CHAPTER 26
KENDRICK
Seth
Are you running on time?
Ifrown as I finally have a minute to look at my phone. He’s already running out, isn’t he?
Me
Yes. Should be there around five. Maybe a little sooner. Why? What happened?
Seth
My roommate says a pipe burst in our apartment, so I need to leave. I’ll stay until one or so, just so Martha isn’t left alone long, but he says there were two inches of water throughout the apartment, and he’s been throwing out damaged shit all morning.
My shoulders sag a little. I was looking forward to seeing my son when I got home. Coming home to my child felt like such a treat for those few days he was here before I left.
Me
I hope nothing important was ruined. Let me know, please.
Seth
Sure.
Me
Leave at noon. Martha can handle five hours.
Seth
Are you sure?
Me
Absolutely. You have a long drive. I can see if someone will let her out at noon if you’d like to leave sooner.
There’s a pause before he answers. He’s read the message, but there aren’t any bubbles bouncing to indicate he’s typing a response.
Seth
I hate to bail like that.
Me
You’re leaving for a good reason, Seth. I want you to be able to save as many of your belongings as you can, and you have five hours to get there.
Seth
Yeah. Okay. If you can find someone, then cool. Otherwise, I’ll leave at noon.
I spend a few minutes reaching out to my neighbors. Since I’m at the front of the bus with my students in the back, I excuse myself for being rude and making a call.
My neighbors just off RDU property are an elderly couple, Alice May and Maurice. They adore Martha, and they’ve let her out for me a few times over the last three years.
“Hello, dear,” Alice May answers.
Her greeting always makes me smile. “Hi, Alice May. How are you and Maurice?”
“We’re wonderful. I’ve met your delightful son. Such perfect manners. You’ve done a splendid job raising him.”
I wince. Right. “He’s great,” I agree. “Thank you.”
“Are you home yet? Such a long trip.”
“Not yet. That’s why I’m calling. Seth has an emergency back home, and he really needs to leave. I won’t be home for another eight hours. Would you mind taking Martha out around noon if you’re not busy? I’ll be home at about five.”
“Oh, of course. Is everything okay?”
“I think so, but he lives five hours away, so I’d like to set him free if I can.”
“I’d be happy to take Martha out, dear. Tell him to be safe.”
“Thank you, Alice May. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sure thing, dear. You be safe too.”
I smile. “I will. Thank you.”
Talking to my neighbors reminds me of talking to my grandparents, though they’re closer to my parents’ ages in their eighties. Maurice still has a whole lot of fight left in him. That man still runs several miles every single morning. I’m not sure I could pull that off.
Switching back to my text conversation, I type:
Me
You can leave at any time. The neighbors are going to stop in to let Martha out at lunchtime.
Seth
Thanks, Dad. I promise I wouldn’t be leaving early if it weren’t an emergency.
My smile is sad. I can feel the sadness settling in my chest. Disappointment. I wonder how many times my kids felt this when I said I wasn’t coming home.
Me
I understand. Let me know if you need help replacing anything.
Seth
Thanks, Dad.
I click my phone off and turn my attention to the window. We’re still making our way through Los Angeles, so we’re looking at buildings too close together and cars right on top of each other. Traffic, smog, and heat. So very different from Iceland.
“Everything okay?” Byndley asks.
I nod. “Seth’s pipe burst. Apparently, his roommate came home to their apartment flooded with a couple inches of water.”
“Ouch.”
“Yep.”
She grips my shoulder in support before sitting back in her seat.
I spend much of the ride flipping through our handbooks to note the rules on fraternization. Outside of being discouraged between subordinate and insubordinate academic relationships within the same department, it’s a little vague.
Of course, there’s a quid pro quo policy both for employees as well as between faculty and students. That’s not just an RDU policy but a federal policy. As it should be. But the rules of the school are definitely vague. I can’t help but wonder if that’s purposeful.
The bus is quiet as we pull up to the school. I imagine everyone is going to crash as soon as they get back to their dorms. I’d be lying if I said I won’t be tempted when I get back to my empty house.
We’re quiet as we climb off the bus. As everyone is grabbing their luggage from underneath, Byndley says, “I know we’re all tired, so go settle in and rest up.
If you can pull it off, try to stay awake for a few more hours to help your body reset.
Debrief meeting on Thursday afternoon. Keep an eye on your emails. ”
She looks at me, inviting me to say something. I’m so damn tired, I’m not sure what I’m going to say.
“Thank you for being a part of this.” My voice has everyone turning to face me.
My eyes snag on Brevan. “This has been an amazing trip for so, so many reasons. A large part of that is you. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to represent this school.
Go get some rest, and we’ll catch up next week once we’ve had time to digest everything we’ve learned. ”
The group tiredly gives their thanks before moving away. They’re all moving slowly, dragging their suitcases as they head down the sidewalk toward the dorms.
Byndley grips my forearm gently in departure on her way by. Katai raises her hand when she’s done speaking with the driver. I watch almost absently as Declan comes around the corner to meet Zarek, and they embrace for a long time.
