Chapter Eighteen

~ Vic ~

S omething was going on with Tawson.

Vic could sense it the moment they met in the parking lot on campus, but he played it cool in front of Joe. They were nearly forty-five minutes into the four hour drive and the most they spoke was where they wanted to stop for lunch on the way up. Vic controlled the music, keeping it low enough that if either of them did talk, it wouldn't drown them out.

Vic watched for the umpteenth time as Tawson clenched his hands around the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white. This wasn't how Vic thought they would start their trip. But they had no idea how to bring it up. So they continued to choose songs and watch the world pass by them one mile at a time.

They were more than an hour in when Tawson finally spoke. Vic turned their head to look at him. "I'm sorry I'm being quiet."

"It's okay." It wasn't. It was weird. But he wouldn't make Tawson feel bad about it. "If you want to talk, though, I'm kind of stuck here with you for a couple more hours."

"Just a couple hours?" Tawson glanced over at them and then back to the road. He wore a small smile. That was a good sign. "I think you're forgetting the two whole days and the drive back we still have to look forward to."

"I could make you sleep on the balcony every night," Vic said teasingly.

"And miss the opportunity to koala yourself to me? Yeah, right. I know that's a lie."

Vic couldn't deny it. They loved curling up next to Tawson. It made them feel comfortable and safe. "Whatever."

"I just got some unexpected news from my old life, but it's said and done."

"Wait, what? Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were out with your family on the ranch and I didn't want to bother you," Tawson said. He took one hand off the wheel and rested it on Vic's thigh. "Plus, I talked to Megan about it. It's all good. I promise. I'm trying to let it go."

"If you need to talk, I'm all ears." Vic rested their hand on top of Tawson's, squeezing his fingers gently.

They settled into a comfortable silence after that. Vic wondered what had happened but they wouldn't push. It wasn't their place. They drove another half an hour before finally deciding to stop for food. They were plenty far enough away from the city and anyone that knew them. Vic smiled widely when Tawson reached out and took their hand as they walked across the parking lot.

"I like this," Vic said. "Being able to touch you, even a small thing like this, with other people around."

"I do too, baby." Tawson leaned forward and placed a kiss on the top of their head as he held the door open for them. "I wish we could do this more often."

"Do you know how much it sucks having to hear other students talk about how hot you are or wondering if you're dating anyone and I just have to sit there?"

"Oh, poor baby." Tawson teased them. "I have had to easily decline a few advances though. One from a student and two from other faculty."

"Seriously?" Vic tried not to sound jealous, but it didn't work. Tawson seemed to find enjoyment in that.

"I only have eyes for you, baby." He stepped close behind Vic and whispered in their ear. "And other parts of my body are just for you as well."

"So, what are you getting to eat?" Vic asked, desperate to change the subject. They'd been putting their foot in their mouth a lot, forgetting that the older man knew exactly what to say to give Vic an instant boner. Tawson chuckled and then they stepped up to order.

After eating, they talked more. They took turns picking the music and singing together. It felt like a real road trip for the last two hours. They stopped off at a local store to grab food supplies for the days they'd be there.

"I don't plan on us coming back to civilization," Tawson explained when he grabbed one of the carts. "We're getting everything we need and then we're spending time with just us."

"I'm not complaining," Vic said.

They got more than enough snacks, different meals for dinner and breakfast, drinks, and a blueberry pie for a dessert. Vic paid for the groceries before Tawson could. It ended with a playful spat, one that Vic won by logic. It was the least they could do since Tawson spent who-knows-how-much on the cabin the week of a holiday.

And when they pulled up to the cabin ?

"Holy hell," Vic said in amazement. They'd been expecting a small cabin, something similar in style to Tawson's house on the ranch. But this was a full on cabin with at least two levels. There was a clearing around the front yard of the house but trees surrounded the perimeter. Tawson pointed out a trail that started close by and ended with a waterfall. They wanted to hike that at least once. "I was not expecting something this big."

"It's pretty nice, according to the pictures. The bedroom and a game room are upstairs, along with a bathroom. The main floor has an open concept kitchen, dining, and living room. There's a full bathroom with a jacuzzi tub that I fully plan on taking advantage of."

"I'm so excited to get inside." Vic helped Tawson carry the groceries to the door. They went back for their bags before he unlocked the cabin door. The description did not do the place justice.

