Page 86 of Open Water

“Chill.” Lukas laughs softly. “It’s only food. Eat.”

“Yeah, but it’s not even my food. I just turn up here and the fridge is full and I kind of lose the plot. I’m going to get fat living here.”

“You’re still growing, don’t fret about it. If you are hungry, then eat.” Lukas smiles and steals the last of Matteo’s bread, earning himself an angry stare as Matteo grabs another slice and starts buttering it.

“Do I get a beer to go with my bread?” Matteo asks, cheekily. Winking. Lukas just smiles and opens the fridge door.

“One,” he says sternly. “And I don’t even want to think about the shit I would get into if work found out I am giving my students alcohol.”

“You are far too uptight about this whole thing, Lukas. Come on. You have a boyfriend. You can have a boyfriend, it’s not illegal or anything, and the beer, it’s not like I’m complaining, is it?” Matteo laughs and takes a gulp out of the bottle. “So, you think I should apply for drama school?”

Lukas just smiles. “Absolutely. I mean, I applied for all kinds of things, things I fancied studying and things that people expected me to study. I had good grades and I got accepted at Medical School, but I chose teaching, because that is whatIreally wanted to do. It was the right choice for me. It will never make me rich or famous, but it has kind of been something that has made me happy. You need to love what you do, otherwise you will end up in this awful Monday to Friday hell where you live for the weekends and it is tiring and draining. You need to do what makes you happy, and if acting is what makes you happy, you should at least try. You can always study Social Work later. If you want help just ask, I am more than happy to sit down and hash it all out with you next year.”

“Thanks,” Matteo almost whispers, and he looks down again. Placing the butter knife quietly on the table.

“I’m always here if you need me,” Lukas says quietly. “I may be your teacher, but I am human too, and I am your friend. Always. Don’t forget that.”

“I know,” Matteo almost whispers.

“Is everything else okay?” Lukas asks carefully. Not wanting to pry, but the kid is trembling a little, his hands struggling to put the clip back on the bag of bread.

“Yeah. Just a bit overwhelming. I kind of have gone from having nothing to suddenly having everything. I’m just happy, Lukas. I’m really fucking happy.”

He doesn’t know what to say back to that. Honestly. Because he knows exactly where the kid is coming from as he wraps him up in a hug. All awkward backslaps and angles and arms, but it’s a hug. It’s something. And Lukas couldn’t have said it better himself. He’s fucking happy too.

* * *

Tom is standing by the side of the bed as Lukas carefully pushes the bedroom door open, trying to be quiet, just in case Tom was still asleep. Which he is not. But he is there. His Tom. Trying to step into his joggers and giving Lukas the most blinding smile.

Lukas should play it cool. Really. Say something quirky and funny and make himself look suave. Cool and happy and easy going. But chill is the last thing on Lukas’s mind, because it has been a week. And yes, he has seen Tom every day, but it has been brief moments between Lukas coming back from work and Tom going in for a nightshift, quiet chatter over a rushed meal, trying to find a moment of intimacy between the boys rumbling around in the house and the heady kisses in the kitchen that they both know wouldn’t turn into anything more. They just hadn’t had the time. Nor had they been quite ready to turn it into anything else, that quiet shyness back between them as they had ground awkwardly into each other before stopping themselves to calm down.

Because kissing Tom has been something else. Nothing like Lukas has ever felt before, and he has thought about it all week, what it is that is different with Tom. He feels the excitement, the rush of it all being new. But he feels safe, and that is the last thing he ever thought he would feel. He doesn’t doubt a thing when he is here, he knows where Tom stands. Knows that he loves him and wants him and will care and protect him and hold him and hug him without a care in the world, and that is what is making Lukas’s heart beat a little faster as he just stands there with a smile on his face.

Today, there is no rush. No shift to clock into and no pressure to get dinner on the table, or deal with the boys. Nothing. Just them. Standing here. Tom with his joggers hanging low off his hips. Lukas with his hands in his pockets.

“Hi, babe,” Lukas almost whispers.

The steps Tom takes from the other side of the room seem like they are happening in slow motion, when in reality it’s just a few steps until his lips are on Lukas’s. His arms around his neck. Fingers in his hair. Tongue in Lukas’s mouth.

They stumble backwards into the wall, hitting the plasterboard with a thud. Not that it matters because Lukas’s brain is full of cotton wool and the noises he makes are not his own anymore.

“Fuck.” He squeals and starts tugging on the t-shirt on Tom’s shoulders. Because this is only going to go one way. He’s not stopping now. Not when he meets Tom’s eyes again.

The look he gets is wild. Unhinged. Desperate with need and lust.

It’s a heady feeling. It was one thing to be told you are loved. But he is wanted. Needed. Craved, and that is doing things to Lukas’s head. Like he is finally out of the haze.

He puts his hands firmly on Tom’s shoulders, pushing him in front of him until his legs are against the side of the bed.

“Need you,” he snarls as he rips the t-shirt over Tom’s head.

Fuck. He’s beautiful. That smooth chest, with those plump nipples just begging for Lukas’s mouth.

And Tom actually snarls. Whines like an injured animal when Lukas sucks his mouth onto his neck. It’s long overdue, having Tom like this. Slammed down onto the bed and Lukas’s fingers ripping at his clothes. Tugging at the damn joggers. His fingernails catching skin when they find the thin boxers. Tugging and grasping. Needing.

“Fuck,” Tom pants. “Oh fuck.”

They don’t get there fast enough, Lukas’s jeans are coming off with a few sharp tugs, whilst Tom grabs his waist and slams him face down onto the mattress, chest against the cool sheet with Tom biting hard into his shoulder. Hands slow along his back, fingers grazing over his bare skin.

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