***

Jonathan dreaded the day when he had Statistics for a good reason. So far, he had managed to stay clear of Maddox and just exchange a few words whenever they met under the pretext that he always needed to be somewhere. Also, there was the project they had to be working on together, so sooner or later, they would find themselves face to face.

The worst part was that Maddox looked like there was something serious bothering him. Since he had perked up his ears whenever Ray talked about the latest news being churned by the gossip mill, he knew that nothing untoward had happened to him except for their little late-at-night tryst at the pool.

After several days, Maddox should have been over it. He was popular, handsome, everyone liked him, and there were dozens of girls who wouldn’t mind, surely, to make him forget about almost being dropped on his ass by a guy he had masturbated with for the fun of it.

At first, he had tried to shake off the feeling of guilt by telling himself that Maddox should get used to a bit of rejection in his perfect life. But seeing those pretty gray eyes filled with longing and suffering surely didn’t support his case. If he could help it, he wanted Maddox to not suffer one moment for as long as he lived.

But what was he to do? Tell him that it was all fine? But what if Maddox then wanted a repeat experience? No, that was definitely out of the question. Jonathan felt that he had committed a huge mistake by giving in to the temptation once. Maddox was addictive if one were unfortunate enough to do as little as look at him and bask for a moment in that pretty boy smile. And now that he knew how Maddox looked in the throes of pleasure, he was completely doomed. 

He had himself to consider, he tried to speak to that rational part of him that still lay in there, somewhere. What would happen if he let Maddox in? The straight boy would have his fun and then move on. And that was the best of all scenarios. No guy with such a track record in getting girls would, all of a sudden, decide to settle for a relationship with a gay guy.

A groan made its way up his throat as he found his way to the last row, as usual. He wasn’t allowed even to consider such a possibility. At best, at the absolute best, Maddox just wanted to fool around, jerk off, experiment a little, maybe, check all that off his list, and then move on to his usual womanizing. 

Jonathan was insane even to consider that there was more to it than that. Nonetheless, he had made things awkward enough between them by accepting that mutual masturbation and then by fleeing the scene in that manner. He would have to make things right somehow, and that without leaving room for interpretations.

His breath caught in his chest when he saw Maddox entering the lecture hall. He looked better, and his usual cocky smile was back where it belonged. Well, it had been a few rough days, but it appeared that Maddox was finally over it, which was good.

Yes, it was good, he decided and repeated the thing a few times in his head. Until his eyes crossed with Maddox’s, and the smug grin that was clearly addressed to him made his heart skip a beat. What was that all about now? A wink followed, and then Maddox plopped himself into his seat, leaving Jonathan with all the questions.

He loved Statistics, but it seemed like he would have a hard time focusing on the lecture again just because that guy was in the same room. His phone buzzed quietly, and he frowned. After stealing a few glances around, he surreptitiously took it and checked the screen.

Today, after classes, you and I, at the library, it’s on. We’ll work on it.

Ah, the project, of course. Jonathan typed a quick ‘K’ and then put the phone away as cautiously as he could. Then he stared at Maddox just as the guy turned his head and flashed a smile at him. Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking that smile could announce nothing good.

What kind of torture was in store for him now?

***

Maddox could barely hold in his excitement as he entered the library and spotted Jonathan at a table, working on his laptop, those sexy glasses on, and wearing a serious expression on his face. He walked over, and in one fell swoop, produced the copy he had requested from the medical office where he had had his tests done. “Read them and weep,” he said with emphasis and plopped into the seat across from Jonathan.

His eyes were like a hawk’s as he observed the other picking the paper and giving it a long and thoughtful look. 

“What’s this?” Jonathan asked.

Maddox placed his hands behind his head, stretched, and offered a lopsided grin. “It says right there that my cum is not radioactive.”

“Um, congratulations?” Jonathan’s lips curled into a small confused smile. 

Maddox leaned forward abruptly and whispered, “I haven’t been with a girl since the beginning of summer.”

“Well, I saw you with my own eyes with a cute blond girl at the party the first Saturday of the semester,” Jonathan pointed out.

“So you noticed. You must have been looking for me, then,” Maddox said with a grin.

“Don’t be absurd. Everyone noticed. It’s not like you’re any less than a superstar wherever you go, let alone a party.”

Well, it was a compliment, and he was willing to take it. However, he needed to clear any misunderstandings.

“Nothing happened with her.” Maddox waved impatiently. “It was the night my dog died. And by that, I actually mean the other thing that starts with a ‘d’ and is also man’s best friend.”

