play stupid games, win stupid prizes â michael x calum [part 2]
calum moves into a new apartment, but the walls are really thin. also, his new neighbour is annoyingly loud
warnings: streamer!michael clifford. teacher!calum hood. alternate universe: neighbors. romance. comedy. fluff. sexual tension. flirting. (bad flirting. sorry). eventual smut. pranks/prank wars. meet-cutes. mutual pining. light dom/sub. dom!calum hood. sub!michael clifford. mutual masturbation. voyeurism. calum has a thing for being called 'sir'. anal sex. anal fingering.
wc: 25.3k (13.3k in this part)
author's note: posted this in two parts bc it was too big for one post đ€
Everything goes to shit immediately.Â
Calum obviously doesnât sleep that night. He stays up, taking the longest cold shower in history, after which he paces up and down again, freaking the fuck out. He thinks a few times maybe he hears something from Michaelâs apartment, but itâs really just the building settling or something.Â
He thinks of calling Luke and spilling his guts, but when he reaches for his phone, it's out of charge. He plugs it in, and half an hour later, when he checks it, he learns its half-past one in the morning. And then when he sits with the thought for a while he realizes he canât fucking tell Luke what he heard without having to also tell him that Calum was perving on his neighbour. And Calum would never live something like that down.Â
So instead he eats half a loaf of breadâthe only thing in his fridge that wonât come right back out againâand decides to finish correcting the essays heâs collecting from his students. He gets about halfway through before he starts nodding off.Â
The earliest morning birds are chirping by the time Calum sets his pen down and drops his head into his arms. The sun isnât up yet, so Calum tries to get at least a few hours of rest before he has to be up for work.Â
Except the second his head hits the pillow, heâs hearing Michaelâs voice. Seeing Michael, spread out on his bedsheets, whining and moaning into his hand as he pumps two fingers in and out of himself. Calling Calumâs name.Â
The image shocks him so bad, he sits straight up in bed. Heâs chubbing up again, but he refuses to acknowledge it. Itâs an uncomfortable walk to the washroom, where he splashes cold water on his face and forces himself to discard the memory of Michaelâs voice as he comes apart. How heâd said Calumâs name so sweetly.Â
The rest of Calumâs day predictably trash. He feels like a walking corpse, going through his routines numbly, because all he can think about is his name on Michaelâs tongue. During his lectures, heâs so completely out of it that he puts on a documentary film for the class and zones out over a book. Which he realized later heâd been holding upside-down.Â
At lunch, Calum trips over nothing in the teacherâs lounge. Luke looks at him like heâs insaneâwhich Calum might as well be, because even seated across the most unappealing, boring pile of messy notebooks that demand his immediate attention, Calumâs thinking of Michael.Â
All he wants to do is go home and sleep. He thinks maybe if he sleeps well enough, heâll wake up tomorrow to learn that all this had just been a terrible dream. His evil neighbour would turn out to be an ugly, disdainful old man with bunions. He never heard Michael call his name as he came all over himself. All of it was just a nightmare.Â
But nothing ever goes Calumâs way.Â
He speed-walks the way from the bus stop to the building, jams his finger repeatedly into the elevator call-button like itâd make the lift come any faster, and nearly sprints through the hallway into his apartment. He was desperate to get some sleep, but worse than that, he was terrified to run into Michael.Â
He falls into bed comfortably that evening. There was not a peep from the other apartment. Calum knows Michaelâs home because he heard him come in, following which he shoved balls of cotton into his ears and retired to the corner of his apartment furthest away from the shared wall.Â
But Calum canât sleep. No, he stares at his ceiling, listens to the hum of the aircon. His heart is in his throat. It was around this time yesterday that heâd heard Michael, and somehow his brain registered the event as a high-threat situation, because the adrenaline pumping through his blood has his fingertips thrumming with energy. The cotton balls in his ears only amplify the silence on his head, the sound of the blood pumping through his veins. He tugs them out.Â
Michaelâacross the wall. Touching himself. Doing god-knows-what to draw those sickly sweet, wicked moans from his lips.Â
Again, he gasps like the first time. He whines, moans, whimpers through gritted teeth. Calum can almost see his lips, bitten raw, abused. He wants to replace Michaelâs teeth with his own bites. He wants it to be his own hands, rather than Michaelâs, that are making him feel so good. He wants to see Michael writhe and cry as he takes Calumâs cockâ
He sighs. Goddammit. He should've expected this.Â
