Shawn told him, and Xavier led him to a very old, rusty Ford Pinto. Shawn looked at it warily. “Are you sure this thing is safe?”
“No,” the guy said, getting in the driver’s seat.
“That’s…not very reassuring.”
“Did you want me to lie?” Xavier said with a hint of impatience, clearly eager to get it over with and go back to his cousin.
Shawn got in the car, and they took off.
“There’s no seatbelt,” Shawn muttered. “Why am I not surprised?”
Xavier didn’t deign to reply.
“So,” Shawn said after a while. “Are you my cousin’s boyfriend or something?”
“Or something,” Xavier said.
“I thought he was straight.”
Xavier just laughed, as though he had said something funny.
“But I’m glad he has someone, you know,” Shawn said. “I was worried about him. He was depressed after he got out of prison.”
“Really?” Xavier murmured.
“Yeah. I hope I’m wrong, but I think… I think someone did something to him in prison.”
“You’re not wrong: I did.”
Shawn opened his mouth and closed it without saying a word. He digested the information for a few moments. “You’re an ex-convict?”
“Yep.”
Great. He was in a rusty Ford Pinto, without a seatbelt on, and with an ex-convict at the wheel.
“What were you in prison for?”
“Killed eight people at a mall.”
Shawn snorted a laugh. “You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Your cousin did, for a long time.”
Shawn smiled, shaking his head. Sage was a bit naive. Even though he was younger than his cousin, Shawn often felt he was the older one. “So what did you really do?”
“Manslaughter. Got drunk, got into a bar fight, someone died.”
A shiver of unease ran down Shawn’s spine. He couldn’t imagine what this guy and Sage had in common, but his cousin was clearly happy. That was the important thing, wasn’t it?
Shawn was quiet for the rest of the drive.
“Thanks,” he said when the car finally stopped in front of his building. To his surprise, Xavier got out, as well. Shawn chuckled. “No one will attack me here. You don’t have to—”
“Sage told me to get you home. I’ll get you home.” Xavier frowned, looking over Shawn’s shoulder. “Someone’s watching us. You know that guy?”
Shawn turned around and froze. Rutledge got out of his Mercedes and stalked towards them.
“Yeah, I know him,” Shawn said.
“He looks pissed,” Xavier murmured.
Shawn let out a laugh. “He pretty much always looks pissed.” He cringed—it came out almost affectionate—and Xavier shot him a sharp, assessing look.
Rutledge came to a halt.
“Hey,” Shawn said.
Rutledge gave him the glare he’d been giving him the entire week before slowly sweeping his gaze over Xavier with such a look of disdain that it would make anyone feel two feet tall. “Who is that…person?”
Xavier narrowed his eyes, clearly disliking Rutledge’s trademark haughty, condescending tone.
“Xavier Otero,” he said with a nice smile, stepping closer to Shawn and putting a hand on his shoulder. “I was just giving Shawn a ride.” Shawn inhaled sharply at the dirty undertone in his voice.
Rutledge clearly didn’t miss it, either. His shoulders tensed up and his gaze raked over Shawn, as if looking for evidence, before shifting to Xavier’s car. A sneer curled his lips. “I hope the ride was comfortable.”
Xavier’s eyes flickered to Rutledge’s Mercedes. “I don’t need a flashy car for that.”
“Nicely done, guys, that wasn’t passive-aggressive at all,” Shawn said, rolling his eyes. He looked at Xavier. “Don’t take it personally—he’s nasty to everyone. And you”—Shawn looked at Rutledge—“tone it down a bit. He’s an ex-convict, not your student.”
“He’s a criminal?” In a blink of an eye, Shawn was yanked away from Xavier and pushed behind Rutledge’s back.
Shawn yelped. “Hey! Are you out of—”
“Get in your car and drive away,” Rutledge told Xavier, his voice very, very soft. “Now. Come near him again and I’ll make sure you’ll be back in your cell in no time.”
Xavier stiffened, his fists clenching. “Are you threatening me?”
