Tyler watched Robin walk back and forth in front of the lecture hall with an intensity that the people around him weren’t used to. They were talking when they thought he couldn’t hear them.

A couple across the aisle was discussing, in hushed tones, the rumors going around about how Tyler had been acting strangely the past couple of days. It was irritating, but Tyler pushed his annoyance out of his mind. He couldn’t afford any distractions.

"Wow. I didn’t think I’d see the day," said Mac, "the great Tyler-fucking-Kingston is paying attention to a lecture."

Tyler glanced at his friend. Mac had a notebook out in front of him and was diligently taking notes. He could hardly believe it. "You’re one to talk," he said. "Did you come down with a fever or something?"

Mac shrugged. "I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to make more of my life than just football and the frat, man," he said.

It was rich, coming from Mac. Tyler distinctly remembered Mac saying university was all about the parties and the bitches.

"Right, right. Look, Mr. Alien, when your friends in the UFO are done probing my friend up the ass, just return him in one piece, okay?" said Tyler, with a laugh.

"Fuck you, man. Not everyone can get through life just sucking on daddy’s silver spoon," said Mac.

Clearly, Tyler had struck a nerve, though he supposed Mac had a point. There probably was something to be said about hard work and diligence. Tyler was just fortunate enough not to have to give a fuck about the petty concerns that other people had to.

Some things never change, though, Tyler observed. Mac had his phone out on the desk beside his notebook. The screen was dark, but his eyes kept flitting to it every few seconds. Whenever it lit up with a notification, he’d stop writing to respond.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tyler could only just make out that Mac was texting with his boss again. He had to stifle a laugh. He’d never pegged his friend for being such a suck-up, but it was useful to know.

After Tyler got out of this shithole university and entered the family business, he was going to need a reliable and loyal right-hand man. If he played his cards right, he was sure he could get Mac eating out of the palm of his hands.

The future was for later, though. Tyler had to focus on the present, and what he was going to do to Robin.

Today was the day, Tyler was sure of it. He was finally going to be fucking rid of the professor that had made his life miserable and plagued his every waking moment for the past two days.

Tyler licked his lips. He could already imagine it. Robin begging Tyler not to do this. On his knees. Reaching up to unbutton Tyler’s pants. Mouthing at Tyler’s huge cock through the tight little bikini briefs he’d worn today just in case things got—!

Heat rushed into Tyler’s face. It had happened again. He hadn’t even thought about what he was wearing when he left his place to go to uni.

Tyler gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles turning white. If there was any proof that he had to act today, it was that. The fantasies were coming more often, and it was getting more and more difficult not to be affected.

The phone in Tyler’s pocket buzzed. He fished it out, wondering if Mickey had texted him with any new information. Mickey hadn’t, but the message wasn’t exactly unwelcome.

Melons: Hey
Melons: Just so you know
Melons: You’re a total fucking asshole
Melons: But I realized
Melons: Fucking doesn’t have to mean anything
Melons: So, uh…
Melons: Are you free tonight?

The corner of Tyler’s mouth quirked in a little smirk. It was just as he’d predicted.

Briefly, the memory of his first night with Melons flashed through Tyler’s mind. He faintly recalled the way her breasts had felt in his hands, the tightness of her channel around his cock. It did nothing for him.

Tyler couldn’t remember the feeling of Melons’ skin against his the same way that he felt the pressure of Robin’s fingers pushing the duo-tang folder against his chest. He couldn’t remember the feeling of Melons’ heat engulfing him the way he remembered the phantom sensation of Robin’s breath against his skin.

Shit.

Tyler had to get rid of Robin now, before things got any worse.

TylerTheKing: Not now
TylerTheKing: I’m doing something

Tyler’s eyes flicked to the clock on the upper left corner of his phone screen. Class was going to be over soon. His opportunity was rapidly approaching.

Melons: Oh
Melons: Okay
Melons: Rude
Melons: Well, when are you free?
Melons: I’m sure you missed this too

The racy photo that he received would have gotten Tyler’s blood pumping just a few days ago, but right now his focus was on something else entirely. He didn’t spare it a second glance, and it didn’t elicit even the slightest twitch of his already hard cock.

TylerTheKing: I said not now, bitch!
TylerTheKing: I’m doing something!
TylerTheKing: I’ll text you when I’m done!

Tyler shoved his phone back in his pocket and stayed in his seat while everyone else packed their things away. Robin had overrun his time by a few minutes, but Tyler didn’t care. It wasn’t like he had to worry about getting to his next class late, anyway.

