Chapter 28. Liam
Before class starts, Griff looks at us with a grin and holds up a Snickers bar. That is my favorite chocolate bar in the whole wide world, and my mouth waters instantly. I'd give anything to get it.
"This will be a prize for whoever puts the most effort into training today," he says. And I know at that moment I'll do anything.
The problem is everybody's thinking the same.
Everyone does every rep, no cheating on the count (I'm guilty of always going eight, eleven, thirteen, fifteen, seventeen, twenty.
..), paying attention, punching hard, hitting the pads like they're the faces of our enemies, not lingering on water breaks. Absolute best effort.
But I'll still get it. I'm sure.
Griff watches with this big smirk, like the bastard knows exactly what he's doing, assessing every move. I push harder than I ever have, muscles burning, sweat dripping down my face. I don't let up.
I want that chocolate bar more than anything in the world. Well, maybe I want Ethan more. But the Snickers is a close second.
As we near the end, Griff makes everything harder.
Faster reps, more power, more intensity, harder, better, faster, stronger, yes, just like Daft Punk.
Kids give up and sit down left and right, but I push through.
I can see Griff's eyes on me, a glint of satisfaction as he watches me fight through the pain.
He respects hard work above everything, and I'm determined to show him I'm worthy.
Seeing Ethan watching me with that big, proud smile helps too.
I can hardly believe it when I realize I'm the last one standing. Even Ethan sits down. Probably to let me win. Maybe. I start thinking I'm lucky some kids don't care about chocolate, like Reed, who didn't even compete. But then I stop putting myself down. I tried. Hard. I deserve this.
I throw my hand up, celebrating, and Griff claps. Jack has a silly grin, celebrating with me. Ethan looks like he couldn't be prouder. Some other kids give me thumbs up. It feels so good.
"I want you guys to always push yourselves like this, even when there's no reward. Got it?" Griff says, and we all go, "Yes, sir." He cracks a smile, dismisses us, and tosses me the bar.
I'm so happy I basically float over to Jack and Ethan.
"You look like a little puppy wagging his tail," Jack teases. I know I have this ridiculous grin. Ethan steps close and touches my shoulder, running a finger along it lightly.
"Good job, pet," he whispers when Jack turns to grab a towel. I blush so hard I'm probably crimson.
"Thanks, Daddy," I whisper back. Honestly, I don't even care if Jack hears.
We walk out toward the showers, and I break the bar into three pieces.
"No way. You eat it. You deserve it," Ethan says. Jack looks like he really wants his piece, but he nods.
"Yeah. You don't need to share."
"I don't need to, but I want to," I say, wolf down my piece, and toss the rest to Jack like we're playing hot potato. He catches it and screams, "HEY!" But I'm already sprinting down the hallway, laughing.
"You'll have to catch me!" I yell. Jack and Ethan exchange a look, and I'm convinced they won't bother, but I'm immediately wrong. Like some silent agreement, both of them start sprinting after me. I yelp and run as fast as I can.
We only stop at the showers. I get there first; I'm fast and determined, but it's hard to run when we're laughing this hard.
"I won!" I announce. "Now you have to eat it."
"What do you mean? I ate mine already," Jack says. He's so dumb.
"What if I wanted it back for winning?!"
"Tough luck," Jack says. I open my mouth in fake outrage and stick out my tongue at him. Ethan rolls his eyes and starts steering us toward the showers.
In the bathroom, we all strip down. We're used to it by now, and most guys play it cool and don't stare.
But Garrett is there. He's left me mostly alone since I punched him the first week, but he likes to stare at me in the showers.
Dude is a creep. His hair is so long it goes past his shoulders, and he always has this predatory smile.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn he got locked up for public indecency.
"Nice job, cutie," he says, taking the shower head next to mine. I roll my eyes. I'm not looking for a fight, but if he gets too close, I can't promise anything. Luckily, Ethan is on my other side. He gives Garrett a death stare so cold even I feel a chill.
Garrett doesn't mess with Ethan. Nobody does. Well, Reed did, but Ethan started that one.
Garrett looks at Ethan, then at me, shrugs, and backs off to his friends. I look at Ethan with a big smile. I wish I could touch him in public. Some couples here definitely do, but Ethan's too worried about his reputation as the perfect student.
