SageMonday.The one day that I had been dreading finally arrived. And it brought all those feelings that I wanted to bury. I was pretty sure I’d had a nightmare about it last night, though the details were blurry. Something about walking into class stark naked while everyone stared and laughed. Classic stress dream.I woke up earlier than necessary, giving myself an extra hour to rehearse how I was going to act when I saw the professor. Should I be indifferent and pretend nothing happened? Should I act casual and confident, as though I did this sort of thing all the time? Or maybe just follow his lead and mirror whatever vibe he gave off?I spent too much time pacing in front of my mirror, trying out different scenarios like an actor auditioning for a role.“Good morning, Professor,” I said in a breezy tone, attempting to look unbothered.“Good morning, Sage,” I imagined him replying coolly.I frowned. Too fake.“Hey,” I tried again, this time looking casual and uninterested.But tha
Sage I gingerly sat down on the bar stool at the counter as he went to the kitchen. “So what would you like to eat?” He asked. I chuckled, “you are the one that said you are making dinner for me, I will eat whatever you give me?” He hummed and just started taking things out of the fridge, I just watched. Careful with how I want to approach him. It suddenly occurred to me that I knew nothing about him. “Tell me about yourself,” I said before I could stop myself. I didn’t want to intrude but it looks like we were going to be seeing each other often so it would be good to know stuff. “What do you want to know?” I shrugged, “I don’t know, I don’t know anything about you and I would like to change that.” “Okay… I am thirty seven years old, is that a problem for you?” He turned to look at me, to gauge my reaction. I hoped there was nothing that showed my expression on my face because I wasn’t the least bothered about it. I knew he was a lot older than I was but it wasn’t
Sage"Wrap your lips around my cock, baby."His orders sent me into a weird frenzy and I fisted his dick at the base and stroked it a few times like he did to me back in my house. I couldn’t resist teasing the crown and one of the piercings to test if it felt sensitive.A drop of precum coated my thumb and I was rewarded with the professor’s grunt. So I did it a few more times while I jerked him until his hips lifted off the bed and his delicious noises of pleasure filled my ears.We were barely finished with dinner when I rushed him, I wanted to get my hands on him. He had teased me and expected me to stay still during the dinner.He was talking and asking me about my dislikes but I was not paying attention. Just waiting for him to finish his meal.He wanted to take charge and I shook my head, I told him I wanted to return the favor.I registered and paid attention to every sudden hitch in his breathing, every movement of his hips, and even the goosebumps that erupted on his thighs.
SageI woke up the next morning wrapped in the professor’s arms, I was wrapped around him like a koala. My face was in his neck against his pulse. It grounded me and I refused to open my eyes. For once, the chaos in my head was muted, replaced by the soft rhythm of his heartbeat against my back. There was nowhere else I’d rather be.I yawned, the early morning light streaming through the windows, and turned slightly, blinking awake. That was when I saw him staring at me, his eyes soft but undeniably focused.On my face.A gasp escaped my lips. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice still scratchy from sleep.He smiled, the corners of his mouth tugging upward in that way that made my chest ache. “Waiting for you to wake up,” he said simply. “I wanted to kiss you good morning.”His words made heat flood my face, and I ducked my head to avoid his gaze. “You’re ridiculous,” I muttered.“Maybe,” he replied, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes, “but you’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”“
SageAfter school, I wasn’t sure what the rest of the day had in store for me. Should I head back to my place or wait for the professor? My gut told me to give him some space. He’d already done so much, taking me to his house, cooking for me, and giving me a glimpse into a version of him I hadn’t expected. Maybe it was time to step back.I didn’t want to overwhelm him just right into whatever we have. He wasn’t needed at work so I wasn’t needed.Although I missed going to work, I just didn’t want to be around him all the time. I know people like him often get tired of people that are clingy.I texted him, “I’m heading back to my place. Let me know if anything comes up.”His response was almost immediate.“We’re going to the office. Something’s come up. I’ll meet you in front of the school.”I frowned at my phone. Heading to the office didn’t sound like a casual suggestion. Whatever had come up must have been serious. I texted back. “I’ll wait for you, but not in front of the school