"Dude, aren’t you getting up?" said Mac, as he squeezed out of the row through the space behind Tyler’s chair.

"Nah, man," said Tyler, rubbing the outline of his cock through his sweatpants as he tried his best to imagine bedding Melons as a victory celebration. "I got something to discuss with the prof."

"Oh," said Mac. He glanced down the length of the lecture hall toward Robin. "Try not to be too harsh. I kinda like this one."

Tyler scoffed. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. He needed to be rid of Robin as soon as possible. The moment the professor was gone, he was sure the weird thoughts and feelings making him all sorts of confused were going to disappear with him. Hopefully, anyway.

As soon as most of the rest of the class was gone, Tyler got up. He stripped his sweater off and slung it over the same shoulder as his bag.

Tyler had gotten Mickey to check if Robin had an online dating profile that he could use to figure out what Robin’s preferences were. As luck would have it, Mickey had found one.

It was deliciously ironic, really. Robin didn’t even know it yet, but he had sown the seeds for his own destruction.

When Tyler got down to the front, Robin was wrapping up with the last student. Tyler pretended at being a good student, standing in line like Robin had told him to the first time. It was a minor sacrifice, in the grand scheme of things.

Tyler waited until the student had left the classroom. Robin did, too. He seemed to have sensed the mood, somewhat.

"Mr. Kingston! I was wondering when you would hand me your completed make-up assignment," said Robin, lips pressing into a thin smile.

Smug bastard. Let’s see who’s smiling when I’m done with you, Tyler thought to himself. He said nothing. He lowered his head, trying to look remorseful.

"You have finished your make-up assignment, haven’t you?" said Robin.

Tyler shook his head. "No, sir," he said. Speaking with such respect felt so alien to Tyler. It left a strange taste on his tongue, but he couldn’t quite figure out if it was a bad one or a good one.

Robin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He got up and walked out from behind the desk to stand in front of Tyler. "I’m sad to hear that, Mr. Kingston. I’m not the kind of professor who has a lot of patience when he gives a student a second chance and the student in question squanders it," he said.

Tyler said nothing. He kept his eyes down. The dating profile had said that Robin liked meek guys, and he figured this was the kind of thing that a meek guy would do.

"I-I’m sorry," said Tyler.

The stammer was unexpected. He hadn’t meant to sound so pathetic. It was just that he’d felt a moment of genuine remorse when he started speaking.

It didn’t matter. Tyler put it out of his mind. He couldn’t afford distractions and it was probably for the best, anyway. The more realistic his act was, the better chances the plan had for working.

"I’m afraid you’ll have to accept the failing grade for this assignment, Mr. Kingston," said Robin. "Perhaps this can be a teachable moment. Next time, when someone gives you a second chance, you shouldn’t treat it so trivially."

Inwardly, Tyler seethed. He hated the way Robin was talking down to him. He wasn’t the kind of person anyone could talk down to.

It took every bit of willpower Tyler had not to sock Robin in the face for his condescension. He had to be patient. Things were going well. He didn’t need to risk anything.

"I’m sure you’re aware of the arrangement that your coach made with the dean?" said Robin.

Tyler nodded, wordlessly. He tried not to clench his jaw. It was part of why the grade agitated him so much.

"Unfortunately, the failing grade that you got for this assignment means that you’ll have to take my upcoming midterm. I suggest that, for at least the next two weeks, you do your diligence in studying the course material," said Robin.

"W-wait, I can’t do that!" said Tyler. He’d never done any acting before. He’d always thought that drama class was a bit too gay but since he was pretty good at pretty much everything else that mattered, he figured he was probably pretty good at acting, too.

Tyler looked up at Robin, giving the best impression of pleading eyes that he could muster. "I-I have to focus on training. The season’s starting soon! Coach will kill me!"

Robin clucked his tongue. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you blew off your make-up assignment, Mr. Kingston," he said.

Tyler bit his lower lip. "Wait. Wait. Please. Surely there’s another way? Give me another chance, please!" he said. A hint of true sincerity crept into his voice as he once again felt a pang of the same remorse as earlier.

"I’m not a cold-hearted man…" said Robin, trailing off.

Tyler could feel the professor’s eyes on him, scanning him from head to toe. Success! He’d set the bait and he was pretty sure he had a bite.

It was so fucking predictable. It didn’t matter how respectable Robin’s position was, or how rich Robin’s backer was. He was just like any other gay guy. Wear a tight shirt and flash a little muscle and it was like there was blood in the water.

