"Oh, sorry Soph … I should probably go."
"Yeah you probably should!"
Ending the call, he pocketed the phone and walked out of the cubicle. He washed his hands even though he hadn't used the facilities. Looking up at his reflection, he swallowed thickly and tried to calm himself down. He looked at the box again, smoothing his thumb over the velvet. This was a huge step. He was going to be moving-out of his family home. Starting a whole new adventure with someone he'd known for only nine months.
This was big.
'You know the answer either way,' he thought as he braced himself against the sink. 'You've never felt this way about anyone. This is all new to you. Lucas has had relationships before but you're the only one he's wanted to share his personal space with. Embrace how vulnerable he's making himself –and you've run off to hide in the fucking toilets!'
Damn, even his brain was starting to sound like Sophie. Swiping the box off the side, he held it tightly as he made his way outside.
To his credit, if Lucas was panicking, he didn't show it. If anything, he looked ever-so-slightly concerned –the sort of expression most other people would wear when debating on taking an umbrella or not even though it was grey outside.
"Sorry about that," Cavan gushed as he sank back into his vacant seat.
Lucas's eyebrows rose. Otherwise his expression didn't change. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
Cavan nodded, taking an extra-long sip of his wine. "Yeah I'm fine. Really," he added at Lucas's disbelieving stare. "I just needed to take a minute and … and … not over-react?"
"So, you ran into the bathroom."
Cavan felt his shoulder's sag. "… Yeah."
To his surprise, Lucas smirked. "You're lucky I know you by now, Cavan."
"So, you're not mad?"
"Of course not. Cavan, I've just landed a pretty big life decision in your lap. If you need to run into the bathroom to handle it, I'm more than happy to wait." He reached out and placed a hand over Cavan's, the one still clasped around the box. "We'll only take this step if you're ready. I want to build a proper life with you. I want to wake up every morning and see you there, bundled up and drooling on my pillow. I want to come home from a shitty day at work to see you in a t-shirt and socks just chilling and ready to shoot a smile my way. I want to take care of you when you get sick and have your mother over for brunch on the weekends. I want to beat your friends at game-night because we would destroy them."
He paused, aware that for the first time in a long time, he was doing the unthinkable; he was rambling. Clearing his throat, he straightened up a little. "I want you to move-in with me, Cavan. I love you."
Cavan felt his eyes mist over. "Are you sure you won't change your mind?" he asked, his nerves in a tight bundle at the back of his throat.
"I've never been surer than anything."
Looking up into those slate grey eyes, Cavan was grateful to be sitting own otherwise his knees would have given out. He stroked the box in his hand and finally pried the lid open. The key was bright gold and had an ornate letter 'C' engraved in the top. This wasn't just an ordinary copy of the key; this was his key. His first, personalised, key to their house. Their home.
Butterflies exploded in his stomach.
"I'd love to live with you," he breathed.
Lucas's eyebrows rose even higher. "You really mean that?"
Cavan nodded, breathing hard. He didn't want to shatter their little bubble, but he was buzzing with too much energy. The glasses twinkled as his knee jerked. He inwardly cursed himself. "I want to live with you, Lucas. I don't think anything could make me happier!"
Without warning Lucas stood up. He strode around the table, grasped Cavan's face in his hands and pressed a hot, desperate kiss to his lips. "Thank … God … You … Said … Yes!" he grunted between kisses.
Cavan's cheeks went bright red, especially as the nearest tables to them started clapping. Wrong idea of the situation but sweet, nonetheless. Plus, Cavan really wasn't about to turn down the complimentary cake that arrived after their meal.
Cavan fidgeted most of the way home.
He just wanted to reach across and touch Lucas all over. He wanted to pop every button of his pressed white shirt and run his hands over his smooth skin. He wanted to kiss along every tattoo on his body and stroke his fingertips over the bullet scars. He wanted Lucas to make love to him in their home in their bed and then he could fall asleep in the knowledge that he didn't have to leave ever again.
It had never taken so long to get home.
By the time they were standing outside Lucas's front door, Cavan just wanted to get inside already, but Lucas insisted that if they were going to do this properly, then they needed to christen the key.
Biting back any retorts, and actually feeling somewhat sentimental himself, Cavan slid the key into the lock and twisted. It was a little stiff but the mechanism clicked and the door opened without much protest. His heart skipped a beat, looking in at that familiar home. His home.
He barely had time to think about it before he was pushed up against the wall, Lucas's fiery mouth against his. He moaned into the kiss, shrugging out of his light jacket. Together they awkwardly moved towards the bedroom and slumped down onto the bed with barely any injury. He threaded his fingers through Lucas's hair, barely daring to come-up for air as they rutted on the sheets.
