Ben
"W hat are you doing here?" Sutton seemed shaken as he retreated from the stranger's arms, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to physically yank him to my side, claiming what was mine. I shot a glance towards Matt, who responded with a quizzical tilt of his head.
"Sutton, you know Elliot??" Matt asked.
"Wait. You know Elliot?" Sutton echoed the question, his expression one of utter confusion.
Matt nodded. "They're from that Seattle architecture firm I mentioned. The one that's been helping me figure out the renovation. They're nonbinary, so a lot of the ideas for how to accomplish gender-inclusive dorms come from them."
Elliot interjected, "I'm not an architect, only an intern. My boss did most of the work."
Matt countered without missing a beat. "Nonsense. You're insanely creative. Your boss was proposing things way outside our budget, and you came up with a manageable concept." Was it my imagination or was Matt a little too enthusiastic with Elliot?
Sutton had said nothing. He was standing there, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
I reached for Sutton's hand and moved closer to him. "How do you know my boyfriend?" I emphasized 'boyfriend' in an excessively obnoxious manner. Some things were simply uncontrollable. I wanted Elliot to know that Sutton was taken.
Elliot lightly tapped Sutton's shoulder and retorted. "We're friends, I suppose. We dated for a bit in high school. It was off-limits and so sexy. He was a sophomore, and I was a senior, and the archaic school didn't allow the students to date each other." He turned to Matt. "Why go to an all-boys' school if you can't fuck the men?"
"Ah," I said, pieces of the puzzle falling together. What were the chances? I eyed Sutton, who still looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "You're that ex."
"He's mentioned me?" Elliot's eyebrows shot up, and then his smile turned flirty. "Well, I suppose I leave an impression. It's so fun to see you again, though! And here, of all places. I thought I heard you went to Stanford."
"You don't hate me?" Sutton choked out.
Elliot looked genuinely perplexed at this. "Why on Earth would I hate you?"
Sutton blinked, his frown deepening. "I got you kicked out of school."
"Wait, what? No!" Elliot waved a hand dismissively.
"My father talked to the headmaster. That's why you were kicked out."
Sutton snorted. "Technically, yes. But I knew who your father was all along. I was playing with fire on purpose."
Sutton gulped audibly. "On purpose?"
"Once I figured out who you were, I figured out you were my one-way ticket to get myself expelled. You were beautiful and fun in bed, and I needed to escape that hellhole." Elliot stepped closer to Sutton, and I fought the urge to step in front of Sutton and shield him from whatever pain Elliot was inflicting. Because that wasn't the story Sutton had told me, and I knew this must hurt to hear.
Worried, I let go of Sutton's hand, turning to him, not exactly sure what to do. Sutton had gone pale, and was breathing a little too fast.
I wanted to hug my beautiful boyfriend and tell him everything was going to be okay. Or punch Elliot and grab Sutton's hand and make a run for it. I'd never punched a person, never even wanted to, but seeing Sutton this upset was giving me all kinds of primal urges.
Sutton drew in a shaky breath. Saying nothing more, he turned and trudged out of the clearing, away from Matt's house. I watched him leave, my heart throbbing painfully, before reluctantly turning back to face Elliot.
How did I make Elliot understand the depth of pain they'd inflicted on Sutton? It probably wasn't necessary, and I was definitely butting in, but I couldn't get past the way Elliot had spoken of their relationship as if it was a fun lark. This was the same situation that had broken Sutton in an irreparable way, and it had been nothing but a scheme to Elliot.
"Look, you seem like a decent person," I began, trying to keep my tone even, despite the anger simmering within me. "And I know you've been a big help to Matt. But what you did to Sutton, it was so damn cruel."
Elliot's eyes widened in surprise as they gazed up at me. "What do you mean?" Their confusion was genuine, but it only stoked my frustration.
"You used him as your ticket out of school," I spat out, each word heavy with accusation. "But you left him behind with the guilt of getting you expelled. He's carried that burden for years, convinced that he ruined your life by getting too close to you." My voice wavered slightly, but I held Elliot's gaze, wanting them to see the truth in my words. "He hasn't let himself love anyone, or even care for anyone since then, because he feared the same would happen to them."
A look of realization washed over Elliot's face. "I didn't… I didn't realize it affected him like that. He was always, you know, kind of a slut. It's who he is. I didn't think I meant anything special to him."
"That's not who he is," Matt chimed in from behind Elliot, his voice soft yet firm. "Sutton is so much more than his sexual preferences. So much more than he shows anyone. He's lovely and insightful, and so good for my brother. And very, very scared." My stepbrother's words warmed me to the core.
"Sometimes people are open and enjoy sex with many partners, and that's fine," I continued, locking eyes with Elliot again. "But sometimes they're using sex as an escape from something else. I wish you'd known the difference."
A whispered expletive escaped Elliot's lips as their gaze dropped momentarily before meeting mine again, remorse etched clearly in their expression. Their worried expression was sincere enough that it took the heat out of my anger.
"I wish I had, too," Elliot whispered.
" wants you to learn from what happened," Matt said quietly. "And not to treat it frivolously in front of Sutton."
"Fuck, I'm so sorry," Elliot confessed quietly. "You're right. I didn't think about how my actions could affect him. I could use the excuse that we were teenagers, but the truth is, I was too wrapped up in my own problems to see his, and I'm so sorry that it caused harm."
I nodded, accepting their apology, and hoping Sutton would be able to find it in himself to do the same. "Just… remember that when you're working with him on this project. Be gentle with him, please. Be sure he understands that you're sorry."