Tyler had to force down another laugh. His victory was all but assured, now.

The almost-predatory gleam in Robin’s eye was difficult to miss. He’d definitely taken the bait.

Tyler’s heartbeat picked up. An anxious energy buzzed at the tips of his fingers. His stomach was fluttering. His pulse was racing. His chest felt hot and he felt like his cheeks were going to burst into flame. His pants were tight and he could feel his cock throbbing against his thigh.

Something about the way that Robin was eyeing him like a piece of meat made Tyler’s heart skip a beat.

Tyler was excited. That was all it was. There was no other reason his entire body was flushed. It certainly wasn’t the fact that the hungry gaze in Robin’s eye was turning him on or anything like that.

Robin took a step forward. Tyler’s cock throbbed. That unique scent was in the air again and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath at that moment.

For a heartbeat that seemed to stretch into eternity, Tyler felt like he was floating on a bed of clouds. He almost missed what Robin said, entirely.

"…If you can come up with a reasonable proposal, then I don’t see how we can’t both benefit from this," Robin continued, his voice taking on a lower, huskier register.

Robin reached up and hooked a finger under the small silver chain looped around Tyler’s neck. He tugged on the chain, sliding his finger down the length until the small moonstone pendant at the end slipped out of the collar of Tyler’s tank top.

Tyler shivered at the touch. Out of revulsion, of course. Not because the places where Robin’s finger had grazed his skin were strangely warm and tingly.

"Y-yeah," Tyler stammered. "M-Maybe there’s something I-I can help you with, sir?" he whispered.

"Oh?" said Robin, the corners of his mouth quirking in an infuriating and not-at-all adorable little smirk. "Pray, tell, what would that something be, Mr. Kingston?"

"I-I don’t know, sir… M-Maybe you can come up with something?" said Tyler, looking into Robin’s totally drab, and not at all striking, storm-gray eyes.

God. Tyler felt like he could fall into those eyes forever.

Tyler looked away. He had to focus. He had a mission, and it was of the utmost importance that he succeed.

"Now, Mr. Kingston, I won’t let you trick me into doing all the hard work," said Robin.

The extra emphasis on the word "hard" made Tyler shiver. To make matters worse, Robin had leaned in to say it, too. Between the husky voice and the hot breath ghosting against his skin, he felt a chill trace the curve of his spine.

Tyler licked his lips. Robin was so close. One step forward and their bodies would press up against one another. He looked down, eyes searching, and he found exactly what he was looking for.

Raising his gaze to meet Robin’s, Tyler did his best to look bashful and said, "A-aren’t you a bit too close, sir?"

"Hm?" said Robin, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. It made Tyler’s cock twitch. "I think not, Mr. Kingston. On the contrary, I think I’m exactly where I need to be right now," he murmured.

"Then, um… Is this maybe a hint?" said Tyler. He hadn’t meant for the words to come out as small-sounding, but what was done was done and it served his purposes well, anyway.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Kingston," said Robin, in a sweet, sing-song tone.

"Okay…" said Tyler. "Okay."

Tyler looked up at Robin. He took a deep breath. He steeled himself. He let some of his natural confidence shine through again as he took a step forward.

Robin took a step back at the same time, keeping the few inches of distance between them.

Tyler pressed after Robin. Every step forward was met with a step back, but there was only so much space. Tyler’s body collided with Robin’s at the same time that the desk blocked Robin’s movement back.

A small smirk graced Robin’s lips. Even now, he thought he was in control.

Surreptitiously, Tyler reached into his pocket. He’d prepared his phone to start recording when he pressed the side volume button. The moment had come.

As soon as he felt the click of the button engaging, Tyler slipped a hand between Robin’s legs. He cupped the professor’s sizable package in the palm of his hand and gave it a squeeze. His own cock throbbed in response. "Could I maybe… help with this? sir?" he said.

"Use your words, Mr. Kingston," Robin murmured. Tyler could only hope it was loud enough for his phone to pick up.

The response wasn’t what Tyler had been expecting. No matter. It was an opportunity. To make it explicitly clear what was happening. The words spilled out of him before he could even really think about what he was saying.

"I-I was hoping that I could maybe help you with your big, hard cock so that you’d change my grade from an F to an A, sir…"

Robin chuckled. "Is that so? Why would you think that, Mr. Kingston?"