It was all light wood, from the ceilings, to the cabinets, and floor. The bathroom was the first door on the right and the stairs to the left. Straight ahead was the rest of the main room. The TV was huge and mounted to the wall, a large leather couch faced it. The dining table was a four-seater and made entirely of wood as well. The kitchen was set in a sideways L-shape with modern appliances.

"I love the windows," Vic said. They left their bags in the kitchen area to look around. "It lets in so much natural light. Oh, and there's a hot tub on the balcony."

"Of course there's a hot tub," Tawson said. He wrapped his arms around Vic's waist and pulled them tight against the front of his body. "Only the best for us. For you."

Vic dropped their head back to his shoulder. They tilted their head and offered pursed lips to Tawson. What was supposed to be a quick kiss turned deep and intimate quickly. Tawson spun Vic around and lifted them to sit on the back of the couch. He crowded Vic's space, deepening the kiss.

"I think we should go see what the upstairs looks like," Vic whispered with their eyes closed. Tawson's lips were trailing a heated path down the column of their neck. Their legs were wrapped around Tawson, their arms holding him close.

Tawson pulled back with a smile. His expression was the epitome of content. And that made Vic happier than anything else. They moved together to get the cold stuff in the fridge and freezer before heading upstairs. Tawson stopped and unzipped his suitcase, grabbing a smaller, shower bag. "Supplies," he explained simply. Vic was more than okay with that.

The upstairs was really nice. It was a smaller space. The game room was at the top of the steps. It had a pool table and one of those arcade style games. A smaller TV was mounted in the corner. The bathroom was the first door on the right side of the house. The bedroom, though, was huge.

And it had its own, smaller balcony. The bed was huge, easily a King size. The comforter was a sandy color, matching most of the color scheme throughout the cabin. Vic counted five pillows. There was a dresser against the closest wall and a closet in the corner.

"This is beautiful," Vic said. The words were sincere. "I love it."

"I'm glad you like it so much," Tawson said. Vic turned to hug him tight. Tawson returned the gesture and squeezed them back. "I'm glad I met you, Vic. You have honestly turned my life around."

"You've done the same for me," Vic said. They pulled their head back just enough to look Tawson in the eyes. "University was supposed to be my time to explore who I am. But that first month, I couldn't bring myself to do anything. I used to put on the clothes I had at least once a week but I went weeks without doing it. Until I finally admitted it to you and you were so easily accepting of it. I'm glad that you were the first person I came out to, Tawson."

Tawson didn't say anything. They just looked at each other, smiling. The words danced on Vic's tongue. They wanted to say them. Wanted to shout it. But before anything could be said, Tawson kissed them again. Hands snaked around their body, under their ass until they were being lifted to wrap their legs around Tawson's waist. Without barely a pause, Tawson strode over to the bed and dropped both of them down onto it.

"Oh god, we're going to sleep so good tonight. This bed is amazing."

Tawson laughed against their skin. Hands roamed and pushed their shirt up and then over their head. Vic pulled themselves further onto the bed and Tawson followed, shrugging out of his shirt as well. His chest was a work of art, with the thin layer of chest hair, perfectly proportioned nipples. Defined abs that Vic loved to lick their way down. The V-cut that led to his beautiful cock when he pulled his shorts down too. His briefs were green today, already tented.

"I need you in me. Right now."

Vic let Tawson maneuver them this way and that. First it was to take off the rest of their clothes. Then on their elbows and knees. Tawson loved eating Vic's ass almost as much as Vic loved him doing it. That four-letter word was floating around a lot in their head as Vic tried to not come with the ministrations of Tawson's tongue and fingers .

"Fuck, Tawson. That feels so good."

"I want to hear you," Tawson said. "We're alone, baby. I want to hear all your noises, soft and loud."

Vic turned and laid on their back. They kept their legs spread wide and smiled when Tawson grabbed the bottle of lube and dropped three condoms to the mattress. They'd made the smart choice of pulling the blanket and top sheet off the bed. Because, according to Tawson, he planned to make a mess of Vic.

Vic watched Tawson roll the condom on his cock. They respected the previous conversation, the feelings Tawson had about going bare. It was something they wanted to experience, maybe one day. But they'd never push. They understood it and would never dream of making Tawson uncomfortable. They fully planned on repeating that bathroom sex they had though, when Tawson came all over their ass. It was hot.