SageThe second we entered the office building, Clara was already waiting for us near the elevator. She was holding a file in one hand and her phone in the other, her lips pressed into a thin line. The moment the professor walked in, she handed him the file without a word. He opened it immediately, his eyes scanning the pages as he walked briskly toward his office.She lingered behind for a moment, glancing at me with a small, pitying smile. "Here," she said, handing me two steaming cups of coffee. “You’re going to need this. Good luck.”I nodded, taking the cups as she turned and walked off. That didn’t bode well.I guess everyone was on edge because of his mood. My mood had plummeted because he was angry and also because of the picture.By the time I caught up to him, he was already seated behind his desk, engrossed in the file Clara had given him. I shut the door softly behind me, set one of the cups on his desk, and held the other in my hands, waiting for his instructions.I didn
SageI wiped my mouth and stood up, my hair was messed up and my jaw hurt from the size of his cock.He was spent as he slumped slightly on his chair.“Mission succeeded,” I said with a grin.He glared at me but the sides of his lips softened into a smile, “you are something else, Sage.”I shrugged. He looked lighter than before so I could only assume that my job was well done. Now, he could focus on kicking that old geezer’s ass.I looked at the time and sighed, “it’s almost time to leave.”He checked his watch, “come on, I will drop you off.”“Are you not leaving?”He shook his head, “No, I still have some extra work to do. But I will drop you off and come back.”His suggestions touched my heart but I had something to take care of.“No, get to work. I will get home on my own.”“It’s not too much trouble…”“I know that but I kept you from work so it’s only right that I leave you to it. If you need my help with something then don’t hesitate to contact me.”He stared at me for a while
KaidenThe camera flashes faded as the photographer called for a break. My jaw was clenched tight, my entire body taut from holding poses for hours. I grabbed a bottle of water from the nearby table and took a long drink, letting the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.That was when my phone vibrated.I pulled it out of my pocket and unlocked the screen, my eyes narrowing at the message from my PA. There were pictures attached, multiple ones.I clicked on them.The first image was of Sage getting into a familiar black car. I swiped. Another photo.Sage laughing in a coffee shop, sitting across from the professor. Next. A picture of them walking side by side on campus, too damn close. My fingers tightened around the phone as I scrolled through the series, each image making my blood boil.And then the final picture.Sage, stepping into the professor’s apartment building with an overnight bag.I exhaled sharply through my nose, gripping my phone so tightly I thought it might snap in h
KaidenThe clink of glassware and soft instrumental music floated through the private dining room, but I barely noticed any of it. My attention was locked on the man seated across from me, Desmond, the so-called sponsor, though I knew better now. He wasn’t just another businessman looking to capitalize on talent. He was the distributor. The puppeteer behind the chaos circling my life.Martin couldn’t stop talking. “You know, this whole thing… it’s a damn miracle. The sponsor paid for the new condo in full. Quietly. No credit checks, no delays. Even Sage’s outfit, hell, the professor’s tux too, he took care of it all. Who does that?”He kept saying all the things that I didn’t want to hear. Didn’t he know that I was terrified?I kept my gaze fixed on Desmond. He smiled faintly, swirling his wine like he had all the time in the world. I didn't trust that smile. It was too smooth, too practiced like everything about him.I was skeptical to be here even though I had no choice. I didn’t w
KaidenWhen we got home, Sage was still trembling in my arms.I guided him gently to the living room couch and sat with him, wrapping the throw blanket from the armrest over his shoulders. He hadn't spoken much since we left the boutique. The only sounds were the occasional hitch in his breath and the way his fingers clutched the fabric of my shirt like he needed something solid to anchor him.He really was scared, I can’t imagine how terrified he must have been. Hearing that so close to him must have pushed him off the edge. I hated seeing him that way.“I’ve got you,” I murmured. “You’re safe now.”He leaned into me, his body slowly relaxing as he drew warmth from my presence.“Kaiden,” he whispered, eyes fluttering. “I don’t understand why this is happening. Why me?”“Because you matter,” I said. “More than you know. And I swear, whoever’s behind this won’t get close to you. Not while I’m breathing.”Eventually, his head dropped to my shoulder, and his breathing slowed. I held him
