Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
MADDOX
Luca leaves my office, red faced and fighting not to hold his stinging ass. He’ll remember me for the rest of the day.
He fucking scared me.
I thought he’d found out what I did to Hilman and wanted nothing to do with me.
Luca is right, we do need to come forward with our relationship, but I hope we can still keep it low-key. I don’t want anyone to think I’m like Hilman—that I coerced him into a relationship by holding his position as a TA over his head to get what I wanted from him.
I’ll convince Luca to disclose to the dean, but not everyone else. At least that way, they won’t think that Luca’s a victim. I couldn’t stand that for him.
A few minutes after Luca leaves—I have to straighten the papers on my desk that he gripped in his hands while taking a spanking like a good boy—Crista comes into my office, her face red and her hands wringing in front of her.
“Did you hear?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say shortly.
She sighs and walks closer to my desk, pressing her hands flat on the surface. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you about him,” she says. “I thought you—”
“You thought I was bitter and jaded and didn’t like happy people,” I finish for her. “I know what you thought. But that man hurt Luca. He hurt other students. And instead of listening to me, the man who is supposed to be your best friend, you sent Luca to him.”
She doesn’t deserve all of my ire, but I’m pissed that she put him in a position for Hilman to hurt him. Hilman could have done more than touch Luca and make him feel uncomfortable in his office. He could have broken Luca permanently.
Crista ducks her head, and nods, swallowing roughly. “I didn’t know. But you’re right. I should have listened. He had us all fooled. From what I heard from the police, his suicide note says he hurt other students. I can’t… I never knew.”
“Well, he can’t hurt anyone else.” Crista looks at me oddly, but doesn’t comment. I’m sure I’m not doing what I should do, pretending to be torn up and sad to hide my crime, but I’m hoping by acting under the guise of not liking that fucker, she just thinks I’m not sorry he’s dead.
I’m not sorry. And I’d do it again if it would save Luca from any pain.
Crista murmurs another apology, then leaves, her head down and shoulders slumped.
I’ll apologize to her when my temper cools. She couldn’t have known, but I still feel some type of way that my word wasn’t good enough for her.
Luca would probably tell me that it’s not her fault, that she had no way of knowing, but I was her way of knowing. Sometimes it pays to be cynical so I can see through the bullshit.
I have to fight my scowl for the rest of the day as I see rest in peace signs for Hilman. He deserves to fucking burn for being a predator.
There are extra counselors on campus for students, giving false platitudes and offering private sessions.
As I’m headed across the quad, I hear one student wonder aloud to a friend why Hilman wouldn’t just quit instead of confessing his crimes and killing himself. The response he gets makes me feel like I did the right thing.
“That guy was a fucking creep. I told you what he did to my roommate last year. No one but me believed him. I’m glad Hilman’s dead.”
So am I, kid.
“Is this really necessary?” Luca asks as I push open the door to the cabin I rented for us. “We just had a date a few weeks ago. This is too much.”
Luca’s semester is winding down and he’s taking mountains of exams for his double major. He’s been studying so hard, I can practically see his notes falling out of his brain through his ears. He looks exhausted when he finally climbs into my bed, and even in sleep, it’s like he’s studying.
A weekend away will do him some good.
I know he’s studying hard to secure the future he wants, and I admire his work ethic, but Luca doesn’t allow himself time to relax.
Real rich coming from me, but it’s my job to take care of him, even if I don’t apply that same philosophy to myself.
“It is, little lamb,” I say, kissing him quickly as I take his bag from his hand and toss it onto the couch. “You have a big week next week. I want you to relax and unwind for a little while. Okay?”
He sighs, though a bright smile is spread across his face. “Okay. What plans do you have for us?”
“None.”
“None?” he repeats, looking at me curiously.
“None. We’re going to sit here and relax.”
“We could have done that at your house instead of you wasting money on me.”
“If I’m spending money on you, little lamb,” I say as I press him against the door. “It’s not wasted.” I take his chin between my thumb and forefinger and kiss him deeply. “We can make plans if you want. Or we can just sit here and be.”
“I really love you,” he says softly before standing on tiptoe to press our lips together.
Gripping him under his ass, I hoist him into my arms and walk him toward the room, getting our weekend started early. We can always relax when I’ve had my fill of him.
We spend most of Friday and Saturday in the cabin, only leaving to take a short hike on one of the beginner courses, and to have a dinner and movie date. Yeah, we could have stayed in Evergreen to do that, but I can tell being away from campus and our college town helped Luca relax tremendously.
Saturday night when we get back from dinner, Luca rides me slowly, his beautiful body undulating on top of me.
I almost blow my load just watching him.
His skin is flushed and sweat drips down his body.
Leaning forward, I swipe my tongue over the salty liquid, swallowing him down before taking a pretty pink nipple into my mouth.
“Professor,” he gasps, wrapping his arms tightly around me. “I love you. Love how you make me feel. Love being with you.”
“I love you too, little lamb,” I mutter against his chest, then swap over to the other nipple. It hardens under my tongue, pebbled and wet.
When I bite down gently, Luca jerks and his cock kicks off between us, wetting my abs.
Groaning, I hold his hips tight and fuck into him hard and fast, chasing my nut as I watch bliss spread across his face.
“Use me,” he whispers, grinding down on my shaft. “Use me like I’m yours, Professor.”
Flipping him onto his back, I place one leg over my shoulder and drill into him, wanting to come in him and paint his tight walls.