My chest feels tight. I haven’t received that greeting in what—two decades?
Eventually, it’s just me left. I’m not sure when Brevan took off, but that’s okay. He’s probably exhausted, like everyone else. I’m surprised when I turn and find him waiting at the intersection that crosses the road. He’s looking back at me with a small, tired smile on his lips.
I meet him there and would love to take him in my arms like Declan did Zarek. I don’t.
“Heading to your dorm?”
He nods.
I wait for more, but when he doesn’t offer anything, I ask, “Would you like to come over?”
“Am I allowed?”
My laughter is quiet and clearly filled with exhaustion. “I don’t know, but I’d like you to anyway. I promise I won’t let anything we’re doing compromise your enrollment in any way.”
Brevan sighs. “Okay. I’m going to drop off my stuff first.”
“You know where my house is?”
His smile makes my stomach flip with acrobatics. “We all know where your house is. It’s on the school map.”
“Ah. Right. Then I’ll see you in a bit. I’m not sure if I mentioned it because I’m so damn tired, but I have a dog.”
His smile widens. “You told me.”
“Good. Forgive me.”
Brevan shakes his head. “I’ll be over in ten minutes.”
We part ways, and I hate it. I’d much rather bring him with me, hand-in-hand, as we walk through my front door.
Martha is an excited ball of energy when I open the door. She whines and jumps, and I’m covered in dog hair and kisses. I suppose I might not have a person who missed me this week, but there’s nothing like a golden retriever’s joy at seeing you after you’ve been gone for a week.
It’s exactly ten minutes before Brevan’s knocking on my door. His eyes are tired, but as soon as he sees Martha, his entire face lights up. I get him inside before allowing Martha to make a new best friend.
His laughter is exactly what my heart needs. I watch him with a sort of comfortable contentment I haven’t felt before. Martha doesn’t let his attention go anywhere else for quite some time. Not until I let her into the backyard to relieve her bladder.
We watch from inside. From the safety of the walls surrounding us, I bring Brevan into my chest. He’s a big man, so I can’t exactly hold him in ways I’ve held previous partners, but there’s a chance that I like this better.
I feel his exhaustion. “Want to take a nap?” I ask.
“Yes, but Byndley says we should stay awake.”
My sigh is heavy and dramatic. “I’m glad you’ve already figured out that you don’t mess with Byndley. Doing as she says is best for everyone’s interest.”
His smile is wonderful against my neck.
“We can watch a movie, though I have a feeling we’re going to fall asleep if we choose that activity.”
“Well,” Brevan says shyly. “There might be some other things we can do that will encourage us to stay awake.”
His words stroke my dick. I’m surprised at how ready my body is to respond to him. “That’s what you want to do?”
His body shivers. “Yes. If you want to.”
I cover his hand on my waist with my own and slide it down so he can feel how much I already want to. “I need maybe a minute to be up for it.”
Brevan’s hips rock against my thigh, so I feel that he’s as interested and ready as I am. I muse that it’s a good thing we still had lube and condoms leftover from Iceland, or we’d be in the same situation as we had the first time we got into bed there.
I’m reminded of the absurdity of Natalia’s accusations of having a family out here. My lack of supplies proves it’s as far from the truth as anything could be. I’ve never entertained a lover. Or even a hookup.
Until now.
Martha eventually comes inside, and I lock up the house before leading Brevan upstairs. As soon as we’re in my bedroom, my mouth is on his. He wastes no time stripping me of my clothes.
I could use a shower. Twenty-four hours of travel have left me feeling a little less than squeaky clean. But that means longer before I get to enjoy him.
When we’re naked, Brevan says, “I think I want a shower first.”
Laughter bubbles out. “I was just thinking that. I’m too aware of all the public places for germ propagation we’ve been in over the last day.”
“We can still touch as we wash, though, right?”
“We can wash each other,” I suggest, taking his hand in mine. “Come on.”
Having his body against mine under the hot water, slick and smooth and hard, is a brand-new sensual experience that has my body humming. Once again, I have a feeling that tonight’s first orgasm is going to be relatively quick. It’s only been a few days, but I already feel starving once more.
Years and years of abstinence will do that to a guy.
Add to that the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and it’s a recipe for some quick, somewhat embarrassing, sexual encounters.
I’m relieved that Brevan doesn’t seem to mind.
I’m not sure he even notices. Not with the way he tends to get off close to the same moment I do.
We spend a few minutes sudsing up. Our hands move over ourselves and each other without any true attention to washing. It does nothing to slow down the heat of my arousal.
“Maybe we should get off in here,” Brevan says, shyly meeting my eyes. “First.”
I grin. Before I can answer, Brevan drops to his knees and has my cock in his mouth. My groan is as sudden as his hot mouth around my cockhead. Fuck, he’s so damn beautiful with his mouth stretched around me, looking up at me with the most gorgeous green eyes.