Chapter Six

~ Tawson ~

H aving dinner with the family of the guy you blew was less awkward than expected.

Even if that guy ended up sitting next to you and slyly tried to play footsie with you all throughout dinner. Tawson did his best not to give anything away, but he did love the constant contact. When they woke up to Vic's alarm going off, they were exactly like they'd fallen asleep. Vic didn't want to wake up and it took Tawson pulling him into a sitting position to finally get up and get going. He drove him down to the barn and dropped him off with a kiss.

Going back to work on Monday felt different. The last thing he expected when he took Daniel up on his offer to move and take over his position was to find someone he clicked with. He wasn't sure what they were doing, but he would enjoy it. As much as he went back and forth with the morality of it. He looked it up Sunday, looking for anything that prohibited it. The only thing he found that could be a conflict was if he ended up in a supervisory way with Vic. He'd have to divulge it to the board or something. But he'd been truthful when he said he scored out of the classes he'd be teaching.

His lectures were going great. He kept the students engaged enough. Only one guy, who he deemed Napper, fell asleep in his early morning lessons. They were also doing their work and putting in the effort. It was different from the grade school kids that he worked with previously. They didn't seem to care much. He stayed busy, though. With lectures, grading, and the extras that Daniel was still hanging around helping with, he didn't get much free time when he was on campus.

He did see Vic here and there on campus. Once while Tawson was walking from the cafeteria back to the English department during his lunch. Vic was with a group of friends and only stopped briefly to say hi. Another time was when Tawson stopped by the library to find a book someone had mentioned in one of his classes. He wanted to read an excerpt from it that went well with the lesson. Vic was sat at a table, nose in a textbook. He crept up behind him and laughed quietly when Vic made a startled noise. He got a glare for that but just winked and continued moving on.

They texted throughout the week. It was small things, just checking in or sending little quips about their day. Tawson would spend most nights smiling at his phone. He was quickly becoming used to having Vic to talk to. They would take turns asking random questions, like favorite color and what the other would bring on a deserted island. Vic would answer most with some gif or another. One night, they even played twenty questions. Vic's was a goat while he'd been thinking of a rose bush. Neither got them right, but the questions veered off topic frequently. They must have sent a couple hundred texts throughout the week between the both of them. Tawson was never a texter before .

They'd end each night with Vic inviting him over and Tawson telling him goodnight. Tawson didn't have to go on campus Wednesday. He made sure to catch up on work and then went down to watch the horses for a bit. Paxton was on and off the ranch with her job and Zaya popped in just as randomly. They were cute together.

Tawson found himself excited for the weekend. Vic already asked to spend another night with him. Tawson needed to clean up a bit before he came up though. He wouldn't say he rushed back to the house after his office visit hour was up, but he definitely beat Vic home. He was hanging out with Joe and some friends for a bit but promised to be over by ten at the latest.

He'd just stepped out of the shower when he heard a car pull up and a smile crept over his face. There was no denying something was forming between Victor and himself. But it wasn't Vic when he opened the door. Instead, it was Brett. "Oh hey." He tried but knew he failed to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

"Nice to see you too," Brett said. "I feel like I'm about to interrupt something so I'll make this quick. We were just doing our checks to make sure there wasn't anything that needed fixing or updating around the homes. No leaks, appliances acting up, water pressure issues."

"It's perfect here," Tawson said. "I'm really liking it here."

"Sounds good," Brett said. "Glad to hear everything is working out. How is teaching?"

"Great, really. It's nice talking to people who actually want to learn."

Brett smiled and nodded at that. "Yeah, well, when you're paying what they charge, you better get your money's worth. But I won't keep you any longer. If you need anything, just call."

"Will do. Thanks."

He closed the door and reached for his phone on the counter. Vic had texted him that he was going to dip out of the hangout early since everyone was drinking and he had to drive anyway.

T-minus 40 minutes.

