedy.’ Especially now you know that he’s familiar with the area; you’re willing to bet he knows all the best places to eat out.

There’s a hint of mirth in Gale’s tone as he replies. ‘Did you know that the literal translation of ‘tragedy’ is ‘goat song’? From the Greek words ‘Tragos’ and ‘Oide’? Some scholars theorise it’s because people used to perform plays in tandem with sacrifices to the gods. Goats were a popular thing to offer to the god of wine in particular, since they eat grape vines. Still, it always seemed a bit insensitive to me, since in many versions of the myths, Dionysus was raised by satyrs. It’s like sacrificing a dog to a man raised by werewolves.’ The absurdity of your lover’s statement has you snapping your head back towards him, your hand somehow guiding your wineglass safely onto the blanket before you’re overtaken by a fit of giggles, your stomach hurting as you try to stifle them.

It takes you a good few moments to calm down, Gale smirking at you all the while. How is it that his funny little comments always catch you so off-guard? You were hanging off his every word until the final moment, where he just had to say something like that…

Finally calm, you wipe a joyful tear from your eye, smiling. ‘It’s moments like this that really make me lo- love spending time with you! You’re such a fun person to be around like this!’ You can feel your face heating up, and you pray that Gale thinks it’s due to laughter, rather than your slip up. You were so close to blurting out your innermost feelings as if they’re nothing! Damn him, for making himself such a safe place for you to express yourself!

Gale’s own cheeks end up dusted pink, the man coughing once before taking a sip of wine. ‘Yes, well, the feeling is entirely mutual. It’s why I invited you here, after all. Only positive energy is welcome, and it’s something you’ve brought into my life in abundance. I don’t like to think what my life would be like right now if you hadn’t seen fit to take a chance on me, and I’m glad I don’t have to. Therefore, I propose a toast. To our arrangement! Long may it continue.’ He places his glass between you then, and you hesitate, unsure you want to celebrate it all since it’s no longer what you truly want.

And yet, you don’t want to leave Gale hanging; you clink your glass against him before taking a long slip, the wine bitter on your tongue. Perhaps you should have sacrificed a goat beforehand to make it taste better…

Oh, to hell with this. You need to tell him how you feel now, before it eats away at you. The word was right there, on your tongue. You just need to say it properly!

So, taking another sip of bitter wine, you brace yourself for failure. ‘Gale, can I talk to you about something? It might sound really stupid, but I need to get it off my chest.’ And- hopefully- into his heart, but you have no idea if it’ll reach the latter or not.

Gale frowns a little. ‘I think I know what this is about. It’s about Mystra, isn’t it? And the idea that I’d maybe taken her here before?’ How the hell did he guess that?! Is he really that good at reading your mind? Does… does that mean he knows how you feel?

As much as you were planning to confess your feelings, you don’t want to avoid this tangent with a lie. ‘It did cross my mind. I just don’t want you to be reminded of her when you’re with me. I know it must hurt you, and- on a purely selfish level- it does stir up a bit of jealousy in me.’ Just saying it out loud makes it seem so stupid. You have no right to the feelings inside your own heart-

Your spiral is cut short when Gale scoffs at you. ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t be serious. You, jealous of Mystra? In what world do you have any reason to be envious of her? It’s like a snake being jealous of an earthworm, or a lion envying a common house cat!’ You’re taken aback by the passion in his tone, but what hurts the most is that he won’t like the answer to his question; it’s in this world that you have a reason to be jealous.

Mystra had the chance to have all the things you just know you’ll yearn for. She had the marriage proposal, the living together, the offer of a family. A better question would be in what world would you not be jealous, since she had the chance to have everything you won’t get, because you can’t get just four little letters out of your mouth…

Gale is clearly expecting an answer from you, and you don’t know which one to give. You can’t tell him the full truth- not yet- but you can give him part of one. Some small indication that you’re falling- have fallen- for him.

Taking a deep breath, you get ready to take the plunge. ‘She had you. That’s reason enough for me.’ There, you’ve said all you can. It’s up to Gale now to decide where he takes it. If he chooses to move things closer between you, or if he’ll always be just out of reach.

After a few seconds, Gale puts his wine next to yours, and reaches out of you. ‘Then let me try to ease your doubts. I’m never going back to her. I think death itself would be preferable to that, especially if it cost me your company.’ Your heart and mind clash in an instant, arguing over his words in a war to rival the one in the clouds. While your head keeps screaming that it’s not him telling you he reciprocates your feelings, your heart is pleading with you, telling you to just close the distance and take the plunge.

So you take his hands in yours, squeezing them as hard as you dare while looking into his eyes. ‘Gale, I need you to know, that I’m fa- oh.’ A huge raindrop lands square on your cheek, breaking your focus in an instant.

Gale stares at you, thoroughly bewildered. ‘Oh? What- Oh!’ Only when he’s similarly targeted with precipitation does he realise what’s happening, starting to panically pack away all the food he’d just laid out for you both.

You try your best to help in, but in your haste you knock over the wine, rendering the pastries inedible in an instant. ‘Oh, fuck! Gale, I’m so sorry.’ You try to move the rest of the food as the rain fast becomes torrential, the precipitation escalating faster than you could have ever anticipated.

Noticing your mishap, Gale merely shakes his head. ‘Let me handle this. You should run inside before it gets any worse out here.’ Already you see entire locks of his hair plastering themselves onto his forehead, before a sudden sharp shard hits you on the back of the head; you’re now officially in a hailstorm.

As soon as you realise, you spring to your feet, and drag Gale to his. ‘Leave it! We need to both get inside!’ You grab his injured hand- feeling slightly guilty when he winces- and all but drag him into the house, closing the door behind you both in a hurry.

Both of you take a few moments to catch your breath in pants as the heavens truly unleash their fury, the hail hitting the cottage so hard you’re worried it’ll break through the roof. ‘Close call, there.’ Already, you can feel a chill creeping through your bones, a shiver making its way up your spine. You and Gale both need to warm up fast, before either of you catch a cold.

You’re about to suggest just that, when you realise you’re still holding Gale’s hand, your lover raising your entwined appendages when he reaches that same conclusion. ‘Not close enough, in some ways.’ You’re about to ask what he means when he presses his lips against yours, his flesh surprisingly warm considering what just happened. Yours yield to his almost instantly, surrendering to whatever pace your lover wants to set.

Gale wastes no time deepening the kiss, the tip of his tongue skirting along your bottom lip until you open your mouth, allowing him to slip inside and brush against your own tongue. The two appendages dance with each other in a way you’ve practiced many times before, while Gale’s free hand slips under your shirt, two of his fingers brushing against your belly and leaving goosebumps in their wake.

The contact makes something inside you both snap, and Gale drops your hand so he can push you back against the nearest work surface, grabbing your hips like it’s the only thing anchoring him to this world. Your hands grab fistfuls of his sodden locks, keeping your faces impossibly close as your frantic kiss continues.

When Gale pulls away for air, a wicked impulse overtakes you; desperate to see his bare flesh, you grab his shirt in the middle, and pull the two halves apart until most of his buttons scatter across the kitchen floor, leaving it half-undone.

Gale looks at you, his breathing laboured, before looking down at his ruined shirt. ‘Two can play at that game.’ Before you can ask what he’s planning, your lover grabs a pair of scissors from a nearby counter and positions them facing downwards at the slightly immodest neckline of your shirt before you hear the telltale sound of fabric being snipped.

You try to keep as still as possible as Gale glides the scissors right down to the hem, tossing them away as your bare flesh is exposed to him. With a smirk, he leans down and nuzzles his face against your now-exposed midriff, his nose occasionally brushing against the band of the bra he was kind enough to spare.

Gale’s teasing of your flesh has you dragging him back up for another kiss, your lover following your lead without a fuss as he tugs at one of the cups of your bra until he can capture your nipple between his thumb and forefinger. You trail the nails of your free hand down his bare chest until you meet the last of his buttons, sliding underneath them until you reach the fastenings of his trousers, and the prominent bulge lurking beneath.

Your lover bucks his hips up against your wandering appendage, moaning into your mouth before breaking the kiss, cupping your cheek with his wounded hand. ‘We should take this somewhere more comfortable.’ You are robbed of the chance to protest as Gale places his hands underneath your ass, encouraging you to wrap your legs around him. You do just that, clinging to his shoulders for dear life as he starts walking away with you, stumbling a few times as he goes.

Gale takes you as far as the living room before he’s forced to stop, taking a seat on the sofa with you now straddling his lap. ‘Sometimes when I’m with you, I wish I was energetic enough to give you what you deserve. To carry you to bed like a queen…’ He kisses your chin in apology, the soft flush of arousal in his cheeks deepening with embarrassment.

You respond by grinding your clothed cunt over his crotch, only stopping when he whimpers. ‘You’re enough. You’ve always been enough. Besides, you’re just saving your energy for what really matters; being inside me.’ Impatient, you slip back until you’re resting on the middle of his thighs before finally undoing his trousers, slipping the band of his underwear down until his erection is exposed to you.

As you wrap a hand around it, Gale groans, grabbing your hips almost painful hard again. ‘One night a week isn’t enough. Not when I crave this every time I even think of you, nevermind see you…’ His eyes screw shut as you brush the slit of his cock with your thumb, spreading the small bead of precum already there.

A moan slips past your lips as Gale’s hands move forward, his fingers slipping under the waistband of your jeans as he heads for the front. ‘It doesn’t have to be once a week. My body is yours to use whenever you want it. Just say the word and I’ll do whatever you want.’ Your lips caress his forehead as Gale finally reaches the front of your jeans, deft fingers making short work of the button and zipper.

Gale starts to slide your jeans and underwear down to your knees, the cold air of the cottage making your cunt tingle almost as much as your lover is. ‘Is that really all you want? To be used?’ His words are laced with a pain you’re too aroused to pinpoint, but as you shuffle back up to hover your crotch over his, you can’t help but wonder why he sounds so hurt.

You rest your nose against his, staring so deeply into his eyes that you swear you can see his very soul. ‘By you. Only you. Nobody else even comes close to making me feel the way you do, Gale Dekarios.’ You watch as emotions swirl in his irises, the pain fading away until they burn with a passion so bright you have to break his stare, afraid that he’ll scorch your own soul if you continue..

The head of Gale’s erection nudges your dripping core, so close to slipping inside you. ‘You’ve just offered me unlimited access to paradise itself. If only I could claim it for myself.’ You’re too distracted by him finally filling you to ask for clarification, his cock spreading your inner walls until you’re wailing with satisfaction, content to finally be full of him again.

Your noise of passion has Gale grabbing a fistful of your hair before choking on a moan of his own, his eyes screwing shut as he leans his head back over the back of the sofa. His hips start to move almost of their own accord, forcing you to awkwardly match their rhythm with your own semi-bound legs.

Yet with Gale, working into a rhythm together feels as natural as the laboured breaths that mingle between you, your bodies so attuned to each other it only takes a few awkward thrusts before you settle on a pace that would have your toes curling if you’d had time to take your shoes off.

The hand that Gale doesn’t currently have tangled in your hair settles on the spot between your bottom rib and your hip, the tips of his fingers twitching against your skin as he suddenly lunges his head forward, capturing your exposed nipple in his mouth. His fingers press firmly into your skin as he teases your sensitive bud with his teeth and tongue, sucking it into his mouth like he’s ravenous. You almost have to pull him off before he surrenders it of his own accord, burying his face in your cleavage instead.

Gale’s beard is scratchy against the valley of your breasts as every strong snap of his hips as your body lurching, before you feel a soft vibration from your lover’s mouth. ‘Ehoboo.’ He utters the same thing into you over and over again, your skin muffling so much you can’t make sense of it at all. Your name, maybe?

You’re so busy focusing on that you don’t notice the hand on your hip has been slowly building forward until you feel a firm pressure at your clit, your lover working it in small circles until your cunt clenches around him. ‘Gale… Fuck me full, Gale. I want to be leaking for hours, until you fuck me again.’ You’re shocked by your own vulgarity, but you know it’s only a mask; if your tongue spoke the truth, you’d be declaring your love for him right now, and probably killing the mood.

Gale gasps, his pace faltering as he pulls his head away enough to speak clearly. ‘Your wish… Is my complete pleasure.’ He leans up to bite on your neck then, and the unexpected pain mingles with the pleasure of his cock and his fingers until you’re screaming on his lap, your orgasm hitting you so hard you have to grab the sofa cushion behind him to keep from clawing at him.

The feeling of you reaching such an explosive climax is too much for Gale, who thrusts his hips hard into yours a few more time before choking on his own whimpers, warmth flooding your insides as he reaches his own peak, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes as your name is mixed in with his mewling cries of ecstasy.