“Whoa, calm the fuck down, both of you!” Shawn stepped between the two men, putting a hand on Rutledge’s chest. He glared at them. Arrogant idiots, both of them. “You.” He looked at Xavier. “Thanks for the ride, but please go home and fuck my cousin. No one’s threatening you—it’s just Rutledge’s charming personality. Go.”
Xavier nodded stiffly, climbed into his car and started it.
When the car disappeared out of sight, Shawn turned to Rutledge. “And you. What happened to jealousy being ‘for men with small dicks and low self-esteem?’”
“Nothing,” Rutledge said testily. “Are you stupid? Do you know what criminals like him do to pretty boys like you in prison? Men like him aren’t used to asking.”
Shawn chuckled. “Are you worried for me? I’m touched. Careful, or I’ll start thinking you actually give a damn.”
Rutledge glowered at him but said nothing.
“What are you even doing here?” Shawn asked. Belatedly, he realized his hand was still on Rutledge’s chest and was stroking it. Quickly, he removed it and shoved it into the pocket of his jacket. He glanced at Rutledge’s car. “Wait, were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why? You could have called if you wanted to talk. You have my number.”
“I don’t. I erased it.”
Shawn’s eyebrows flew up. “Why? Did it bother you?”
A muscle twitched at Rutledge’s temple. “Because I had no need for it.”
“Then why are you here?”
Rutledge’s lips pressed together, his eyes boring into Shawn. “I’m here to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Yes, to warn you. Your performance in my class continues to be terrible—”
“Because you’ve been absolutely brutal!”
“—so don’t expect me to pass you only because of your pretty face, and lips, and eyes, and—” Rutledge cut himself off and glared at Shawn, as if it was his fault he’d just said what he said. “My point is, you won’t get special treatment, Wyatt.”
Shawn leaned toward his lips and whispered harshly, “And you came all the way here just to tell me that? I call bullshit.”
Their breathing mixed, both swift and strained, the only sound in Shawn’s ears.
Christ, Shawn couldn’t stand it anymore. He was trembling, aching—
When Rutledge crushed their lips together, the first thing Shawn felt was relief. God, finally. And then everything else faded away; there were big hands on his nape, a firm body against his, and lips, hot and searing—so good—and Shawn was moaning, trying to kiss him harder, take him deeper.
He had no idea how much time had passed when his cell phone went off in the pocket of his jacket.
With a sigh of frustration, Shawn tore his lips away and answered it.
“Yeah?” he managed, fingers clenched in Rutledge’s sweater as the man kissed his face and his neck. God, his lips seemed to burn Shawn’s skin.
“Where the hell are you?” Bill, the manager of the restaurant. Fuck. “You’re almost late for your shift!”
“Sorry, give me fifteen minutes—”
“Five!” Bill hung up.
Shawn pushed Rutledge away. “Need to go. I’m late for work.”
He walked away quickly, his legs still weak and his body aching with want. “Idiot,” he muttered. He should have told Xavier to take him straight to work. Hell, he shouldn’t have gone to Sage’s place at all after he’d dropped the twins at Mrs. Hawkins’s. And he definitely shouldn’t have spent minutes sucking R
utledge’s tongue.
Tires screeched and a familiar Mercedes pulled up beside him. The car door flew open.
“Get in,” Rutledge said. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Shawn hesitated, but what the hell. He really was running late. Pointless stubbornness was stupid.
He got in and told Rutledge the address of the restaurant. Sometimes he got assigned to the restaurant at the other end of the city, but luckily for Shawn, tonight it was the one close to his place.
Neither of them spoke during the short drive. Shawn leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes as he fought for control.
Thankfully, it only took about five minutes to reach the restaurant.
“Thanks,” Shawn muttered, without looking at the other man, and opened the door.
Rutledge caught his arm.
Shawn took a shaky breath in before turning to Rutledge.
Dark eyes looked at him grimly.
“Okay,” Shawn said. “But this is the last time, got it?”