Tawson rolled his eyes and but messaged back quickly. Be safe. Also Brett is hanging around doing checks on the property. He decided to play Vic's game and found a gif of the ‘stealth mode activated' variety and sent it.

A few seconds later, Vic's face popped up on his screen for a phone call. Of all their texting during the week, they never called each other. It felt like a next step. He answered before it could go to voicemail. "Hello?"

"I am so proud of you. Your first gif! I can finally stop calling you grandpa behind your back!" Tawson laughed at Vic's words. Vic joined him and what sounded like a radio playing in the background got his attention.

"Where are you?"

"I'm about to start driving home," he said. "I'm bringing laundry with me this time so that will be fun."

"Hmm." Tawson had gone and done another load in town on Thursday so he was set for the week. "Well, if you come up here tonight, clothes don't have to be involved."

"I love the sound of that," Vic said. "I also snagged a cheesecake from Joe's fridge. He'll figure it out tomorrow, but it'll be worth it tonight."

"Be careful coming home," Tawson said. He felt like he needed to repeat the warning because Vic sounded like he was wide awake. He wouldn't be surprised if he'd had an energy drink or something. "I'll see you in a bit."

He spent the time making sure everything was cleaned up. He ditched the shirt he'd put on earlier, opting for just a pair of sweats and nothing else. He picked up a book and scanned through it. He felt like a teenager again, waiting for his date to arrive to pick him up.

Date.

They never labeled what they were doing. Outside of being sneaky. They'd spent one night together. That didn't exactly qualify as dating. He wasn't sure he was quite ready for that. But Vic was just something else. He wasn't old, not by a long shot, but he had a marriage, mortgage, and career behind him. He'd lived a whole life before meeting Vic. He didn't have anything to show for it but memories. Memories he would have to share if they did label what they were.

His chest tightened at that. He couldn't- There was too much to explain and he didn't need to dump that on a nineteen year old that was just starting his life. Sure, they were having fun. But there was an end to this, wasn't there?

A knock on the door distracted him once more. This time, he opened it a little cautiously. But let out a long breath when Vic was standing at the door, cheesecake in hand. He stepped aside and let him in, locking the door behind him. Vic moved to set the cake in the fridge like he was the one living there. Tawson stayed where he was by the door. His skin felt like it was crawling. He ran a hand up and down his opposite arm.

"Hey, hey. What's up?" Vic was standing in front of him in no time. His hands were on him, guiding him to the couch. "Tawson, talk to me."

"I'm fine," he managed to get out. Tawson shook his head, trying to clear it of the train of thought leading the one way he didn't want. Not when he could be having fun with Vic.

"It's late," Vic said. His voice was soft and he stood up in front of Tawson and held out his hands. "Let's just get some rest tonight."

"No, I'm okay, I promise. We don't get enough time together as it is."

"You're not getting rid of me," Vic said. "Just moving to a spot more comfortable. Besides, I'm pretty sure you promised me no clothes."

Tawson let out a quiet laugh at that comment. He let Vic guide him and nodded without hesitation when Vic asked if he was okay with him stripping out of his clothes. Then he helped Tawson do the same.

"If this wasn't a moment we were having," Vic started. He pulled the blanket back and guided Tawson to lay down. "I would definitely comment about how incredibly thick your dick is."

Tawson snickered, his whole body joining the movement. Tawson closed his eyes as soon as his head hit the pillow. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Vic and pulled him closer. Naked bodies pressed together, Tawson finally started to come back to the moment. Vic was going on and on, rambling about something that happened in one of his classes. His hand ran up and down Tawson's body, exciting him but also grounding him. It took several more minutes, but eventually Tawson was feeling okay again.

"I'm sorry. I feel like if I'm not saying we should stop, by body is fighting me too." Tawson ducked his head, letting his forehead rest against Vic's. "I don't want to stop with you."

"I don't want to stop either, but you need to listen to your body." Vic's words were quiet. Their legs tangled together and Vic wrapped his arm around his back, mirroring the way Tawson was holding him. It was the most intimate Tawson could remember being with another person. "You can't keep ignoring this, Tawson. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really," Tawson said honestly. "Can you just talk about something for a bit? Listening to you helps calm my brain."

