Work Text:
There were very few places near the university campus where one could go out for drinks without encountering students, but it was tradition after a breakup to enjoy a night of debauchery. Astarion would not be persuaded otherwise. His reasoning was that, technically, both of them had had messy breakups—despite the fact that Tav’s had occurred many months before, and Astarion’s had been a mutual decision to end a friends-with-benefits arrangement. There was the added benefit that it was the beginning of the autumn holiday, and most students were already out of town anyway.
Still. It was an excuse to get out of the house for a night.
Tav kept telling himself this as they were waved inside their preferred haunt, the security at the guard giving their IDs a polite, half-second glance. The moment they stepped inside, Astarion was already gleefully scanning the room for whatever prize he’d either be bringing home or fucking in the bathroom. He had perused the surprisingly robust selection on Grindr while they waited to be let in, openly sharing his phone for Tav to help him select a few promising options.
“Well, before I abandon you for the evening,” Astarion began, ignoring Tav’s snort as they found a spot at the bar, “I’ll pay for our drinks. And, as a generous extra, I will point you in the direction of the man of your dreams.”
“That’s very kind, thank you,” Tav replied blandly, idly looking around at the relatively uncrowded club while Astarion ordered their usual. On other weekends, the dance floor was loud and packed, the stage used for live bands, drag, DJs, a ridiculous cover charge to bleed students dry. Tonight it was almost sparse, the music low enough to actually hear someone speaking to you without shouting. The lights were even on in the booths, giving couples a more private place to enjoy their drinks and company—though there was at least one person reading alone.
Drinks in hand, Tav and Astarion leaned against the bar, Astarion unsubtly comparing faces to profiles on his phone, squinting and turning the phone this way and that as though the image would somehow match better with reality. "Somehow something about the nose on this one is just off," he said, primly scrolling through the (limited) images on the profile, wrinkling his nose and swapping to a new one.
“I wouldn’t go with him,” Tav said, leaning over his shoulder to snoop. “I hate people that constantly use filters on all of their pictures. Gives you little to nothing on what they actually look like.”
“Hm. Agreed. I was thinking his skin looked artificially luminous.” Astarion swiped to a different profile. “And this one?”
“Oh, he’s huge. He could suffocate you with those pecs. And his face is in his profile, that’s rare.”
“Instantly sent me a dick pic, too.”
“Hung?”
“Very.”
“Forgiven for his sins, then.”
“Unlike you, I do enjoy them as a hello. It lets me know what I’m working with in advance, so I can prepare.” Astarion wiggled three fingers at him, leering.
“You're disgusting.” Tav took a large gulp of his rum and coke and immediately regretted it--Astarion had almost certainly flirted extra boozy drinks out of the bartender. He coughed into his elbow while Astarion primly sipped at his tequila sunrise. “Never—ahem—never tell me that,” he managed, hoarsely. Astarion just smiled, batting his eyelashes innocently. It took approximately two seconds for him to go back to his phone. Tav didn't take it personally.
“My darling, as stimulating as your company always is—”
“You’d like a different kind of stimulation, yes, go after that hunk, wherever he is,” Tav waved him off. "Don't let me keep you."
“I did promise to point you to of the man of your dreams, you know,” Astarion reminded him, and Tav laughed.
“So? Who's it gonna be this time?”
“Well, there’s exactly one person who brought a book to a nightclub.” He gestured over in the direction of the lone gentleman reading in a low-lit booth. “At the very least, you’ll make a friend that isn’t me.”
“Thanks so much for that.”
“I am ever at your service.” Astarion bowed, spilled half of his drink, pretended he hadn’t, and stalked off.
As soon as Astarion wandered off, Tav faced the all-too-familiar anxiety of being left alone in a venue like this. The condensation on his glass chilled his fingers, and he swirled what was left of his drink, trying to ignore the phantom feeling of eyes on him. He considered how pathetic it would be to immediately go home, to his favorite chair and the novel that had kept him awake far too late the last two nights waiting for him in a warm oasis. Whether it was reluctance to face Astarion’s jeers or the curiosity at the sight of the man on his own, he found himself trading in his drained cocktail for a beer. With a heavy sigh, he gathered himself and wandered over to the quiet booth.