SageIt was entirely unfair for someone like Amir to be real. Tall, lean, with chiseled features that looked like they belonged on a movie poster rather than in a security file, and a voice that dripped with smooth, practiced calm. He was the kind of handsome that made your thoughts scatter just a little if you looked at him for too long.And I was doing exactly that.“Mr. Amir, right?” I asked, extending a hand, hoping my voice didn’t tremble like my fingers did. “I’m Sage.”He nodded, his grip firm but not overbearing. “I know. It’s a pleasure.”He smiled and I don’t mean the empty kind people give when they’re on duty. It was warm. Polite. And it made my stomach flip in a way I hadn’t expected.But as he turned toward the room, I caught sight of Kaiden and the professor.Both of them were glaring.I blinked.Kaiden’s jaw was tight, eyes narrowed like he was assessing a threat he didn’t like the look of. The professor, arms crossed, stood with the energy of a man who’d already decid
KaidenWhen Martin dropped me in front of the professor’s house. I barely waited for him to drive off before I dug out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I hit Bryan’s name.He was the only one who was making an attempt to help me right now. He answered on the second ring, his voice calm and clipped, like always.“Kaiden?”“Yeah, it’s me.” I moved to the far side of the room, away from the windows, and lowered my voice. “Something weird’s going on. I need to tell you about it.”“What kind of weird?” His tone sharpened immediately.I told him everything. The prepaid boutiques. The law firm. The condo being bought out. The way no one could or would tell me who was behind it. I could practically hear him frowning on the other end of the line.“You think it’s Sage?” he asked quietly.“No,” I said quickly, too quickly. “I don’t know. I mean—I don’t want to think that. And it’s not the professor either. I know that much. They would tell me if they are trying
KaidenI stared at the silver-trimmed envelope resting on the counter between the professor and me like it was some kind of explosive. The award ceremony. My name was on the guest list, of course. It had to be. I was the damn honoree.“I have my own invite, thanks to my connections,” the professor said casually, leaning against the kitchen counter. He swirled his coffee slowly, watching the dark liquid spiral. “But I think Sage should go with you.”Sage, sitting cross-legged on the couch and peeling a tangerine, looked up with a sheepish smile. “Would that be okay with you?”I didn’t even think about it before I answered. “No.”Their expressions changed almost instantly, surprise flickered across the professor’s features and Sage’s smile faltered.“It’s enough that Sage’s already in the spotlight,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, my words reasonable. “With the way everyone’s been talking and taking photos, I don’t want to put him in harm’s way, more than I already have. If you
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize
SageThe next morning, Kaiden and I walked to school in silence. The meal we shared was so brief and he stayed with me. The professor didn’t come home and when I called him, he said he was working late and we should enjoy ourselves.I knew it was because he didn’t want to spend time with Kaiden. After their argument, they have been tense with each other.I didn’t want to Interfere in their problems as it could escalate into something I wouldn’t be able to control.I looked at Kaiden, I know we have already talked about this but I was so curious.I wanted to ask him again about where he’d really been that day, but the tension in his jaw warned me off. Still, I couldn’t help myself. “So,” I started, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk, “you never really told me where you went. Like, actually went.” His steps didn’t falter, but his grip tightened around the strap of his backpack. “I told you. I needed to clear my head.” “Yeah, but that could mean anything,” I pressed. “You just
SageI stood just outside the hospital’s main entrance, staring at the parking lot like it was a war zone. The discharge papers were crumpled slightly in my grip. I could feel my fingers tremble, but I didn’t loosen them. The sun was bright, the day clear, but I felt like I was standing in the middle of a fog, one that hadn’t lifted since I was attacked.Kaiden mentioned he would come and pick me up, hence the hesitation. I felt like if he wasn’t here to do that, I wouldn’t go. “Ready?” His voice pulled me out of my head.I turned toward him. He had one hand in his pocket, the other adjusting the strap of my duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t even bothered with a brush this morning, and his hoodie looked slept in. But his eyes, his eyes were alert. “I don’t know if ready’s the word I’d use,” I admitted. My voice sounded too thin to my own ears. “I feel like I’m being pushed out of safety and right back into the middle of whatever this me