You all but collapse on Gale’s lap, his half-hard cock still inside you as you rest your head against his, trying to regain your grip on reality. Your lover seems to be having a similar issue, alternating between deep breaths and choked sighs as his lips reach for your face, kissing whatever part of you they can.

Finally, you regain enough of yourself to speak, your voice hoarse from your screams. ‘F-fuck. That was…’ Incredible. Phenomenal. Life-changing. Lovemaking…

Gale nods weakly. ‘It most definitely was. You are beyond special.’ His lips find yours, and you share another kiss, this time without urgency. Just the two of you taking a tender moment together, even if your current situation shouldn’t allow for such a thing.

It’s only when you’re distracted by a single droplet of water trailing down the nape of your neck that you remember why you had to rush inside, the sound of the weather outside becoming louder now that you’re focusing on it. ‘Shit. We need to get changed before we catch a cold. Just as well I packed a few spare shirts.’ You grab the ruined halves of your top before sliding it off your arms, tossing it in the general direction of the kitchen.

Gale looks away from you sheepishly. ‘Yes. Sorry about that. I’ll replace it, I promise. Though for now, I think I can offer you something better. I happen to have a drawer upstairs filled with all manner of ludicrously fluffy pyjamas. Why don’t we both shower, and change into such garments? I’m sure if we pair them with a roaring fire, a good book, and lunch that hasn’t been exposed to the elements, we’ll be warm in no time.’ Gods, this man is everything to you. How any woman would let him willingly slip away from them- or worst still, abuse him- is so far beyond your comprehension it makes your head hurt.

Reluctantly, you stand up, the evidence of your combined passion leaking down your legs. You decide to just pull your underwear up for now, taking off your shoes, socks, and jeans before heading off in the direction of the bathroom, holding for a moment as you wait for Gale to follow.

Your lover does the same thing you did, stripping down to just his underwear before catching up with you, ushering you towards the bathroom.

When you’re both inside, Gale hands you a towel, giving the top of your head a quick kiss. ‘Ladies first. Please use whatever shampoos and soaps you like.’ Oh no. You’re not letting him linger mostly naked and damp while he waits for you to warm up. Not when the shower looks big enough for two…

Placing your towel on the closed toilet seat, you grab his hands, walking backwards towards the shower. ‘Shower with me. We’ll warm up together.’ Your back hits the glass side of the shower, forcing you to turn around and open it.

With your back to him, Gale seizes the chance to undo your bra, taking advantage of the fact it’s already sliding down your arms and groping your bare breasts. ‘Want me to wash your hair for you?’ You giggle as you toss your bra away, ridding yourself of your underwear before stepping into the shower itself. Gale strips himself quickly, his tall frame entering just behind yours.

You frown in confusion as you try to figure out how to get the water running, only for Gale to lean over and do it for you. ‘There are few greater mysteries than the inner workings of someone else’s shower.’ The water comes out so cold at first that you squeak, but it doesn’t take long for it to warm up, the heated droplets a welcome contrast to the earlier hail.

Gale wastes no time getting you under the water properly, running his fingers through your hair until it’s soaking. He picks up a bottle of shampoo, squirting it onto his hand before tucking the container under his arm. Finally, he swipes half the pile of it up with the fingers of his bandaged hand before he nudges you out of the water, and starts to work it into your hair, massaging your scalp to make sure it’s evenly distributed.

Fighting the urge to moan at his tender treatment, you pick up a bar of soap, working it into a lather before using it on Gale, trailing hand and soap alike across his body until every inch of his torso within your reach is covered in a decent layer of suds.

Your lover chuckles, moving you back under the water to rinse the shampoo off. ‘I’m so lucky to have you in my life…’ He whispers, the sound of flowing water almost drowning out his words completely. Perhaps he intended it to? Maybe it wasn’t meant for your ears, like whatever he moaned into your skin earlier…

With your hair clean, you trade places with Gale, swapping soap for shampoo as you follow his example, trapping the bottle between your legs as you wet his hair. ‘Have I ever told you how much I like your hair? It’s so soft, and it suits you so well.’ The subtle quirk of Gale’s lips makes your heart skip a beat, his appreciation for your comment clear.

Gale answers your remark as you push him out of the water, lathering shampoo into his hair while he gets to work on your body. ‘I haven’t had it this long since I was a child. My mother insisted I cut it when I turned eighteen, and I kept it short up until a few years ago. I was considering cutting it again, but if you like it, I don’t think I’ll bother. I’ll just get the ends trimmed instead.’ His words turn into soft moans as you properly massage his scalp, his hands on your body coming to a complete halt as he enjoys your delicate handling of him instead.

When you’re done, Gale steps back into the water, and you make sure the shampoo rinses out properly. ‘I like whatever makes you happy.’ With the shampoo residue left on your hands, you decide to lather his beard up a little, making sure to rinse it quick before your position is swapped again so you can clean off the soap.

As soon as you start to rinse your body down, Gale stops you, cradling your face between his hands. ‘Then please learn to like yourself a little more. You aren’t a thing to be used, and you have every right to speak your mind no matter how much you think it might hurt me. And before you say it, I know I’m guilty of the same, but I’m willing to work on that if you are.’ You’d argue that his own lack of self-esteem is a bigger issue than your self-deprecating thought spirals, but if it makes him happy.

You sigh. ‘I can agree to that. For you, and for me.’ You hug his chest then, letting the water flow over you both as you cling to him, enjoying his warmth and the water’s as the storm continues to rage outside.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

After getting changed, refreshing Gale’s bandage, and finally eating lunch, Gale had managed to get the fire roaring, the heat that it tosses out even after burning for a good hour still more than enough to fight off the chil from the outside.

Yet even that warmth does nothing to keep the little shivers of delight from shooting through your body. After drying his hair off, Gale had elected to put his hair up into a messy half bun, and it might just be the sexiest thing you’ve ever seen in your life. You have to fight to keep yourself from kissing his neck and begging for a second round of sloppy sofa sex, if only so you can admire his hair up close while bouncing on his lap.

If Gale is aware of you lusting after him, he’s doing a good job of ignoring it; he’s been looking at a bookcase for a good few minutes now, trying to find a specific book while you wait for on the floor by the fire, nestled on a pile of cushions and wearing a set of fuzzy pyjamas that are just a little too big for you.

Even if your day started out poorly, it’s safe to say that it isn’t going to end that way. Once you’re done with the book, Gale is going to make you both a hot meal, and then you’re free to enjoy your evening, and the weekend as a whole.

Having a few moments alone by the fire has given you time to dwell on your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to reach a conclusion you didn’t think you would; you don’t want to tell Gale how you feel, at least not this weekend. Why bother stressing out about it and ruining this time with him, when you can just come clean in the future? Your arrangement won’t be ending anytime soon, so it’s not like he’s going to disappear before you have a chance; you’re just going to go with the flow, and see where things take you.

At last, Gale returns to your side, his chosen book in hand. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting. There was just something specific I wanted to read to you. Are you familiar with the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur?’ That’s the second time he’s mentioned Greek mythology today. Is it a passion of his? He did seem to know an awful lot about The Odyssey, during that one rather steamy study session of yours…

You decide to lay down on the cushions, looking up at Gale as you answer. ‘Only the basics. A king pissed off Poseidon, so he made the queen fall in love with a bull. The resulting monster was sent away to live in a labyrinth, feeding on young men and women until the hero Theseus killed it.’ It’s a story you’re sure a lot of people have a passing familiarity with, but if Gale has an entire book on it, you get the feeling he has more than a mere acquaintance with the take.

Gale scoffs. ‘I’d hardly call Theseus a hero. Absolutely horrible man, who kept horrible company for the most part. Still, the tale of Pirithous is one best kept for later. For now, allow me to read to you what is considered to be the definitive version of the tale, complete with lies, pettiness, and an often forgotten betrayal that links in with our earlier conversation. I would call it a goat song, if it didn’t have a happy ending in spite of the so-called hero.’ He lays next to you on the floor, and you cuddle into him, tucking your head under his arm and resting it on his chest.

When you’re both settled, Gale begins. ‘Our tale begins with Minos, king of Crete, his wife Pasiphae, and their children, most notably Androgeos and Ariadne.’ You do your best to listen, but between the warmth of the fire, Gale’s steady heartbeat and soft voice, and with the glow of post-coital bliss still in your veins, you find your eyes growing heavy. Surely your lover wouldn’t mind if you took a little nap on his chest, just this once? You have all weekend for stories.

In the end, what he wants doesn’t matter; you fall asleep before you can stop yourself, dreaming of what the next few days might bring, with the embers of love still burning in your heart.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

By the time Gale makes it home after an eventful weekend, he has to fight the urge to physically kick himself; nothing went quite as he’d planned, and he can’t help but feel disheartened by that.

Wheeling his damp suitcase into the hallway of his home, he can’t decide what’s more depressing to him; the fact that he is now bereft of the one he holds most dear until next weekend, or the fact that- despite his resolve- they’re ending the weekend on the same terms they started it. Affair partners. Casual sex friends. Just two people who have incredible sex with no feelings afterwards.

Gale takes his shoes off a little more aggressively than planned, frustrated with himself. The entire point of taking her away was to be honest with her. That he’s falling for her, and that she needs to decide if she’s okay with having those feelings mixed into their arrangement, or if they need to call the entire thing off before his heart breaks itself for the second time in his life.

Taking a few deep breaths, Gale allows a few tears to trickle down his cheeks. He’s such a fool for this. How can he ever expect her to reciprocate his feelings? He should just be grateful that she wants to spend time with him, accept that it’s all it’ll ever be between them.

It doesn’t help that most nights, he lays in bed just thinking about her, his mind waxing poetic about the wonderful woman he is blessed to have in his life. Just last night, as she slept at his side with her skin flushed pink from another passionate entanglement, he lay awake for hours, trying to find the best way to describe her.

The first thing that came to him was that she is the moon, and Mystra was the sun. The latter was always so harsh and intense, and- looking back- spending too long in her company made him feel like he’d shrunk as a person, shriveling up under the unfeeling brutality of her fiery aura.

In contrast, the one he loves now has a gentle glow, one he could bask in endlessly. Not to mention the moon tugs at the ocean in much the same way she tugs at his emotions, pushing and pulling them into an ocean that is both calm and treacherous all at once. That, and moonlight is a reflection to the sun, and when you put her beside Mystra, she glows all the brighter by comparison.

But in the end, he decided that such a comparison was just as insulting as the unnecessary jealousy that she felt on their first day away. Saying she only glows because of Mystra is shameful, despicable even. In truth, she is more like the stars- glittering and beautiful- and yet so far out of reach to him he could only dream the whole breadth of her spender with his own two eyes. What he sees in her is a mere reflection of her true self, and if he is unable to confess the true scope of his feelings, it is all he will ever know…

The sound of his phone ringing pulls him out of the memory, and he feels a little guilty for frowning when he sees Tara’s name on the screen. Had part of him hoped it was his love, wanting to see him again so she could tell him that her heart beats for him, just as his beats for her?

After a few moments of debating whether or not he could pick up, Gale finally accepts the call, his friend’s voice filling his ear. ‘Oh, you actually answered. I take it this means you made it home safe from your little rendezvous?’ In an ideal world, Tara would know nothing about what happened this weekend, but she had wanted to visit him, and he hates lying to his oldest friend; largely because he never gets away with it.

Gale hums. ‘Yup. I am happy to report that I have made it home in one piece. So has she, for a matter of fact.’ She did at least send him a thank you text shortly after he dropped her off, so that’s enough to convince him she’s settled back into her home.

Tara scoffs at him. ‘And I should hope so, too. Just because she’s your bit of fun, that doesn’t mean you should treat her with any less respect than any other woman. Still, she must at least mean something to you. You’ve never taken any woman to the cottage before. Not even the queen bitch herself.’ In hindsight, he maybe should have mentioned that to his lover. If she’d known how special she is, then maybe they would have grown closer…

Already sensing where the conversation is going, Gale preemptively admits defeat. ‘Okay, fine. You win. I’ve developed feelings for her. Are you happy now?’ If she is, that makes one of them; how is he supposed to go on with such a whirring storm inside his heart?

Gale can practically hear Tara’s eyes roll. ‘Of course you have, dear. In fact, I’m pretty sure you already had those feelings when I came to visit you, though you tried to ignore them. Have you made any attempt at making your innermost emotions known, or are you expecting your lady to suddenly develop telepathic abilities?’ Her sarcasm in the face of something that feels so serious is almost wounding, but after so many years of friendship, he’d expect nothing less.

Still, while he has her on the phone, she may as well hear the true extent of his failings. ‘I tried. I really did. Twice, in fact. I had an entire speech planned about how I’ve spent the last year feeling like Ariadne- abandoned by what I thought was a great love after I had outlived my usefulness- until she came along like the god of wine himself and saved me from such abject loneliness and heartache by giving me something so much better; a life at her side.’ Or, to be specific, a life where they are both equally at each other’s sides, with an equal and honest love between them that no one can deny.

