Later, at the basketball court, I couldn't help but scan the crowd for Lucius.
Every time our eyes met, he'd give me that shy, almost guilty smile. And I couldn't help the swell of pride and warmth that hit me—knowing his gaze was locked only on me, watching me, silently cheering me on.
I played my heart out, and our team won. The other players didn't exactly treat me well during the game—they only saw me as a player—but after the final buzzer, they clapped and gave me quick, half-hearted congratulations.
"Well played," they said, barely meeting my eyes.
I didn't let it get to me. I smiled, walking away, only to find Lucius waiting for me, holding a towel and a bottle of water.
"How was I?" I teased, taking the water from him and giving him a cheeky wink as I sipped. He froze for a moment, eyes flicking nervously to my throat, then my neckline, before finding the courage to speak.
"You, you were, amazing." His voice was hesitant, husky, sincere—all at once—and it sent a shiver down my spine.
I grinned, feeling bold. "Come with me." He blinked, confused for a moment, and then obediently, like the puppy he always seemed to be around me, followed.
In the locker room, with the space all ours, I surprised him—pinning him gently against the locker and capturing his lips in a deep, lingering kiss. He kissed back instantly, hands sliding up my wrists, tracing slowly along my elbows, grazing my shoulders and neckline in deliberate, tender touches. Then his lips slowly trailed down to my hands, intertwining our fingers as he kissed each one as if worshiping them.
"You play so beautifully, and you look even more beautiful," he whispered against my palm. Heat rushed to my cheeks. My body shivered under his touch, yet I tried to act nonchalant, cool.
"I know I'm great," I said, letting my eyes soften more than I realized. He continued, kissing both my hands, treating them like fragile treasures. There was an intensity in his adoration that hinted at something deeper—something I didn't fully understand yet.
I finally pulled my hands back, trying to regain control. "Okay, enough. Let me change. Then we can go back to my place and work on the project together. I'm in a good mood, so I'll help." I turned to pull off my jersey.
His gaze followed every movement, dark eyes tracing my back and waist. His voice was husky, almost teasing. "Only work?"
I smirked, slipping into my t-shirt and jacket, teasing him back. "Yeah, but don't worry. After work, you can do more." He flushed, but didn't look away.
A small, soft smile tugged at his lips as he watched me, caught somewhere between shyness and want...
That night at my place, we worked together, him patiently guiding me through every little detail, explaining everything with a soft joy that made it feel like a game.
Time slipped away, and soon it was late, our minds exhausted—but our bodies had other plans. Lucius hovered over me on the floor, taking control in a way that made my chest race. His lips claimed mine, deep and insistent, teeth occasionally grazing, lips tasting like honey—sweet, addictive, almost torturous.
"I thought I tired you out too much with all the questions," I murmured, biting my lower lip as his hands snaked under my shirt, fingers tracing along my sides and chest.
His lips wandered to my neck, leaving soft marks that made me shiver. "Maybe that's why you should reward me," he whispered, breathing hot against my skin.
I chuckled lowly, feeling the warmth and hunger in his gaze.
"Wow, guess you're actually getting braver." I wrapped my arms around his neck, caressing the nape, our noses almost touching, breaths mingling. His eyes were dark, hungry, but devoted—completely focused on me.
I smirked, brushing the tip of his nose with mine. "Okay then, Mister Nerd, take your reward, just how you like it." His lips curled upward in a small, victorious smile. He tossed his glasses aside, thumb brushing my chin as he kissed me again—deep, messy, and breathless.
And that night wasn't an isolated thing.
The following days became a blur of passion and intimacy—tangled in bedsheets, whispering sweet words, him sneaking snacks and cooking for me, or simply staring at me with that adorably desperate, goofy smile that made my heart melt.
Every moment with him was a mix of heat, sweetness, and obsession—a chaos of love and need that felt impossibly beautiful.
And just when I thought I was done with love, I realized I was already failing at resisting it, taking my words back without even trying It was the day of our project presentation.
The teacher specifically praised us for our work, highlighting every detail we'd done perfectly.
I felt like a child hearing my first-ever genuine praise. "Did you see how he praised that equation part? I did all of that myself! I feel, proud," I practically jumped in excitement.
Lucius brushed a lock of hair from his eyes and smiled, calm as ever. "Yes, you worked very hard, and the teacher noticed."
I was glowing—until I heard whispers behind me. "Look at him, acting like a child, pretending he did all the work. Bet he made Lucius do it."
"And what's with this nerd kid anyway? Why's he so close with him?"
"Whatever it is, he probably cheated, he's never done anything good."
"Yes, and maybe the nerd's in on it too—he isn't exactly a good guy either."
Heat surged through me. My fists wanted to clench; my mind raced, ready to explode. But, then I felt Lucius's calm hand wrap around me, holding me tight. I glanced at him, confused.
Just then, the teacher called over the two whispering students. Turns out—they were the ones who had plagiarized and done shoddy work. "Guess doing bad deeds gets bad results," I said, smirking.
Lucius, however, shook his head serenely. "No, it was me."
He pulled out his phone and showed me a recording—proof of the two of them talking in a café, plotting and admitting to plagiarism. I blinked, utterly shocked.
"How, how'd you get this?"
"When I went to buy coffee for you yesterday, I overheard them. Recorded it," he said, calm and collected as ever.
I shook my head in awe. "Damn, you deserve a reward for that."
He blinked, tilting his head. "Huh?"
Without a word, I grabbed his hand, pulling him away from the classroom, the crowd, the whispers, and led him to an empty classroom down the hall. I shut the door behind us, heart racing—not from fear, but from the thought of what I was about to do.
He glanced around, completely confused, before his eyes landed on me, and his face went crimson.
My jacket lay discarded on the floor, leaving me in just a simple shirt. "What are, you doing?!" he stammered, voice shaky, heat rushing through him.
"What?" I said with a grin. "Rewarding you for being a good boy. And really, what could be more exciting than doing it here, in the classroom, hmm?"
I climbed onto the higher bench and wrapped my legs around his narrow waist, pulling him close.
My arms snaked around his neck as I pressed my lips to his. "Now, take your reward before it expires," I whispered, smiling into the kiss.
It only took him a second before he kissed back, urgent, hungry. His hands were already exploring, moving over my body with deliberate curiosity. I felt his fingers inch beneath my pants, sliding slowly, teasingly, as we both sank into the moment, lost in each other's touch and heat.
After that day, I hardly noticed whispers or judgment from anyone. Maybe it was because I stopped caring, or maybe because I knew someone had my back. Either way, it made me happier than I could ever remember.
One day, I suggested we hang out at his place—I'd never been there before, and honestly, I didn't know how he'd react. I'd expected him to turn me down. Every guy I'd dated before had always made excuses, saying they couldn't have me over because friends or relatives might see.
I never got the chance to visit anyone's place, but I wanted to see Lucius's reaction.
To my surprise, he lit up—completely happy, almost like I'd given him a gift he never expected. He practically bounced as he led me to his car after classes, his usual shy demeanor replaced with this subtle, excited energy I hadn't seen before...