The bookworm sat with an empty wine glass, a hefty tome open in front of him, and a large pile of papers stacked neatly on top of a leather messenger bag. The image was completed with a small selection of red, blue, and black pens scattered on the table. Had he been grading in the only queer nightclub in town? Tav paused, chewing the inside of his bottom lip. If the bookworm was a professor, he didn’t recognize him, and therefore it was unlikely there would be any real issue with hierarchy. He hoped.
Instead of sliding into the booth, Tav knelt on the seats of the next one over, crossing his arms over the seatback, looking across the table at the stranger still but not completely inviting his presence into the quiet little bubble.
“I’m jealous, you know,” he said, and watched the man startle slightly. “I very nearly brought my book with me.”
Bookworm looked up, a bemused half-smile curling full lips, and Tav felt as though he’d been hit in the face. The man was, in a word, gorgeous. Silver-streaked dark hair curled enticingly over his shoulders, half pulled back into a bun—some of it fell into his eyes, giving Tav the distinct impression he’d been repeatedly running his hands through it. A roman nose, strong chin wreathed in a close-trimmed beard, his lovely face complete with a charming set of square, wire-rimmed glasses. God in heaven, was he wearing tweed? In a nightclub. Tav white knuckled his glass.
“I realize it’s unconventional for a place like this,” Bookworm said, gesturing around them with large hands, and oh fuck his voice, “but I find myself without a local pub, and I don’t mind being at the mercy of a drag show. In my defense, this was the only place open so late today.”
Tav grinned, and took the chance to slip into the seat across from Bookworm. “Like I said, I wish I’d done the same. Though—” he nodded to the stack of papers. “Minus the grading, I think.”
Bookworm laughed. “I’ve a horrendous deadline, otherwise I would have left them at home.”
“You’re new to the university, then?” Tav asked, setting his glass on the table and leaning forward, attempting to read the book upside down. Was that… Greek?
“Quite new. Gale Dekarios, newest adjunct professor in Archaeology,” Bookworm said, holding out a hand formally. Ah. That made sense. Tav took his hand, and a jolt ran up his spine as he did so. Bookworm—Gale—had a particularly intense, curious gaze, and he felt his cheeks heat in response.
“Very nice to meet you, Dr. Dekarios,” he said, shaking politely, “I’m Tav, a research fellow over in Paleo.”
“Really!” Gale smiled, wide and unrestrained, releasing his hand. “Then we have some things in common. And please, call me Gale.”
“An interest in old, dead things, I assume,” Tav teased, holding his glass to his lips to hide his own smile. “What brought you here, Gale?”
“Oh, the usual—difficult to turn down a change of scenery and a better contract,” he waved a hand, though his smile was slightly strained around his eyes. “You said you’d planned to bring a book with you, yes? What have you been reading?”
“Oooh, well, before I get started on that, can I buy you a drink?”
Gale agreed, and Tav felt a little thrill run through him as the professor followed him to the bar. He explained the book's premise--a nineteenth-century arctic expedition gone horribly, supernaturally wrong--while he started a tab, and by the time they were settled back in their seats with fresh drinks, they were already deep in discussion about historical fiction and monsters as a narrative device for imperial violence.
Somewhere along the line, Tav had pulled Gale’s book towards him, incredulous to find it was a rendition of the Iliad entirely in Greek, which Gale claimed “sounded better.” He proved this by reading a passage to Tav, which had him metaphorically and literally gripping the table and desperately wondering how to steer the conversation towards inviting Gale home. He placated this somewhat by joining Gale on his side of the table, pressing their thighs together, and insisting that Gale read more. It took very little convincing, and Tav thoroughly enjoyed the proximity to the academic's raging blush and woodsy cologne.
Their chatting continued, the bartender kindly bringing them more rounds while their conversation somehow took a turn into the Permian extinction. Tav recited, by memory, a poem he had written as an undergraduate about the tragedy of trilobites, which set Gale into such a fit of laughter he nearly spilled his wine over the stack of mostly-graded papers. Tav helped him put them in his bag for their own protection, still grinning.
“I’ll have you know,” he admonished, lightly kicking Gale’s foot, “I received full points for that poem. I was quite proud of it at the time.” Gale shook his head, wiping his eyes.