Almost every night. Every fucking night. Of the whole week.Â
Michael must be pent up as all hell, because thereâs really no other way to explain it. And itâs driving Calum up the wall becauseâitâs giving him blue balls. Calum listens, ashamed and yet shameless, as Michael plays with himself every night, and every time he gasps Calumâs name, itâs another hard-on in Calumâs trousers.Â
Heâs mortified. But Calumâs gone over a week now, popping boners every night without so much as daring to even adjust himself in his pants. Heâs afraid to touch himself. That would beâwrong. It would be an invasion of Michaelâs privacy. It would be morally irredeemable. Calum wouldnât do that to Michael.Â
Michael doesnât seem to have any reservations, though. He whines Calumâs name unabashedly, uncaring that the sound might carry through the wall. Calum might be making it up, but itâs like he gets louder, more desperate, more pornographic with each passing day. Calumâs having a hard time blocking it out.Â
Itâs almost funny. First it was the livestreaming. Now itâs Calumâs own personal hell.Â
Those fucking sounds are taking over his mind. Heâs thinking of Michael constantly. He goes through his days on autopilot, simultaneously dreading and anticipating getting home, because Michael will be there, across the wall, singing Calumâs name on the edge of a gasp, a moan, a whimper.Â
The next day at work, during a free lecture, he slouches to the teachersâ lounge, dragging his feet miserably as he collapses into the seat beside Luke. He drops his head so hard on the desk that the sound startles Luke, and the old Miss Amari across the room.Â
âMate,â Luke says, poking Calum with a pencil. He doesnât react. âWhatâs wrong with you?âÂ
Calum groans in response. It sounds like wind whistling through a corpse. Luke tells him so.Â
âJusâ kill me,â Calum murmurs. His nose is painfully smushed against the table, but he doesnât have the energy to move. âJust do it. Iâm ready. Itâs my time.â
Luke shoots him a look akin to one heâd give a slug as it creepy-crawled over his best shoes.Â
âCalum.â he prods Calum in the rib. It usually works, because Calumâs freakishly ticklish. But Calum barely feels it this time. He just sighs through his mouth. Heâs miserable, and he knows he looks pathetic, but he canât bring himself to care.Â
âCalum,â Luke says. âYou look like you swallowed someoneâs grandmaâs ashes.â
Calum lifts his head a little, only to drop it against the desk again. âI might as well,â Calum gets out. âI might swallow poison while Iâm at it.âÂ
âTragic,â Luke tuts. âIâll write out your obituary.â
âDonât make fun. Iâll take you down with me.â
He tries to disappear into the desk. If he squishes up against it hard enough, maybe heâll melt into it.Â
Luke looks on. He keeps shooting Calum these pitiful looks. Eventually, he puts away the attendance register he was working on and scoots his chair over to Calum. He nudges him in the ankle.Â
âHey,â Luke says. âI donât know what the fuckâs up with you, but you can tell me over drinks tonight.âÂ
Calum sits up, frowning. He does desperately need a drink, butâ
âItâs a school night.âÂ
âOh my god,â Luke rolls his eyes. âYouâll live.âÂ
Calum goes to drop his head back on the desk but Luke catches the back of his collar. Scruffs him like a cat.Â
âBesides,â he says, voice lower now, like heâs sharing a secret. âI want you to meet someone.â
His cheeks have a slight pink tinge. Calumâs eyes widen in recognition.Â
âOh,â Calum gasps. âOh.âÂ
Luke turns away. âDonât fuckinââÂ
âLuke Hemmings, you secretive whore,â Calum accuses. âWhy didnât you tell me?âÂ
Luke blinks at him. âBecause,â he enunciates. Calum feels patronized. âEvery time I tried, youâd bring up your fucking neighbour again.â
The occurrences of the past week flash through Calumâs mind. Like a migraine. He groans dramatically and drops onto the desk.Â
âThere, there,â Luke pats his back placatingly as he gets back to his work. âIâll text you the address.âÂ
When Calum walks into the place Luke asked to meet, the first thing he spots is the massive bar counter. Heâs headed for it, straight through the dancefloor like a buffoon, when someone steps in his way, and he walks face-first into the guyâs back.Â
He lets out an oof! involuntarily. The guy turns around, and Calumâs ready to get into his first bar-fight of the evening whenâ
âAshton!â Calum breathes. âI meanâAsh. What are you doing here?âÂ
Ashton tilts his head at Calum, perplexed. He kind of looks like an overgrown, super beefy puppy. âLuke didnât tell you?âÂ
âLuke didnât tell me whâoh,â the realization comes to him in the silence between two songs over the club stereo. Ashton is the guy Luke wants Calum to meet.Â
An arm lands around Calumâs shoulders and he looks to see Luke. Blond, grinning, tipsy Luke, whoâs already making heart-eyes at Ashton.Â
âYouâve met!â he yells, directly into Calumâs ear. Calum winces at the decibel of his voice.Â
Calum looks between Luke hanging off of him, and Ashton, who smiles fondly at his boyfriend, and thinks:Â
This is going to be a long night.