Tyler bristled. Robin’s tone really rubbed him the wrong way. He wasn’t responding the way Tyler wanted. But Tyler had to be patient. Now, more than ever. Robin was already standing on top of his trap. He just had to spring it.

"Well, you said you’d let me make up for my failing mark if I did something that would benefit us both… But you didn’t say what we had to do… And we were standing so close I thought…" said Tyler, trailing off.

"What did you think, Mr. Kingston?" said Robin, leaning in to whisper the words right into Tyler’s ear.

"I thought this is what you wanted, sir…" Tyler said, loud enough that he was sure the mic on his cellphone would register it.

Tyler’s stomach fluttered as Robin kept his silence. He looked into those gray eyes, looking for some reaction, any reaction, other than the self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

Tyler leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk behind Robin. It was time to kick it up a notch. "I’m a good-looking boy, aren’t I, sir?"

"Mmm…" Robin hummed. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to the curve of Tyler’s shoulder. "That you are, Mr. Kingston. Very good-looking."

Tyler shivered. He could feel Robin’s breath ghosting along the skin at the back of his neck. "I-I’ve…" Tyler closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as Robin’s lips traced the side of his neck. It felt so utterly the opposite of good that Tyler had to stifle a moan of disgust at the sensation.

This was bad, but it was almost over. He was about to go in for the kill. "I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at me in class, sir… Don’t you want this, sir? Don’t you want a hot, good-looking guy like me to play with your big, hard cock?"

Tyler lowered his voice. "What do you say, sir? I’ll let you do anything you want to me. Don’t you think that’s a great deal? I’ll give you my body for an A…"

Robin reached up and cupped the side of Tyler’s face in his hand. Tyler leaned into the touch, obviously because he was trying to get away from the kiss Robin was trying to plant on the back of his ear on the opposite side and not because Robin’s coarse fingers made him feel good.

"I think…" Robin started.

Tyler’s cock twitched. This was it. This was the moment. His grand plan was coming to fruition. After this, he wouldn’t have to worry about Robin ever again.

"I like my boys with broad shoulders, thick arms, and abs you can do the washing on. Add a skin-tight, form-fitting tank-top to that and it’s a one-way trip into my heart, and then the bed," Robin whispered, in Tyler’s ear.

Tyler couldn’t help but grin. He had it. All the evidence he needed to file a report against Robin. He had Robin on tape, admitting to fucking a student in exchange for grades. It didn’t matter how powerful Robin was, the media was going to have a field day with it.

And then, Tyler realized what Robin had just said. It was, word for word, the first paragraph of the description that had been on the online dating profile Mickey found.

At first, Tyler tried to convince himself that it was just a coincidence, that Robin was just saying it to show his excitement. But it was the way that Robin had said the words, with that same, self-satisfied, almost-condescending tone that told Tyler he’d been had.

Eyes wide, Tyler reached for his phone. Before he could even get his hand in his pocket, Robin was already waving it in front of his face.

"Really, Mr. Kingston, I’m a bit disappointed," said Robin, with a quiet laugh. "Did you really think that would work on me?"

Tyler flushed. His cheeks felt like they were going to burst into flame at any moment. Robin didn’t have to be so fucking smug about it.

For the first time in his life, Tyler felt truly defeated. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes but he refused to acknowledge their existence. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision, but it wasn’t working as well as he’d hoped.

"Screw you, Nielsen!" Tyler screamed, sounding rawer than he had meant to. "Everything was going fucking fine until you showed up! Why don’t you go back to your fucking country and leave me alone!"

Tyler slammed his hands on the desk behind Robin. The loud bang echoed in the empty lecture hall. "I’m going to get you, one of these days, Nielsen. Mark my words," Tyler hissed, through gritted teeth. "I’ll fucking get you if it kills me!"

One way or another, Tyler was going to make good on his promise. He might have lost the battle today, but he wasn’t going to lose the war. He had other options. He still had resources to spare. He had connections.

"No," said Robin.

One word, one syllable, spoken so simply as to be unremarkable, shattered Tyler’s confidence.

"Yes!" Tyler screamed. "Yes! I’ll fucking get you. Yes! Not no! Yes!" he shouted, like a belligerent child.

"No, I think not," said Robin, a tenderness in his voice that only served to agitate Tyler even more.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Tyler raged. "What makes you think you have a right to say that? Don’t you know who I am? I don’t care if you were motherfucking Thomas Crane himself. I’m going to fucking get you!"