“I don’t doubt it, such an inspiring piece for an undergraduate creative writing course. Majestic creatures, those trilobites.” He was teasing, but it was so warm and fond that Tav found himself flushing pink before he could help it. He finished carefully packing away the papers, looking over at Gale and returning his smile with only a little embarrassment, sliding the bag back towards him. Gale ran a hand through his appealingly disheveled hair, and checked his watch, starting slightly. “Heavens, when did it get so late?”
Tav checked his phone—one text from Astarion informing him “hunk mission successful”—and found it was almost one in the morning. They’d been talking for close to three hours.
“Damn. Well, closing’s soon, so I’ll close out the tab in a moment.” He frowned, his nerves returning with a swell, and looked up to find Gale watching him. He swallowed.
“I understand,” Gale began slowly, “that this may be too forward, but I’ve been wondering how exactly to invite you to spend the night with me for the last hour or so.” His long fingers tapped anxiously on the table. Tav sucked in a surprised breath.
“Oh!”
“I apologize if that’s unwarranted—”
“Completely the opposite,” Tav said quickly, as Gale tensed and dread seeped into his expression. “I kept trying to think of ways to bring it up, but I was enjoying our conversation far too much to derail it, as much as I wanted to,” he reassured, lightly touching Gale’s hand. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be interested—”
“I am. Very much.” Gale flipped his hand over, tangling their fingers. His eyes were very dark, Tav realized, and attempted to steady his breathing.
“Brilliant. Um—” he floundered for a minute. Normally this was so, so easy. “I live about a ten minute walk away, if that’s alright with you? No roommates. Unless you count the dog.”
Gale quirked an amused little smile at that, while Tav mentally cursed himself. “Perfect. Shall I pay the tab?”
Before Tav could say otherwise, Gale was already up and herding him out of the booth, at the counter, and paying with the card he’d left in advance with the bartender. Unable to be truly annoyed about it, Tav gathered up Gale’s things, passing them to him when he finished up at the counter. He pretended not to notice when the bartender winked at them, and fished out some cash for an extra tip.
Outside the bar, Tav realized they made quite a pair—the professor in tweed, his tie undone, still looking quite put-together, and himself in the mesh button-down and leather pants Astarion had goaded him into. He didn’t have too long to enjoy the picture, as Gale gallantly took off his jacket and wrapped it around Tav’s much slimmer shoulders.
“I—” Tav almost protested, but it was cold, and Gale followed the gesture by laying an arm over his shoulders. “…Thank you,” he said, begrudgingly, and felt Gale’s suppressed laugh as he leaned into him, heart racing.
“Where to?”
It was a straight shot along the river to Tav’s townhome, and Gale started up their conversation again with questions about the area. Though they walked slowly, ten minutes passed in a blink, and Tav fumbled with his keys at the front door.
“Ah, this is where the street market is on Sunday mornings! Best place I’ve found in town for fresh produce. You’re quite lucky to be so close to it,” Gale was saying, looking around the street curiously, innocuous as could be. Tav unlocked the door, gesturing Gale inside with a nod as he turned on the lights. “There’s a stall with fantastic crepes, too—” Tav closed the door behind them, and abruptly pushed Gale up against it.
“As much as I do genuinely want to hear your thoughts on the crepes, which are very good,” Tav said, gently brushing some of Gale’s hair out of his eyes, “I find myself occupied by other things.”
“Apologies,” Gale said sheepishly, his eyes wide, a charming flush rising on his cheeks. “I’m told I’m overly verbose at times. Which I am. Obviously.”
“Usually I’m the one doing that,” Tav replied, grinning, “rambling when I’m nervous. You don’t do this much, do you?”
“Feel free to shut me up any time, really—”
And Tav obliged, pushing himself up on his toes to slant his mouth over Gale’s. He pressed the length of his body against the pretty professor’s, and was rewarded with a pleased groan as he opened to Tav’s tongue. He tasted like rich red wine, and something warm and honeyed that had Tav chasing after it, forgetting to come up for air until he was gasping. Gale pushed his jacket off Tav’s shoulders, and Tav toed out of his boots, Gale stumbling to do the same, eagerly seeking his mouth whenever they pulled apart. Tav’s hands were firmly tangled in Gale’s hair, Gale’s halfway up Tav’s shirt, when Gale thought to pause and ask, breathing heavily, “Bedroom?”