âI need a drink,â Calum mutters. Ashton picks up on it.
âIâm on it!â he says, over the buzz of the crowd. Meanwhile, Lukeâs already tugging at Calumâs sleeve.Â
âWeâre going to talk,â Luke tells him. âAbout whateverâs got you so down in the dumps.âÂ
âIâm not down in thââ
âYouâve looked constipated for the entire week,â Luke replies. âEither we leave here with seven cocktails in your system, or a laxative. Which is it?âÂ
Calum rolls his eyes. He lets Luke weave him through the crowd. Itâs a surprisingly busy bar, especially for a week night, but Luke seems to know his way around. He leads them into a little circular table on one end of the club.Â
âSo,â Luke says, resting his chin in his palm. âWhatâs bothering you?âÂ
Calum sighs. He considers telling Luke everything, but first he has a few questions of his own.Â
âWhen didâŠyou and Ashton?â he asks.Â
Lukeâs face breaks into a dreamy smile.Â
âI took his number that first day,â Luke says. âWe texted a bit back and forth and then a week later he asked me out.âÂ
Calum smiles. Heâs happy for Luke. The guy deserves someone whoâll love him for the way he is. God knows Lukeâs had terrible experiences in the past. âIâm happy for you,â Calum tells him.
âI really like himâŠâ Luke trails off. Then, as though coming back to his senses, he snaps upright. âDonât change the subject. Whatâs the matter with you?â
Calum wants to tell him. He really, really does, but heâs afraid Lukeâs going to make fun of him. If the roles were reversed, Calum would do the same. Plus, itâs not an easy story to narrate out loud. Calumâs so deathly ashamed of himself, and so terribly pent up that heâs afraid heâd word-vomit all his feelings towards Michael right there, and Luke would be left reeling.Â
And yetâŠthis is Luke. His Luke. His best friend. Theyâd seen the best and worst of each other. MaybeâŠmaybe Luke would get it. After all, this canât be the worst thing thatâs ever happened in their entire friendship, can it?Â
So Calum takes a deep breath, and spills his fucking guts.Â
He tells Luke about the elevator ride with Ashton, their conversation about Michael. How Calum watched Ashton unlock Michaelâs door and step in. How he freaked out and spiralled until Ashton eventually left. The ensuing silence. And thenâŠMichael. How he listened in even though he shouldnât have. How he sat there, picturing it all. How Michael called out Calumâs name.Â
How itâs been this way for a week, and itâs getting to a point where Calum canât close his eyes anymore without seeing Michael, without hearing him.Â
And when Calum is all done talking, he looks at Luke, waiting for him to say something. Anything at all. Maybe for Luke to say he understands. Hopefully not that Luke thinks Calum is a disgusting pervert.Â
But Luke blinks at Calum slowly, like a cat. Then, he throws his head back, and cackles.Â
Calum furrows his brows. âWhatâs so funny?âÂ
But Luke just continues laughing, like Calumâs made the worldâs most hilarious joke. Thereâs genuine tears in his eyes as he holds a finger up, gesturing for Calum to âwait a minuteâ. He gasps and chokes on his own heaving laughter, all while Calum sits frozen across from him, arms crossed defensively. Of all the reactions Calum had predicted, this certainly wasnât in his cards.Â
âLuke,â Calum grits. âStop laughing.âÂ
Luke clutches his belly, wheezing. He sounds a bit like a dying cat.Â
âWhatâs so fucking funny?âÂ
And when Calum sits in silence for another whole minute, Luke still giggling and snorting into his hands, drawing the attention of people around, Calum flushes down to his chest.Â
âIâmâIâm leaving,â he mutters. This isâthis was a bad idea. Calum knows it now. Calum also knows never to trust Luke with a secret again.Â
As Calum rises from his seat, Luke waves desperately at him, like heâs asking Calum to wait, but he can barely speak through his gasping snickers. Calum turns to grab his wallet off the table when Ashton returns, slamming three beers down on the table and turning to grin at him.Â