"Can I share something with you that I've never shared with anyone else before?" Tawson noted the slight change in his tone. He sounded almost nervous. "I can make it into a story if you want."

"Go for it," Tawson said. He smiled when Vic scooted just a bit closer to him. Their bodies were creating a force of heat together, which was more comforting than anything for his spinning mind. He pursed his lips and kissed Tawson. It wasn't anything heavy. Just a quick peck before he starting talking again.

"Once upon a time." Tawson smiled at the start of his story. He had no idea what was coming, but Vic was sure to deliver a tale. "A long, long time ago. Like, a whole two years."

"Please remember you're telling a story to the English professor." Tawson was only joking, but he got a reaction from Vic. Actually, he got a reaction from little Vic too. He knew he was getting hard, could feel it. Tawson's hand snaked down slightly to rest right at the top of Vic's ass.

"Stop interrupting me," Vic said. He was playfully annoyed. "As I was saying. A long time ago, there lived this child. He was the son of the most powerful King in the land. His family was great and he grew up happy. His mother, the Queen, was kind and wonderful. His sister, Princess… um, Princess Pudding."

Tawson laughed at the name, but he didn't interrupt. Vic's fingers danced along his side, down his outer thigh and back up again. "Princess Pudding was awesome too. She seemed to have it all. She helped the King and Queen whenever they needed, had a great relationship with the princess from another kingdom. The Prince, though, was a little quieter than the rest. He had friends and enjoyed his title as Prince. But there was something he felt was missing. See, the kingdom, as great and open as it was, hadn't seen someone like the Prince before. He didn't dream of becoming a knight in shining armor and going to slay the dragon."

Tawson didn't have to be a professor to catch the parallels and know this story was about Vic. He listened intently, wanting to know where this story was going. Tawson lifted his hand to brush his hair back from his face. Vic's eyes were glistening in the dim light.

"This Prince held a secret from his family and the kingdom around them. His secret was held deep in his room, in a box that no one would see. It was a magic box, one that could only be opened by the prince.

"The Prince dreamed of being a princess sometimes. He didn't feel right taking on the role of Prince all the time, but he couldn't tell the King and Queen that. They depended on him to do his job. But sometimes, when he had a moment alone, he would pull out the magic box and he'd pretend that he wasn't a Prince. He'd twirl around his room and look at himself in the mirror. He stole these moments as much as he could."

"Vic…" Tawson could see the tears in the corners of his eyes. One escaped and Tawson watched it roll down the side of his nose and drop to the sheet below them. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Vic's. Just a soft kiss. He wrapped him in his arms, pressing their bodies together tight. He kissed across his face and held him, rubbing his hands up and down his back. He could hear the sniffles against his chest. "It's okay if that's how you feel. I bet that prince looks amazing in whatever they decide to wear."

"I just- I know our lives aren't the same, but I want you to know that I understand. I get the panic attacks and I know how much they suck."

Tawson didn't know what to say to that. So instead, he moved just enough to wipe the tears off his face and kissed him. "I hope the Prince knows that he can be himself around others. They won't judge."

"I can't," Vic said quickly. "I know my family is open and accepting, but something like this- I'm scared it might be too much for them. I don't even understand it much myself. I just know that I like the feel of wearing different clothes and I'm not as into getting dirty and sweaty. I never saw the appeal of it. I don't mind working on the ranch and I love the animals, but I'll never be like my dad or uncle."

"And no one expects you to," Tawson said. "Princess, please look at me."

Vic's tears flowed freely at that. He buried his head deep in Tawson's chest. His hands were curled into fists between their bodies. Tawson was at a loss for what to do or say. He hadn't expected this to be their conversation tonight, but he wouldn't change it for anything. Vic helped him last time and now it was his time to just be there.

"Go to sleep, Vic. We'll talk about it tomorrow."