"It’s quite simple, really," said Robin, with a light laugh that made Tyler’s heart skip a beat.

Robin reached up. Tyler, instinctively, flinched away, but Robin was faster.

Robin grabbed Tyler by the back of the head. At the same time, he wrapped an arm around Tyler’s waist. All the fight in Tyler’s body left him as Robin pulled him close. He squeezed his eyes shut as Robin’s hand on the back of his head forced him to rest his head on Robin’s shoulder.

A shiver traveled down the length of Tyler’s spine as Robin turned to whisper into his ear. "I don’t think you’re going to get me because you didn’t back away even when I discovered your little plot."

Tyler’s eyes widened in horror. He tried to pull away, but Robin was strong. Stronger than he had any right to be being significantly smaller than Tyler.

Before Tyler knew what was happening, the two of them had switched positions. He was the one pinned against the desk, this time, Robin’s face barely an inch away from his own.

Tyler flushed as he felt Robin’s breath on his lips. It made his skin tingle and his cock throb. He had no idea what was happening to him, but it felt good, somehow, for some goddamn reason.

"See, I know you, Mr. Kingston. Better than you expect. I know you’re intelligent and resourceful with the unfortunate affliction of a heavy sense of entitlement," said Robin, lips curling into a smirk.

"You didn’t have to go through all this trouble," said Robin. "You could have just fabricated the story. You could have gone to the media. It’s not like the public cares about the facts of stories like this."

Tyler’s heart pounded in his chest.

"You’re a smart boy. On some level, you must have known that making all this effort had some risk of being discovered, of having your plans turned around on you. I don’t think you’re the risk-taking type, Mr. Kingston. I think you don’t do things you’re not sure you can win, so this whole debacle makes no sense…"

Tyler shivered as Robin traced the side of his face with the side of his curled index finger. He leaned into the touch as the scent of the older man filled his lungs.

"Unless…" said Robin, trailing off.

"Unless what?" said Tyler, breathing shallowly. He fought down the urge to moan as Robin rubbed his cheek.

"Unless this was all an elaborate excuse to get close to me in a way that you crave but can’t admit to yourself," said Robin.

The words were spoken in the faintest of whispers, but Robin might as well have shouted it out loud for Tyler.

Tyler’s stomach flipped. His heart skipped a beat. His whole body went cold. He wanted to deny it, vociferously, but the words never came to his tongue.

"So you told yourself this was how you were going to get rid of me… By feeling me up. Grinding into me. And then claiming that I sexually harassed you," Robin continued, nonchalantly exposing every secret Tyler didn’t even know he had while tracing small circles on Tyler’s cheek with his knuckle.

"But what you really wanted was the close contact. The chance of maybe something actually happening. Isn’t that right?" said Robin.

Tyler squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. No. Not a chance. No way in hell. It didn’t matter if the words rang true. He was never going to admit it. He refused.

A quiet whimper escaped Tyler. Robin’s other hand was on his stomach, lightly stroking his abs. He didn’t know why but it felt a hundred times better than any sex he’d ever had and a part of him didn’t want it to ever stop.

Tyler bit his lower lip. He could feel Robin’s hand drifting downward. Just a little more and it would be exactly where he wanted it. Where he needed it.

For as long as he could, Tyler resisted, but in the end, he broke. "Please…" Tyler whined. "Please…" he begged, eyes squeezed shut, sweat trickling down the side of his face, cock harder than it had ever been in his life.

"No," said Robin.

Tyler felt like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped over his head. "No?" he asked, incredulously.

"No," said Robin, taking a step back.

For the first time in his life, Tyler felt vulnerable. His body yearned for Robin’s touch. Every fiber of his being told him that he needed to be near Robin. Pressed up against him if possible. But he couldn’t move. He was rooted to the spot.

Robin scoffed. "You couldn’t handle me even if you wanted to, the way you are right now," he said. He grabbed his things off the desk and made to leave.

Just as Robin was about to reach the door, Tyler regained control of his body. He pushed himself off the table. "Wait!" he shouted.

Robin stopped.

The words spilled out of Tyler before he could think about what he was saying. "What do I have to do?" he said, wincing at the desperation in his voice.

Robin didn’t cast so much as a glance back in Tyler’s direction. It hurt, somehow. It made his chest ache.

Robin placed his hand on the doorknob. "Work harder," he said.

Then, as he pulled the door open. "Do better."

Tyler sank to his knees, feeling numb. He couldn’t stop shaking. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that vague-ass shit? he despaired.