Page 84 of Psycho
“No, you don’t. I had Cricket ask your TA to take your afternoon classes. I pawned mine off on Robert’s TA. We’re free for the rest of the day.”
August had hired Cricket as his secretary after his old assistant had retired. She mostly answered phones and ran errands but she was a quick learner, efficient, and got to take classes at the university for free. Plus, she didn’t mind taking on any non-school, family related assignments. The kind August could have never entrusted to his last assistant. It turned out having some people in the know actually worked out quite well.
“If anybody ever takes a blacklight to this office, we’re both getting fired,” Lucas teased, cleaning up at the sink before tossing the wet washcloth to August to do the same.
August pulled himself together, saying, “If they ever put a blacklight to my car, we’re probably going to prison, so this is preferable.”
“No, you’re going to prison. I’ll be running away with the pool boy and your millions,” Lucas teased. “Oh, don’t forget our butt plug, Professor.”
August retrieved the toy and hastily stuffed it into his pocket. They were almost to the door when Lucas stopped him. “I love you.”
“I know,” August said.
Lucas’s mouth fell open. “Did you just Han Solo me?”
“Would you prefer thank you?” August asked.
“You’re so going to regret that when me and Orlando, the pool boy, run away together.”
August pushed Lucas up against the door, wrapping a hand around his throat. “I know you’re baiting me.”
August hadn’t known this side of Lucas existed. The side that teased and taunted and pushed August. The side that needed a little brute force for him to feel like August really meant it when he said they were forever. It soothed Lucas’s frayed edges somehow. He wasn’t a completely different person, but without the threat of death looming over him, he was…lighter somehow. Freer.
“Any man who touches you will find himself becoming acquainted with my father’s woodchipper. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” Lucas murmured, leaning forward and licking his way into August’s mouth. “Now, tell me you love me.”
August didn’t hesitate. “I love you.”
Who was to say what love was to them? Maybe love to them was fighting and fucking and watching reruns of shows they didn’t like just because the other person did. Maybe love was Lucas letting August have the last slice of cheesecake or August always making sure Lucas took his meds and saw his therapist. Nobody got to dictate what their love looked like. So, when Lucas needed the words, August gave them freely.
A smile split Lucas’s face. “That’s better. Now, tell me we’re getting cheesecake.”
“We’re getting cheesecake,” August said dutifully, opening the office door, letting Lucas lead the way out.
Lucas waved to Cricket, who sat at her desk, headphones firmly jammed in her ears. She waved back.
“Now, tell me you’ll buy a Speedo.”
August rolled his eyes. “I’m not buying a Speedo.”
“You should totally buy a Speedo,” Bianca called as they passed the door of her new office.
“See!” Lucas cried. “Please?”
“No!”
“But it’s our anniversary.”
August rolled his eyes. “How about we go home and you drop your shields and I’ll psychically project me in a Speedo directly into your brain. You can even pick the color.”
Lucas pretended to pout. ‘Ugh, fine.”
August slipped his hand into Lucas’s. It was better than fine. It was perfect. Lucas was perfect. Perfect for August. He was August’s person. And August was his. Nothing else mattered but that.
the end
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