Chapter 18 #2
“Oh, stop it.” He rolled his eyes. They’d talked about this some.
“Biomimicry is just what it sounds like. Using natural biological forms to create things that make our lives better in a sustainable way. Think Velcro—it came from burrs sticking to dogs. The universe has been designing things for us for billions of years, and we should respect that experience, use it for the good of everything, not just abuse it. We can make things better for everyone—man, beast, flora, the entirety of the Earth.”
“When we’re not trying to stick to the back of a bull for eight seconds. Velcro wasn’t very helpful there I guess.”
“That would be cheating.” He met Toby’s gaze, serious as a heart attack. “I know, it’s over my head, but you know what? Not everyone rides bulls for a living. Not everyone gives the life he wants up so that someone else has what he needs, do they? Fuck no, they don’t.”
“Fuck no.” Toby nodded, agreeing. “It’s not over your head. You just explained it to me expertly, and I heard passion in it. It’s perfect for you, and you don’t have to give anything up for anyone anymore.”
He swallowed hard, trying to focus on breathing, in and out, over and over. He was going to pass out.
Toby started talking, and he tried to focus on the reassuring words. “This is the upside of everything that has happened, Roper. This is the good part. It sucks how you both ended up where you are, but you’re good. You’re both really good. It’s okay.”
“The good part.” God, he wanted to believe this. He sucked down more of his latte, fighting his emotions with both hands.
“What are you feeling? Tell me.” Toby put an arm around his shoulders. “Tell me.”
“I—I don’t think I can. Please don’t ask.”
“Don’t ask? I already have.”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t know what to do. This whole thing—you—are so much that I can’t hold it all in my heart.” Shit. “In my head, I mean.”
“Me? I’m overwhelming you? Your…head?”
He stared at Toby. “God, you—are you serious? You’re like… I’ve never, and you make me—”
He was in love and stupid, but it was more. Toby could be the biggest thing his heart had ever known, and he didn’t know how to breathe around that.
Toby took his coffee, wandered to the curb and dropped them both in a trash can, then pulled him into a gentle hug. “I’m yours, boy. Just as you are mine.”
He held on tight. “Please. I can’t keep it together. We’re not home. I don’t know what to do.”
Toby gave him a quick squeeze. “Breathe and follow me.”
He held onto the Professor’s arm, trusting, and following along.
Toby thought he understood Roper. The emotions the boy was struggling with were obviously big. He knew because he was working through some things for himself.
Grad school was the best thing that could happen to Roper, and the best thing for him too.
It meant for sure that Roper wasn’t going to go back on the road in any capacity.
Not riding, not to sign autographs, nothing.
He’d have supported the boy if that was what Roper really wanted, but he knew it wasn’t.
Grad school was the answer. It meant Roper would stay.
He hadn’t dared speak on the walk home; he wasn’t sure Roper wouldn’t crumble into pieces on the sidewalk. Now that they were in the elevator though, he glanced at the boy. “Almost home.”
Roper nodded, clinging to his hand like it was a lifeline. “Almost home.”
He didn’t say anything else. Not until they were in the apartment with the door closed. “What do you need, boy?”
“You.” The single word dropped like a diamond between them.
He nodded. “Come to the bedroom.” He led the way and started undressing as soon as he got there. “You too.”
Roper wouldn’t look at him, but he began to strip down without another word.
He was worried about Roper and also not. The boy got in his own way better than anyone he’d ever met, and for someone so smart, words were so hard.
“Finish undressing and get on the bed.” He went to get a condom and the lube.
Roper curled up in the bed, up under the covers, hiding from him.
He took his time, climbing in with his boy, and then he settled between those muscled thighs and bent one of Roper’s knees up so he could access the boy’s sweet hole. “We’re just going to relax here together.”
“Together.” Roper sighed softly. “I hate being so…”
“Shh. You’re fine. You’re my good boy.” He gave Roper a couple of slippery fingers, twisting them a little to slick things up.
“Yeah? You swear you’ll keep me? You promise?”
Poor boy. “I’m going to keep you.” Toby took a minute to roll on the condom and slowly sank his cock into his boy, making sure they were locked close together. Roper felt like heaven—hot and tight, the perfect distraction. “You’re mine.”
Roper nodded, lips just parted. “I am. God, you’re thick inside me.”
He nodded, taking a breath to calm the urge to thrust, to take Roper and prove to the boy he wasn’t going to let go.
“I was worried you would want to travel, that you wouldn’t want to stay.
I want you here, with me. I—I need you. Your strength, your submission, and—” And love.
He needed the boy’s love. But he couldn’t ask, that was the gift he needed most. “Everything.”
“I want to stay. I…” Roper surged up, lips next to his ear, his boy’s voice broken. “I love you, Professor. I’m fucking in love with you, and I’m so scared.”
