Seducing Professor Coyle (4 page)

He had to get the boy out of his mind, and quick. Because on Monday, unless the student produced some compelling evidence that he’d turned in that test, Peter was not going to budge. Benjamin was getting an F.

Chapter Three

Thorn’s back garden was as impressive as his house, and Benjamin and Dominick stood in awe, heads swiveling to take in the sights. Beautiful people were everywhere, and with the accommodating spring weather, had taken the opportunity to show a lot of skin. They congregated in groups around the flowering trees that twinkled with tiny white lights, swaying to the slow, seductive music, laughing and drinking, some kissing and fondling. Steam rose from the two hot tubs and the large, heated swimming pool. While there was a lot of bare flesh, especially near the pool, many remained dressed: men in stylish designer suits and women in silky shift dresses. It was a strange contrast of elegance and debauchery, and Benjamin felt lost and out of place, drinking his champagne so fast he became light headed.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Dom said, beaming. “Is this incredible, or what?”

“It’s something all right,” Ben said, watching a pair of shirtless men ceremoniously coating a third, completely nude, with glittery body paint. The third man’s face and torso shimmered with rainbow colors. Palms meticulously stroked his bare buttocks and thighs as they continued their masterpiece.

Ben looked beyond the garden at the vast, stretching green of Thorn’s property, then back up at the palatial home. He’d never known anyone this rich, and was having trouble accepting that one man lived with such excess. He hoped to have a mere portion of such comforts one day, but all he’d ever known was struggle, so it was hard to imagine.

He watched a group of attractive, shirtless men head out into the field, where at the perimeter of the property, a line of cabana cabins edged the woods, each lit romantically with red glowing lanterns. Men went in, and men came out, and though the quaint cabanas looked festive and romantic, Ben couldn’t help thinking of brothels. Sting sang inside his head
of Roxanne and putting on the red light.

“Let’s check out the pool,” Dom said, moving ahead of him down the garden path, illuminated with Chinese lanterns.

Ben followed warily. This should be cheering him up, but he couldn’t seem to get into the spirit. They passed several men along the path who eyed him and Dominick with open interest. Dom offered appreciative grins in return, but Ben kept his head down, avoiding eyes, pretending not to feel the light brush of fingers along his bicep, nor hear the soft whistles of appreciation. He wished he hadn’t worn this tight shirt, wished he was wearing a snow parka and goggles so he could just fade into the background.

Dominick found them a pair of lounge chairs, and they joined the dozens of other guests who watched the activity in the swimming pool as though it was a sporting event. And he supposed it was. Young men swam and splashed each other playfully, while couples and a few threesomes huddled in the water at the edges, mouths pressed together, slick bodies grinding.

“You want to go in the hot tub?” Dominick asked.

Ben sneered at the tub closest to them, glutted with nude bodies, tangled limbs and kissing mouths. “No thanks. It’s probably semen soup in there.”

Dom laughed. “No, there are rules. No ejaculation in the pool or hot tubs. Foreplay only. Got to move on to the cabanas or bedrooms for anything more.”

“Oh, I see,” Ben said. “How civilized. Pardon me if I’m skeptical that everyone abides by that rule.”

“Drinks!” a voice called out to their left. “Everybody have drinks?”

Ben looked up at the stout, thirty-something man making his way down the line of loungers, a tray of umbrella drinks balanced on his palm. He wore tan shorts with a pink silk shirt, his short, spiky hair dyed blue-black.

Dominick elbowed Ben. “That’s Thorn,” he whispered. “Act like you belong here.”

Ben frowned at him. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Just be relaxed,” Dom said. “Don’t blow our cover.”

“I’m sitting on a lounge chair with my feet up. I think I got it, James Bond.”

Thorn flirted and passed out drinks to the men sitting to their left, then moved to stand before Dominick and Ben. He smiled down at them. “Good evening, gentlemen. Having a good time?”

“Great time, Thorn, thank you,” Dominick said.

Thorn had a cute face despite his rather doughy body, a nice smile that seemed genuine. His brown eyes narrowed as he studied Ben. “Let’s see, I think I have just the drink for
you
.” He handed Ben a blue cocktail with a spear of pineapple chunks and cherries. “Slightly sweet, subdued, with just a hint of fruitiness.”

Ben chuckled as he accepted the drink. “That’s me, all right. Thank you, Thorn.”