The stretch of their hole as Tawson pressed in brought Vic back to the present moment. Tawson was a sight for sore eyes. He had one hand wrapped around the base of his cock, guiding it into Vic's body tortuously slow. The other was holding one of Vic's knees so they stayed stretched while he fucked into them.

"Oh god. Fuck." Vic let the words tumble from their mouth. "You feel so good."

"I could say the same about you," Tawson grunted. He thrust his hips a little more and then pulled back. The give and take was driving Vic crazy. In a good way. "Fuck, baby. I can't decide if I want to fuck you slow or fast."

"We have time," Vic said. "We can do both and so much more."

Tawson finally bottomed out and leaned over Vic's body to seal their lips together. The taste of his tongue was addicting. Vic took the kiss greedily. They wrapped their legs around Tawson's waist, arms around his shoulders. Tawson balanced on his elbows and started moving his hips.

The movements and angle were perfect. Vic wanted to imprint everything about this moment into their mind forever. Tawson's movements were slow and intentional. His kisses were sweet, hot. His thrusts shallow but fuck, each movement sent a wave of pleasure coursing through Vic's body.

"You're so beautiful, Vic. So fucking beautiful." Tawson whispered the words reverently against the shell of Vic's ear, against their lips, neck, chest. "Your body is amazing. Your personality addicting. Fuck, Princess. You're- Everything."

Vic was not going to cry while having sex.

Absolutely not.

But the words Tawson whispered made it hard to not react. They tightened their arms and legs around Tawson, panting along with him as they both chased their orgasms. Vic's cock was trapped between them, the friction of their bodies moving in unison pushing them closer and closer to the edge. Vic couldn't find the words to tell Tawson how they felt.

"Kiss me," they whispered instead.

And that was how they came together. Kissing, bodies pressed together, holding each other. It was the softest they'd ever had sex. Intimate. Loving.

It was more than sex.

Love.

Vic was scared to say the words. But they couldn't deny it anymore.

Not as Tawson pulled out of them. Not as he cleaned both of them up. Not even as he fixed the blankets back and pulled Vic to his chest for an afternoon nap. Vic fell asleep to the feeling of Tawson's fingers brushing up and down their arm.

It was hours later when they both woke up. Neither was rushed to get out of bed either. They kissed and talked. Tawson talked about the things they could do for the next few days. Outside of the hiking trail, a short drive away was a lake with a small sandy area where you could swim. About a half hour into the next town was a diner that the booking agent stressed they should really try. Vic was more than okay with staying to themselves all weekend, but maybe they could try it on their way out Wednesday.

Vic's stomach rumbled loud enough for both of them to hear. Tawson laughed. "Let's go make some food and then we can watch a movie or something."

"Sounds perfect," Vic said with a contented smile. They stretched against Tawson's body and kissed him. "You're perfect."

And after a quick supper and an I'm alive and well text to their mom, Vic found themselves cuddled up on the couch with their head resting on Tawson's chest. They decided on a holiday romance movie. The thought that they had two more full days of this, of being together without having to worry about being interrupted or needing to sneak home at ungodly hours, put a smile on Vic's face.

"That feels good," Vic mumbled softly. Neither of them were wearing shirts. They were only wearing briefs, so as not to be those people in a rented cabin that walked around naked. They were chest-to-chest, Tawson on his back. Tawson's arms were under the blanket they shared and his fingers danced up and down Vic's body. Gentle caresses. Vic wasn't sure Tawson was aware he was doing it .

" You feel good," Tawson said, half-jokingly. He leaned up and kissed the top of Vic's head. "I like this. Just laying here, together, no worries."

Vic turned their head and rested their chin on Tawson's chest. "Can I ask you a question? And this isn't to pressure you or anything."

"I might have an answer," Tawson said.

"Have you thought about telling people about us?"

"I have," Tawson said easily. "And technically I have told people that I'm seeing someone. I haven't said your name or anything. I promise that one day we'll let everyone know."

"That's okay with me," Vic said. "It would be nice to not have to wake up at four in the morning, though. And not have to wait all week to see you. I could openly stay with you instead of getting just a couple hours here and there."