The confusion in Jonathan’s eyes was beyond hilarious, but Maddox didn’t want to jinx it somehow by laughing in the guy’s face. 

“Oh, you mean… oh,” Jonathan said slowly. “It… died? But I’m sure it was in perfect working order the night we --” He stopped abruptly and bit his lower lip in the most adorable way. Maddox had a mind to ask him if he was allowed to bite it in Jonathan’s stead. He was so damned sure it had to be delicious.

“Yeap, all ‘cause of you,” Maddox drawled each word while taking in each of the other’s reactions.

“Because of me?” 

Oh, man, how could he be so oblivious? But that just made him so much cuter that Maddox wanted to lean over the table and smooch him until both were breathless. And then, those amber eyes would look all shiny and hazy, and Maddox would just take his time tasting each lip at a time, each corner, inside and out --

“Hey, Earth to Maddox.” Jonathan snapped him back to reality. “Let’s start working. I’d like to grab a quick bite before I’m starting my shift.”

“We could have something together if you’re hungry now.”

“No,” Jonathan said sharply. “Let’s get this done with.”

Hmm, that would have normally deflated Maddox’s high spirits a smidge, but he was too pumped up to care. Tonight, just before closing time, Jonathan would get a little visit. For now, he needed to prove he could play it cool. So, without commenting anything else, he grabbed his laptop and focused on their project.

***

Jonathan had found it hard to focus throughout his shift after his meeting with Maddox earlier. Why had he done that, showing him that he was STD-free? Did he believe that Jonathan thought something like that of him? It was confirmed that the guy was a player, as far as Xpress cared to document his sex life, according to Ray, but in all truth, the local tabloid had expressed concern over the prettiest boy on campus not hooking up as he used to. Of course, the death of that imaginary pet appeared to satisfy the gossip mill for now in regards to Maddox’s lack of romps in the hay, but how long would that last? Either way, not for one moment had Jonathan thought of anything that required the dutiful presentation of a complete set of health tests, as Maddox had done.

In all truth, Jonathan was getting a bit sick of Xpress and their way of getting into everyone’s business. He had been trying to wean Ray off that thing so far with no success. His roommate had admitted that it was a guilty pleasure and that he knew not everything in there was true, but it looked like he was too naïve to understand that some people could get hurt by fake news like that.

As the last student came back with the books and he went to put them back in their rightful places, the door opened again. Jonathan grimaced and scolded himself for not locking it, but as he emerged from the rows of bookshelves, he put on his most affable smile. Maybe it was someone who needed to bring back a book on the last leg. It would be no trouble to help them out.

He stopped abruptly when he saw who it was. Maddox was standing right there, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, in a white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show off his biceps, and wearing a dazzling smile on his face. 

Despite the poor fashion sense he appeared to display with the horrendous manner in which he wore his t-shirts, he looked amazing as always. Jonathan ached to touch those perfect arms, let his fingers run along them and squeeze them lightly just to prove to himself that they were real flesh and blood and not pure granite. The weather was slowly changing, but it looked like Maddox didn’t think of grabbing his jacket.

“Hi,” he said, swallowing the sudden ball at the base of his throat, “I was just about to close here. Is there some book you want?”

“Yeah,” Maddox said and walked slowly toward him.

Jonathan couldn’t help but notice that slight swing of hips as Maddox moved. He had to know how sexy he was, and he had to know that he needed to dial it down a little so that he didn’t end up causing accidents everywhere he went.

“Okay,” he said as he managed somehow to sound natural and not at all affected by the sight in front of him, “what do you need?”

Maddox made a sign with his chin. “Don’t you want to lock? So that no one else comes.”

Jonathan nodded and moved stiffly past Maddox, trying hard not to inhale just as they brushed against each other. Quite inconveniently, Maddox had placed himself in the middle of the hallway, and even trying to get around him involved a bit of touching.

He locked the door, all the while willing his heart to stop beating so wildly. There was something strange going on each time he was in such close quarters with Maddox. And alone.

When he turned, Maddox was already walking down one of the aisles. Probably he knew already where to find what he needed. Jonathan followed him.

“Have you ever imagined how it would feel to have sex in a library?”

Jonathan pursed his lips and squeezed his eyes tightly for a moment. “No, I can’t say that I have. Is this your idea of entertainment? Risky situations?”

Maddox shrugged lazily. He threw Jonathan an all-knowing look. “Could be.”

Jonathan turned his head to look at the bookshelves, searching for something to hang on to, anything else but Maddox. 

***