The groan that Tara makes over the phone makes Gale want to sink into the floor with shame. ‘You are hopeless, Gale. Utterly hopeless. Why waste time on so many flowery words when just three will suffice? There will be time enough to sing her praises after she knows how you feel. Ugh, I’ll need to tell your mother to abandon all hope of grandchildren, because if you can’t speak frankly to a woman you’ve been seeing for months, I truly don’t know what advice I can give you. Also, didn’t Ariadne hang herself in one version of the myth? You really need to work on your comparisons.’ It hurts him to think that his oldest friend might be giving up on him, but he knows she’s only half serious; tough love is the only kind Tara knows, and she’s been giving it to him in abundance since the day they met.

Still, it’s not what he needs to hear right now, as deep in his melancholy as he is. So, he bids farewell to Tara, and goes back to thinking on the events of this weekend, trying to figure out where it all went wrong.

In fairness, maybe Tara has a point. If he had just been more forthcoming rather than trying to make his words so flowery and poetic, he may have actually gotten to say all that he wanted to. Instead, he stalled with talk of goat song and the weather. Maybe his life is the biggest tragedy of them all…

Although, there is one thing. Something she said to him, during their ill-fated picnic. ‘She had you. That’s reason enough for me.’ At the time, he didn’t think anything of it. Some people do get jealous of past sexual partners. It’s hardly uncommon…

Gale’s blood turned to ice, his whole body freezing. ‘Dear gods, I really am stupid.’ He mutters to himself, realisation washing over him several days too late. That statement had nothing to do with sex at all, did it? Mystra had him. All of him. Not just his body, but his heart, his mind, his love. That is where the jealousy came from. He gave his all to a lesser woman, but he hasn’t given it to her. Not yet. Not like she wants.

This changes everything. He has to try again. To make his feelings known. To say it all clearly, with no room for misinterpretations. Three words, just as Tara said. Simple, yet so important that they cannot be understated.

That settles it. Next Friday when she comes over as usual, he’s going to do it. He’s going to lay his heart out for her, and pray that she offers her in return, or at least doesn’t step on it. To think he might have a chance at a future with her…

If that really is the case, then he needs to start taking things more seriously. Behave like they have a future together. With her probably wanting to start a career soon, and his age, children seem unlikely, but marriage? Or at least a long term partnership? Entirely achievable if he starts to pull himself together. If he can contain whatever devil inside him possessed him to write ‘breedable’ on her thigh that one night so he doesn’t scare her away, they have a real chance at making it work. After all, what is starting a family compared to having a partner who loves you for who they are, rather than only loving the husk they tried to turn you into?

Next Friday, then. Wine, roses, good food, and a confession. If his heart doesn’t beat out of control by then, he’ll finally be able to get these feelings off his chest, and hopefully straight into her waiting heart.

Chapter Text

As wonderful as last weekend was, you can’t seem to shake the bitter disappointment that has taken root in your heart. You had such a simple plan. All you had to do was blurt out your feelings- to let Gale know that you want so much more than sex- but you’d lost your nerve and decided just to enjoy yourself without such a confession. At the time, it was the best move, but now? Now you wish more than anything you’d taken the plunge…

Still, it’s not all bad. You and Gale are still on good terms, something that may not have been the case had you let your love slip out. Then again, you’ve always clicked so easily with him that it’s hard to imagine him holding such feelings against you. Even if he’s unable to return them, he at least won’t be cruel about receiving them.

It’s that single train of thought that has driven you towards a destination, one you’re ready to visit this time; you’re telling Gale how you feel the next time you see him, which just so happens to be tonight. Even if your feelings are changing, your Friday nights eternally belong to your lover.

You’re not entirely sure what he has planned, but you know you won’t be skipping straight to sex. He mentioned dinner- hopefully one he’s cooked himself- which presents you with your best chance to come clean. He can digest your feelings as he digests his food; you can only pray neither give him indigestion.

Just thinking about dinner has your stomach in knots as you try to pay attention in class, checking your phone’s clock constantly as if that’ll make the minutes pass by faster. Who even cares what Professor Ancunin has to say, anyway? He’s not as interesting as Gale, in either his speech or chosen subject matter.

As you check your phone again, you notice a message from the man of your daydreams, and open it without thinking. ‘I hope you have a sweet tooth. I’ve made a selection of desserts for your discerning taste buds to peruse, including the famous Dekarios karydopita.’ Before you can reply, there’s a second message. ‘I really should have checked you don’t have a nut allergy before I made that. Apologies.’ You grin like an idiot as your mind’s eye conjures up the image of a flustered Gale at his desk, worrying over the perceived slip up.

Making sure you’re not being watched, you text back. ‘Might I hazard a guess at it being your mother’s recipe?’ You’re concerned the text will read as teasing- and, perhaps, you do mean it to just a little bit- but you also think it’s sweet that the Dekarios family have recipes that get passed down from one generation to the next. You wonder if that’s part of the reason Gale wants kids, to keep more than just his family’s name alive…

Gale texts back promptly. ‘If I am ever boastful about any recipe, it’s safe to assume it’s hers. Mind you, trying to get her to part with them is always a bit of a struggle. Good thing I have the excuse of exquisite female company to throw her way. Although this does mean she’ll probably want to meet you at some point, or demand some kind of proof you even exist.’ Ah. So maybe there is no cute passing of the recipes as you’d imagined.

… Wait, what was that about meeting his mother?!

You almost drop your phone in shock, only just managing to cling onto it. Meeting parents is supposed to be something that only couples do. Does he really see your relationship as being that serious? Maybe… maybe there is more of a chance of mutual deeper feelings- namely, love- between you, after all!

Knowing that this could be an easy way to show that you are looking for more commitment, you answer Gale the moment you regain control of your senses. ‘I’d like that. Maybe we could go and visit her soon? It’s not like she’ll know I’m your student or anything.’ Unless it’s too much of a risk for him, which you’d understand; he has so much more to lose over your affair than you do, something you always try your hardest to keep in mind.

It’s easy to picture Gale smiling to himself as he responds. ‘Next time we have some time off, we’ll go, assuming you’re still agreeable to it. I’m half-surprised she hasn’t been up to see me herself since I moved here, but I suppose my frequent life updates have been keeping her satisfied.’ Keen as you are, you’re not sure you’re willing to meet his mother while you’re still classified as fuck buddies rather than partners. Then again, if Gale is open minded, perhaps his mother will be, too? Or- more likely- she’ll accuse you of leading him on, just like Mystra did…

A tap on your shoulder has you locking and hiding your phone quickly, before turning to face the source of the contact; a student, sitting next to you with his own phone in hand, poised to show you something. ‘You were in that old windbag Aumar’s class, weren’t you? I just checked his socials, and look what he’s tapping!’ Normally, you’d ignore gossip like this, but with his phone now being thrusted straight into your face, you’re left with little choice but to examine the picture.

At a glance, nothing seems too off. The woman is pretty enough, albeit with cold eyes and a mouth set in such a firm line you wonder if she knows how to smile. She’s also visibly younger than your old professor, but far from your own age. You’d put her closer to Gale’s, but her facial expression makes her seem older and more severe. You almost feel sorry for Aumar; he seemed quite a whimsical soul, so it must be hard living with a woman like that.

Although, now that you’re really looking, you’re certain you’ve seen her face before, but it was different then. Younger, and not on a screen like this photo, but in an album perhaps…

Your sympathy almost tripled in size when you glance over to see if the woman has been tagged, and when you see an uncommon name, everything finally clicks into place; Mystra. Gale’s ex is dating the man who held the position of literary professor before him.

The entire room starts to spin, but you try your best to mask your discomfort, feigning a scandalised gasp and encouraging your classmate to pass his phone to others. Does Gale know? You’re sure you’ve heard him say that he knows your ex-professor, but you don’t know how close they are. Is that what this is about? Is Mystra dating a notable peer of your ex’s- and hers, now that you think about it- to get back at him?!

You need to tell him about this. Not tonight- not when there’s something more important to get off your chest- but soon. Maybe knowing his ex has moved on will bring him closure… or reopen wounds he’s fought so hard to heal. You’d be tempted to pretend that you never saw the photo, but you can’t do that; if the situation was reversed, you’d want to be told.

Soon, then. But not so soon that it gets in the way of tonight. Mystra has ruined Gale’s life so much in the past that you’re not going to let her spoil whatever he has planned for you tonight. In fact, you’re going to make it extra special. Underwear is always optional when you visit Gale, and you’re going to make a point to go without, and find the shortest dress you can so he can see how much you want him every time you bend over. Hopefully you don’t drive him to distraction before you can get the confession out, but if you do, that’s just fine; you’ll just tell him over breakfast instead.

With a plan in your mind, you push all thoughts of Mystra aside, and focus on what counts; mentally flicking through your wardrobe until you find the perfect dress.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The hour of your arranged date with Gale is almost upon you, which is just as well, considering your ride is already here.

At this point, you might ask if they have some kind of loyalty system in place for repeat customers, because you’ve made the trip to and from Gale’s so many times your driver could probably get you there blindfolded. The dress you ended up picking out is all work at the top, hiding your breasts from view completely, but the bottom? It brushes against your thighs with every step or sway, and the fabric is so snug you’re certain Gale will notice that you’re wearing nothing underneath it, even if it’s not immediately obvious to others.

You want tonight to be special for the right reasons, after all, and being gawked at by the driver isn’t one of them.

There’s just one thing bothering you, and it has you checking your phone as the car goes round a familiar corner; Gale hasn’t messaged you for over an hour now, something that isn’t like him. He usually likes to confirm with you exactly when you’ll be arriving, but despite your messages, he’s been radio silent. He hasn’t even looked at your messages apparently, though he may have just read them via the previews and neglected to reply. You’re certain he’d never ghost you, but as your ride pulls up to his house, that certainty starts to feel weak.

Nevertheless, you leave the car, and make your way up to his front door, slipping your phone into your bag. If he doesn’t answer, you’ll just assume he’s either lost interest or found himself in the middle of an emergency, and call yourself a ride home, metaphorically kicking your heart down the road to misery…

You knock confidently at his door, and your shock at it opening immediately is doubled by the fact it’s not Gale standing in front of you; it’s a woman, though her face looks a little familiar. ‘Ah, but you must be my son’s date! Come inside, come inside! There’s a chill in the air, but inside is so warm and full of food.’ Slightly leathery hands grab yours before you can protest, dragging you inside and shutting the door firmly behind you. Well, that answers one question; it’s Morena Dekarios that you’re now faced with, and now that you can examine her in more light, it couldn’t be more obvious.

While Gale’s mother is a good head or two smaller than him, looking at her features more closely leaves absolutely no room for doubt that this is the woman who gave birth to him. While her face is narrower, and her nose a little more defined, the similarities between her and your lover are undeniable. Even their hair is greying in the exact same places, though Morena’s hair is in a far more advanced state of it. Still, she seems more youthful than you’d been picturing in your head. If she had introduced herself as Gale’s older sister, you would have had no reason not to believe her.

The commotion at the front door has another familiar face emerging from the living room, but it’s still not Gale. ‘Ah, we meet at las- wait, don’t I know you from somewhere?’ Alarm bells ring loudly in your ears as Tara locks eyes with yours, scanning you for even a hint of familiarity. Shit. She’s seen you before, at the university. She knows you’re a student of Gale’s. Oh gods, this is it, this is the end of everything…

You don’t have time to think of an excuse before Gale finally comes to your rescue, almost tumbling out of the kitchen. ‘Mother, stop terrorising my student! I’m so sorry about this. I was expecting someone else, but she’s just informed me that she won’t be arriving.’ He emphasises the ‘Won’t’ as Morena finally releases you, her lips morphing into a pout.

Sulk as she might, she can’t be half as disappointed as you are. There was part of you that had almost hoped Gale would explain your situation to his nearest and dearest, but maybe it’s better this way. You can just get a ride home and try for dinner with him another night…

With Gale’s lie now in place as a foundation, you might as well add to it. ‘I’m so sorry for bothering you at home, Professor Dekarios, but I could really use some help on my latest paper. Now I just feel rotten for ruining your evening…’ At least half of that is true. You do feel pretty crappy. Still, better this than Gale ghosting you; you wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the kitchen trying to send you an emergency text, warning you not to come.

Morena sighs dramatically. ‘Oh, this won’t do. This won’t do at all. First, my son is cruelly abandoned by his date, and now there is a pretty girl in his home looking sad? You will join us for dinner tonight. Mama insists!’ Once again, your hand is seized by the older woman as she drags you towards the dining room, unwilling to hear any protests.

