Even though he told himself not to think about Hunter, the flaw in his plan was that spending so much time thinking about what he wasn’t supposed to think about meant that all he was doing was thinking about taking Hunter on one of the desks in the classroom. The whole thing was enough to make Ryder’s head hurt and he wanted to curse Hunter for the memory.
It was inevitable that Ryder’s mind would wander during a boring lesson, and despite his best efforts, staring vacantly at the professor’s desk only made him think of one thing now. By all appearances, Ryder appeared to be paying rapt attention, but he was completely distracted by the memory of being buried deeply in Hunter’s tight channel, thrusting into him hard while looking out over the student desks. He could remember how incredible it felt to move in Hunter, to feel him on such an intimate level, to be allowed to touch him so freely, to experience him completely.
Awkwardly shifting in the uncomfortable desk chair, Ryder scowled in annoyance that he was feeling the start of arousal. He knew that he needed to stop before it got worse, but the vision stubbornly continued, moving away from memory and into a sordid fantasy. He could easily imagine the sound of the papers crinkling under Hunter’s back as he was pressed back onto the desk, the way the small cup on pencils would scatter on the floor, sacrificed in a moment of passion. Neither of them would pay any attention to the disarray they were responsible for, far too caught up in each other to spare a thought of anything else.
It was only with supreme effort that Ryder managed to pull himself away from the tempting thoughts of ravishing Hunter, trying in vain to stop before he got past the point of no return. Deciding that he needed to do something before his situation became dire, Ryder abruptly got up and left the room, oblivious to Jake’s concerned look and Hunter’s knowing one.
Hurriedly walking to the bathroom, Ryder was relieved that it was completely empty. Going over to the sink and turning on the faucet, Ryder bent down and splashed some cold water on his face, hoping to shock his senses. The only shock he received was the sound of the door opening, but Ryder pointedly ignored the newcomer, trying his best to act normal and inconspicuous as he washed his face with cold water.
Ryder was so focused on his thoughts that he was completely startled by the feeling of hands on his hips and someone pressing close to grind against his ass. Immediately straightening up and trying to turn around to face his assailant, Ryder froze when he saw in the mirror who was behind him.
Meeting Ryder’s gaze through the mirror, Hunter warned in a seductive tone, “You really shouldn’t stand that way if you don’t want me to get any ideas.”
“You already have the ideas regardless of how I stand,” Ryder accused Hunter as he turned off the water, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline rush of the surprise.
“Fine, give me more ideas,” Hunter conceded with a wicked grin. Boldly sliding one of his hands from Ryder’s hip down the front of his pants to grope his half-hard member, Hunter grinned when he realized what he had done to his rival. “And it would seem that I’m not the only one with those kinds of ideas.…”
Blushing both from the implication and the touch, Ryder elbowed Hunter to discourage him and muttered, “Shut up. What the hell are you doing here, anyway?”
When Ryder had departed their shared class so suddenly with flushed cheeks, Hunter could tell that their time together in the classroom suite at Cole Corporation had done exactly what he had hoped. “What do you think?” Hunter asked, watching in the mirror as he deliberately placed a kiss on Ryder’s neck.
Seeing the sensuous display in the mirror added a heightened element to the act and Ryder was momentarily riveted by it, completely captivated by the deviously blissful expression on Hunter’s face. It made Ryder realize how much he had missed in their previous moments and he shivered at the sensations, the experience doing nothing to lessen the growing ache within him.
Satisfied that he had sufficiently distracted Ryder, Hunter once again groped his rival, pleased to discover that he was even stiffer now. “I’m surprised you lasted this long,” Hunter teased as he continued to massage the length through his pants. “You were thinking about me on the desk, weren’t you?”
Forcing Hunter’s hand off of him, Ryder glared at him through the mirror, but he would not be deterred. “Or were you thinking about being on the desk under me?” Hunter continued, enjoying the experience far more than he should.
“I was not!” Ryder heatedly denied as he pushed away from the sink and turned around to properly face Hunter.
Chuckling at the indignant look on Ryder’s face, Hunter goaded, “Really?”
