Page 83 of Freshman

“So, you didn’t like the pizza and garlic bread I sent last weekend?”

“You know I d—”

“What about the aftershave, a bottle of the one I use?”

Alfie flushed scarlet. He’d baulked at the post-it note on the aftershave. Nate wanted him to use it so he smelled like he belonged to him. Alfie didn’t wear aftershave and sprayed it on his pillow instead. He had been embarrassed by his own sentiment, but the fumes of Nate lured him to sleep, and each time he woke, he smiled at the scent before he’d even opened his eyes.

“It’s not that I don’t—”

“Or those new shoes. They don’t squeak as you walk now.”

Alfie squeezed the bridge of his nose. “The gifts, they’re amazing, okay? But you can’t send them anymore.”

“Why not?”

“You’ll get caught, and we’ll both get in the shit.”

Nate snorted. “Give me some credit.”

“Besides, how are you even paying for it?”

“I have money.”

“How?”

“Before I…just before… I founded a software company. It made me a lot of money, and I hid some here and there in accounts under different names.”

“So you were a criminal before you…before?”

Nate hummed. “Tax avoidance mostly. You’re benefitting from it. Does the coat fit okay?”

“Yeah, it fits fine.”

“Are you wearing it?”

Alfie nodded. “Maybe.”

“Well, you’ve got to take it off. Don’t want it to get dirty.”

Alfie snorted and laid the phone on the sofa as he shuffled from the coat. He picked up the phone and raised his eyebrow. “Done.”

“Hmm, not yet. Lay down, Freshman. Let me take care of you.”

Nate took charge of the fantasy that day. He wanted Alfie tied up and his hands bound so he could run his hands over every accessible millimetre of skin. He wanted Alfie to beg and encouraged him to do so down the phone. Most days Alfie could.

But ugly thoughts invaded his head.

He wondered whether Nate bound his victims before he killed them, whether he made them beg for their lives. His erection softened, and he stopped moving his stroking hand.

He shuddered, then swallowed awkwardly.

Nate must’ve heard the noise and stopped voicing his fantasy.

“You okay?”

“Why did you kill those men?”

There was a harsh intake of breath on the other end of the phone. “Way to kill the mood, Freshman.”

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