From behind you, you can hear Tara and Gale following, with the former speaking up. ‘Unlike a university to give out the private address of one of its staff. I should like to have a word with them about this.’ You internally curse your inept lie, wishing you hadn’t bothered speaking at all. Then again, it was your lover that first identified you as a student, so what else was there to do but go along with it?!

Gale laughs awkwardly. ‘Relax, Tara. I gave it to her myself. I’m often so busy I don’t have time for all my students, and I hate the thought of leaving one behind, even if it does affect my free time. No need to arm yourself with a pitchfork on my behalf just yet.’ Thank the gods that he’s a lot better at making things up on the spot than you are, or you’d both be in a terrible state right now.

The dining room seems cooler than usual as Morena guides you to a seat, gesturing at it firmly until you make yourself comfortable in it. ‘There. Much better. We shall have some wine tonight. Do you like red, or white?’ Before you know it, you have two bottles in front of your face, and it’s all you can do to point to one, her demeanor making it clear that refusal is not an option for you.

She pours a large glass of wine for you, before she turns her attention to Tara, who has taken a seat on the other side of the table, though thankfully not directly opposite you. ‘And for you, my dear Tara? Which will you be drinking tonight?’ You awkwardly take a sip of your own wine, memories of last weekend flooding your mind; at least this bottle has a more pleasant taste. Perhaps the Dekarios matriarch sacrificed a goat on her way here?

Tara waves the wine away with her hand. ‘Just water for me, Morena. My dear husband is on a detox, and I have agreed to do the same in solidarity. Besides, one of us needs to be able to drive home later.’ The way she managed to get out of drinking so easily has you almost awestruck; you’ve only known Gale’s mother a few moments, and you already feel like you’ll never be able to go against her insistences.

Morena shrugs. ‘I would say what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, but it is true I would like to see my own bed later. Gale’s spare mattress is too hard for his mama’s aging back.’ Clearly, he didn’t get it from the same place he got his regular one; while there are many spots on your body that usually get sore after spending the night here, your back isn’t usually one of them, unless you try out an awkward position.

With the two of them conversing, you manage to lock eyes with Gale, who keeps alternating his gaze between your face and your bag, the accessory still draped over you thanks to your sudden ushering.

Finally understanding his message, you sneakily pull out your phone, caught between a laugh and a sigh as you see a message that must have been sent mere seconds after you put it away. ‘Mother here. Run while you can.’ All you can do is shrug at Gale as you put your phone away again and hang it on the back of your chair, taking another large gulp of wine as you decide to slip off your shoes and go with the absolute chaos tonight is shaping into.

Noticing her son is still in the dining room, Morena quickly shifts her attention away from Tara. ‘Gale, I know you weep for your failed romance, but there is food still to be served, and three guests waiting! You were raised better than this. I should know, I was there!’ Pouring a generous glass of wine for herself, Morena decides to take a seat… directly opposite you. Shit, but why do you suddenly feel like this is some kind of interview?!

Gale nods, scurrying off to the kitchen with a sympathetic glance in your direction before Tara sighs. ‘It looks like I’ll be fetching my own water this evening, then.’ An idea bursts into your mind at lightning speed, the casual complaining providing an opportunity you can’t pass up.

So, you scoot your chair back, trying your best to be graceful. ‘Here, let me help you with that.’ You snatch up her glass before either her or Morena can complain, taking off in Gale’s general direction. You make sure to keep your legs as close together as possible, afraid of Gale’s nearest and dearest seeing too much of you due to your unfortunate wardrobe exclusion…

Glass in hand, you try your best to make it seem like you’re uncertain exactly where to go, even if you’ve been there many times before; in fact, the first orgasm your lover ever blessed you with was against one of the worktops, but now really isn’t the time to think of that.

The moment you enter the kitchen, Gale rushes to your side, abandoning the hot tray of food on the stovetop and addressing you in a hushed whisper. ‘I cannot even begin to express how sorry I am to have put you into this situation. Just say the word, and I’ll pay someone to take you home. This is not what I had planned for this evening, and to be honest, I’m infuriated that my mother has taken it upon herself to intrude like this, tonight of all nights…’ You’re not sure why he’s so upset about tonight specifically. As far as you know, it’s not a special occasion.

Not wanting to stay away for too long just in case you arouse suspicion, you fill up Tara’s glass, surprising yourself as your hands remain steady enough that you don’t immediately spill the contents. ‘It’ll look worse if I leave. Besides, as far as they know, I’m nobody to you. How bad can it really be?’ Something catches your eye as you turn around, ready to head back to the table; a translucent bag, filled with something you can’t quite make out. It looks like… red balloons? No, wait, not that, but they’re certainly rouge in tone, and a little curved. They almost remind you of rose petals, but that’s impossible. Why would Gale have some of them laying around?

Gale sighs. ‘Famous last words. No mere mortal dines with Morena Dekarios and remains unscathed by night’s end. But, if you’re willing to take the risk, far be it from me to stop you. We were only just discussing having you two meet, after all, though I had pictured it happening under far more auspicious circumstances.’ If his mother is bad on her own, you dread to think what she’ll be like with Tara here, but you can’t back down now. Besides, maybe if you make an effort with them both, your lover might see that you are serious about him, and move your affair into better-established territory…

But then, if he’d wanted that, he could have told a lie in the other direction and introduced you as his girlfriend; after all, if things do get serious between you, his lie will be exposed regardless.

A part of you almost thinks this is the final nail in the coffin when it comes to Gale having romantic feelings for you. Last week he made a half-joke about you being embarrassed to be seen with him, but could it be that he’s ashamed of telling his mother and best friend he’s dating a younger woman? If that’s the case, maybe you should just go…

You almost jump when Gale’s hand squeezes your shoulder. ‘Just be yourself. I find it hard to believe anyone could dislike you for that.’ His words make your heart glow enough that your thoughts are drawn away from the hurt, and back into the present; you’re about to walk right back into the lion’s den, and you somehow doubt a glass of water will save you from them.

With Gale’s words still in your mind, you head back to the dining room, handing Tara her glass before settling back into your seat. ‘It looks like Professor Dekarios has just taken the food out, so it shouldn’t be much longer. It smells divine!’ You’re not sure what it is, but complimenting it seems like a safe bet; it’s probably his mother’s recipe, after all.

Morena smiles with undeniable pride. ‘Cooking has always been one of Gale’s most outstanding talents. I remember having him by my side in the kitchen at all times, dreaming of the day he was tall enough to see the worktops without being lifted onto them. Yet still, he cannot find a lover to share his gift with. It’s a tragedy.’ She slumps back in her seat dramatically, exaggerating her movements so much you have to take a sip of wine to keep from laughing at her.

Tara lets out a small sigh of her own. ‘It really is a shame. Still, he’s better off alone than with Mystra. Eugh.’ She makes a face like she’s just taken a spoonful of something vile, the mere sensation of having the name of your lover’s ex on her tongue unbearable to her. It’s clear there is no love lost between the two women, which isn’t exactly a shock considering what you know about Gale’s former partner.

Just hearing Mystra’s name makes Morena gag. ‘We do not speak of fecal matter at the dinner table, Tara. It is extremely bad manners. Still, I just agree. That wretch is a poison none should be forced to swallow. To think, she nearly snatched my baby boy away from me forever… I will never forgive her. May her soul never cross the Acheron.’ She takes a long sip of wine, as if trying to drown out a painful memory.

Before you can pry, Gale enters the room, a plate of food in each hand. ‘Age before beauty.’ He says before placing one of the places in front of Morena and then Tara, giving you a cheeky wink whilst his two other guests examine the meal before then.

Tara inhales deeply through her nose, before humming in delight. ‘Delightful. I only hope the taste lives up to the smell. Do hurry up with the rest. I’m positively ravenous this evening.’ Your stomach perks up at the word, your own hunger making itself known. At least if you get a good meal in you tonight, it’ll help settle the utter chaos this impromptu meeting has stirred inside you.

When Gale leaves to fetch food for you and him, Morena leans forwards, grinning at you. ‘I am so happy to hear you have an appetite. You’ll need to eat to soak up all the wine!’ Neither her nor Tara make a start on their meals, waiting patiently for you and your lover to be served and seated before they even consider it. Still, part of you wishes they would focus on eating so they stop staring at your face, examining it intently like you’re some kind of oil painting.

After a tense few moments, Gale comes back, your food and his in-hand. ‘Beauty before age this time.’ He places your dinner before you before setting down his own, taking his seat as head of the table. That’s the queue for you all to begin eating, one that you happily adhere to; he really is an exceptional cook.

It only takes a few bites of food before Morena speaks again, her question directly aimed at you. ‘So, you are a literature student, yes? Tell me what kind of books you enjoy.’ It’s a demand rather than a question- or even a suggestion- but considering how many potential topics could come up instead, you’ll gladly offer up the name of every book you’ve ever read just to appease her.

Instead of listing them all, you decide to pick a more recent read. ‘I actually did a paper last term on Homer’s Odyssey. That was really interesting.’ The light that flashes in Morena’s eyes in response tells you that you made the right decision, even if you’re regretting it; it’s hard to think of that tale at all without thinking of how you learnt to remember all the character names…

Morena chuckles. ‘That was one of Gale’s favourites as a child. A little brutal for him, maybe, but he read through his books so quickly that I had no choice but to let him read some of mine.’ She looks at her son, pure mischief in her eyes. ‘Remember for your eight birthday how you pranced around the house in a bedsheet proclaiming yourself the true king of Ithaca? You even made plans to build your own palace, but they were quickly abandoned when you switched passions to something else. Begging me for a kitten, I believe was next on your list of fixations.’ Gale’s face turns bright red at his mother’s tale, deliberately avoiding your gaze and quietly continuing his food.

Despite Gale’s embarrassment, you find yourself smiling, and wanting to contribute to the conversation yourself. ‘I thought Ga- Professor Dekarios seemed excited when I chose it as my focus. I never realised it was a favourite of his.’ But then again, it’s not really much of a shock, given his well-established love of Greek mythology.

Tara scoffs, sipping some of her water. ‘Enough of this ‘Professor Dekarios’ talk. If you’re eating at his table, you can call him Gale. He won’t mind, I’m sure.’ Gods, but that’ll make it worse. How can you be casual with him without seeming too casual?!

Morena claps her hands together. ‘Well said, Tara. He is not your professor right now. He is just a handsome, single man with everything going for him, even if his romantic prospects seem to keep dwindling of late. I blame this thing that grows on his chin. It is too scratchy. No woman will want this face kissing her, especially not below the belt.’ You almost choke on your food, not expecting that to come out of her mouth. Gale looks equally flabbergasted, his face reaching an entirely new shade of red you’ve never seen before.

Yet his mother merely laughs at your collective shock. ‘Oh, my sweet baby boy thinks his mama has never lived a life? He was not made in three seconds of awkward coupling! It was a beautiful moment of passion, right over the kitchen sink…’ You have to fight the laughter bubbling up inside you at Morena’s openness, the surreal nature of your situation as a whole making this more comedic than it should be.

Gale looks as if he’s waiting for the floor to swallow him up, visibly cringing as he comes to terms with the fact he can’t get out of the situation that easily. ‘Yes, thank you, mother. Not really the kind of image I want seared into my brain, but nevertheless, I’m glad that I was a product of… enjoyment.’ He focuses his attention entirely on dinner after that comment, trying to smother his emotions with a plate full of food.

Morena waves her hand, finishing off the rest of her glass before pouring herself another. ‘It was the only thing your father was any good for. Still, you will not be like him. You will be a good father to my grandchildren, whenever they materialise.’ Her head tilts to you then, eyes narrowing in on you. ‘Do you plan to have children?’ Suddenly, you have a new found empathy for Gale’s feelings; you too wish to become one with the ground.

Still, what harm can come from being honest? Except, of course, the very real possibility that having kids with you specifically is Gale’s worst nightmare, and a future he’d like to avoid at all costs.

Shifting nervously under the intensity of Morena’s gaze, you answer. ‘Only with the right man.’ You look straight at Gale before you can catch yourself, and his own eyes manage to meet with yours at the perfect moment. His stare is still so laced with embarrassment you can’t fully make out the look in his eyes, but he doesn’t seem repulsed by your comment, at the very least…

Tara chirps up, a smirk on her face as she glares at you pointedly. ‘There aren’t many good men around these days. If you find one, I’d advise treating him nicely, because pretty young women are far more commonplace.’ Her comment stings you in more ways than one. On the surface, it seems like an unnecessarily catty remark- one that you would say is aimed at Mystra, were it not for the ‘young’ part- but you suspect there’s a lot more to it than that; it’s almost like she knows there’s something going on between you and Gale, and this is her very unsubtle way of telling you that if you break his heart, you’ll be easily replaced.