“Yes!” Ryder snapped, his emerald eyes blazing in his irritation. “And if you will excuse me, we should get back to class, so—”
Interrupting Ryder with a pointed look at the bulge in his pants, Hunter stated, “I have no intention of returning like this.”
Ryder swallowed hard as Hunter ran his hand over his own answering erection and he had to remind himself to stay focused. “We don’t have time for this,” Ryder irritably continued to protest, growing more frustrated.
“So tell the professor that you weren’t feeling well,” Hunter countered with a smug look as he looked Ryder over. “Your cheeks are flushed enough that she’ll believe you.”
Bristling at the reminder of his current worked-up state, Ryder wanted to remark that he wasn’t paying Hunter so what was the point, but the words were too harsh to say out loud. Besides, as much as he was against the idea, there was a bizarre thrill at the potentially dangerous possibility of getting caught in such a compromising position. Almost as if sensing Ryder’s train of thought, Hunter continued to entice Ryder by murmuring in his ear, “Besides, it’s kind of exciting, wouldn’t you agree?”
“You’re such a pervert,” Ryder muttered, but the strength of his words was ruined by Hunter’s teasing touch.
“Like you’re any different,” Hunter scoffed as he firmly groped Ryder’s ass to pull him closer. “It’s not as if you aren’t getting off on this, too.”
Making an annoyed noise, Ryder impulsively initiated a harsh kiss to prevent Hunter from saying anything further. Although Hunter was mildly startled, he took the action in stride and began to back them closer to the nearby wall. Slamming Ryder against it with enough force to break the kiss, Hunter chuckled at the distressed noise it earned him before immediately resuming. Ryder entangled his fingers in Hunter’s hair, as if holding on for fear of being swept away by the passionately fierce aggression. He felt almost weak in the knees.
Wanting to step things up a little further, Hunter helped Ryder wrap his legs around his waist. Pausing just long enough to readjust their positions, Hunter rocked his hips against Ryder’s in an imitation of what he would rather be doing. The thought of being buried hilt-deep in his virginal rival made him groan with need and Hunter inadvertently thrust harder in search of something he doubted he’d be able to have.
Ryder was all but writhing on the wall, getting increasingly frustrated by the amount of fabric between them. He had become spoiled by uninhibited skin-to-skin contact and Ryder keened softly as he met Hunter’s movement, holding onto his broad shoulders to steady himself. His mind was completely blank except for one guiding desire and Ryder blindly moved in search of satiation, almost whimpering with the building pressure of desire inside that was begging for relief.
The needy sound of desperation was immensely gratifying to Hunter and it stroked his ego in the most satisfying of ways. Hunter was about to reward Ryder when he thought he heard something that made him stop moving completely. Ryder growled in annoyance, but Hunter quickly covered his mouth with his hand and gave him a stern look as he focused on the sound of approaching footsteps that echoed loudly in the empty hall. Hurriedly forcing Ryder to get down, Hunter all but pushed his rival into the nearest stall as he harshly whispered, “Get in there.”
There was something about Hunter’s urgent tone that prevented Ryder from asking any questions and he
complied without fuss, shutting the door and resting his back against the tile wall before sliding down to a crouching position. Ryder’s mind was still clouded from hormones and he made an indignant noise when Hunter arrogantly said, “You know, this wouldn’t happen if you were stronger.”
Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, Ryder demanded, “What the hell are you talking about? You’re the one—”
“You’re the one on the floor,” Hunter interrupted to finish, having had just enough time before the door opened to readjust himself so that his erection wasn’t completely obvious.
Ryder’s eyes went wide at the sound of someone entering the bathroom and he suddenly realized what Hunter was doing. Offering a silent word of thanks as he breathed a sigh of relief at not getting caught, he then heard Jake loudly question, “What the fuck are you doing here and where the hell is Ryder?”
“Go back to class, Jake,” Ryder said with a heavy sigh from within the stall, sounding almost as miserable as he felt. This was not how he needed his friend to find him. All it would do is cause more problems and create more questions surrounding their brothel visits. It was a conversation that Ryder wanted to avoid at all costs. Plus, his body was screaming at him for stopping when they had, aching with an almost painful need to be touched by Hunter.
