Page 61 of The Freshman

Ben nodded in agreement. “Yeah, metoo.”

Two down, Alfie turned back to Marieand Glen, but he didn’t need to coax them into leaving. Marie wasleading Glen out by the tie. She pressed her teeth into her bottomlip and beckoned with her chin for Glen to follow. He went like alove-struck puppy and didn’t appear to feel it when his hip clippedthe door.

Alfie sprung up from his chair andwaved his hand in front of Henry’s face. He continued to breathesoftly, and there was no twitch to his frail skin.

Alfie grimaced as he opened the gate,praying no one would hear. His squeak-less shoes allowed him tosneak to the stairs, and he climbed up as carefully as possible. Hecouldn’t hear any movement in any of the cells, and he drifted pastQueenie’s with a sympathetic smile.

Alfie kneeled and scrunched up hisface as he slipped the key in the hatch to look. There was a clunk,and he waited for Nate to stir, to say something, but he didn’t. Helowered the hatch and stared into the dark room. The outside lightsshone on the bed, and Alfie could see Nate’s bare back and a sheetbarely covering his hip. He lay facing the wall, and Alfie couldn’ttell if his chest was moving. He was still, too still.

“Nate?” hewhispered.

There was no answer, and Alfie bitdown hard on his lip. He turned and peeked over the railing to thelobby, then stood and slipped his other key in the cell door. Hetwisted it slowly, breathing heavier each second he hesitated. Thenhe pushed on the door and slipped through the gap he made forhimself. He waited for Nate to turn on to his back and look in hisdirection, but it didn’t happen.

Alfie trod carefully over to Nate’sbed, overly aware of the sound of his feet, and his staggeredbreathing, then shook Nate’s shoulder, whispering hisname.

Nate lurched into consciousness with agrowl, and Alfie yelped, tumbling back. He landed on the floor withNate on top of him. He fought, but Nate was heavier and easilystronger. Alfie squeaked when a hand tightened around his neck, andhe slapped his palms on to Nate’s bare chest. The fierce expressionon Nate’s face froze, mid-growl, and then he blinkedslowly.

Alfie’s heart thundered, and his lungsached from the weight crushing him.

Nate widened his eyes and loosened hisgrip around Alfie’s throat. “What the hell are you doing?” hehissed.

Alfie rolled onto his side and rubbedat his throat. “I was worried.”

Nate gripped Alfie’s elbow and helpedhim to his feet. He led him to the bed, and they sat side by side.The surprise on Nate’s face would’ve been funny had Alfie not beengulping as quietly as he could for breath.

Nate rubbed soothing circles on hisback while he got his breathing under control. The warmth of hispalm soaked through Alfie’s shirt, and he unconsciously leaned backinto the touch.

“Why youworried?”

“You’ve been in your cellall day. Doris, she’s the only person you have on theoutside.”

Nate tapped him on the nose. “I haveyou, and you don’t need to worry your pretty head overme.”

Alfie turned his head like a scoldedchild.

Nate tutted and cupped his cheek.“Don’t sulk, Freshman.”

Alfie resisted, and Nate moved forwardand rested his lips to the shell of his ear. “You opened thedoor.”

Alfie turned to the open cell, theescape right there for the taking. He didn’t even try to concealthe keys on his hip. Nate had proved he could take Alfie down withease. There was no point fighting it if it was about tohappen.

Nate didn’t look at the keys once. Hisgaze was fixed on Alfie, and he rubbed his thumb against Alfie’sbottom lip. He slacked his jaw, let Nate part his lips to rubharder on the rubbery flesh. Nate’s thumb touched his tongue, andhe touched back.

The outside lights shone on Nate’sface, and Alfie sunk into his eyes, allowed them to drown him. Hedidn’t know who moved first, but suddenly the thumb had gone andtheir mouths clashed together with a hungered desperation, tonguesswirling, teeth scraping on lips and noses whistling with the lackof air.

Alfie felt dizzy with need and Natedrove forward with his tongue. Nate took over the kiss, decided thetempo and firmness, and Alfie clung on for the ride. The roomshifted. Nate had shoved him down to the bed. His hands framedAlfie’s face, holding him steady as he forcefully kissed Alfie intothe mattress. The sensation, the taste, even the scent of Nate socloser overwhelmed Alfie. It was too much, but at the same time notenough. Nate pulled back, then lifted Alfie’s legs onto themattress so he was flat on the bed.

The tie was the first item of clothingNate savagely attacked, first with his teeth, and then his crazedhands.

“If I could controlmyself, I’d tie your hands, but I don’t want to wait. Next timethough.”

Alfie shivered at the thought of anext time and nodded obediently.

Nate ducked down and pushed their lipstogether, lifting his mouth out of reach each time Alfie panted formore.

“You are something else,Freshman.” Nate leaned back and gripped the collar of Alfie’sshirt.

Alfie knew he was about to rip theclothing in two and quickly clamped his hands around Nate’s wrists.“Wait, you can’t.”

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