He leaned toward Rutledge, buried his fingers in his hair and gave him a deep, wet kiss. Rutledge accepted the kiss passively, but Shawn could feel his body vibrate with tension, and it made Shawn achingly hard.
The cell phone went off again.
Sighing, Shawn pulled away and whispered, “This is stupid. We both know it.” He wiped his lips. “Let’s just pretended this never happened, okay?”
Rutledge said nothing—just looked at Shawn with dark, hungry eyes.
And god, Shawn wanted to kiss him again. Badly.
Swearing through his teeth, he practically jumped out of the car.
Chapter 15
Shawn was walking to his last class of the day when he saw Rutledge walking the other way.
His steps faltered for a moment before he averted his gaze and continued walking, determined to ignore him.
Except Rutledge didn’t let him.
He grabbed Shawn’s arm as they were passing each other. “A word, Mr. Wyatt.”
Shawn wet his lips, his heart pounding. He looked straight in front of him. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about, Professor.”
The grasp on his hand tightened. “A word.”
Shawn glanced around. “Let go. You’re attracting attention.”
Rutledge removed his hand and bit out, “Follow me.”
“I have a class in a few minutes.”
“I’ll write you a note,” Rutledge threw over his shoulder before walking away.
“That’s abuse of power,” Shawn grumbled but did follow him.
Rutledge led him into a classroom at the end of the hall. It was empty.
Shawn closed the door. “Look, this is—”
Rutledge slammed him against the wall and crushed their lips together.
Goddammit, not this again. But he was already kissing back and gasping into Rutledge’s mouth.
The kiss was messy and needy, Rutledge pressing against him as though he was trying to embed him in the wall.
Shawn whined when the kiss ended as suddenly as it began.
Rutledge buried his face against the side of Shawn’s throat, breathing deeply, his body tense as hell. “I want to fuck you.” Rutledge sucked hard on the side of his neck, his hands kneading Shawn’s ass and pushing their crotches together. “Need to fuck you again.”
Shawn closed his eyes, trying to think, trying to remember how to breathe because it didn’t seem like he was getting any oxygen to his brain and all his blood seemed to have drained into his cock and his head was blissfully empty. He couldn’t for the life of him remember why it was such a bad idea—
“Why Shawn would be here—Oh.”
Shawn froze. Rutledge went very still, his lips still on Shawn’s neck.
Then they both turned their heads.
Christian stood in the half-open doorway, his mouth agape.
“He’s not here,” he said loudly, stepped back and shut the door.
His face hot, Shawn sighed. “I should go.”
But he didn’t move.
Rutledge leaned his forehead against the wall next to Shawn’s head. His hands were still gripping Shawn’s hips, his thumbs on the bare skin of Shawn’s lower stomach. “This is all your fault,” he said, his voice terse.
Shawn huffed, buried his hand in Rutledge’s hair and tugged. “How is this my fault?”
“You shouldn’t have decided to leave early,” Rutledge said irritably, placing greedy, open-mouthed kisses on Shawn’s neck. “If you hadn’t done that, I would have fucked you a few more times until it got boring enough.”
“Charming,” Shawn said dryly—or rather, tried to, but his voice came out a little breathy.
Rutledge lifted his head from his neck. His pupils were completely blown as his gaze alternated between Shawn’s eyes and mouth. “I’ll come to your place tonight and we will fuck.” That wasn’t a question.
Shawn wet his lips. “Already forgot about the twins?”
Wrong answer. He should have refused outright.
Rutledge stared at his lips, his thumbs stroking Shawn’s bare stomach. “Aren’t kids supposed to go to sleep early?”
“I— I can’t leave them alone. What if they wake up?”
“We’ll be quiet.”
Shawn wasn’t sure he could be quiet. Not when he already had to swallow back moans just from having Rutledge’s hands on his stomach.
“But—”
“I’ll come tonight,” Rutledge said firmly. “And we’ll fuck.”
He started leaning in to kiss Shawn again, but stopped, looked away and stalked out of the room.
Shawn banged his head against the wall and had to wait for a while until his arousal faded and he could think—and move—again.