Luke finally catches his breath. âIâmâIâm laughing because this whole thing is funny,â he says, wiping the tears of mirth streaming down his cheeks.Â
Ashton hands Calum a bottle as he slips into his seat beside Luke. Calum just stands there, numb. The condensation from the bottle drips down over his fingers.Â
âCalum,â Ashton calls, and Calum meets his eyes. Ash smiles like he knows something Calum doesnât. That look is beginning to piss Calum off, but then Ashton continues. âMichaelâs known this whole time that you were his neighbour.âÂ
And suddenly it's like the world drops out from under his feet.Â
He falls back into his place on the couch. âWhat.â
Ashton nods. âHe saw you move in,â he says. âYour very first day in. He freaked the fuck out about having a hot neighbour.â
Calum thinks maybe he needs to chug all three bottles of alcohol on the table. Effective immediately.Â
âButââ he starts, then stops. Thereâs so many things flitting around in his head. So many pieces coming together. âBut theâthe livestreaming. All those fucking pranks. TheâŠthis past weekâŠâ
Ashton laughs. Luke looks absolutely ecstatic. A nearby table goes quiet, as though theyâre listening in.Â
âHe did that shit knowing it was you,â Ash says, matter-of-factly. âHeâs a stubborn fuck. You know this, donât you?âÂ
And Calum does know. His heart is beating loudly in his ears. He can barely think.Â
âWhy?â Calum asks. He has so many questions. So many things he needs to sort out.Â
âHeâsâŠâ Ashton seems to struggle to find the words. Under the table, Calum is tapping his foot impatiently. Luke only smiles knowingly, taking a swig from his bottle. âMichael doesnât like making the first move. He likes getting what he wants, but on his own terms. He was hoping all those pranks would make you go talk to him, instead of him having to come ask you out.âÂ
Calum considers this. Lets Ashtonâs words sink in.Â
Michael knew Calum was his neighbour all along.Â
All those silly pranks. The notes. Michael, looking exhausted over his âside hustleâ. Michael, telling Calum he was buying batteries for a cheap amazon order. Michael, avoiding getting into the elevator with Calum. Michael, who fucked with Calum knowing who was on the other side of the wall.Â
Michael, calling out Calumâs name with his hand around his cock, knowing Calum would hear.Â
He stands up suddenly. âI think Iâm going to go figure some things out.â
Luke raises his bottle in cheers. âHave fun, loverboy.âÂ
Calum flips him off. He downs his bottle. He disappears into the crowd.Â
In the taxi ride home, Calum thinks about everything heâs just learned. He feels a bit angry at first. Michael basically fucked with Calumâs head for no reason. But then the hot anger simmers into something else. Something warmer, smoother. Just under the surface.Â
For so long, Calum was playing with only half the cards. Now that heâs got the whole set, heâs planning on raising the stakes. Michaelâs not the only one with tricks up his sleeve.
â
Three days down the line, Calumâs hit with an incredible stroke of luck. He walks into his building lobby just in time to see a flash of dyed hair enter the elevator, and the doors begin to fall shut.Â
He strides across the floor, calls out a firm, âHold the lift, please.âÂ
And Michael does, if only because he didnât know it was Calum asking.Â
As soon as Calum steps into the lift, his eyes find Michaelâs. Michaelâs face grows red, in recognition, in guilt. In shame. Maybe, in arousal.Â
Calum backs into the corner of the elevator and leans against the railing lazily. Michael, meanwhile, stands stock still, refusing to move. His back straightens. He looks pointedly straight ahead, and he doesnât say anything to Calum. So Calum stands back, relaxes against the elevator wall, and lets his eyes drag up the length of Michaelâs body. He knows Michael can feel his eyes on him. In the silence, he can hear Michaelâs breath as it stutters from his lungs.
