I’m sitting outside too. It’d be better with some company.
Victor looked at the screen. He knew Tawson was flirting. He closed his eyes and remembered the way Tawson’s hands felt on him earlier. Tawson’s fingers gripping his wait, his palms sliding up Victor’s back, the way his arms hugged him.
Another text came through, this time it was from Joe. It was a picture of a crowd. It looked like a street filled with students. They were dressed in all sorts of outfits and only some of them were looking at the camera. Most had some type of drink intheir hand. The text accompanying it was garbled, but Joe sucked at texting so Victor wasn’t sure if he’d found some alcohol or just didn’t care.
Miss uuu besstieee. May be nxt time!
He shook his head. Joe’s forehead was in the bottom corner of the of picture. He texted back for him to stay safe and text when he got back to the dorm. Then he put his phone in his pocket and started down the steps. He looked up, glancing at the window he knew was his parents’. Their window was the one on the left, while Paxton’s room was the right. His own room faced the back of the house.
The lights didn’t look like they were on. He watched for another couple minutes, piddling around and trying to open his car door quietly. He didn’t take into consideration that his car had the automatic headlights. Which would shine directly on the house if he started his car. He sat behind the wheel with the car door still open.
So. Problem.
It was only a second before a new text came in.
Please tell me it doesn’t involve your family.
Victor laughed at that. He understood why Tawson was cautious. He got it, but it wasn’t like he’d be the first person to end up with someone that came to the ranch. First Wright and his uncle, who had a larger age gap between the two. Then his sister and Zaya. Victor wasn’t sure how it would go regarding the fact that he was a professor at the university he went to, but it wasn’t like they were planning to go public or anything. Victor wasn’t even sure what they were doing. He just knew that the second he was in Tawson’s presence, he wanted to touch him, to be near him and talk and laugh.
No. Headlights on car. I don’t want to chance them shining onthe house.
He got out and closed the door, not bothering to lock it since he was home. There wasn’t anything in it worth stealing anyway if someone were to. He looked from the house to the road leading up toward the homes. It really wasn’t that bad of a walk. He made up his mind and started walking just as his phone dinged once more.
We can see each other tomorrow then.
It really could be that simple. He could just go back inside and see him after he helped with the horses tomorrow. But he was already walking and his mind was made up. Call him naïve, but he didn’t want to chance Tawson having a night to change his mind. He’d already tried to talk himself out of it twice. Victor wasn’t sure if a third time would stick or not.
He used his phone’s light to lead the way up the driveway and then to make sure he stayed on the gravel path toward the homes. They were spaced out far enough apart each one had their own privacy. All of the houses were filled and he knew that there were security cameras set on each one. He’d have to be careful to keep his head down. He should have worn a hat or something. Not that he thought anyone would be watching the cameras on a random Friday night.
It was close to nine-thirty when he stood in front of Tawson’s door. He couldn’t hear anything inside and there looked like it was just one small light on. Had he actually just gone to bed?
He chanced it anyway and knocked lightly three times. He didn’t know what he’d do if there was no answer. He didn’t want to be rude and wake him if he was asleep. He’d have to walk back to the house and that felt too close to a walk of shame. Even if no one knew he came up here in the first place.
The door opened and cut his thoughts short. Then his breath hitched in his throat and his eyes didn’t know where to look. Tawson was shirtless, wearing nothing more than a pair of black sweats and glasses. He was wearing a pair of black rimmed glasses and they looked absolutely hot on him. He shaved too. He had a sharp jawline. The rest of him was cut, definitely not what he thought would be under Tawson’s clothes. He had abs and a sharp V that disappeared below his pants.
“I didn’t think you were coming up.”
“I walked.” Victor shrugged. The air was cool enough that the walk hadn’t been bad. It was a rare night where the humidity was low.
“You walked?” Tawson’s eyes went wide and then he looked behind him. “It’s dark out, Vic. Get inside. You shouldn’t have done that.”
Victor’s whole body flushed at the name. It sounded so natural when Tawson said it. He stepped into the house and let Tawson close the door behind him. They stood there, just looking at each other. Now that Victor was there, he didn’t know what to do.
“I could have met you at the road, at least.” Tawson moved to the sink and turned the tap on. He looked like he was in the middle of washing dishes. Victor admired his back, the way his muscles twitched and moved. He moved across the room, doing the same thing Tawson did to him earlier. He hugged him, pressing his lips right between Tawson’s shoulder blades. His skin was warm and smelled fresh. He took another deep breath, trying to place the smell.
“Are you sniffing me?” Tawson asked with a smallchuckle in his tone.
“I was trying to place what you smell like,” Victor said. He side stepped him and leaned in, making it obvious he was going for a kiss. He smiled when Tawson leaned over, meeting him half way. The kiss was short and he immediately went back to washing the last of his dishes.
“The bottle says Cashmere and rain, whatever that means.”
“It should just say delicious,” Victor said. “I do not object to it.”
“Because I picked it out just for you,” Tawson said sarcastically. Victor laughed and leaned against the counter. He watched him wash the final pot in the sink. There was also a plate, cup, and bowl, with the standard silverware.
“What’d you have for dinner?” Victor asked. He wasn’t exactly sure how their night was going to progress, but if all they talked about was the weather and food, that was fine. He just liked being around him. And that was kind of a scary thought because- outside of his best friend- Victor hadn’t felt like that before. Of course, he didn’t spend hours thinking about kissing Joe.
“Grilled chicken and some steamed broccoli. What did your mom cook for you?”