“Yes. Right. Upstairs.”
He pulled away, picked up Gale’s jacket from the floor, hanging it carefully in the front closet, and then led the way up the stairs, playfully crooking his finger. Gale huffed a laugh and followed him, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. Tav shucked off his mesh top as soon as he got to his bedroom, very glad he’d thought to clean up earlier, tossing the shirt in his laundry basket, still wearing his black tank beneath. He went to unbutton his trousers, but Gale’s hands grasped his, the taller man pressing against Tav’s back, deliciously warm where his shirt hung half-open. Tav leaned into him, hissing out a breath at the feeling of the hard line of his cock pressing against the curve of his ass. Gale rocked into him ever so slightly, his quiet moan absolute music to Tav’s ears.
“Let me undress you. Please.” Shakily, Tav nodded, and Gale flicked open the button and drew down Tav’s zipper in one fell swoop. With a gentle nudge to his shoulder, he had Tav turn to face him, and untucked the tank top from his trousers, slowly lifting it over his head, tossing it somewhere in the room. He watched Tav’s face intently, with something like fascination. When Tav moved to kiss him, he let him, briefly, then turned to press kisses over his jaw, down his neck, sucking a mark into his pulse point, running his fingers up Tav’s stomach to his chest. He left a burning trail with his touch, only the slightest hesitation when he reached the scars below Tav’s nipples. He ran his thumb over the raised pink line, pulling away slightly, sudden comprehension and open curiosity in his expression.
“Can you feel that?” He asked, running his thumb over the same spot.
“A little, mostly the pressure. Some places are more sensitive,” Tav admitted, guiding Gale’s hand to a spot a little past his right nipple. “Like right here,” he gasped when Gale experimentally brushed his fingers over the patch of skin. “Sometimes the nerves grow back in interesting ways. You’re welcome to touch me however you like.”
“Is there anywhere I shouldn’t touch you? Anything you don’t like?” Gale asked, not nervous, but suddenly serious. Tav smiled.
“No, and I’ll tell you if I want you to do something different. I’d like you inside me, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Gale groaned. “It was, thank you,” and that seemed more than enough to spur him on again. Especially when he tugged on Tav’s trousers and discovered that he didn’t wear underwear with leather pants. He was kneeling, looking up at Tav from where he was eye-level with his cunt, panting slightly. “Can I taste you? Please.”
“Hmm.” Tav tapped his chin, pretending to consider it. “Well, you’re so good for asking. I suppose I can allow it.” Gale’s pupils blew wide, and for a moment Tav was genuinely worried that he’d stopped breathing, until he made the connection. He grinned, sitting on the end of his bed. Gale followed him, still clothed, standing. His erection looked painful under his trousers. “Gale. I mostly said it to be funny, but you liked that, didn’t you?”
“It’s—unexpected.” Gale’s voice was strained. “But yes.” He was blushing. His hair had come undone at some point, cascading around his face in wild waves that Tav itched to run his fingers through again.
“Don’t be embarrassed, I like it too. Either direction. Praise kinks are pretty common, you know,” he said, conversationally, pushing himself up the bed and arranging comfortably with his pillows. “Why don’t you take off your clothes? You look a little uncomfortable.”
Gale obliged, and Tav watched him. He was surprisingly built, for a bookish professor. His arms and chest were, putting it mildly, remarkably toned. Tav let his eyes linger on his chest hair, on the mysterious tattoo that ran over his heart and partially up his neck. The shirt joined Gale’s tie on the floor, and shortly after his belt, then his trousers, then—Tav was embarrassed to realize he was salivating. It was rare that he’d say anyone had a beautiful dick, but Dekarios might have been a special case.
“You are so, so ridiculously pretty,” he managed to say, as Gale’s cock twitched in response to his attention. Tav was delighted to see that the blush went all the way down to Gale’s chest. “I can’t believe I get to have you in my bed.”
“Says the creature I’m not entirely convinced isn’t an elaborate illusion,” Gale returned, climbing on to the bed, hovering over Tav for a moment, legs on either side of his hips, his cock heavy on Tav’s stomach. "Utterly ridiculous that you came to talk to a washed-up academic in a nightclub where you could have anyone you wanted." He kissed him, eager and warm and wanting, and Tav couldn’t help the sounds he made if he tried.