“Roper.” That was it, that was the gift. The most important and real thing he’d ever been given. He was so relieved and happy, so awed by Roper’s honesty, but he needed to keep control right now for his boy. “Don’t be afraid. You’re safe with me, I promise. You’re mine, and I love you too.”
Roper shuddered in his arms, shaking with his emotions. “Oh, fuck. Please.”
He held on tight. His balls were heavy and his cock hungry, but he stayed still, deep inside his boy, making sure Roper felt and heard him everywhere. “You’re mine, boy. And I am yours. Your Dom, your lover, your friend. Your Master.”
“Mine. All mine, Professor.” Roper latched on to his collarbone, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.
“Boy!” He hissed as every nerve caught fire. No one had ever marked him before. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but it made him…growly. His brat wasn’t winning this game. He bent and sucked up the soft skin above one of Roper’s nipples, making sure that his mark would be bigger and darker.
His boy was in so much trouble.
God, Roper was so much fun.
Roper arched hard, almost bucking him off, a dark cry splitting the air.
He caught one hip and pressed it back down into the mattress, pinning his boy down. He fought his own need and didn’t move, he just stayed deep inside Roper, eyes focused on his boy’s face. “Not scared now, are you?”
Roper bared his teeth. “No. No, I’m hungry, Professor.”
Fuck, so was he, but he loved this part. He loved the buzz and the way it drove Roper insane. “Are you? Should I order something?”
“Don’t make me bite you, Professor.” Roper was grinning now, with him, pushing, proving his trust.
“You already have, and you should consider yourself grounded. The audacity.” He walked his knees up so they tucked under Roper’s ass and grabbed hold of both of the boy’s ankles. “Don’t. Move.”
He was going to though. He rocked against Roper, just a little, his cock barely moving inside his boy.
Roper groaned, ass rippling around him, squeezing him good and hard.
“Dammit, boy.” He almost rolled his eyes at himself because his voice sounded exactly as desperate as he felt. He rocked back, fighting that grip, and after a breath he gave in, letting Roper have what he wanted.
“Oh, fuck me. Yes.” Roper grabbed his shoulders in a death grip. “Yes, Professor.”
“Fuck yes.” He just let go because Roper felt so damn good, hips moving fast and hard, taking everything he needed, exactly how he needed it. “You don’t come until I fucking say.” That was an order he expected to be obeyed, and his tone was clear.
Roper’s eyes went wide, and the grip on his cock was like a fist.
He was starting to live for that look. Roper loved orders, and the boy got off on orders like that one—ones that were hard to obey.
Honestly, so did he.
He let go of Roper’s ankles and tucked a shoulder under one knee instead, bending the boy just so, hoping to get the angle just right for him, and just right—or wrong—for Roper.
When he hit it, it earned him a wild cry, and Roper bared his teeth, those pretty eyes rolling back.
Fuck, yeah. “Is that good, boy? Is that what you need?” His voice was low and rough. He didn’t have a lot of patience left in him.
“Fuck yes,” Roper hissed, nails digging into his skin. “Love when you turn me inside out. Live for it. You fill me to the brim.”
The boy wasn’t quite inside out, yet. But Toby was starting to think he lived for it too. He ducked his head and dug in, hips slamming into Roper’s.
“Close. Master, I’m close.” It wasn’t even a scream. It was a delicious warning.
“Ask me.” He growled. Maybe he’d even say yes.
“Let me come? You make me ache so bad…”
“That’s the best you can do?” He sucked in air, his own orgasm building quickly inside him.
“What do you want, Professor? Do you want me to say please like a good boy?” Roper was barely getting the words out. “Or do you want me to be naughty?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Beg, brat!” Roper was so grounded. Maybe forever.
Roper met his eyes, the pupils eating his irises up. “Please, Master. I need you. Now. Please.”
Oh, that was so goddamn pretty. He was going to burn to ashes. “Now. Go. Now!”
“Love!” Roper slammed their lips together, wet heat pouring between them.
Love. Oh, God, he was in so fucking deep. He bucked and shuddered and saw stars, adding his shouts to Roper’s as he shot.
Roper held onto him, clinging almost desperately as they floated down from their high.
He collapsed and pulled Roper in close. “You have to stay.” Don’t ever leave me.
“You have to keep me. I need you.”
He nodded. They were on the same page. “I love you. You’re a pushy fucking little brat, and I love you.”
“Mmhmm. I am. You’ll have to work hard and keep me in line.”
“You’re already grounded. Don’t make it worse.” He was starting to catch his breath, which only made this conversation sound more ridiculous. And wonderful.
Roper arched an eyebrow, then brought their lips together, soft and sweet. “I’m not sure what that means, but I bet it was worth it.”
“I have no idea, but I’m going to make sure you hate it.” And love it.
“Mmm…Sounds like heaven.”