Seducing Professor Coyle (17 page)

Ben wanted to throttle him. But then Dom gently slid Scotty off of him and stood, grabbing Ben in a bear hug. “Happy graduation, bro. So happy for you. Hey, thanks for inviting us.”

Ben glanced at Scotty, who still grinned deviously at him. But he wasn’t about to show his annoyance. Dominick was here, that’s all that mattered. “So when’s your first interview?” Dom asked.

“Next week,” he said. “I hate interviews, hope it goes okay.”

“You’ll do great. So, ah.” Dom grinned at him, eyes twinkling. “Saw that kiss Mr. Teacher Man planted on you over there. Hot stuff.”

“We both saw it,” Scotty added.

Ben frowned at Scotty, then smiled at Dominick. “Yeah. Change the subject.”

“I didn’t know he was a teacher,” Scotty said. “Dominick told me.”

“Did he? Yes. Peter is a teacher.” Ben hated this. But Scotty didn’t want to let it drop.

“Benjamin,” he said, twirling a strand of his blond hair coyly. “Seriously, babe. You’re a lucky guy. Peter is
way
cuter than I remembered. But maybe it’s because he’s dressed.” He cackled with laughter.

Ben frowned at Dominick. “Is he drunk?”

Dom shook his head. “No, that’s just him. Scotty, zip it about Peter.”

He feigned astonishment, placing a hand to his chest. “What did I say? I just meant he looks good in his clothes, you know? All...teacherly. It’s hot!” He crossed his legs in a campy gesture, smiling up at Ben. “So are you guys like, serious?”

“What do you care?” Ben said, unable to stop himself. He winced internally. He didn’t want to let this kid bait him, show him any weakness. He was clearly the kind that enjoyed getting under someone’s skin.

“Ooh, down kitty.” Scotty made a claw with his hand. “I was just curious. I’m not looking to bone your old man.” Scotty winked at Dominick, cupping his hand to his mouth. “Been there. Done that,” he said in a loud whisper, then cackled again, tossing his head back.

Ben walked away, and Dominick came up behind him. “I’m sorry. He never acts like this. I don’t know what’s up with him tonight.”

“Don’t worry about it, not your fault,” Ben said. “Now, where are the drinks?”

“Come on, I’ll lead the way.”

Once at the bar, he had Dominick all to himself, and relaxed into the familiarity. They talked and laughed, stopping periodically to meet some new guest that Thorn brought over.

“So,” Dominick said. “Now that Scotty is...occupied.”

They both glanced over by the pool, where Scotty appeared to be demonstrating karate moves, kicking his legs as he swirled his arms about, shouting “Hi yah!”

“How are things with Peter?”

Ben smiled at him. “Have we stopped calling him Mr. Teacher Man?”

“That depends.” Dominick grinned. “Are you
sleeping
with Mr. Teacher Man?”

“I am.”

“Then I shall call him Peter.”

“Thank you.”

“So is he gonna get in trouble at work? For you know. You being a student.”

Ben shook his head. “I’m not a student anymore, so I don’t think so. Plus no one knows. He’s really private. I sincerely doubt he’d be flaunting me around if we were anywhere but here.”

“Yeah,” Dom said. “I like here. Here is good.” He punched Ben’s shoulder playfully. “So, you can tell me I was right any time. About Thorn’s parties.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I don’t want to think about the
last
one we came to.”

“I better go make sure Scotty hasn’t drowned himself in the pool. Talk later?”

“Of course. Catcha later.”

Ben scanned the party, looking for Peter, but couldn’t find him. He wandered around for a bit, trying to make small talk with the guests, but it wasn’t his forte, and he was uncomfortable.

As more time passed and he still couldn’t find Peter, his insecurities crept in.
Relax
, he told himself. It wasn’t like he had to worry. Peter had asked him to pack an overnight bag. He was a sure thing.

He finished his drink, and his bladder was bursting. Spotting Thorn’s stocky form in the crowd, he tapped him on the shoulder. “Where’s your bathroom, Thorn?”

“Oh, see that stone entryway over there? Go down that and take the door on the left. If there’s someone in the downstairs one, head up the staircase on the right.”

“Thanks.”

He found the stone entryway and walked down a gorgeous tunnel path with an awning. This was an amazing house, he was flabbergasted by it. Would he be staying here with Peter tonight, or would they go back to his place? He didn’t care either way, as long as he got to be with him.