Outrage stirs inside you before you can stop it. Not once have you ever done anything to hurt Gale, or toy with his feelings. You’ve been nothing but open and honest, and you’re pretty sure you’ve made it clear to him that you expect him to act with the same level of candour.

Try as you might, you can’t bring yourself to swallow the sentiment Tara has thrown at you, possibly due to the wine you’ve been all but railroaded into imbibing. ‘No offense, but you don’t know me, and you certainly don’t know my heart. If I was lucky enough to find someone who truly loved me, and that I loved back, there is nothing in this world that could force me to hurt them. Do not give me so little credit with so little basis.’ All three occupants of the table stare at you, varying emotions emotions in their eyes;

Tara looks like she’s just placed her hand on a hot stove, Morena looks caught between amusement and approval, and Gale… There’s an awe in his eyes, more intense than you’ve ever seen it. If you didn’t know better, you’d almost call it a lover’s stare…

After a few tense moments, Tara chuckles, sipping her water. ‘Oh, I like you.’ She offers no further comment, returning to her dinner as if nothing ever happened. Morena does the same, but Gale can’t seem to stop staring at you, his gaze becoming almost unsettling. Have your words stirred something in him? You hope so. Well, as long as they’ve lit the flame of affection in him, rather than dousing the fire of passion, you’ll be a happy woman tonight.

Morena is the first to finish her meal, giving Gale a pat on his shoulder when she does. ‘It was perfect as always. You should invite your mama for dinner more often, now that the harpy has gone away.’ She leans back, focusing her attention to you in a far more casual way this time. ‘We had dinner with Mystra three times, and after the last, I did not hear from him for two months. Two months! Finally, I go to my baby boy and ask why he ignores his mama’s daily messages, and he looks at me and says ‘what do you mean? You have not messaged me once since dinner. I thought you were mad at me.’ Turns out that the harpy had blocked my number in his phone, and told Gale that I had confronted her and said I would never speak to him again while they were still together. Evil lies. I could never abandon my son for anything.’ You can feel your blood boil under your skin. Every time you hear anything about Mystra, it makes you keen to meet her… and introduce her to your knuckles.

You try your best to seem more concerned than angry, for the sake of not letting Morena know just how deep your affection for your professor- who is absolutely nothing else to you beyond that- runs. ‘Abusers always try to distance their victim from their loved ones. She probably felt threatened by how close you are to your son.’ Just by watching them, and the little you can infer based on what you’ve heard, it sounds like Morena raised him pretty much by herself, and they clearly have a strong bond because of it; you’re shocked that he didn’t leave Mystra immediately for trying to shatter that bond.

There’s mischief in Morena’s tone, masked by a lamentation that almost sounds fake. ‘Oh, he tells his mama everything. That is why my heart breaks for him, being abandoned tonight. Every day he messages me, and lately all he can say is ‘mama, I have met the most beautiful woman in all the world. Her smile could light up the darkest abyss, and her mere presence is enough to heal a thousand wounds. I am going to marry her, mama. She will be my wife one day, I’m sure of it. We will give you many grandchildren, and live happily ever after.’ Now he will have to start again. Is a tragedy.’ The entire room starts to spin, her words swirling in your head over and over again. Did he… is it true? Has he really told his mother all that?

Surely some of it has to be embellishment. You know Gale has told his mother that he’s had company as the way to get her to surrender the recipes, but you don’t know the exact content of his messages. There’s no way he’d say any of that about a woman he’s just been seeing casually though, unless…

There’s undeniable panic in Gale’s tone as he answers his mother’s claims. ‘That’s not entirely true, mother! I never said anything about marriage or children!’ Okay, so that bit is a lie, but the rest? About you being beautiful, and healing wounds? He’s not denying that. So does that mean…?

Out of nowhere, Tara rubs her temples. ‘Blasted headache. And just when the night was getting interesting. We should make tracks soon, Morena, or else we’ll be forced to spend the night in a hotel.’ You’re not sure if she actually has a headache, or if she’s trying to find an excuse to leave so you and Gale can talk, but you are grateful for her wanting to leave regardless.

Morena pouts. ‘Before dessert? You are lucky I love you like my own flesh, Tara, or I would be unamused. Gale will give you painkillers and we can go. Will you come, too?’ She aims that question towards you, and you freeze, unsure of what to say. If you refuse a lift home, it might look suspicious, but on the other hand, you can’t leave now. Not if even a fraction of what Gale’s mother said about her messages from her son are true.

Tara stands up, abandoning the last few scraps of her dinner. ‘Not with us, I’m sure. Now, assuming Gale is still using one of his kitchen cupboards as his makeshift pharmacy, I may as well take the plates out. Would you give me a hand?’ Once again, you are the one on the receiving end of the question, and despite not quite finishing your dinner, the shock of Morena’s words has rendered you so dazed that you stand without question, picking up both your plate and Gale’s and taking them to the kitchen, your lover’s best friend following closely at your heel.

With Tara fast behind you, it finally clicks in your brain that she did this on purpose to get you alone, presumably to grill you about your relationship with Gale away from the still-ignorant Morena. The thought of having to defend yourself and your relationship for the second time isn’t a welcome one, but with the ever-growing prospect of Gale sharing in your feelings of love, in some ways you’ve ever felt bolder; you’ll defend yourself and your relationship for as long as it takes her to understand that you are not Mystra.

Sure enough, you barely have time to put the plates on the side before Tara is in your ear, her tone one of hushed concern. ‘Tell me the cycle is broken. Tell me that Gale hasn’t coerced you into this, the same way Mystra dug her claws into the first bright young thing to pay attention in class.’ That’s… of all the things for Tara to say, this is the last thing you expected, especially given her earlier outburst. It’s like the tables have turned in her mind, and now she’s starting to see parallels between Gale and his ex, rather than you and the same vile woman…

At least you have something you can say in his defense, if Tara is willing to listen. ‘It wasn’t like that, I swear. I met him on a dating app before term even started, and by the time I found out… We both tried to put a stop to it, but I couldn’t bring myself to lose the best thing I’ve had in a long time. Please, Tara. You can hate my guts as much as you like, throw shade and suspicion my way whenever you want, but leave Gale out of it. He hasn’t done anything wrong.’ Even if you know that such a statement wouldn’t hold up against the head of the school- the board of education itself, even- but you’re hoping it’s at least enough to convince his best friend not to ruin his life over something that won't even be an issue in a few months when you’re completely done with your degree.

Tara sighs. ‘Good enough, I suppose. I told Gale he’d find someone if he posed with puppies for his profile picture. Seems I was right.’ She starts rummaging through one of his cupboards as you chew her words over in your mind, finding them… odd. Something in her statement doesn’t add up. Gale told you himself that Tara helped him set up the profile, so it’s not her knowledge…

You snap your fingers together as it finally clicks, causing Tara to stop searching and look at you. ‘Gale didn’t have puppies in his profile picture, though. It was cats.’ And she should know that, too.

Any lingering tension in the older woman’s body seems to dissipate when you state your observation, her lips curving into the first genuine smile she’s worn all evening. ‘Just keeping you on your toes, dear. After your little speech in there, I had to be quite certain you weren’t lying to protect him. Though of course it goes without saying that if you try to take him away from his mother, or do anything else to hurt him, nobody will ever find your body. I hesitated when it came to Mystra, and it almost ruined Gale completely. I will not allow that mistake to be made a second time.’ You don’t doubt her for a moment. You’re quite certain that between them, Tara and Morena could make you disappear for good…

You shake your head, dispelling the mental images flooding your mind. ‘I have something that Mystra never did, but I would rather tell Gale what that is first, if it’s all the same to you.’ Fishing out the painkillers at last, Tara swallows two of them, chasing them with a few glugs of water straight from the tap.

Tara sighs in satisfaction. ‘Then it’s time Mrs Dekarios and I got out of your hair for the evening. Do try not to push Gale too hard this evening. He has terribly weak knees.’ You both laugh at that, heading back into the dining room with an understanding now firmly growing between you.

By the time you make it back, Morena is already ready to leave, pinching Gale’s cheek affectionately. ‘Next time, you come to mama instead. Lady friends always welcome. My sleeping pills mean I can’t hear a thing, so you can both stay over and do whatever you like.’ There’s a rosiness to her cheeks in this light, which could only have come from one thing; wine. Just how much did she have to drink tonight when you weren’t looking?!

It’s Tara that pulls Morena away from her son, guiding her to the front door. ‘Come along now, Mrs Dekarios. You know what red wine does to you.’ She looks back at Gale, nodding curtly. ‘Thank you for having us, Gale. It’s been most edifying.’ She ushers Morena out without another word, making sure to close the front door behind her.

Now alone with Gale, the air is thick with a silence neither of you want to break. What can you even say, in a situation like this? Right now, you’re on the edge of a peak, surrounded by fog. You could leap now, and land in Gale’s embrace, or you could be jumping straight off a cliff, the jagged rocks of disappointment and heartbreak the only things waiting at the bottom.

Well, it’s not like you have any other options at this point. You can’t stay on the peak forever. You have to jump, and put all the faith you have in Gale that he’ll catch you, even if he can’t embrace you

As you open your mouth to speak, the letter slot on Gale's front door is pushed open, a now-familiar voice shouting a message loud enough for the neighbors to hear. ‘Remember Gale, hands and knees make it easier, but orgasm is the key!’ In the background, Tara gives an exasperated cry of Morena’s name before dragging her away again, finally allowing you and Gale the peace and privacy to talk things through.

After a few more moments bracing yourself to take the leap, Gale is the one to break the silence. ‘I’m sorry. This is not how I had envisioned tonight, but perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. None of my plans have made it to fruition of late. Not the holiday, not this… Clearly I am just as hopeless as everyone feared.’ He looks forlorn as he walks around the table, tucking in the chairs as he goes. ‘Please disregard what my mother said tonight. She had no right, even if she wasn’t to know…’ His voice breaks, and you can see the tears in his eyes as he rests his hands on the table, fingers digging into the table cloth as he fights back tears.

A few months ago, you might have taken that as your cue to leave, but you can’t go now. Not with him in this state. You need to understand why he’s crying, and to help him through it, but in order to do that, there is something that needs to be present; honesty.

So, you place your hand on the small of Gale’s back, stroking along his spine through his shirt. ‘No. I can’t forget, and I don’t want to. I just want to know the truth. Did you really say all of that about me?’ Gale’s whole body trembles under your touch, enough that even the table starts to quiver. There’s a storm of emotions inside him ready to be unleashed, but you’re ready for it; the world always shines brighter after the rain falls, or so someone you love once told you.

Finally, Gale speaks, the dam in his eyes finally bursting. ‘Who else? There is no one else in my life that even comes close to making me feel the way you do. When I first met you, I was little more than the shattered pieces of a man, trying my best to fix myself just enough to fool the world into thinking I was okay. That’s why I let Tara talk me into dating, to show her that I was fine, and ready to move on, when in fact I was content to just wallow in my own self-pity until I died alone.

‘When I got a message from you, I thought it was a scam. I was half-expecting to be robbed or murdered that night, but there was this sad little part of me that still held out hope that maybe… maybe I could still get some kind of enjoyment out of my waste of a life. That even if you were planning to end me or take everything I have, at least I’d feel something other than the loneliness that smothered me at every turn.’ Through his tears, he smiles. ‘Gods, but when I met you, it was like seeing the world again for the first time in years. You were beautiful, and smart, and you took my breath away.

‘I think I fell for you right then and there, but you were so insistent on it just being sex that I held back. I’ve been holding back this entire time, pouring my feelings into your body in the hopes that one day, you might finally figure out just what you mean to me. If you had only taken the time to read what I wrote on your skin, or to listen when I push my lips against you and profess my love then maybe… But it is over now. How can I expect you to feel anything for me when I can’t even do you the courtesy of being honest? Last weekend, I should have just told you I was in love, but instead I flowered my words and wasted my chances. Tonight was supposed to be my chance to fix that…’ You have to take a seat on the table, not trusting your legs to support you. He… Gale really said all that. This isn’t a dream. If it was, he would be confessing to you through kisses, not tears. This is… this is everything.

Taking your silence as rejection, Gale stands tall, wiping away his tears with his sleeves. ‘Alas, life cannot always go the way we want it to. If you still wish to continue our arrangement, I am more than happy to proceed, but I would rather we spent the night apart, if that’s all the same to you. My ego needs time to repair after I made such an ass of myself.’ Already, you can sense that he’s about to walk away, but you can’t let him do that; if he does, it’ll be the beginning of the end, and you’ll be damned if you lose him before you even had him.

Before Gale can turn around, you grab his hands, linking his fingers with yours as you hear him choke on a gasp. ‘Fuck the arrangement, Gale. I don’t want sex. I want you. I love you. I’ve been trying to find the words myself, but I was so afraid to lose what we have that I-‘ Gale cuts you off with a kiss that takes your breath away, pushing you against the table and knocking over a half full glass of wine.

