Page 64 of Freshman

“The idea of it not being you is terrifying.” Alfie pressed his forehead against the hatch. “And isn’t that just so messed up? I wanted to prove to myself I could…find someone else.”

“I warned you,” Nate said softly. “I said you were becoming too attached.”

“I know. I’m young and naïve, but I don’t want to see you as a monster, not when you make me feel so wanted.”

Nate exhaled slowly. “I wanted you to read my file, see what I did, scare you off even, but that was Friday, and today is Monday, and I’ve gone the whole weekend torturing myself imagining you with other men. Imagining them taking advantage, or treating you badly, and I…I can’t stand it. Open the hatch.”

“You know I can’t.”

“I have to see for myself you’re all right.”

Alfie bit his lip and shoved his key in the hatch, knowing he shouldn’t but unable to stop himself. As much as Nate claimed he needed to see Alfie, Alfie needed to see him. He lowered the hatch door, and Nate was right there, crouched on the other side. His eyes crinkled with his smile.

“There’s my Freshman,” he whispered.

The words made Alfie go warm all over. He lowered his gaze and bit his lip hard enough for it to bleed.

“No,” Nate cooed, reaching through the hatch. He cupped Alfie’s face in his hand and used his thumb to ease Alfie’s lip out from his teeth. “Don’t hurt yourself.”

Alfie’s eyes slid shut as Nate stroked his thumb gently over his bottom lip. Back and forth it went until Alfie was almost panting against it.

“Nate,” Alfie gasped, gripping the hatch door with both hands. He had to slam it shut and lock it before things progressed, but Nate gently shushed him.

Nate’s hand slipped from his cheek to round the back of Alfie’s head where he applied pressure, bringing Alfie closer, making him stretch and angle his head to one side. Alfie watched Nate’s lips with twitching eyebrows, reading the words from them rather than hearing them.

Come here, come here, come he—

Alfie closed his eyes again, and a helpless sound escaped him before their lips touched.

Nate’s lips were soft, pillowed, and surrounded by the scratch of stubble. There wasn’t much room, only space for their mouths to caress and one of Nate’s hands to cup his cheek again. It was all lips gently pressing and teeth scraping, but then Nate moaned and threaded his fingers through the back of Alfie’s hair as he deepened the kiss.

The wet sound they made flushed Alfie’s blood south. They were both conscious of the noise and tried to keep it slow, but the need kept building and building, until it was loud exhales and muffled groans.

Alfie flinched at the first stroke of tongue, too overwhelmed by all that was happening, but then he pressed himself impossibly closer to the hatch, begging with soft gasps for more. Nate stroked their tongues together again, and Alfie cursed into his mouth as the taste of him hit. He licked into Nate, not caring that it lacked control. It was wet and messy, and their lips smeared.

“Fuck,” he murmured, breaking off to breathe. Nate pulled him as close as he could get him, trying to kiss Alfie’s throat and beneath his jaw, but there wasn’t enough room, and he groaned in frustration.

“I’ve never hated this door more in my life.”

Alfie snorted, still trying to breathe. Nate’s nimble fingers plucked the hair on the back of his head, sending pleasant tingles across his scalp.

“Maybe you could…” Nate started.

“Could?”

Alfie ducked down to see through the hatch. Nate breathed heavily too, and his pupils were blown as he darted looks at Alfie’s mouth.

He licked his lips. “Unlock the door and slip inside.”

Alfie stilled. He leaned back on his knees, escaping Nate’s grip, but Nate tried to cling on, tried to keep his hold on Alfie’s hair.

“Don’t,” Nate whispered. “Don’t go yet.”

Alfie lifted the hatch door and locked it on Nate. He collapsed to his arse and swivelled to lean his back against the wall.

“Easy,” Nate said close by. “You’re okay. Everything is okay.”

It wasn’t, but he knew what Nate was trying to do. Alfie’s breathing came in fast rasps, and his heart fluttered like a bird in a cage.

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