“My pleasure. And
you
,” he said, appraising Dom. “Hmm. I’d say something a bit stronger, not too sweet but with a
long
finish.” He winked, and Dom smiled as he took the drink from Thorn’s hand.

“You must have read my mind,” Dom said, taking a sip from the straw.

“Love your hair,” Thorn said, reaching down and brushing a strand of Dominick’s ginger mane. “Suits you.” He offered them a cordial bow, then moved on to the next group down the line.

“He seems nice,” Ben said.

“And he didn’t kick us out,” Dom said. “We’re in, baby. Now let’s see, which one of these tasty looking guests should we try to get to know?”

But Ben barely heard him. His eyes were glued to a couple of men in the pool corner nearest to them. A head of wet black hair, slick, sculpted back muscles and broad shoulders, the man pushed a pretty young blond against the wall of the pool forcefully. The blond kid’s eyelids fluttered and he moaned as the dark-haired man kissed him with urgent passion, pinning him with his powerful body, gripping his shoulders tight.

“Ben?” Dominick looked at Ben, then followed his gaze to the swimming pool. “Oh. Whoa.”

Ben nodded. “Yeah.”

Dom nudged him playfully with his shoulder. “That getting you in the mood, bro?”

Ignoring his roommate, Ben stared, his breath catching as he watched the dark-haired man lift the blond out of the water and set his ass down on the pool’s edge. The blond’s body was lean and fit, glistening with water. His head fell back as the other man’s face moved down his chest, over his stomach, toward his naked groin, blocking sight of the erection.

“You should go join that party,” Dom said, glancing at Ben. “Haven’t seen a look like
that
on your face since...well, since never.”

Ben finally tore his gaze from the erotic display and glanced at Dominick. “Don’t push me. I’m just enjoying watching for the time being.”

“Well, too late, anyway,” Dom said, looking back toward the pool.

Ben followed his gaze. The dark-haired man had stepped out of the pool, a naked wonder with long, firm legs, rounded buttocks, and chiseled torso. His erection was huge, jutting up toward his navel, smooth and glistening. He pulled the blond forcefully to his feet, grabbing the back of his head and kissing him roughly. Ben’s cock twitched.
Why can’t I find someone like that?
The man was so dominant, so confident, and his blond conquest was visibly in thrall, like putty in his arms. Tugging the blond’s arm, the dominant one led them away from the pool. As they turned, Ben got a full view of the darker man’s face, with his wet hair slicked back from his forehead.

“
Holy
shit.”

“What?” Dom frowned at Ben, then turned and watched the nude pair as they departed toward the cabanas that edged the property, wet buttocks gleaming under the Chinese lanterns. “Wow, it has been a while for you, hasn’t it? You really need to get laid.”

“It’s him.” The words came out a whisper, his mouth going dry.

Dom scowled. “Who?”

“
Him
,” Ben said, watching the pair disappear into the first dimly lit hut. “The one with the dark hair.” He leaned in to Dom’s ear. “That’s my
teacher
. That’s Dr. Coyle!”

Dom jerked back, eyes widening. “No way.” He glanced toward the cabana, then back at Ben. “Seriously? You’re fucking kidding me. He’s
hot
. You sure it was him?”

Ben nodded. “It was him. Mauling that blond guy. My freaking lit professor!”

Dominick leaned closer, looking him in the eye. “As in ‘He’s a pompous fucker and I hate him’ lit professor?”

“The same. I mean, what the fuck? What the hell is he doing here?”

Dominick’s blue eyes twinkled, cheeks dimpling as he grinned. “I think that’s obvious, don’t you?”

“But...but...” Ben frowned and Dominick laughed.

“But what? He’s a human being, he’s allowed to have sex, professor or not.”

“Did you see that guy he’s with? He’s like...my age!”

Dom shrugged. “Maybe younger. Looks like your professor’s got some game. You see the way he was kissing him?”

Ben’s cheeks heated. “I saw, all right.”

Dominick took a sip of his drink, falling back on the lounger. “And you liked it.”

“What?” Ben made a sour face. “Gross, I did not! It’s Dr. Coyle, for Christ sakes.”

Throwing his head back, Dominick bellowed with laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Ben snapped.

Dom glanced at him. “
Gross
, you say? I think not. You had your tongue hanging out. I can still see the boner through your pants.”