You break the kiss just long enough to breathe, Gale peppering kisses along your jaw in response as his hands pin yours to the table, your fingers interlocking. ‘Wait… the wine…’ Your weak protests are met by a firm nip against your skin, silencing them completely.

After a few moments, Gale shifts his lips again, hovering them just over yours. ‘How am I supposed to care about anything else when you are beneath me like this, words of love still fresh on your lips and in my heart? This house could burn to ash around us, and I don’t think I’d even notice. I’m so lost in you, but at the same time, you have helped me find myself, something I had once feared impossible. So, why don’t we get lost in each other for a while? Set right what we did wrong all those months ago. Tread the path of lovers, not strangers who like to indulge in nothing but pure impulse.’ He closes the distance between your mouths again, and you feel yourself growing completely limp, body so full of love it barely feels like you can control it.

When you’re allowed to breathe again, you slip your hands out of Gale’s grip, resting them on his shoulders. ‘And what does that path look like, in your mind's eye?’ Judging by the way his fingertips caress your sides through the dress, you think you have an idea, but you’d still give anything to hear it from the man himself.

To your surprise, Gale pauses, resting his hands on your hips. ‘You truly wish me to answer that? Be warned that the answer may not be the one you’re expecting. The one you’ve come to expect, given the way our arrangement has had me treating you up until now.’ His thumbs start to rub the tops of your thighs, your lover clearly testing his own patience by asking you a question rather than answering outright.

You tuck a stray lock of Gale’s greying hair behind his ear, following it up by leaning in and kissing his temple. ‘Honesty, Gale. If we’re really going to deepen our relationship, we need a rock solid foundation to build it upon, and there is none better than honesty. So please, never hesitate. Always tell me what’s on your mind, no matter how much you feel you need to dress it up before presenting it.’ You know you might regret saying that last part somewhere along the line, but for tonight? He can use as many words as it takes to get the feelings out.

A sentiment you wish you’d embraced before now, but it’s better late than never.

Gale moans at the feel of your lips on his face, his fingers pressing into you firmly. ‘Very well. It looks… intimate. Just not in the way you’re expecting it to. I would be lying if I said that sex with you isn’t the best I’ve ever had. Even our worst nights locked in a carnal embrace is a thousand times better than any I’ve had with anyone else. But to me, intimacy runs deeper than that. It’s the little things that can only be done with a lover, rather than a sexual partner.’ He lets out a breath, moving a hand up so he can cup your cheek. ‘I would gladly make love to you tonight, and consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to have done so come morning, but in my mind, we have already made love many times before. I want our first night as lovers to be different, and to be all the more special for it.’ He kisses you again- slowly, this time- but with a smouldering passion that threatens to steal what remains of your breath.

You don’t speak even as Gale releases your lips, waiting for him to get to the point. ‘I just want to hold you, even if it’s only for a little while. I want to feel your body against mine and just… exist. To just enjoy being with each other, all pretense and expectation long abandoned.’ He leans his face into your clothed collarbone, slightly muffling his words. ‘I need to touch you so I know this is real.’ Something wet makes the fabric of your dress stick to your skin, and you think your lover must be crying again, or at least shedding a tear or two…

There’s a subtle desperation in Gale’s tone that makes you question your previous interactions. He’s always so quick to plant a kiss on your head, or brush his hand against yours. You’d always just assumed he was being liberal with his affection, or trying to initiate sex, but maybe there’s more to it than that. Maybe… maybe he just wants to touch you, and to be touched in return. Sure, you touch him when you have sex, but like he said, it’s different. Almost hollow, when compared to genuine intimacy.

Gently, you coax Gale away so you can stand, and rejoin your hands with his. ‘You can’t hold me like that on the kitchen table. Come to bed with me.’ The shock in Gale’s eyes is almost enough to wound you, like he was expecting you to turn down such a simple request. How many times has he been denied true intimacy in the past?

It’s a question you’d rather ask him in the morning, because tonight isn’t about the past; it’s about establishing a precedent for the future, and you want him to know that it is always okay for him to ask for a cuddle.

Gale allows you to lead him up the stairs, his arms shaking slightly. ‘It needn’t be all night. I appreciate that you have needs just as pressing as my own. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you neglected to wear anything under your dress. I think I might have had a heart attack if you’d bent over in front of mother and Tara.’ Just thinking about that makes your stomach hurt, but you try to ignore it, reaching the landing at last and guiding your lover to his room.

As soon as you’re inside, you make quick work of your dress, letting it slip to the floor before crawling into Gale’s bed. ‘You’ve never put your own needs first, but that has to change. We are in a relationship now, aren’t we? It’s not about only doing what’s best for one of us. Your needs are just as important as mine, and if what you need right now is to hold me until sunrise then so be it. If we aren’t going to be equals in this, then why are we doing it?’ Gods, but that came out a lot harsher than you’d intended. What if he doesn’t even want to hold you now? Have you ruined your relationship before it even began?

Thankfully, Gale doesn’t seem to be hurt by your words, as he strips his clothes off before joining you in bed, laying next to you without pulling you into an embrace. ‘I’ll confess, it’s not a dynamic I’m used to. The fact you’re even open to intimacy beyond sex is a monumental deviation from the norm as far as past relationships are concerned. It will undoubtedly take time, fully establishing the boundaries of our love, but we’ll get there in time, I’m sure.’ You expect him to reach out to you then, but he just lays there, staring up into the ceiling.

After a few seconds of waiting, you take the initiative yourself, shifting close to him until you can rest your head on his bare shoulder. ‘There are no boundaries that need to be set, Gale. I love you, and I want you to have all of it. My whole heart, at your disposal whether you want it or not.’ He feels so warm that you find yourself snuggling even closer, draping an arm across his middle and a leg across his own.

The rapid beating of Gale’s heart is like music to you, making you feel more at peace than you have for as long as you can remember. ‘Then I offer the same in return. My heart may be damaged, but I assure you that my love for you will be evergreen, unable to be tarnished by anything that life can throw at us.’ You’re not sure if he’s being entirely sincere- because how can anyone make a promise like that?- but it feels like it is. Either way, it doesn’t matter; the only thing you care about is that Gale loves you right now, in this perfect little moment of yours.

For the first time in a long time, you feel like you have everything you could ever want.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Gale isn’t sure when the woman in his arms drifts into the realm of sleep. All he knows is that at one point he stopped paying attention to the beating of her heart, and started to take note of her soft snores instead.

Since when was fortune willing to grant him favours? For years, his life has drifted from one disaster to another, with little in the way of respite between. To think that he’d not only find love again, but actually fall in love with someone who seems to genuinely reciprocate those feelings? The Gale of a few months would have scoffed at the ridiculousness of such a suggestion, before seeking an end to his sorrows in either a book or a bottle of wine.

Yet here she is. Living, breathing proof that perhaps all is not lost in his life. Sure, their situation is far from ideal, but that can all be rectified, in time. She won’t be a student for much longer, and then they can move forward properly. Of course, they can’t make it too obvious that the connection between them is a long-standing one, but they could do little things they can’t now. Will she let him hold her hand in public? That would be a terrific start, one that would truly mean the entire world to him. Mystra never…

Gale has to fight the urge to wince, the mere thought of his ex threatening to sour what has been the perfect ending to such a disastrous dinner. It doesn’t matter what Mystra did or didn’t let him do. She is no longer his problem, if Elminster’s social media is to be believed. She’s nothing but a bad memory, a scar that he needs to stop picking at. The past is but an unfortunate footnote, one that he will not allow to influence his future.

In an attempt to calm himself, Gale brushes his fingers down his lover’s arm, almost weeping when she subconsciously tries to snuggle in even closer. The fact that she is his- that she wants to be with him for more than just sex- makes his head spin. Even if they are together until the end of days, he’s not sure he’ll ever understand his good fortune, but he won’t waste it. He’s going to show her what it means to be loved, one day at a time.

Starting tomorrow, of course. For now, all he wants is to just enjoy the moment, and allow his mind to wander over all that she means to him. Perhaps he should take up poetry again? With such a perfect muse, he’s sure he could make even the hardest of hearts melt. He would make a start now, but there’s not a notebook within reach, either paper or electronic.

Just thinking of electronics has Gale wondering how long Tara will wait before bombarding his texts with messages, the contents of which are a complete unknown. His best friend is hard to read at times, with tonight being no exception. All he knows for sure is that she saw through his lie within seconds, and undoubtedly spent the rest of the evening sizing up Gale’s lover, just to make sure her exacting standards are met.

The only saving grace of dinner is the fact that his mother was ignorant to the other guests’ true identity. The questions she asked a total stranger were bad enough, nevermind what she might have said if she’d known the truth. He’ll have to gently remind her that behaviour like that seldom goes down well, but then given how she is willing to broadcast the content of their messages to anyone within earshot, maybe it is better left unsaid.

Still, her actions probably did him a favour, in the long run. There’s no way he would have been brave enough to confess tonight if he wasn’t all but forced to, and if he hadn’t, he would have missed out on this. If anything, he should thank his mother, for being candid where he could not…

His lover shifts slightly in her sleep, and Gale can’t resist wrapping both his arms around her, cradling her to his chest. If this is what the future holds for them, then he is beyond elated. Even if he has to forsake all his other dreams for the future, he’ll be satisfied if he gets to keep this. Keep her, warm and content in his arms.

There is surely no finer future to be had.

Chapter Text

Waking up warm isn’t something you’re inherently used to. All too many times in recent memory have you woken up with the sheets in disarray, on a limb dangling haphazardly off the bed. That’s to say nothing of the morning chill occasionally kissing your face, making your nose water and mood sour.

Today however, you feel different. You feel… hot, but not in an unpleasant way. There’s a gentle warmth beneath you, heating your cheek while something other than a draft caresses your bare arm.

As you slowly come to your senses, you soon realise why your body is such an unexpected temperature; you’re still resting on Gale, in much the same position as you were last night thanks to one of his arms wrapping around you and encouraging you to stay close with the soft pressure of his fingers at your side. His other hand is currently tracing shapes into your arm, never pressing too deep for fear of rousing you.

While you could easily stay in this moment forever, it’s impossible to fight the urge to stretch as your body becomes more alert, the room past your lover entering your awareness. The way the shadows are cast across the walls, it must be barely morning, with the sun appearing to be as reluctant to rise as you are. You wonder if Gale had been awake to see the sun peak over the horizon, and quietly stroked you as he contemplated the events of last night.

A night you shall never forget, though you know that the dry throat the wine cursed you with this morning will fade in time. Officially meeting Tara, his mother, being chewed out by the former, almost encouraged by the latter… It was wild, that much is certain. But there is one certainty that you hold higher than all the others; Gale loves you. You heard the words from his own mouth, and if he was serious about them then you’re sure you’ll hear them again before too long.

Noticing that you’re awake, Gale hums, the reverberations in his chest almost reminding you of a cat purring. ‘It’s still early, my love. Sleep if you can.’ He tilts his face so he can kiss the top of your head, lingering a little longer than usual.

You yawn in response, nuzzling your face into his neck until your words are slightly muffled. ‘Why’re you ‘wake?’ Doing that proves to be a mistake, as you inadvertently come face-to-face with a demon you don’t often have to fight; your own less-than-fragrant morning breath, pushing away from Gale’s skin to waft into your nose.

Gale’s arm tries to pull you in even closer. ‘I have to rise early for work. After so many years in the same routine, my body won’t allow me to sleep in even if I desire to, so I’ve just been laying here thinking a while. I hope you don’t find the idea of me relaxing and occasionally gazing at you as you sleep to be too unsettling, but the thought of waking you by attempting to get up really did break my heart. Besides, after such an intimate night, it would be downright callous of me to leave you to wake alone.’ Hearing that makes you press kisses into him, almost giggling as he shifts slightly.

Content you’ve tortured him enough, you pull back, making sure to keep your head angled down so you don’t ruin Gale’s morning with the slightly unpleasant smell. ‘I’m happy you stayed. You’re such a comfy pillow.’ You stroke his bare chest, fingers tracing along the creases on his body. ‘On a more serious note, I know how much you needed that. Have you… when was the last time you held someone like that? Or were held at all, for that matter?’ There’s a moment of tension as your lover processes your question, and it crosses your mind that you might have overstepped, asking such a thing so soon into your relationship becoming official and committed.

Finally, Gale answers. ‘I’m uncertain that I ever have, to be honest. I didn’t have a serious relationship before Mystra, and she… well, she wasn’t the touchy feely kind. Didn’t really like me touching her at all outside of sex, and even then I spent many an evening with my hands tied. Looking back, I wonder why I even tried to endure it. I- Obviously if you have an issue with physical contact outside the bedroom I completely understand, and will support your needs to the very best of my abilities.’ You would roll your eyes at that, if it didn’t break your heart a little. He’s hiding his own feelings again, waiting to hear yours so he can mold them to better suit you.