“And leave you with this asshole?” Jake argued with a hateful glare at Hunter, who had yet to move from his position leaning against the wall. “I don’t fucking think so!”
“That wasn’t a request,” Ryder coldly stated, shocking both Hunter and Jake.
Hunter’s cruel laugh incensed Jake and he focused his rage on his enemy. “Why are you in here anyway?” Jake demanded as he pointed an accusing finger at Hunter. “Come to kick him while he’s down or something?”
Rolling his eyes at the absurdity of Jake’s simple mind, Hunter coolly replied, “I have better things to do with my time than to waste it with something as childish as that.”
“It hasn’t stopped you before,” Jake growled, having been on the receiving end of that kind of behavior from Hunter on more than one occasion.
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I just came in here to take a piss, mutt?” Hunter crudely asked with a sneer.
“Look, both of you shut up and go back to class,” Ryder ordered, his patience at an end. “I’ll be fine—”
Crossing his arms as he glared at his opponent, Jake stubbornly replied, “I’ll go after he does. I’m not leaving you here with him, Ryder.”
“Damn it, Jake!” Ryder swore in his anger, his temper flaring. “What are you so afraid that he’ll do to me?”
The small, perverse smirk of Hunter’s lips at the potential innuendo didn’t escape Jake’s attention and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “I’m going to figure out what’s going on with you,” Jake promised Hunter, “and then you won’t be so high and mighty anymore, asshole.”
Although Hunter merely laughed at the pathetic attempt at intimidation, it sent Ryder past the point of his tolerance. Having grown soft in his annoyance, Ryder stood up and threw open the stall door, causing Jake to flinch when it banged against the wall with a loud and echoing noise. “That’s enough!” Ryder all but yelled, his eyes blazing bright in his anger. “I’m tired of listening to your petty arguments and insults!”
“But, Ryder—” Jake tried to object, but to no avail.
“No! I’m tired of listening to your pointless posturing and you,” Ryder said as he pointed to Hunter, “aren’t much better, either.”
“Oh, I think otherwise,” Hunter contradicted with a knowing smirk, earning him a warning look.
“Of course you do,” Ryder muttered before returning his attention to Jake. “None of this is helping my headache. I’m going home to rest, so you should go back to class.”
Jake started to suggest, “I’ll take you to your apartment—”
“No,” Ryder refused as he glared a final warning at his friend, “I’ll go by myself and don’t come over to check on me, either. I want to try and sleep this off.”
Holding up his hands in surrender, Jake placated his friend by conceding, “Okay, okay, I got it. Feel better.”
Not saying another word to Hunter or even sparing him a glance, Ryder stormed out of the bathroom. He wished that the door wasn’t hinged in such a way as to prevent him from having the satisfaction of slamming it shut.
Left alone, Jake and Hunter glared at each other before Jake broke the silence by demanding, “Now see what you’ve done?”
“Funny, he seemed more pissed at you than me,” Hunter shrewdly commented. Hunter was quite confident that if Ryder was irritated at him, it was because of the unwanted interruption that had ruined their chance of satiating their mutual lust.
Closing the gap between them, Jake threatened Hunter, “You’re hiding something, asshole, and I’m going to figure out what it is.”
“Doubtful,” Hunter sneered, knowing that even if Jake did make the connection, Ryder would talk him out of the revelation. It was weird for Hunter to rely on someone else’s protection, but it wasn’t as troublesome as it should have been. “You should spare what little brain cells you have remaining instead of trying to—”
“Go ahead, get all your laughs in now,” Jake interrupted him to say with a serious look, “but I’m going to find out. Then I’ll be the only one laughing.”
Waving away the threat, Hunter walked around Jake as he dismissively replied, “You and your infantile brain are the least of my concerns, mutt. Feel free to waste your time, but don’t waste mine.”
Grabbing Hunter’s shoulder and spinning him around, Jake demanded, “Worried?”