Ben covered his swelling cock with his hands. “That was before I knew who he was. This is too weird.”

Dom set his drink down and stood, pulling his shirt off over his head and tossing it on the lounge chair. “No, you’re too weird. Lighten up. I’m getting in that nice warm pool to see if I can scare up some action. You should come in too. Try to have some fun, Benny.”

Ben watched as Dominick stripped off his pants and shoes, then stepped toward the pool. Though they were no longer lovers, he still took a moment to appreciate his roommate’s perfect physique. His back was wide and muscular, tapering down to a trim waist, with a thick rounded ass over tree trunk legs, and red hair flowing over his shoulders. Heads turned as Dominick eased into the water, and within seconds he was approached by three men.

A vague pang of jealousy tugged at Ben as one of the men slung an arm over Dominick’s shoulders, whispering in his ear, eliciting one of Dom’s deep belly laughs. Ben wasn’t in love with Dominick. But he realized now that part of him had always thought of Dom as
his
. He knew Dom had lovers of course, but he never brought them back to their apartment, always spent the night elsewhere when he went out looking for sex, so Ben never had to actually see it. He wondered for the first time why that was. It wasn’t like Ben would have minded if Dom brought guys home.

As Dominick locked lips with a handsome brunette in the pool, another slid up behind him, running a tongue over his shoulders. Ben stood, grabbed his drink and headed off onto the lawn, suddenly aware of how strong Thorn’s
slightly sweet and subdued
cocktail was when the earth swayed a bit under his feet. He found a large flowering tree to lean against, sucking down the rest of the drink while pink petals danced like snowflakes from the branches in a gust of spring breeze.

A tall, well-built man with a dark blond military haircut approached him. He looked about thirty, handsome, with a small scar along his jawline. “Hey, holding up the tree?”

Ben smiled, watching petals fall on the man’s broad shoulders. “I just needed a break.”

He nodded. “I know what you mean, this is all a bit much.” He stuck his hand out. “I’m Wayne.”

Ben shook his hand. “Ben.”

He pointed to Ben’s empty cup. “You want another drink?”

Ben shrugged.

“I’ll get you one. Stay here and make sure that tree doesn’t fall.”

Ben smiled. “All right.”

Wayne grinned over his shoulder as he walked away, and Ben admired his denim clad ass. Nice body. Nice face. Nice guy. Yet Ben still kept glancing over beyond the garden, at the first cabana. Where Dr. Coyle was. Probably balls deep in that blond piece of jailbait by now.

What do you care?

“I don’t,” Ben said aloud to himself. “I don’t care.”

“You don’t care about what?”

He turned to see Wayne standing in front of him, two full umbrella drinks in his big hands. He handed one to Ben, who immediately took a long, cooling sip. “Just talking to myself. Bad habit.”

Wayne chuckled, and Ben focused on his very white teeth. His jaw was strong, with a thick corded neck. He was probably great in the sack...all those muscles. Perhaps he was aggressive, maybe as aggressive as—

Who? Dr. Coyle? Get a grip, Ben.

“So,” Wayne said, smiling shyly. “You come here often?”

Ben laughed, thankful for the tree against his back. The liquor was having its way, white lights and colors swirling in the periphery, music and laughter a symphonic buzz. “Actually, this is my first time here. I’m not much of a party guy.”

“Neither am I,” Wayne said. “I’m home on leave from the military. It’s, uh...difficult to be social for me, if you know what I mean.”

“Ah,” Ben said. “Don’t ask. Don’t tell.”

“Don’t get laid. For months at a time,” Wayne added with a grin.

“I hear that,” Ben said. “But I don’t have the military as an excuse.”

“What do you do?” Wayne asked, leaning against the tree with him, shoulders touching as they sipped their drinks.

“I’m a student. Information Science. I go to Kelsingford. This is my last semester.”
I hope
, he thought gloomily.

Wayne looked at him, raising his eyebrows. “You’re right. You have got
no
excuse. All those college boys? Why the dry spell?”

Ben laughed, shrugging. “I’ve been busy.”

“Hey, Wayne!”

They both turned to see a muscular bald man waving over by the bar.

“Hey, it’s Carlos!” Wayne beamed, waving back. “Could you excuse me a minute, Ben? I see an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.”