You may have let it slide a lot during your time together, but now that things are serious between you, you can’t let this continue.

Against Gale’s silent protests, you sit up, straddling one of his legs as you cross your arms over your breasts. ‘We touched on this last night, Gale. You need to be open with me about what you want. If non-sexual intimacy is something you need from a relationship, I want you to tell me. If we build this relationship on the needs of one person and one person alone, the other will be utterly miserable. I’m not unreasonable, my love. I’m not her. If you tell me your wants and needs, and I tell you mine, we will both have a deeper understanding of what the other wants, and we can build the future on that. Please?’ Maybe it’s a lot to demand of him, especially since things have only just started between you in earnest, but better to get it out now than several months down the line when it’s too late to change it.

Gale sighs, stroking your hips with his fingertips. ‘I suppose I just want to feel… wanted. Appreciated, for more than just my practiced tongue and quite frankly stellar technique. I don’t expect us to be constantly joined at the hip, but if you could find it within yourself not to flinch every time I try to hold your hand, it would do wonders for my mental well-being.’ A small flame of anger ignites within you, to the point you’re seriously considering hunting Mystra down and tearing her a multitude of new assholes. How many times did she do that to him? Enough that he’s still thinking of it, at least…

Still, it does bring to light something you hadn’t considered lately. ‘Do you think- and I promise, I’m not trying to offend you- that you might be a little touch starved? Because that’s what it sounds like to me, and if it’s that case, then I think it’s obvious what Mystra did to you runs really deep, and it might be worth trying to find a therapist, if you’re comfortable with the idea?’ If you didn’t sound bossy or controlling before, this might tip it over the edge. ‘You should have least waited until breakfast to jump down his throat’, is probably the response you’re about to receive.

Instead, Gale takes the time to mull over your words, before finally nodding. ‘I can’t say the idea of therapy really appeals to me. Sitting in a room and telling all my personal problems to a complete stranger seems downright cruel if anything, but if you think it might be beneficial, I would be willing to try it. I highly doubt it will cause more harm, at least.’ The fact that he’s entertaining the idea rather than getting offended or defensive is enough for you for now, so you decide not to push further, instead tracing shapes lightly into his chest.

After a few moments, you sigh in contentment. ‘I love you, Gale. I hope you don’t mind me saying that again. I know last night was a little unexpected, but I think we’ve both hidden our true feelings for long enough.’ Assuming sleep hasn’t completely altered Gale’s mind, you know he feels the same. He was almost heartbreakingly transparent last night about everything, including his feelings.

Gale raises a hand to cup your cheek, and you lean into it, kissing his thumb as it brushes over your lips. ‘We’ll have to hide it publicly for a while yet, but privately? You can tell me you love me as often as you wish. I know I won’t be making any effort to conceal it. My only regret is not being honest sooner, but I shall more than make up for it in the years that follow. I love you, and I swear to never make you doubt that.’ You tilt your head so you can trail kisses all over his palm, your lips settling into an easy smile.

As you continue to caress Gale’s hand with your lips, you feel the distinctive hardness of his cock stirring against your leg, your lover’s cheeks growing pink. ‘Mr Dekarios, are you really getting turned on at a time like this?’ You keep your tone teasing as you move to properly straddle Gale’s lap, letting his swelling cock brush between your lower lips.

A moan slips out of Gale’s mouth before he can deny his feelings. ‘In my defense, you are naked, and an incredible sight to see. Not to mention just how hopelessly in love with you I am. You should be surprised it’s taken my body this long to react, if anything.’ He pushes his hips up then, and you moan, the slight friction and Gale’s words working in tandem to get you wet.

You slide yourself across Gale’s cock, wordlessly letting him feel how he’s affecting you. ‘Well, it’s reacting now. Want to do something about it?’ Steadying yourself with one hand on his chest, your other one grasps at one of your breasts, Gale watching intently as you pinch your nipple between your fingers.

Gale wets his lips with his tongue, watching your display before an idea flashes in his mind. ‘Gladly. I know it’s ill-advised to eat dessert for breakfast, but today I plan to make an exception. So, if you’d be so kind as to perch yourself atop my face so I can partake in your saccharine delights, that would be most appreciated.’ He gives you a hungry look, and you’re already too turned on to complain, knowing full well what it feels like to be at the mercy of this man’s tongue.

As you shimmy your way up your lover’s body, his hair tickling your outer lips as you go, a thought occurs to you. Why should he be the only one that gets to have dessert this morning? That hardly seems fair…

With a smirk, you turn yourself around, crawling in reverse until you can feel Gale’s hot breath over your quivering cunt. ‘Breakfast is served.’ You purr mere seconds before your lover presses his face firmly against you, his tongue wasting no time slipping out of his mouth and exploring its territory.

While Gale enthusiastically devours you, your own tongue slips out, the tip tracing the head of Gale’s cock until your lover shudders beneath you. Proud of how much you’re affecting him, you continue, teasing his slit until it’s practically begging to be inside you.

You try to ignore the way pleasure is shooting through your body like lightning as you leave open-mouthed, sloppy kisses over his cock, starting from the top and working your way down until you brush against his balls. Gale’s hips thrust up beneath you, and you take that as a sign to keep going, working your way up this time until your lips are directly over his tip.

Gale’s tongue tunnels inside you, and your lover takes advantage of your ensuing moan to slip inside your mouth, groaning into you as he continues to drive you wild. Your nipples chafe against his stomach as you try to focus on his taste, but the way your lover knowingly exploits every weakness he’s found makes it hard to even keep your legs steady.

Noticing your waning resolve, Gale gropes your ass cheeks with his slender fingers, one of his thumbs intentionally brushing across your hole as you’re taken back to the night you studied together. You almost choke as the memories take your breath away, and you end up screaming around his cock as the pleasure builds inside you, ready to spill over.

Knowing he has you weak, one of Gale’s hands slides around to torment your clit, swiping moisture from his mouth and your cunt to ease his rubbing. You have to release his cock from your mouth as it becomes too much, your knuckles white as you grip the sheets beneath you, waiting for your inevitable end.

When at last you finally orgasm, you scream Gale’s name, unashamed and unbothered by the idea that someone might hear you. He doesn’t stop his utter ruining of you until he’s certain he’s wrung each last drop from your body, and only then do you feel him panting beneath you, trying to collect himself.

Before you can move or even finish him off, Gale sits up, your still-sensitive centre tumbling down as he does. Without warning, he kneels behind you, and you realise his intention just in time to get into your own hands and knees, lifting your ass and presenting yourself to him.

Gale grasps his cock and swirls it around your entrance, gathering as much lubrication as he can while teasing you. ‘Dessert was divine, but I think I’d like something more savory now.’ He still refuses to press into you, waiting for you to answer.

You thrust your hips back at him, frustrated when he doesn’t take that as confirmation. ‘Enough metaphors, Gale. Please just fuck me already.’ You catch him shaking his head and smirking with amusement before he decides he’s done teasing you, and slips into your body with a practiced ease, your cunt welcoming him home gladly.

The pace Gale sets is slow and deliberate, each of his thrusts angled and looking for your sweet spots. You let him know how close he is with your moans, almost crying when he misses his mark by mere centimeters. Never one to be discouraged, he doesn’t make that mistake again, his cock hitting you just right with every subsequent thrust until you swear you see stars.

Content that he’s wrecking you, Gale grabs your hair, pulling your head up so you can’t even try to stifle your cries. ‘I want to hear you. Tell me what you need. What you want me to do.’ How he expects you to have a single coherent thought when the only thing on your mind is how it feels to be full of him…

Between your moans, you try to speak, knowing silence will likely prompt him to tease you. ‘Fuck! Just keep… please keep going…’ With previous lovers, you wouldn’t expect a second orgasm, but with Gale’s track record, you know he won’t quit until you’re completely satisfied.

Gale makes a noise between a hum and a moan, clearly more affected by being inside you than he wants you to think. ‘Bold of you to think I’d stop. You… you feel amazing.’ He sucks on your back before nipping at your skin, trying to leave a little mark on you.

As Gale’s hand slides onto your thigh, you vividly recall what he wrote there, and your suspicions about his secret desires. ‘I haven’t taken my pill today. Do you think you’d breed me if you came inside me right now?’ Your lover’s cock misses its mark as he falters, his nails pinching at your scalp and thigh.

Any composure Gale had when you started seems to be crumbing as he starts to thrust in harder, releasing your hair so he can grab your hips and pull your body back to meet his thrusts. ‘I hope so.’ He says it so quietly you wonder if you’ve misheard, but when you’re sure you haven’t, you scream for him, your body impossibly hot.

You press your forehead against the bed and brace yourself with one arm as the other sneaks beneath you to tease your clit, determined to finish a second time. ‘Do it, then. I want you to do it! I want… fuck, I love you!’ You struggle to focus on touching yourself with all the pleasure flooding your body, but Gale notices, slapping your hand away so he can take over.

Being at the total mercy of Gale has you on the edge, your lover leaning over to whisper in your ear. ‘Orgasm is key.’ As the dots join in your mind between now and last night, you finally climax hard for the second time, your cunt begging for him to finish inside you just as much as your mouth is.

With you clenching around him, Gale finally lets go himself, thrusting in hard until you’re filled with a familiar and addictive warmth that feels so much more intense than usual. Both of you pant hard as you try to come down from your highs, your lover’s weight settling on top of yours as he makes no move to pull out.

Finally, you feel Gale roll off of you and the bed before heading to the bathroom to fetch a cloth for you. Watching him leave, you can’t help but smile to yourself, knowing that your relationship has evolved into something so much more than what you thought you were looking for. You may have wanted something casual at first, but now? You can’t imagine things being anything less than a real commitment.

Gale returns swiftly, wiping your freshly fucked hole with a lukewarm cloth. ‘That was a delightful way to wake up. I hope we get more chances to indulge like this in the future.’ Gods, if you get your way, you’ll do this every day until your last. It never feels like enough when you’re with him, but at the same time, it feels so perfect that you’re certain you know what it feels like to be loved and complete.

With sweat clinging to your forehead, you turn to look at him, staring into his eyes. ‘I knew you had a breeding kink, Mr Dekarios. Why did you keep it from me?’ You suspect it has something to do with his past and all that Mystra put him through when it comes to having a family, and if that’s the case, then you more than understand. It’s just one more thing you’ll have to work on with him.

There’s a distinct pink tinge to Gale’s cheeks that you know is more than a side effect of having sex. ‘Perhaps this is something better discussed after I’ve started therapy. For now, I’m quite confident that the regular ingestion of your pills up until this point should make pregnancy highly unlikely. If however an accident does happen, know that I will fully support you in whatever decision you make.’ Decide… does he think you’d end any unplanned pregnancy? And he’d let you do it without contesting it, despite you knowing for a fact that he wants- or at least wanted- a family?

Turning to face Gale, you grab his hands, ignoring how unpleasant the cloth feels. ‘We can discuss this later like you said, but I want you to know that I don’t find the idea of carrying your child distressing. It’s the opposite, if anything. So, the only thing I’d expect from you in case of an accident is your help raising our baby.’ Maybe not even that. As long as he acknowledges that he’s the father, that will feel like some kind of win.

Gale leans in, kissing your forehead. ‘Later it is. But thank you, for keeping hope alive in me for a while longer.’ He keeps kissing your forehead, and you’re about to ask what he means by that when a loud vibration catches both your attention and his, the sound coming from his discarded pile of clothing.

Intrigued, Gale heads over to his clothes, the pink in his cheeks turning to white as he fishes out his phone and reads the content of his main screen. ‘Oh. So, Tara has some… opinions about last night.’ Shit. You were hoping your comments would be enough to reassure her that your feelings for Gale are legitimate, and neither one of you is trying to manipulate the other.

With shaking legs, you make your way over to Gale, reading aloud what you can see on his screen. ‘I don’t know what possessed you to keep the fact that you’re dating a student from me, Gale, but you and I are going to have some strong words in the future. That being said, she does seem quite delightful, in her way. I do so desperately hope you know what you’re doing this time, because as selfish as it sounds, I am dealing with too much right now to glue your heart back together a second time.’ You’re not entirely sure what to make of her text. On the one hand, you’re glad she seems to be accepting of you, but on the other, her words make you think that she expects your relationship to fail…

Gale sighs, tossing his phone onto the bedside table. ‘She’ll come around. As will my mother, when we inevitably have to tell her that we deceived her. Still, as long as you and I both turn up to every family gathering in the near future, I doubt she could ever truly be angry with us. She just wants her only son to be happy, and you? You take me so far past that threshold that happiness is a mere dot on the horizon. I’m joyful, when I’m in your presence. Dare I say a little exuberant. But this is hardly the time. I think you and I both need to shower, and to indulge ourselves with a hearty breakfast.’ Your stomach whines in agreement just as something crosses your mind, inspired by your earlier conversation.