Slapping off Jake’s hand, Hunter looked down at Jake with an icy hatred that sent a shiver of fear through the man despite his convictions. “As if I have anything to worry about from the likes of you,” Hunter sneered before turning and walking away without another word, leaving Jake alone.
After stopping back in class to grab his things and make an excuse to his concerned professor, Ryder was relieved to find himself alone at last as he aimlessly walked in search of somewhere to go. He wasn’t quite ready to head back to his apartment, so that left him with few places to seek sanctuary.
Ryder’s ire began to fade as he neared the university library, replaced by sheer exhaustion as he decided to enter. It hadn’t even occurred to Ryder that leaving the two men alone together could possibly have disastrous results until he was already too far away to do anything about it. Ryder could only hope that Hunter had managed to extract himself from the situation before things went wrong.
Running his fingers through his hair and taking a deep breath, Ryder closed his eyes for a moment and tried to force himself to relax. It was difficult to do since his mind was racing about so many things. Unfortunately for him, all of his thoughts kept circling back to the immediate memories of what Hunter had been doing to him in the bathroom, and Ryder could only groan as he walked deeper into the library. He didn’t understand what it was about Hunter that made him feel so utterly alive and irritated all at once. It angered Ryder that he seemed to be falling deeper and deeper into Hunter without much resistance.
It made Ryder wonder about Hunter’s perspective on the whole thing. After all, it wasn’t like they had really talked about anything. Hunter had made it clear that he had no complaints about how things had progressed, but Ryder couldn’t help but question what role money played into those lack of objections. It was confusing Ryder, so it was no wonder he chose to fixate on the physical aspect, rather than the other complicated issues surrounding their increasingly frequent coupling.
Doing his best to ignore it all, Ryder felt relief as he finally reached his destination, the archeology section of the library. It gave him a sense of security and comfort, since it reminded him of the warmth of his parents, who had built their own impressive collection of books on the subject over the years of their practice in the field. The books were now languishing in storage until Ryder could give them
a good home.
Bonelessly dropping into a chair, Ryder closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, giving it his utmost attention in an attempt to block out everything else. Sleep would be a welcome reprieve, so long as he didn’t have any embarrassing dreams about Hunter, which he occasionally did now. He was getting really tired of waking up to being an aroused mess.
Despite the frequent deviations in thoughts, Ryder had managed to fall into a state somewhere between being awake and asleep. When he heard someone enter the area, Ryder did nothing to draw attention to himself, figuring that he was easily ignored in favor of whatever the student had come in to find. It came as a complete shock when the newcomer gently touched Ryder’s cheek. He opened his eyes in confusion to stare up at the offender.
Part of Ryder was stunned at Hunter’s brashness, but the realistic part of him wasn’t surprised in the least. After all, Hunter never left anything unfinished. “Now, where were we?” Hunter sexily murmured as he pinned Ryder in the chair and started to teasingly kiss him.
Finding himself unable to move, Ryder awkwardly shifted as he whispered, “I really don’t think this is a good idea.” It felt like sacrilege to be doing such things surrounded by the books his parents had loved. “How did you find me, anyway?”
“I’m just that good,” Hunter said with a devious grin that alerted Ryder to the fact that he might not want to know the truth.
“Leave me alone,” Ryder irritably demanded, looking up at Hunter in disapproval.
Leaning forward and brushing his lips against Ryder’s, Hunter cheekily murmured, “I don’t feel like it.”
All of Ryder’s previous feelings were quickly stoked back to life as Hunter began to progress from kisses to more substantial touches. “We can’t do this,” Ryder breathily protested as he got out of the chair and grabbed his bag, tired of being tortured without release.
Ryder made it halfway down an aisle before Hunter caught up with him and grabbed his arm, spinning him around and pressing him back up against the bookcase to pin him in place. Ryder dropped his bag in his surprise and he stared up with confused desire. “You didn’t seem to have many complaints in the bathroom,” Hunter pointed out as he rocked his hips against Ryder’s, wishing he could take it to the next level.
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