“How very nice of you to deign us with your presence, Mr. Wyatt,” Professor Travis said when he entered the classroom. “Only twenty minutes late.”
“I’m sorry, Professor,” Shawn said, trying not to squirm under her sharp gaze. Professor Travis had never particularly liked him, but her class was actually one of his best, so she usually had no reason to criticize him. Until now.
“Do you have any explanation, Wyatt?”
Shawn rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually, yes. Professor Rutledge had an urgent task for me. He told me to apologize to you on his behalf. He’s the reason I’m late.”
The woman’s eyebrows flew up. “Professor Rutledge?”
“Yep,” Shawn said, trying hard not to laugh. He couldn’t imagine Rutledge apologizing for anything, much less to this woman. “I’m really sorry for my tardiness, but if you have a problem with it, you’ll have to take it up with Professor Rutledge.”
Like hell she would.
Professor Travis still looked puzzled but nodded. “Very well. Sit down, Wyatt.”
Shawn headed to his usual seat next to Christian.
“An urgent task, huh?” Christian murmured as soon as Shawn took his seat. “Like sucking his dick?”
Shawn felt himself blush. “Come on—”
“Look,” Christian said quietly, his brown eyes looking at him intently. “I’m not judging. But you shouldn’t have lied. It’s over, my ass.”
Shawn winced. “I really thought it was over, I swear. And it is. But…”
“But?”
Sighing, Shawn murmured, “I’m kinda really bad at thinking with my head when he puts his tongue in my mouth.”
Christian stared at him for a short while before shaking his head slowly. “This is so weird, man. I mean, this isn’t even some random guy we’re talking about. It’s Rutledge. Rutledge!”
“I know. I know it’s weird, and stupid, and totally crazy and pointless. He’s everything I don’t want, but at the same time… Shit, it’s fucking with my mind.”
“But you still want him.”
“Yeah,” Shawn said.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“He thinks if we fuck a few more times, it’s bound to get boring.” Shawn l
eaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. “He’d better be right.”
He’d better be.
Chapter 16
The girls fell asleep at nine in the evening, just after Shawn returned from work.
After that, Shawn spent an hour trying to make the shabby apartment look semi-presentable. At last, he gave up on it as a lost cause and took a quick shower. Putting on a pair of old blue shorts, Shawn was drying himself off when there was a quiet knock on the door.
Barefoot, Shawn tiptoed to the door and opened it.
Rutledge’s gaze immediately fixed on his bare chest, his nipples, his belly button before settling on the shorts that were riding low on his hips.
Shawn cleared his throat quietly and Rutledge looked at his face.
In the semi-darkness of the room it was hard to read his expression.
Shawn pressed a finger to his lips and pointed to the girls’ bed.
Rutledge nodded curtly.
Shawn took his hand, pulled him inside, and locked the door. Then he led Rutledge to his bedroom.
It was the only bedroom in the apartment. When they had just moved in, Shawn had intended to make it the children’s room, but it was cold and damp, so he’d ended up taking it himself.
The room was also small and void of any furniture besides a narrow bed and desk. Shawn would have felt more embarrassed if Rutledge was actually looking around, but he didn’t seem to be interested in his surroundings as he quietly shut the door and stared at Shawn in the dim light of the lamp.
Rutledge started silently undressing.
Shawn’s heart beat faster and he could actually hear his own breathing, uneven and shaky. He stood still and watched, his skin warm, his cock hard and heavy in his shorts.
At last, Rutledge was naked. Looking completely unselfconscious, he walked to the bed, sat down and patted his knee, tension rolling off him in waves. His erection stood long and thick from a thatch of dark hair at his groin.
Shawn tore his gaze away, slipped out of his shorts and stepped to Rutledge.
He hesitated.
His eyes hooded, Rutledge took his arm and jerked him into his lap.
The rest was a blur of heated kisses and touches, and so much skin. Shawn had never felt so out of control with want, unable to think, unable to do anything but feel and want.
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