When he pulled away, Tav said, “I can’t wait to have your dick in my mouth.” Gale actually shuddered, pressing his forehead against Tav’s. His hips rocked slightly, rubbing the head of his cock on Tav’s soft stomach. Tav throbbed with want, considered canting his hips up to feel him, but—"Not accustomed to dirty talk? I can dial it back if you’d like.”
“Absolutely not. I’m just—” Gale pulled back, meeting his gaze. “It’s been a while and I’d rather not completely embarrass myself.”
“Oh! Oh.” Tav sighed. “I’d take it as a compliment,” he reached up to cup Gale’s cheek, an attempt to mollify the nerves he saw accumulating in the tension at the corners of his eyes. “It’s been a while for me, too. And the more I look at you the less I feel like sleeping at all tonight.”
“Ah. Hm.” Gale studied him for a moment, and then reached up to finally pull his glasses off. Tav took them from him, fumbling to set them on his bedside table. “You’ll tell me if you don’t like something?” Gale asked again, and Tav nodded. “Excellent. This next part is something I like very much.”
Tav was beyond delighted to discover that Gale needed no guidance whatsoever. The second he pressed the flat of his tongue to Tav’s sex, he was gasping for air and grasping for an anchor, his hands quickly settling on either the pillows or Gale’s hair. He latched onto Tav’s swollen clit with singular focus, patiently sucking him off and using his tongue to trace elaborate patterns into his soaked folds, crooking a finger at his entrance and easily slipping inside.
“Gale,” Tav gasped, arching into the touch. When he added another finger, Tav couldn’t help himself, he rocked his hips in time with the blunt pressure of Gale’s fingers, his hands buried in Gale’s hair, canting up into Gale’s face with abandon. When he looked down, Gale’s brow was furrowed in concentration where he buried himself in Tav’s cunt, and Tav watched as Gale’s own hips rutted into the bed, chasing friction. “Oh, fuck, you do like this don’t you, jesus christ, you get off on this, don’t you, such a good fucking boy—” Gale moaned, and the vibration had Tav throwing his head back. A third finger, then, and pressing deeper, curling, and that sweet, aching pressure started to build, and build—“Professor, I’m so—I’m gonna—” Gale pressed deeper into his cunt, his nose pressing against Tav’s pubic bone, his mouth making filthy noises against his clit, and then his fingers twisted and Tav was gone, writhing, riding Gale’s face, his name a desperate chant as the pressure burst and his orgasm came crashing down, clenching tight around Gale’s fingers over and over again, his pace never relenting as he drew Tav through it, drawing every possible shudder and shake out of his pliant body.
When the haze cleared somewhat, Tav found himself tucked securely in Gale’s embrace, warm and content. “So,” Gale drawled, running a hand up his spine, and Tav hummed. “You can call me Professor whenever you like, I think.”
Tav laughed breathlessly. “It just slipped out, I’m sorry.”
“I enjoyed it. I enjoyed all of that, actually. I think you did as well?” He heard the question, there, and moved to kiss Gale soundly, deeply, pushing him onto his back.
“That,” he said, holding Gale’s face in his hands, kneeling over him, “was the absolute best head I’ve ever had, and that is not a fucking joke.” Gale turned a bright red, a sight Tav was starting to thoroughly enjoy. “I don’t think I’ve ever been with anyone so enthusiastic about it. I loved it. I especially loved that you liked it so much.”
“Duly noted,” he said, tension in his voice, and experimentally, Tav leaned back. Gale’s cock, still hard and insistent, prodded at the cleft of his ass.
“Now the question is, do you want my mouth, or do you want me on top of you?” Tav asked, running his fingers down Gale’s chest, enjoying the soft bristle of his chest hair. He tweaked a nipple lightly, and Gale jolted beneath him.
“On top. Please.” His jaw was clenched so tightly, he struggled to get the words out, even as his eyes tracked Tav as he shifted down Gale’s body to sit on his thighs.
Tav grinned. “Good boy. I’ll have you in my mouth sometime later.”
