Page 53 of The Freshman

Alfie lifted his gaze to the ceiling.“I don’t like feeling drunk. I don’t trust being around someonewhen I’m drunk.”

“What do you think you’lldo?”

Alfie scrunched his face. “I won’t doanything, but I don’t trust them.”

“Them?”

Alfie rolled his eyes. “I don’t knowwhat they’d do if I got drunk. I don’t want to put myself in astupid situation.”

Nate breathed out softly. “Don’tworry, I’d take care of you. Get you a taxi, go with you to makesure you got to your door.”

Alfie stopped cradling the bottle andplaced it on the floor. He flung his head back into the squishy armof the chair with a sigh.

“Then what?” heasked.

“I’d take your keys fromyour pocket and get you inside safely.”

Alfie closed his eyes and imagined thescenario. Nate would easily be able to carry him, bridal style ishe was too intoxicated to stand.

Nate would scoop him up, hold himclose, and the heat of his body would soak into Alfie. It would bemore of a hug than anything, and Alfie would wrap his arms aroundNate’s muscular neck and cling to him.

“Then what would you do?”he asked.

“I’d put you on the sofa,get you a glass of water—”

Alfie grunted in annoyance. Nate wasruining the fantasy in his head, distancing himself from theirembrace. “What if I didn’t want you to let go of me.”

Nate chuckled. “Then I’d take you inthe kitchen with me, sit you up on the counter while I got you aglass of water. You’d lean on me, and I’d help you sip somewater.”

Alfie nodded. He would keep his armsaround Nate’s neck, sipping the water offered until he had hisfill, and then he would bury his face in Nate’sshoulder.

“Would you help meupstairs?” Alfie asked.

“Yeah, I’d get you to yourbed, pull back the duvet, and lay you down.”

Alfie nodded dopily, eyes still firmlyshut, but tracking as he sunk into the fantasy. Nate in his house,taking care of him in his vulnerable state. It was nice, and he wastoo drunk to hate it.

“What about my clothes?”he asked.

There was a pause, and then Nate’smumbled, “What about them?”

“I’d still be wearing myshoes, my jeans, and my belt that digs into my hips.”

Nate hummed, then popped his lips.“Then I’d have to take them off, but I’d ask you first. I’d say,‘Freshman, can I undress you’, and you’d say—”

“Yes, fuckplease.”

He gasped the words, then breathedheavily and fast. His shoes would clomp to the floor, his beltwould make a whipping sound, and the buttons of his jeans would popopen under Nate’s eager fingers.

“I’d help you out of yourclothes, get you comfortable—”

“Then what?” Alfie gasped,lifting his hips from the sofa.

“Then,” Nate purred. “Wellthen I’d … let you sleep.”

Alfie frowned and shook his headagainst the sofa. “No, no, no.”

Nate chuckled. “What would you want meto do?”

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