Cio’s eyes lit up at his question. “Biomedical engineering.” 

Richard was completely enchanted by Cio. Cio was explaining what his degree was and what he hoped to accomplish with a graduate degree. Richard was tuning most of the degree explanation out. He was more interested in the animated way Cio spoke. His hands were in constant motion. It was captivating. The amount of passion he had when he spoke of his chosen path, Richard envied it. He hadn’t felt passion like that in too long to remember. 

Richard tuned back in as Cio mentioned his dream position, a spot at Price Labs. The moment passed quickly, Cio hadn’t waited for a response from him and it was too late for Richard to fully introduce himself so he didn’t. He let Cio continue telling him about his plans.

Richard already knew what biomedical engineering was. He could make the appropriate noises and add in the occasional sentence and Cio would take it and run. Every time Richard understood what Cio was saying, without needing further explanation, Cio would pause, just a second, and then continue with a small smile curling his lips.

Richard wanted to kiss that smile.

Richard bought another round of drinks. When he returned Cio was typing on his phone. “Your friends here yet?”

“No, not yet.”

Happy that he had more time alone with the young man, he settled into his chair. “Ok, so you were saying?”

A two-person band started setting up on the stage. Cio pulled his chair a bit closer and Richard leaned in to hear him better as the woman started strumming her guitar and the man plucked away on a keyboard. Richard caught a whiff of coconut when Cio brushed his hair behind his ear. It got louder outside as more people came out to watch the show. This time Richard pulled his chair closer and lay his arm across the back of Cio’s chair as he leaned in.

Cio’s voice stuttered over his words at the action then calmed back into its excited cadence. “Do you mind if I smoke?” 

“Go ahead.” Richard hadn’t smoked in years, but right now he felt like stealing a couple drags from Cio’s. Instead, he gulped back a couple of drinks and pretended the way Cio’s lips wrapped around the cigarette didn’t affect him in the slightest.

“Would you like one?”

“No, thanks.”

Though, maybe he wasn’t all that good at hiding it. If the way Cio’s eyes darted away from him, then down as a small smile curled at his lips said anything, Richard was being too obvious. He needed to tone it back. Cio was a college student. Sure he, apparently, was graduating next weekend, but the fact remained he had to be at least 20 years younger than Richard. It wouldn’t be right for Richard to… well. It didn’t matter because he was just sticking around until Cio’s friends got here.

Cio was quiet as he smoked. The music was pleasant. The woman sang, what Richard assumed was, original songs. Cio brushed a hand through his hair when it slid in front of his face again and coconut scent floated through the air. Richard wanted to slide his fingers through the silky looking strands. He wondered if it was as soft as it looked.

“I’m not keeping you from anything, am I?” Cio asked when the cigarette was three quarters gone.

“No.” There was nowhere he’d rather be right now, but it didn’t feel right to say that. “I just came for a drink after my flight. Only thing waiting for me is my hotel room.”

It might’ve been his imagination, but he’d have sworn Cio’s eyes darkened. Cio drew in a final drag on his cigarette and stamped it out in the plastic ashtray. He fingered the box like he was thinking of another, but put the box back in his pocket and pulled his hand away.

Richard drained his drink. “Another?”

Cio tilted his almost empty drink. “Yeah, I’ll get this round though.”

“No. My treat.”

Cio looked like he was about to argue, but Richard waved it off. Instead, Cio smiled and sat back. “All right then, thanks.”

Richard got the drinks and took the time away from Cio to get his mind set straight. He had let Cio carry the entire conversation. He only thought to ask questions when he remembered to actually pay attention to what Cio was saying and not just how he was saying it. Cio didn’t seem to mind though. He answered each question Richard threw at him easily.

Richard joined him back outside. He really should have gotten a water, for both of them probably, but he was enjoying the way Cio smiled at him. He was enjoying having a reason to not think past what was happening.

“You know a lot about this stuff,” Cio commented at one point when Richard had been watching his full lips rather than listening. He didn’t even remember what he’d asked. His drink was already almost gone.

“I work in a similar field. Some of the intricacies of biomedical escape me though. You’re wanting to focus in orthopedic?”

And Cio was off again. Richard hadn’t felt so content to listen to someone talk in a long time. He spoke with passion and excitement and Richard was pulled into the energy. If they were a little more sober, they probably wouldn’t have been sitting as close. Richard wouldn’t be able to smell the stale cigarette smoke on Cio’s breath or coconut when Cio brushed his hair back. He wouldn’t be able to see Cio’s eyes widening as Richard leaned in, or Cio’s eyes fluttering shut as Richard’s lips landed on his.

Cio let out an encouraging sigh that went straight to Richard’s dick. Richard pushed harder. He nipped at Cio’s lips then, at Cio’s quiet moan, pulled back. “Do you want to come to my hotel room?”

“God, yes.”

Richard smiled at the quick and eager response.