“Gods above, I’ll be more than amenable to that,” Gale groaned, and Tav took his cock in his hand with a laugh. “Do you—” he struggled, and Tav paused, lightly squeezing the base. “Condoms?”
“Ah,” Tav didn’t move, but nodded. “There’s no worry about conception for me, so if we’re both clean—”
“Brilliant.” Gale gasped. “I think I might implode if you don’t fuck me now.”
“Yeah, I’m getting there myself,” Tav said, enjoying the silken feel of Gale’s artfully curved, flushed, leaking cock in his palm. He released him, positioning himself and lifting his hips—Gale grabbed him, supporting his weight, and he teasingly rubbed his folds along Gale’s cockhead. Just for a moment. He didn’t have much restraint, not with Gale’s pupils blown, his forehead beaded with sweat, his eyes hooded and focused on Tav with something like awe. He sank down without hesitation.
The moan that punched out of Gale was utterly wrecked, his voice cracked and devastated. If Tav hadn’t been as thoroughly wet and ready as he was, the stretch of him may have hurt somewhat, but instead when Gale was fully sheathed inside him he had to pause because it was just so much. He actually whimpered, bracing himself with his arms, leaning forward to nose a tender kiss into Gale’s clavicle. There was a noise of soft surprise.
“I don’t normally believe in perfect fits,” Tav rasped, his voice shaking, “but holy lord.” He felt Gale hum an agreement, and then he rocked his hips, and Tav got the hint. Gale’s voice seemed to come back to him as soon as Tav started to move.
“Gods, the heat of you—” Gale said, grasping Tav’s hips tighter, sure to leave marks come morning, meeting Tav’s hips with thrusts of his own, the room echoing with sounds that made Tav fervently glad he lived alone.
And then Gale sat up, in a swift move that surprised Tav, holding onto his waist tightly with one arm, bracing himself on the bed with the other for the leverage to move. Shared breaths between them now, Tav bearing down and rotating his hips, moaning at the change in angle that pressed so sweetly on that perfect spot. He brought his hands to Gale’s shoulders, the back of his neck, frantically pressing forwards to kiss him as Gale’s hips stuttered, picking up speed. “Yes—just like that, that’s so good, oh my god—” Without warning, another orgasm ripped through him, searing and sending him toppling over the edge with a sob of Gale’s name—he drew it out, slowing his thrusts, kissing Tav slow and sweet.
Tav welcomed it, but had other ideas in the warmth of the afterglow. He grabbed Gale’s hands, forcing him back down on the bed. Gale let out a shocked laugh, and Tav grinned at him before pinning him there, splaying his body out on top of him, rocking back on his cock and fucking him in earnest as he ducked his head to suck marks onto his chest. He kept his pace swift and unrelenting, eventually leaning back to watch Gale’s face. He stared up at him, his eyes fixed on Tav, soft and fascinated, even as his chest heaved—then his eyes slammed shut, and Tav felt himself clench around him.
“Look at me, sweetheart,” he commanded, not sure exactly what possessed him in the moment, but Gale’s hazy eyes fixed back on him. “You want to come?” He slowed, rotating his hips, keeping his thrusts shallow, with Gale deep inside him.
“Please, Tav,” Gale whined, his face shining with sweat, his brow knit with concentration.
“Oh, you’ve been trying so hard not to this whole time, haven’t you? Such a good boy, so eager to please,” he said, gently, even cautiously, but Gale made a sound so desperate that he knew he was on the right track. He sped up slightly, but kept the thrusts deep, astonished to feel pressure building in his abdomen again as he let his hand drift to rub slow circles on his clit. “You want to come inside me, Gale?”
“Yes—” Gale gasped, rutting up to meet him.
“Fuck, yes. Okay then,” Tav breathed, feeling the way he tightened, knowing Gale could feel it, could feel him.
“Gods, Tav, I can feel you—you’re so close—”
“Don’t worry about me, darling,” he said, though Gale was right. “Just—oh, fuck, Gale, you’re so good, you can come wherever you want, just don’t fucking stop—” Gale slammed into him from below, and Tav hurtled over the edge a third time, his mouth open in a silent shout, Gale fucking him urgently—and then he felt him throb, opened his eyes in time to catch the beautifully wrecked expression on the professor’s face as he came hard, Tav a litany on his tongue.