After dinner, Jack, Harry, and I head toward the rec room. Ethan usually doesn't hang with us, but this time I really want him there.
"Hey, you don't want me getting into trouble without you, right?" I tease. We're in the hallway where he usually splits off toward our room. Jack and Harry exchange a look and keep walking, giving us space. I love them for that.
He raises an eyebrow. I love when he looks at me like that.
"You wouldn't," he says.
"I don't know, Daddy. Feeling pretty bold today."
He gives me a once-over, eyebrow still raised, and I think he's about to lecture me about responsibility and all that boring stuff. Not going to lie, it turns me on when he scolds me even without sex involved. But this time, he sighs.
"Oh, you little punk. Do I really need to tail you everywhere? I thought you said you didn't want a babysitter."
"Well, my babysitter is pretty hot, so I might have changed my mind."
He laughs. Making people laugh is my favorite thing. Making him laugh is a whole other level.
"Brat."
"I'm just saying, I might not be able to keep myself out of trouble."
"Fine. I'll come. You could've just asked," he says.
The rec room is, hands down, the best part of this place.
I think they do it on purpose. Step out of line and you lose rec room privileges, which is a fate worse than forced labor or cold showers.
It's set up in an old gym with a basketball hoop on one side, ping-pong, pool, a foosball table, two retro arcade machines, one Mortal Kombat, one pinball, some bean bags, tables, and a beat-up trampoline.
With all that freedom, they double down on guards, and if anyone causes trouble, everyone gets sent back.
So there's this unspoken pact to keep it cool.
Usually, every station is swamped, and the lines are insane. But by some miracle, the pinball machine is free. I go for it, and Ethan follows.
"Wanna play?" I ask, bouncing on my feet. The machine is old. I don't think they make these anymore. But every light works, it buzzes, everything's in place. The panel has an old-school drawing of Godzilla destroying Tokyo buildings.
"Nah, I'm good," he says.
"Scared? I mean, I beat you at MMA today. I can definitely take you at pinball. I'd be scared too."
He sizes me up with that look I love.
"In your dreams," he says, rolls his eyes, but steps up to the machine. I'm practically vibrating.
We take turns going for the high score. But I have no idea he'd be this good.
It's like he shuts out every distraction.
He aims with perfect precision, hitting every high-score spot, racking up extra lives.
Meanwhile, I'm losing balls left and right, hitting all the wrong targets, stuck with three lives and counting.
"How are you so good at this?" I ask after he destroys me for the third time. "You're a pinball wizard."
That cracks a rare laugh out of him.
We step aside to let other guys play. We've hogged it long enough, and there's an unspoken rule about sharing or you look like an asshole. We settle into the bean bags.
"Congrats on MMA today," Ethan says. "You impressed me. I didn't expect you to win."
My eyebrows shoot up. Then I smirk. "I wouldn't give up. I'm not a wimp."
"Yes, you are," he teases. I furrow my brow, trying to look mortally offended. "And are you calling me a wimp? Because I gave up."
"Yes!" I exclaim, all excited, and I can hear Jack's voice in my head about the puppy tail thing.
"I'll remember that for your next spanking," he says, and my cock strains against my briefs. He notices my expression and smirks. "Oh, you like that, don't you? You like when I threaten to punish you."
"No, I like it when you actually do it."
He stares at me for a second too long. Conspiratorial.
"So come," he says, getting up from the bean bag. I frown.
"What?"
"You heard me. Follow me. Now."
Fuck.
I jump to my feet.
The moment we open the door to his office; I take back what I said about the rec room. This office is the best part of this fucking place.
We start kissing like we're starving. He traps my tongue between his teeth, sucking on the tip, making it hurt a little, making it feel incredible. I melt.
He lets go of my mouth and starts kissing my neck, hands roaming my back.
I moan softly. My cock is painfully hard.
His hands slide under my shirt, teasing my skin, sending tingles racing through me.
His lips trail along my shoulder, and I arch into his touch, whimpering as his fingers lace through my hair.
I turn to face him, eyes locking. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulls me against him, kisses me again.
