Page 74 of Freshman

Nate dropped down to the floor on the other side. His eyes were huge and manic as they took in Alfie’s face. The fury in him froze Alfie to the spot.

“That bastard,” Nate hissed. “He didn’t try anything else, did he?”

Alfie was too stunned to reply, and Nate’s anger morphed into horror. His jaw dropped open, and his lips twitched like he wanted to speak, but no words came out.

“Freshman?” he said finally, in a much softer voice, then he swallowed. “He didn’t try to touch you, did he?”

If Alfie wasn’t so frozen, he would’ve frowned. Of course Gary touched him. He headbutted him.

Nate blew a breath out slowly. “Talk to me. Did he grope you…Alfie?”

It was Nate saying his name that lifted Alfie’s paralysis. Never had Nate sounded so soft, so coaxing and gentle. Alfie’s stomach flipped, then his brain kicked into gear, and he realised what Nate had been asking.

“No, it wasn’t like that. He was just kicking off. He wasn’t trying to—do anything like that.”

Nate closed his eyes and released another slow breath. “Jesus, I thought…” He opened his eyes, and his gaze softened.

“Just a few bruises,” Alfie mumbled. “Eyes always bruise when the nose is struck—”

“I know that, Freshman. I, of all people, know that.”

Alfie frowned, poised to ask why, but then Nate’s hand was reaching through the hatch.

“Give me your hand.”

“Nate,” Alfie said. “You know I can’t.”

“I’m not asking you, I’m telling.”

Alfie let Nate link their fingers. He squeezed, and Alfie squeezed back.

“Have you calmed down now?”

“I still want to kill him, and the thought of someone trying to touch you, trying to—I can’t bear it.”

“It wasn’t personal,” Alfie whispered. “My face just happened to be closest.”

“What’s the prisoner’s name?”

Alfie flexed his fingers against Nate’s. “I can’t tell you that.”

“I’ll find out who it was. You know I will.”

Nate let go of Alfie’s hand and cupped his cheek. Alfie exhaled against his wrist, allowing his eyes to close. Nate moved his hand, and the next thing Alfie knew, fingertips were pressing lightly against his throat.

Alfie gasped, leaning his neck back for Nate to touch more. He bared his throat, knowing Nate could easily crush his windpipe with one pulse of his hand.

Nate held him, not applying any pressure, but the contact still made Alfie dizzy. He trusted Nate not to squeeze. His eyes slid shut of their own accord, and he slowed his breathing.

“Don’t expose yourself like this with anyone else. In these walls or outside them.”

Alfie snorted. “I don’t. I won’t. Just you.”

Nate hummed and ran his thumb over Alfie’s Adam’s apple. “You say the sweetest things.”

Nate moved his hand away, and Alfie couldn’t help the whine. He opened his eyes but didn’t connect their gazes. He knew Nate would be smiling smugly, all pearly teeth and crinkled eyes.

Nate’s warm hand cupped Alfie’s cheek again, and he couldn’t stop the elated gasp. Nate’s thumb hooked the edge of Alfie’s mouth and slipped inside. Alfie pressed his tongue against the pad of Nate’s thumb. It wasn’t a lick, more a wet pressure, but it spurred Nate on, and he fed his thumb into Alfie’s mouth, in and out.

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