"God, you're gorgeous!" Lucas exhaled heatedly against his throat as he popped Cavan's button one-by-one through the holes. "I'm so lucky to have you."
The words caught Cavan off-guard. Lucas, sensing his sudden stillness, propped himself upright so that he could gaze down at his lover. "I love you, Lucas," Cavan breathed, his chest heaving.
Pulling his shirt off over his head, the older man melted their bodies together, his cool hands running up the back of Cavan's shirt and lightly scratching his skin. Cavan hissed and arched into him, his insides burning with desire, his cock already hard and pressing against his trousers. Lucas was hard, too. He could feel their dicks rubbing together through their trousers, the burn almost too intense.
"Lucas …" Cavan panted, his eyes rolling back in his head. "Lucas p-please … make love to me!"
The older man didn't need telling twice.
He took great care with Cavan; he made sure every inch of him was kissed tenderly, his hands barely straying for a moment as he smoothed the clothes off his skin and took hold of his cock. He kissed the young man slowly, deeply, stealing his breath away every chance he got. He took great pleasure in swallowing him whole, making him squirm and grow flustered.
He was careful and slow when he slid inside his body. He tried to restrain himself from going too fast until Cavan begged him shamelessly for more. He left a love-bite on Cavan's shin from where his legs were wrapped around his neck. Spots flashed before his eyes as he finally came hot and heavy in his young lover, filling his body with every angled thrust. His orgasm was just shuddering to a stop when Cavan came over his stomach, crying his name out and clenching tight around his cock.
It was bliss.
Later that night, once they were cleaned up and lazily lounging in the bed, the smell of sex still clinging to the duvet, Cavan rolled over onto his back to peer up at his lover. He was sitting upright on his pillows, reading with his glasses perched on his nose. He had idly been kneading Cavan's thighs and buttocks whilst said brat had been watching something inane on TV.
He felt so content.
Lucas looked over the top of his book at him and quirked an eyebrow. Cavan felt himself smile bashfully in response before shifting around on the bed so that his head was nestled gently on the older man's chest. Lucas settled for caressing the young man's thick, brunette hair as he returned his attention to his book.
"Hey Lucas?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you sure you want me to live with you?"
"Of course, I do, kid," Lucas murmured, not taking his eyes off the book. "I wouldn't have asked you otherwise."
"I kn
ow but …" Cavan trailed off, his fingers skirting the skin peeking out from Lucas's waistband.
Sensing that the kid was stalling on purpose, Lucas jostled him slightly. "But what?"
"I … I don't have a job."
"I'm aware."
"I don't want you to think I'm selfish or something."
Lucas frowned and closed his book at last. He shifted slightly so that he could look at Cavan better. The younger man was avoiding eye-contact, instead finding the plain duvet cover exceptionally interesting. "What's brought this on?"
"I … I don't have a job, which means I don't have any income," Cavan sighed. "I don't want you to feel like I'm taking you for granted."
"You mean like a trophy-wife?"
"Yeah, sort of."
Lucas chuckled, "Cavan I'm aware you don't have a job right now. That doesn't mean you can't look for one."
"So … you don't mind being the one who pays?"
Lucas shook his head. "Of course not. Truth is, I can afford two houses and two vehicles on my salary so yes, I don't think a little extra on the electric bill, gas or food is going to bother me much."
"But what if it does?" Cavan asked urgently. "Then I'm going to feel like a scrounger!"
Lucas sighed. He could see how disheartened Cavan was feeling about this. Despite his currently employment status –none –Lucas wasn't about to kick him out and take his key back out of spite. "How about this?" he finally said, tilting Cavan's chin up so that they were seeing eye-to-eye. "We can look at jobs for you in town, but until we find you something permanent, I can ask Rodrick if he'd be willing to give you a trial run as a T.A."
Cavan's head snapped up. "What? A-are you sure?"
"Why not? You're fresh out of Uni, Rodrick likes you and we always seemed to be understaffed right at the start of term."
Cavan bit down on his lip. "But Rodrick knows we're … you know … together."
"I'm aware," Lucas stated. "However, as long as we keep it professional at work, I doubt there would be any real issues."
Intrigued, Cavan sat up straighter. "So, what department would I be assisting in?"
"Logically, whichever place needs the most support. The art departments generally need at least three T.A.'s otherwise they'd never stay open. However, more and more departments are increasing the workloads, so you could well end up anywhere."