Luca reaches up, his soft hand on my face. He thumbs over my lower lip and I suck it into my mouth, rolling my tongue over the salted pad as my orgasm rushes to the surface.
A growl leaves my lips as I unload into him, my hips stuttering as I pump my release into his tight channel.
I collapse on top of him, smiling when he lets out a little squeak. “Too heavy?” I ask, turning to kiss his neck.
“Perfect,” he says, sounding breathless.
Chuckling, I wrap my arms around him and roll him over until he’s straddling me. My hard dick stays inside him, twitching as Luca’s hole continues to contract around me.
“That was amazing,” he says sleepily.
“Yes, it was. You ride me like a stallion, little lamb.”
He groans, pressing his palm over his face. “God, I don’t know why that’s so embarrassing.”
“It shouldn’t be,” I say, moving his hand from his face. “It’s a compliment. I can’t get enough of you.”
“I wish we didn’t have to leave tomorrow,” he says sadly. “It’s really nice here. There’s something about fresh air that makes my head feel clear.”
Kissing his hair, I say, “As soon as you’re finished with your exams, I’ll bring you back.”
He sighs and I can practically feel him rolling his eyes. “Stop spending money on me, Professor.”
I slap his ass, making him yelp, then moan as my cock brushes his walls. “I don’t think I will. Now come on, let me clean you up so we can get to bed.”
After we’re clean and tucked under the blanket, Luca asks, “Can you take me somewhere tomorrow before we go home?”
Home.
I know he just means Evergreen, but my mind latches onto him meaning with me, to my house.
We haven’t broached my offer for him to move in with me again, but when he graduates, I plan to ask him again.
Right now, he has enough going on, what with his exams and doing all his requirements for grad school.
When he’s unburdened by his current duties, I’ll make sure he knows I want him with me every day.
“Yeah, little lamb. Wherever you want to go.”
I should have amended my statement.
Especially as, a few hours later, we’re sitting in the dainty living room of an older couple, both of them looking like Luca.
His grandmother places cookies on the coffee table and hands me a glass of cold lemonade before offering her husband and grandson the same. His grandfather’s face lights up when his wife speaks to him, as if her very presence makes him so happy he can barely contain it.
I hope that’s how they perceive me when I look at Luca. He’s my light, my heart, my soul.
Luca sits beside me, wringing his hands, but looks lighter and happier than I’ve seen him in a while. “Grandma, Grandpa. I’ve told you about Maddox.”
“The professor,” his grandfather says without inflection, so I’m not sure what he thinks of me or my position.
After a quick glance at Luca, I clear my throat and say, “Yes. Theater.”
“Oh!” his grandmother says, clasping her hands together. “That’s admirable, dear. Tell me how you got into that.”
“You don’t look like you’d be into theater. More like football,” his grandfather adds, his eyes bouncing from my shoulders to my biceps.
“He played football in college,” Luca says, resting a hand on mine. “That’s how he got into Evergreen.”
“Didn’t want to go pro?” his grandfather asks. I wish I could get a bead on him. His tone and expression are so placid that I’m not sure if he approves of our relationship or not.
“No, sir. I’ve always loved theater. It was my first love, actually,” I admit, wanting to give them a piece of me that only Luca knows. “I’ve wanted to teach since my freshman year. It’s where my passion lies.”
“That’s wonderful,” his grandmother says before taking a sip of her lemonade. “I’m glad to hear you’re taking care of Luca. He’s a special boy.”
“Grandma,” Luca says in embarrassment, his cheeks pinkening.
“She’s right,” I say, shooting him a small smile. “You are.” Looking back at her, I say, “I hope I can continue to take care of him. He’s my… everything.”
Luca gasps beside me, and for the first time I see a crack in his grandfather’s exterior. His eyes brighten and he smiles, just a quick tilt of his lips, but that’s enough. “Well, that’s good,” he says.
“Yes, it is,” his grandmother says, then her face clouds with that protective instinct I recognize from a mother who loves her child. “If I hear a word about you mistreating him, just know, my daddy taught me where to hide bodies so they’re never found. And not to leave any evidence.”
“Oh my God, Grandma,” Luca says, resting a hand on his forehead.
“What?” she says. “I’m just sharing one of my hobbies. Shooting.”
“And I love your grandmother’s hobbies,” his grandfather says, making me smile at them.
“Jesus,” Luca says, then mouths, “Sorry,” to me.
I love that Luca has people who are willing to go to the ends of the earth for him. Not just me and Zander, but his grandparents too. They love him and accept him for who he is. Just like I do.
“Don’t worry,” I say, threading my fingers through Luca’s. “He’ll always be safe and protected with me.” I look over at Luca, whose eyes have gone soft. “I swear it. I love him.”
“Love you too,” he whispers, his voice a little wet.
“Are you two staying for dinner?” his grandmother asks, then talks over Luca when he tries to decline. “What am I asking? Of course you are. Go on and get washed up. I’ll have dinner on the table in less than ten minutes.”
As promised, dinner is ready and we sit around the table as I get to know Stella and Raymond. They’ve been married for nearly forty years and raised Luca since he was small.
They’re both kind and very empathetic. I see where Luca gets it from. They raised a good man, a good person.
As I watch his grandparents talk and move around each other with ease, I smile, excited for my future with Luca where we can practically read each other’s thoughts because our connection is so deep.
I take his hand under the table, holding on tight. Luca looks over at me, his face alight with a happiness so profound it makes my heart thunder in my chest.
I’d do anything to keep this look on his face.
For the rest of my life, I’ll make sure it never leaves.