On his left was a screen door, right where Thorn said it would be. Ben paused before opening it, stunned by what he saw inside. There was a kitchen pantry, and Peter had Scotty pressed against the wall inside. Ben’s heart thudded in his chest, but he remained quiet, not moving.

“Stop,” Scotty slurred. “Just kiss me,” he whined.

“Hold still,” Peter told him. “Stop fighting me.”

Ben’s jaw dropped as he watched Peter’s hand move down to Scotty’s pants, appearing to disappear inside. It was hard to see with the dark screen, but one thing was for certain. Something was happening between them. And Ben felt like he was going to vomit.

“Peter,” Scotty whined. “That’s not yours, don’t touch it. Why won’t you kiss me, like you kissed him? I saw you kiss him, you bastard. You never kissed me like
that
.”

“Cut the crap, Scotty,” Peter growled.

Scotty pushed a hand against Peter’s chest. “Not yours, Peter! Let go of it.”

Peter shoved him back against the wall. “Scotty. Give it to me,” he said.

Ben couldn’t take it anymore. He opened the screen and stepped inside. Peter and Scotty both turned to look at him. “Oh, great,” Scotty slurred. “Look who it is.”

“What the fuck?” Ben said, shaking his head. His stomach trembled as Peter moved away from Scotty and started toward him.

“Ben,” Peter said. “Come here. I need to talk to you.”

“Fuck you, I will not
come here
. What the fuck are you doing, Peter?”

Scotty sauntered by, smiling at Ben as he headed for the screen door. As he pushed it open, he looked back. “Thanks for letting me borrow your old man,
Benjamin
. Ta!” Then he was gone, letting the door slap closed behind him.

Ben’s head was spinning. He turned away from Peter, heading to the bathroom.

“Benjamin,” Peter said.

“Don’t call me that!” he shouted.

“Why not?” Peter shouted. “It’s your name.”

“Fuck you, I need to piss.” He stepped into the bathroom and slammed the door. As he relieved himself, tears fell onto his cheeks.

He flushed the toilet and washed his face, drying it with a towel so no one would notice he’d been crying. When he stepped out into the hall, Peter was waiting for him. “We need to talk, Ben.”

“Fuck off!” Ben said. “Did you not hear me? Fuck off, fuck off, fuck
off
, Peter!” Ben turned and walked away from him. He moved further into the palatial house, no idea where he was going. And he didn’t care, as long as it was away from Peter.

Peter grabbed his arm. “Benjamin, wait, damn it!”

Ben whirled around. “Why did you have to pretend, Peter?” he shouted. “If I was just some piece of ass, something you could just trade out at a party, why did you have to fuck with my head? Pretend it meant something? Fuck you!”

He tried to turn away again but Peter grabbed him, and Ben was dragged backwards. “What are you doing?” He tried to pull away. “Let me go!”

Peter shoved him into a small sitting room and closed the door behind him, leaning against it. His dark blue eyes were hard with anger. “What do you think you saw? Huh, Benjamin?”

“You know what I saw,” he hissed. “I saw you groping Sir Fuck-a-lot out there. Telling him to
give it to you.
”

“Yes,” Peter said. He held up what looked like a prescription bottle filled with pills, shaking it in his hand. “And he finally did.”

Ben’s shoulders lowered a bit, but he still held his tight stance, teeth clenched. “What is that?”

Peter glared at him. “Vicodin. I came in the house to use the bathroom. When I stepped back into the kitchen, Scotty was there. He was all over me, begging me to kiss him. When I saw how looped he was, I knew he was on something.”

“How did you know he wasn’t just drunk?” Ben asked, his tone still hostile.

“Because I teach at the college level. I know what a stoned twenty-something looks like. So I confronted him, asked him to show me what he was taking. He immediately guarded his pocket, but he was so insistent on trying to kiss me, that he forgot about it a second later. When you walked in, I was trying to get the pills out of his pocket. Because I don’t want my friend Thorn to have to deal with some kid overdosing at his home. All right? Benjamin?”

Ben stared at him, his breathing still heavy. His face crumpled and he turned away, humiliated when the tears came again, his stomach trembling.

Peter approached, but didn’t touch him, simply stood close behind him. “What’s the matter? I told you, nothing happened with Scotty. The only one who has to worry about him is your friend Dominick.”