Afterward, Tav sprawled on his chest, come leaking between his thighs, Gale still catching his breath beneath him. For a few moments, he just listened to his heartbeat slow, breathing in time with each other.
“I should… get up, and clean us both up,” Tav murmured, and Gale’s arm tightened around him.
“Let me,” he said, and huffed a sheepish laugh. “Just. Give me a moment.” Tav pressed his face into his chest, hiding his smile, unable to hold back his own laughter. “That was…”
“Amazing? Incredible? Life-altering? Mind-blowing?” Tav suggested cheekily, lifting his head to rest his chin on his folded arms over Gale’s sternum. Gale smiled down at him, lifting a hand to tenderly tuck wayward curls behind Tav’s ear. He looked at him with enough wonder and delight that Tav felt himself go pink in response.
“All of the above,” Gale said, his eyes crinkling at the edges so sweetly that Tav couldn’t help but lean up to kiss him.
***
In the morning, Gale awoke first, quite early, kissing Tav awake apologetically, explaining that he had a cat to feed at home. Tav responded by throwing off the covers, and asking if Gale had anything against an oral wakeup call? Because he’d very much like to return the favor of the previous night.
In the end, Gale made it home by ten, and was delayed another half hour in the front drive when Tav climbed over to the passenger seat onto his lap. It was only when Tav was driving home that he realized he hadn’t even thought to give Gale his number.
***
Monday arrived, and with it, the promise of a catch-up lunch session with Astarion, which mostly consisted of him elaborating on his hunk escapade of Friday evening over pastries and coffee. To-go cups in hand, they arrived back at Tav’s office, where he plunked down his work bag on his desk with a put-upon sigh while Astarion described his fling’s, quote, “monster cock” in excruciating detail a third time.
“You have a letter taped to your door,” Astarion called, a blessed interruption to his intentionally annoying storytelling, and waved the envelope at him. Tav squinted at the unfamiliar handwriting. “A secret admirer, perhaps?”
“Funny,” Tav replied, and snatched it quickly, sitting heavily at his desk to open it. Inside, a note in the same unfamiliar script—written on an elegant thank-you card. The type one might send in return to a wedding invite, all white cardstock and flowing ink, little watercolor flowers here and there.
Tav,
I had an utterly exquisite evening on Friday, thanks to you. The many pleasures of your company gave an otherwise miserable week a spectacular end. I apologize for my departure Saturday morning—I assure you Tara is a formidable beast without her breakfast. If you’re amenable, I would very much like to see you again. Perhaps you’d like to come to mine? I’m an excellent cook. Let me know.
P.S., I think you might have actually been onto something with the trilobite poem. Have you considered making it a limerick?
Below, a phone number.
“He… wrote me a thank you letter.” Tav stared at the card, turning it in his hands as though the angle would change something about it. Reveal some mysterious secret. Or that it was an elaborate joke.
“What? Who? Not your mysterious Friday night paramour.”
“Look—” he thrust the card out to Astarion, who took it and read it with poorly restrained glee as he sat to lounge on the little armchair shoved in the corner of Tav’s tiny office.
“Signed Dr. Gale A. Dekarios—gracious. You, my darling, dearest, little Tav, had a one-night stand with a professor?” Astarion was practically glowing with wicked delight, coffee from their outing still clutched in his perfectly manicured talons. “You absolute devil. I'm astonished. I can't believe I've rubbed off on you.”
“Don’t get it into your head that I’m trying to sleep my way through management,” Tav said slowly, resting his spinning head in his palms. “He’s not in the same department. I didn’t think we’d see each other again.”
“Oooh, but you want to, don’t you?” Astarion grinned, pointing at him. Tav flushed, and groaned in protest. “You do! I don’t believe a lofty academic could be so good in bed.”
“You’re a lofty academic, Astarion,” Tav reminded him. Astarion waved a hand.
“We’ve established that I’m special. He likes you. He wants to see you again. You should text him immediately.” Then, abruptly, Astarion cackled. “He sent you a thank you card! That orgasm must have been something else.”
“He’s just—polite!” Tav defended, and then thought better of it. “There were three,” he said into his hands, bright red. “He came three times.”
“I rest my case. How did you do?”
“At least twice that.”
“Good lord. If you don’t text him, I will.”