Cavan frowned in thought. It wasn't the worst job he could do, and he'd get to see something of Lucas during the day. Even if it was only for a few days a week and only until Christmas. An idea went off in his head. "I could also ask Ms. Locke about assisting her with her lessons," Cavan suggested. "She always complained about never having any help. Do you think they'd consider me? Considering I just left the place?"
"It's worth asking," Lucas agreed. "I'll ask Rodrick first thing on Monday. See what he thinks."
Cavan smiled. "I'll start looking for other jobs in town, as well. I know I can't rely on a lot of things when it comes to jobs. I've heard enough horror stories about people who never get interviews."
Lucas scoffed. "The ones who complain are generally the ones who don't want the job in the first place. They'd just rather blame immigrants or the government for not having two brain cells to rub together to perform the simplest tasks."
Cavan laughed. "God! I love how grumpy you get. It's so sexy!"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Don't be such a brat."
"I love it when you call me 'brat'."
"You shouldn't. It's not a term of endearment.”
Grinning, Cavan pressed his face against his lover's neck. "It is when you say it." Lucas rolled his eyes but couldn't keep the smile off his face. Cavan pressed a kiss to his cheek and then sank back down into the pillows. He sighed contently before frowning again. "Hey Lucas?"
"Hmmm?"
"You know … I thought you were going to propose to me tonight."
"Yes, I sort of got that impression."
Cavan smiled fleetingly. "Well … um … Have you ever wanted to get married? Have a family?"
Setting his book down, Lucas turned his full attention to the squirming young man beside him. "Honestly?" Cavan nodded. "No. I've not really given it much thought. For some people, these things are easy, natural. Look at Fletcher and Bonbon. I didn't see that sort of life for me. I didn't like anyone well enough to be in my space."
"So, what makes me so special?"
"You're one of a kind, kid."
Cavan huffed. "I wanted a real answer, Lucas!"
The older man smiled as he watched Cavan cross his arms and look off towards the window. Reaching out, he turned Cavan's face towards his. "There isn't any one reason, kid. Despite your quirks, you bring a chaotic sense of calm to my life."
"And that's a good thing?!"
Lucas nodded. "Of course; my life was nothing but order, routine and work. Even seeing friends was part of a routine. You disarm in ways that I cannot describe. You make me feel like it's okay if I don't scrub the kitchen top-to-bottom every day. You make it tolerable to even think about sleeping naked. You break my cycle and routine up in such a way that it reminds me … life doesn't have to be rigid and colourless. It can be fun and childish, even if that means building a blanket fort in my living room."
Cavan smiled at the memory.
"It isn't any one thing, Cavan. It's a thousand little things. I don't give a shit if we get married or adopt some snot-nosed little brat from the North Pole. I want to spend my life, however it may turn out, no matter what direction it leads me, with you."
"You … Damnit, that's not fair!" Cavan cupped his face in his hands. "You're a teacher! You're not allowed to use advanced knowledge to get all sappy on me!"
Lucas chuckled. "You'll learn one day, kid. I'm the romantic in this relationship."
Cavan pouted childishly as Lucas resumed his position, once against picking his book up. The covers rustled as Cavan fidgeted beside him and burrowed down under the covers to sleep. "Hey Lucas?"
A sigh. "What, brat?"
"You know that thing you said about sleeping naked?"
"Yes? What of it?"
In answer, Cavan drew one of Lucas's hands under the covers and smoothed it over his bare thigh.
"You sly little shit!"
Lucas tossed his book onto the bedside table and rolled on top of Cavan, his mouth quickly snagging his lover's in a greedy kiss. Cavan chuckled as he clawed Lucas's bottoms off. "Mmmm I couldn't help it! You look so sexy with your glasses on!"
Lucas growled against Cavan's throat and felt his stomach flip. Cavan was rock hard and already slick. Once freed from his bottoms, Lucas felt his own dick and shuddered; he was just as hard and just as wet. "You think your tight little arse can take another go?" he growled.
Cavan bit back a smile and nodded. "Yes!" Lucas was just about to take off his glasses when Cavan caught his wrists. "No! God, please, leave them on?"
"You want to get fucked by a teacher?" Lucas asked, quirking an eyebrow.
A mischievous Cavan bit his lip and nodded. "Yes, sir."
Chapter 34
Monday
The last week of September dawned upon them just in time for Cavan to move-in with Lucas.
It was an odd experience, dragging a ton of boxes in the car whenever he got a chance on the weekend. He didn't think he'd had that much crap, but apparently young men collected a magnitude of nerdy, inconsequential tat that needed to be sorted through. He was surprised Sophie didn't come in with a blow-torch to set the books alight. During the week Cavan had taken full advantage of his key and, with Lucas's permission, had started to make some space for the furniture he knew he'd have to bring.
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