I feel his cock hard against me. He starts pulling down my sweatpants.
"I want you so badly," I whisper.
"I know, baby." His voice is low. He starts working me open with his fingers, and it feels like heaven. I gasp as he positions himself, cold lube on my skin, my heart racing with anticipation.
"Now, Ethan," I beg. My voice shakes. I don't need more prep. He doesn't need encouragement. One slow thrust, and he's inside me. I cry out, my body arching back into him as he fills me completely. We both moan, savoring it.
His fingers dig into my hips as he starts to move, slow and steady.
I can feel him throbbing inside me. I reach down to stroke myself as we move together.
Ethan groans, picking up speed. It hurts so much, it feels like heaven, I can't decide which.
Our breathing goes ragged. His heart pounds against my back as he thrusts harder. My body is on fire.
"Can you... spank me?" I say, not believing my own words.
He chuckles. "You want to be spanked?"
He smacks my ass. Harder than I expect. I yelp, my whole body jolting. His hand leaves a mark, and I gasp at the sting. He laughs, a deep sound that makes my heart skip.
"You like that, don't you?"
"Yes. I love it," I admit with barely a whisper.
"Good boy." He keeps spanking me, harder each time, while he keeps thrusting. He reaches down and grabs my cock, stroking it roughly. "I know what you need, pet. But you're going to beg for it first."
"Please, Daddy," I say, eyes closed, as he strokes me slowly. I want to make him go faster, more pressure, but I can't move. It's so much, feeling him inside me while he touches me.
He chuckles. His fingers leave my cock, and he pulls out. I almost cry. I whimper, squirming, looking back at him, so desperate for the sudden loss I could sob.
"Beg for it, pet," he whispers in my ear. "Beg for me."
My heart races. My cock throbs. The desperation is overwhelming.
"Please," I beg. "I need you, Daddy. Please. Fill me up again. Please."
A low growl, and he thrusts back in, burying himself to the hilt. I cry out. The stretch, the pleasure and pain tangling together.
"That's it, baby. Take it." His hands grip my hips roughly, and he starts spanking me again.
I almost scream in pleasure, feeling him hitting my prostate with each thrust, electric shocks through my whole body.
I try to move with him, but he keeps me pinned, holding me tight.
Owning me. His sweat drips onto my back. His breath is hot on my skin.
"Daddy... harder... please," I beg. I need more. I crave his roughness.
He laughs. Dark, possessive. Sets my blood on fire. "You want more, baby?"
"Yes, God, please," I cry out.
"You're mine.”
"Yes, sir," I groan.
He pulls out and drives back in, hitting my prostate perfectly, and I'm at the edge.
He doesn't let up. Harder. More primal. I cry out, my body arching into him.
"Cum for me, baby," he says, spanking me again. My ass must be red and throbbing.
So fucking delicious.
I cum hard, spilling all over the desk, my body shaking, whimpering. He thrusts harder, faster. I'm slipping, overcome. And then, with one final brutal thrust, he comes inside me too.
We catch our breath. I look back at him, but I can't form the words I want to say. He helps me up, still glistening with sweat, and kisses me deeply.
He takes me to our private shower. Together, we wash the sweat away, lathering each other with soap, kissing gently under the water. The urgency is gone, there’s just warmth now.
I'm looking at his face, water streaming down both of us, and it hits me so suddenly I don't have time to stop it.
"I think I love you," I say. My voice cracks on it. I've never said that to anyone in my life. My stomach drops the second the words leave my mouth, because what if it's too much, what if he doesn't…
Ethan goes still. The water runs between us. He looks at me, and something shifts in his face… not surprise, exactly.
"I love you too," he says. Quiet. Like it costs him something to say it, but he means every word.
I press my face into his chest so he won't see my eyes. The water hides it anyway.
We finish showering, barely talking, but it's not awkward.
Back in the dorm, it's close to curfew. Jack and Miles are already there. Jack looks at me with a raised eyebrow, like he knows exactly what we've been doing.
"What?" I ask, grinning, unable to hide it. Ethan goes straight to his bed and hides behind his book. Like always.
"I know that look, Liam," Jack says, winking. "You're in trouble."
"Yeah," I laugh. "You have no idea."