Doing your best to flutter your lashes, you explain your idea out loud. ‘You know, we never did get around to eating that famous karydopita you mentioned before. Maybe we could have a slice of that for breakfast, for the sake of being truly indulgent?’ You’re not sure if you can convince him to do something that insensible, but it has to be worth a try; from what he’s told you, it sounds delicious!

Gale chuckles, pulling you into his arms and kissing the tip of your nose. ‘Great minds think alike, it seems. Besides, I think I could grow fond of having a sweet treat for breakfast. Especially if you’re on the menu.’ He kisses you then, the faint taste of your own juices still on his tongue. If this was anyone else, you may have pushed them away, but with Gale? This is just one more little intimacy for the two of you to share, alongside all the others.

Although, that does remind you of a question that has been stirring in the back of your mind ever since Gale expressed a desire for more non-sexual intimacy. ‘So, does this mean our nights of kinky roleplay are going to be a thing of the past? Not that I object to making love at all, it’s just… it is pretty hot when you get assertive with me.’ Then again, what happened this morning was also pretty damn spicy, especially considering the circumstances.

Your lover winks. ‘Oh, I won’t be letting you off that easily. You have much left to study after all, and I’ve got a paddle with your name on it. Well, technically it has my name on it. I was planning to see if I could leave an impression of my name on your cheeks the next time you give me the wrong answer to something basic.’ Gods, but maybe you can convince him to study with you today, if only so you can sleep tonight with a sore ass and a satisfied grin…

Trying to hide your reaction, you just nod. ‘I see. That’s good to know for the future.’ One that you hope is near. Surely if you look at your work, you can find a reason to be dragged into another intensive study session?

Gale sees right through you, smirking. ‘Next week, perhaps. I think this weekend should be more about us spending time together socially, not carnally. In fact, if you’re up for it, we could go to a quiet town a few hours away from here. Somewhere we won’t be recognised.’ If it was anyone else, you’d think they were dragging you away for something illicit, but you’re not the only one with transparent thoughts; he wants privacy so he can hold your hand in public.

With a few more lazy kisses, the two of you finally stumble into the bathroom, Gale’s hands roaming your body before he reaches to put the water on, dragging you with him as he steps into the icy stream.

You yelp, not expecting the water to be so cold, but Gale silences you with his tongue, plundering your mouth until you forget about the water completely. No matter how you end up spending the rest of the day, one thing is for sure; you couldn’t possibly have started it better.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

It takes several hours for you and Gale to leave, your lover gaining an unexpected second wind in the shower that lead to you once again being pushed on your hands and knees, fingers grasping for whatever purchase they could find as he fucked you without mercy.

After that, Gale had been forced to act as your leaning post as you tried to clean yourself, your knees a little too unstable to take your weight after your lover’s impromptu urges. Still, you can’t say it wasn’t worth it, especially as Gale had taken the time to clean your body himself, whispering apologies that were half-hearted and full of pride.

Only the water running cold once again had forced you both from your watery embrace, and after Gale had dried you both, he’d held your hand as he took you for breakfast, serving you both up a rather generous portion of his family’s famous cake; while you might have teased him over his bold claims regarding his linage’s culinary prowess any other day, today you were just content to enjoy it, even if it’s only the second nicest thing you had in your mouth this morning.

Now, several hours later, you’re both dressed and dry, and walking down a street you’re not familiar with. Gale has to try and grab your hand, and you haven’t made a move to take his, wanting him to set whatever pace he’s comfortable with when it comes to non-sexual intimacy. It’s going to take a lot for him to understand that he can hold you as much as he pleases, so for now, you’re just going to take it a day at a time.

Hand holding (or lack thereof) notwithstanding, this afternoon has already been lovely. Since you don’t have a tremendous amount of money, you’ve been content to just peek in the windows of the town’s few shops, dreaming of the day you can get an actual job and treat yourself to some nice things, rather than being wholly focused on rent and other boring-yet-necessary expenses.

For his part, Gale just seems happy to indulge you, letting you do as you desire so long as he gets to be in the same vicinity. His only request is that there’s a bookshop a few buildings away that he wants to browse, and you won’t deny him that; you want to look at books as much as he does!

There is, however, one downside. Your old nemesis has once again decided to rear its ugly head; the sky is looking worryingly grey today, and you don’t have a coat with you. Neither does Gale, for that matter. If the weather decides that it’s got it in for you again today, you’re about to get very soaked, indeed.

Still, it could be worse; eventually you’ll get home, and you might just be able to repeat your earlier shower sexcapades, if Gale is feeling up to it.

For now, the only thing that matters is you and him, and the fact that his only chosen destination is a few short stops away. ‘We can just go straight there, love. You’ve been patient enough with me already.’ You know he’s already yearning to be amongst his paper pals, desiring nothing more than to uncover their secrets page-by-page.

Gale looks at you a little sheepishly. ‘I must admit, I don’t much like browsing anything besides books. Well, except for certain toys, but I doubt a quiet little town like this will have quite what I’m looking for.’ Your cheeks warm, knowing he’s not talking about wooden blocks or colourful plastic creatures…

You shake it off, fighting the urge to grab his hand as you remind yourself of your earlier conclusion. ‘Probably not. At least you can’t go wrong with a good book.’ Gale smiles at you, before he reaches out to you, taking your hand in his.

Your cheeks grow hotter still as you look at your interlocked hands, with Gale’s own face following suit. ‘Is this okay? Is it too soon?’ Trust this man to think that holding hands is a step few far, when he was inside you just a few hours ago.

Giving Gale’s hand a reassuring squeeze, you nod. ‘It’s perfect. Your hands are so warm.’ You lean in closer for good measure, resting your head on the top of his arm.

Gale kisses your hair. ‘So are yours. And so soft, just like the rest of you.’ He’s one to talk about being soft. His heart is the most tender thing you’ve ever known, and the idea that it beats alongside yours is a dream come true.

You keep your hands locked as you enter the bookstore, the size a little underwhelming, but the shelves crammed with interesting-looking titles. ‘Well, where do we start, love?’ You ask him, wanting him to take the lead on this.

After a moment of contemplation, Gale nods. ‘We scan each shelf from right to left, then we move on. Tell me if anything looks interesting.’ You’re sure that you both like fairly similar books, so that should be an easy task, in theory; the hard part will be protecting your limited funds from taking a sizeable blow.

Let the challenge commence.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

After a solid hour of browsing, Gale finally has his prize; a small pile of books tucked under his arm, ready to be purchased.

However, not all of them are for him. You’d been weak to one of the titles on display, and after much deliberation, you’d come to the conclusion that you deserve a little treat, since you’ve been studying so hard lately. Why Gale had insisted on carrying it you don’t know, but as long as you can still link hands with him, it’s fine by you.

Finally, after the final shelf has been scoured, Gale turns to you with a triumphant look on his face. ‘I’d say that’s a job well done, wouldn’t you? Or did something else catch your eye?’ If you picked up every book that interested you, you’d have to build yourself a new place to live out of them, because that would be your entire rent for the month gone. As it is, you’re content to have the one, and even that’s a bit of a luxury.

So, you shake your head, smiling. ‘I’m content if you are. Did you want to pay for yours first, or shall I since I’ve only got the one?’ You both make your way over to the counter, politely inclining your heads towards the elderly woman waiting there.

Finally dropping your hand, Gale shakes his head. ‘No need for that.’ He turns his attention to the shopkeep. ‘Here you are.’ You want to protest, to insist that you can pay for your own books, but you’re not so passionate about it that you’re going to kick up a stink in the middle of the shop. You’ll just have to remember this and pay him back later, whatever that might entail.

Thanking him with a quick kiss on the cheek, you take a peek at the entrance to the shop, only to grimace; you were both so distracted by books that you’d forgotten all about those grey clouds, and they’ve taken full advantage of your distracted state; it’s pouring down outside. You and Gale are about to get absolutely soaked, and with no coats, there’s little you can do about that.

You hear Gale and the old lady banter back and forth about the weather, with the latter graciously offering to double bag the books to better protect them from the elements. That’s one issue solved, but as for you and your lover… well, that extra shower may now be on the cards.

As soon as he’s paid up, Gale hands you the stack of books, kissing your forehead. ‘I saw a shop selling umbrellas a few doors down. Wait here in the dry and I’ll fetch us one.’ You don’t need to be told twice. After all, even if an umbrella doesn’t help the two of you that much, it should further protect your treasure until you reach his car.

With Gale now gone, you idly walk back over to the woman behind the counter, intending to make small talk with her. ‘Can’t believe how bad the weather has been lately.’ You try not to visibly cringe at how cliché you’re being right now, blaming the sudden change in precipitation for your lack of social grace.

The old woman nods. ‘Hasn’t it just? Lucky your fella is good enough to go out and spare you from the worst of it. Protecting his interests, I imagine.’ That’s an odd way of putting it. He’s just being… Gale. Unfalteringly kind and considerate, especially when it comes to you.

Confused, you furrow your brow. ‘What do you mean by that?’ You don’t want to assume the worst, but her words sounded almost… catty? Bitter? There was definitely an edge to them that has you uneasy.

Rolling her eyes, the old woman answers. ‘I’m not daft, love. I had an older man take an interest in me when I was your age. Think they have a term for men like that these days. Sugar daddy, is it? Oh, they spend all their money on a woman half their age, but it never lasts. They soon get bored and realise they’re better off with a woman their own age. One that’s more focused on their heart than their wallet.’ You’re beginning to wish you’d never asked. Is that really how a total stranger sees you?! You let Gale buy you one book without protest, and now you’re after his entire net worth?

You shake your head in disbelief. ‘You’re wrong. He’s not… It isn’t like that. I’m not after his money. He doesn’t have to buy my love. And he’s not going to get bored of me!’ But then again, is he? What if she’s right? What if you are just a novelty, after all?

The room goes silent after that, only broken when Gale returns, a shopping bag too large to just be an umbrella in his hand. ‘Here, this should keep you dry.’ Your heart squeezes as he pulls a plain black coat from the shopping bag, offering it to you with a triumphant grin.

Trying to ignore the old woman’s smug smirk, you trade the books in your arms for the coat, opting to leave the tags on in case it doesn’t fit. Yet as you slip your arms in, and let it settle, you’re unsurprised to find out that it’s perfect. Trust Gale to just know your size without asking, as interested in your body as he is…

A pang of guilt twinges in your gut. Maybe she’s right. Maybe that’s what you are, or are in danger of becoming. Maybe for all his words, Gale sees himself as your sugar daddy, ridiculous as the term sounds. Then again, the only other time he’s paid for anything was your first night together, and the money he puts towards your birth control. This change in attitude- and spending- could just be a result of your evolving relationship. You’re partners now, and it’s only natural to want to treat your partner… right?

These are all thoughts for later. Right now, you should focus more on the weather, and the fact that no matter the implications, you need a coat, and since he’s already bought you one…

You contentedly button yourself up, already feeling a lot better about braving the elements. ‘Thank you, love. Did you get one for yourself, too?’ You almost dread the answer to that. He needs to stay dry just as much as you do, even if his clothes are already soaked.

To your mild upset, Gale shakes his head. ‘No need to worry about me. As long as you’re happy and dry, my heart shall warm my body more than any coat ever could. However, I shall be using the umbrella.’ He pulls it out then, putting the books in the bag and fiddling with it before stepping outside. You don’t bother saying goodbye to the shopkeeper, wanting to leave before you get even more emotional.

The moment you’re outside, you take the bag from Gale so you can grab his hand, your earlier worries be damned. You’re the one that needs to feel close to him and reassured right now, so you’re willing to be a little selfish.

Then again, if you were truly being selfish, Gale wouldn’t purr in delight at your decision, bringing your joined hands to his lips so he can give yours a kiss. ‘You’re cold, my love. Why don’t we find a cafe? We can get some pastries and coffee to take home with us, I’m sure.’ That sounds incredible right now, especially the part about going home. You’re not sure if you could take anymore comments on your relationship, though a piece of you dreads that they might be commonplace. In the future, you know you’ll need thicker skin if this is going to last, but for today? You just want to be close to him. To tell yourself that you know the truth, not some random busybody.

That Gale loves you, and that you love him. Money doesn’t change that, and his age has never bothered you. You’re both adults, after all, and even if the fact that you’re his student isn’t ideal, it’s temporary. Soon, even that won’t be an issue, and you can live out the rest of your days together, browsing bookstores and getting caught in downpours.

To you, that sounds like a pretty amazing time and- if the way Gale is gripping your hand is any indication- it’s pretty amazing to him, too.