Ben moved over to a soft leather sofa and sat down, head in his hands. “Dom hates drugs. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, he probably doesn’t know. Are you all right, Ben?”

Ben nodded, embarrassed. He tried to stop the tears, swatting at his eyes with his fingers, but it was like an aftershock, his emotions spilling over as they pleased. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he looked pleadingly at Peter. “I’m calling Dominick. He needs to know about Scotty. Don’t leave, okay?”

Peter smiled. “I won’t leave.”

Please answer. I don’t want to go back outside and see Scotty
. Dominick answered after three rings. “Benny, why the fuck are you calling me when you’re here?”

“Dom. I have to tell you something about your date.”

He heard him sigh. “What’s your problem now?”

“He’s taking pills. He’s all fucked up.”

There was a pause. “
What
?”

Ben sighed, squeezing his eyes closed. He hated this, hated Scotty for forcing Ben to hurt Dominick again. Even if it wasn’t his doing, he was the messenger. “Peter took a bottle of Vicodin off Scotty. I don’t know how many he took, but he’s also swilling cocktails. I’m sorry, Dominick.”

There was no response.

“Dom, you still there?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “I thought he was acting fucked up tonight. But this is...what am I supposed to do?”

“Talk to him. Find out exactly what he took. But get him out of here. I don’t think he’s emergency room level fucked up or anything, but you should keep an eye on him tonight.”

“Well, he’s flirting hardcore with another guy right now, so he’s still functional,” Dom said, a hard edge to his voice.

Ben chuckled softly, but without humor. “Yeah. He managed to get in a good verbal shot at me before he left the house. But Dom, be mad at him tomorrow. Deal with the relationship after he’s sobered up. Tonight just take care of his health.”

“I know,” Dom said. “I’ll...fucking deal with it.”

Ben felt like crying again when he heard the disappointment, and the pain in his friend’s voice.

They spoke for another few minutes, and Dominick agreed to get Scotty out of there, and tend to him. At least until morning. Ben had the feeling Scotty wouldn’t be getting any more of Dom’s special breakfasts. He felt terrible for his friend. Dom had thought he found someone who made him happy. But who knew what would happen. Maybe it would work out somehow. But Ben secretly hoped not. Stoned or not, the little tramp had been hitting on Peter.

Ben looked up at Peter, wiping his eyes. “I’m sorry. I freaked out on you.”

Peter sat down beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay.”

“No,” Ben said. “It’s not, Peter.” He stood. “I mean, look at me. I’m fucking crying. I’m like a lunatic or something. And you...”

Peter stood, approaching him. “What about me?”

Ben lifted his arms, then dropped them. “This whole thing between us, it’s so stupid. I’ve been such an idiot. I threw myself at you. I’ve been acting like a total freak ever since I met you. I used sex to get you to be with me. I can’t even
believe
the way I’ve been acting.”

“Benjamin, it’s all right.”

“It’s not all right. I want to be with you so bad, you have no idea. But you don’t want me, not really. You don’t
care
about me. I just backed you into a corner. And once you kissed me in the woods that night, you were scared shitless I’d tell someone. So after that you were afraid to say no to me. I
made
you be with me.”

Peter grabbed his arms and pushed him down on the couch. He knelt in front of him, looking angry. “I don’t care about you? I don’t fucking care about you? I can’t believe you’re saying this to me now, after the shit I went through today!”

Benjamin shrugged, wiping his nose. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you swearing?”

“Do you know what I did today, Benjamin? I sat with my boss, the dean of students, and told him I was gay. You think I wanted to do that? You think I enjoyed that?”

Ben shook his head. “But...why?”

“Because I needed to let him know who I was. And that I was going to start dating a former student. I did that for you, Benjamin. So I wouldn’t have to hide you. Because I don’t want to hide you.”

Ben’s body flooded with emotion, mixed with a desire that made his head spin. “You did that? Really?”

“Really. And it wasn’t fun, let me tell you. You think I would have done that if you’d
made
me be with you? If I didn’t care about you?”

Stunned, Ben lowered his eyes. Peter let go of his arms and sat back on the floor. Finally, Ben looked at him. “Um...what did the dean say?”

Peter’s shoulders relaxed and he laughed.

Ben fought a smile, but finally grinned.

“Well, it was a very long and very awkward conversation. But ultimately, he said it was fine, as long as you were no longer a student.”

Ben sniffled, wiping his nose. “He did?”

Peter nodded. “He did.”