Elliot studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Of course." They went to turn away, and paused, looking back at me. "I think you've got one thing wrong, though. Sutton wasn't closed off to love. He was waiting for someone to love him as fiercely as you clearly do. Waiting for the love of his life."
The love of his life. That made me grin like an idiot. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my shorts and glanced towards my stepbrother. "Matt, can you handle Sutton's dad? Answer your damn phone. He's not the type to wait for a callback."
"Will do," Matt said, saluting me. "You go take care of your boyfriend."
With that, I turned and jogged to catch up with Sutton. Once the urge to defend his honor was satisfied, it was immediately replaced by worry that I'd left him to wallow too long.
I found him still walking on the path back to my cabin. The fact that he'd headed home made me smile as I fell into step beside him. I let him walk in silence for a little while, unable to imagine the depth of grief he might be processing—for the life he could have lived, for the time lost, and for the angst and anguish he'd gone through after the breakup, thinking he'd ruined someone's life.
I nudged Sutton's broad shoulder, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. "You know, I'm grateful for your slutty past. Think of the skills you've gained. It makes for some damn good blowjobs now that you're mine."
Sutton barked out a startled laugh at my comment, his green eyes sparkling with mirth beneath the fringe of his dark hair. "That's what sets you apart, ," he replied warmly, his voice laced with affection. "You have this uncanny knack for knowing exactly what to say."
I scoffed playfully at his compliment, shaking my head in disbelief. "Bullshit," I retorted. "I'm notorious for sticking my foot in my mouth. Matt's the one who has a way with words."
Sutton shook his head in disagreement. "Nope. You have the same kind of wisdom he does—but you never fail to make me laugh." His words warmed me from the inside out, and I went quiet for a moment, thinking about the different ways that we fit.
"Thanks for standing up for me with Elliot."
"You heard that?"
"I was like ten feet away at that point! And I slowed down my walk because I was curious."
"Ah," I said, grinning.
"I also heard them call you the love of my life." He turned to me, his eyes growing more serious. "They weren't wrong."
I stepped into his space, trying to act tough. "Well, if I'm the love of your life, you'd better fucking stay in Washington with me."
"Well, if I'm the love of your life, you'd better fucking wait for me if I need to finish school at Stanford," Sutton countered, his lips twitching with a barely restrained smile.
"Did I admit that you were the love of my life? Don't think so!"
He used all of his rugby player physique to shove me against the rough bark of a huge ponderosa, pinning my hands as he kissed me roughly. "Admit it."
"Does it count if it's under duress, though?"
". Admit it. You'll never love someone like you love me."
"I mean, fuck, hopefully I won't have to," I yelped. "We'll grow old together, and I'll never know that the real love of my life is Petunia Longbottom, who lives down the road."
He cupped my face in his huge hands, for once taking control, and kissed me again. As his tongue thrust slowly into my mouth, it occurred to me that I really fucking wanted Sutton inside me. He kissed me until I was clinging to him, my cock rock hard, my body arched against his. He kissed me until I wanted to crawl inside him and be a part of him, until I wanted to press so close that we would meld together and I'd never have to stop touching him. Then he pulled back, a smug smile on his face.
"So?" he asked.
"Oh shit, I really want you to fuck me," I whispered, eyes wide.
Sutton's brows furrowed together. "Not what I was going for there."
"Fine, whatever. You're the love of my life. And as the love of my life, I think you should know that I don't always want to do all the dicking down. Sometimes I want to be the one who is dicked."
He groaned and huffed out a breath, grabbing my ass and spinning me around.
"Wait. You know what you're doing?"
"Of course I know what I'm doing," Sutton said. "I'm a fucking rugby player. I know how to top a guy."
I frowned. "They teach that in rugby lessons?"
Sutton let out a half groan, half laugh. "No… It's like, you know. A hot rugby muscle hunk and a petite twink walk into the room. Who's the top?"
"Um. Is that a trick question? Are you the hunk? Because you will not be topping any twinks. You are officially a geek lover. Wait, is there a gay term for a nerdy guy?"
"Fuck. I need to teach you the gay vocabulary?" Sutton asked.
"To be fair, I do know how gay ogres refer to gay elves."
Then Sutton was kissing me again, lifting me so I could wrap my legs around his waist and kiss him back. It occurred to me that he'd probably done it to shut me up, but I didn't care. I just wanted him. I pulled back and stared down at him.
"Holy crap. I'm going to top from the bottom. That is so me."
Sutton blinked, then shook his head. "It very much is," he sighed.
I grabbed his hand and dragged him in the direction of my cabin. "I want to move here so badly," he shouted as he jogged to catch up with me. "I hope I can make it work."
"Newsflash, asshole," I teased him gently. "You're an adult now and capable of anything you set your mind to."
Sutton laughed again at my mock-serious tone; his chuckles were like music to my ears. "What is this? An episode of Sesame Street?"
"I'm dead serious," I insisted solemnly, yet unable to keep a straight face as I added, "Don't let the fear of your father's disapproval dictate your life. Break free from his bullshit. If your parents can't accept you for who you are, then they can fuck off. There are plenty of people here who love you exactly as you are."
"Plenty?"
I tilted my head with a frown. "Although you could stand to tone down the cockiness a notch."
"Fuck topping from the bottom, I'm going to top you," he growled, and I took off at a sprint.
"Gotta catch me first!"
I was so going to let him catch me.