Calum clears his throat conversationally.Â
âBeen sleeping well lately?â he asks, voice dripping in innocent curiosity. With morbid satisfaction, Calum watches Michael stiffen.Â
The elevator doors fall shut. Trapping them both together, in the suffocating tension.Â
âYes,â Michael replies, still facing away, then coughs a little when his voice comes out raspy. âYes, I have.âÂ
âHm,â Calum shrugs to himself. Crosses his arms. âCanât say the same, really.âÂ
Calum lets the words linger uncomfortably, until Michael takes the bait and replies. âWhyâŠwhyâs that?âÂ
Calum grins. He watches Michaelâs lashes flutter.Â
âTrouble with the neighbour again,â Calum replies. His voice is low, husky. It folds into the air in the lift. Gets under Michaelâs skin.Â
Michaelâs gaze falls. He fiddles with the rings on his fingers, but doesnât respond. Calum audibly hears him gulp.Â
Calum straightens up, and Michael watches his movements from the corner of his eye.Â
âHeâs just so loud,â Calum tells him, the lilt of his voice dripping with suggestion. âEspecially late at night.â
The air is thick. Saturated. Michael stays still, forces himself not to move as Calum takes a step closer to him.Â
âWalls are thin, yâknow?â Calum breathes.Â
Michaelâs eyes squeeze shut. Tension lines his shoulders. His hands shake slightly, with the effort of holding back, of keeping his breath steady. Calumâs grin grows cruel.Â
The elevator signals theyâve arrived on their floor. Calum steps further into Michaelâs space, until his breath is fanning the hair at the base of his neck. He watches goosebumps arise on Michaelâs skin.Â
âRelax, Mikey,â Calum whispers to him. âYou sound pretty when you cry fâme.âÂ
The doors open, and Calum steps back. He watches Michael let out a relieved breath.Â
Calum steps past him and out into the hallway. As he goes, he lets his fingertips graze Michaelâs waist. He looks over his shoulder. Slowly, deliberately, he licks his lips upon a devilish smirk, meeting Michaelâs gaze.Â
The doors close on Michaelâs flustered face. Calum chuckles.Â
Calum sleeps well and smug that night, because the apartment next door is quiet for once.Â
Calumâs distracted at work the next day, buzzing with energy and anticipation at his plans for later tonight. He goes through his lectures in a daze, eyes flitting to the clock every five minutes, counting down the seconds in his head. If his students take note of his dizzy agitation, they donât mention it to him. Luke keeps shooting him these smug looks, but Calum ignores him. Heâs got better things to worry about.Â
He has to leave later that day because of a mishap between two of his seniors, but ultimately it all ends well, and Calumâs off the clock by six p.m. Boarding his bus, he's nearly vibrating in his seat, fingers tapping away anxiously at the plastic armrest, which has a few people shooting him odd looks. He doesnât care.Â
He basically power-walks up to his apartment. Doesnât run into anyone on the way there, which is good because heâs so anxious he might snap at them.
Once heâs inside, he forces himself to relax. For about half an hour, he sits at his kitchen table, meditating, getting all his excited energy out with each exhale. He puts on his favourite playlist and turns it up while he settles into a warm shower, letting the tension flow out of his muscles. His heart flutters in his chest at the thought of Michael, who should be getting home soon.Â
When he gets out, he dresses in a comfortable pair of sweatpants. He forgoes his shirt. For what heâs got plannedâif it worksâhe wonât need his shirt at all.Â
Like clockwork, Calumâs ears perk up at the telltale click of Michaelâs key sliding into place, the door opening and shutting behind him. Everything is going according to plan.Â
Calum waits. Bides his time until the clatter of Michael going about his chores has died down.Â
He settles into the plush cushions of his couch, where he knows the sound carries.Â
Slowly, he slips his hand under his sweats. He squeezes himself, just testing the feel of himself under his palm. He drops his head back against the headrest and hisses through his teeth.Â
After over a week of cockblocking himself, Callum feels like he deserves to savour this. He pushes his pants lower, just enough to get his hardening cock out. He licks his palm, wraps a hand around his base and strokes once along the length of his shaft.Â
The stimulation is delicious. He allows himself to moan, a low sound under his breath.Â
In the dim light of the doom, Calum coaxes himself until heâs fully erect, worrying his bottom lip as he tries not to give in and chase a quick release. He gathers the precome leaking from his tip and smears it down his cock, his eyes falling shut at the feeling.Â
He lets his imagination have free reign. Pictures Michael sitting between his thighs, stroking him teasingly slow, licking his lips in anticipation. At last, his mouth falls open, and he moans loudly.Â
Thereâs a muffled crash from across the wall, and Calum knows Michael has heard.Â
He smiles to himself, twisting his wrist just the way he likes, fist curled tightly around himself.Â
âYeah, just like that, baby,â he murmurs, just loud enough. Pointedly picturing Michaelâs hands in place of his own.Â
âFuck,â comes Michaelâs voice, soft like heâd been trying to stay quiet. Like it slipped out against his will.Â
Empowered, Calum continues. He imagines going over to the otherâs apartment. Imagines slamming Michael against the closed door, taking him against every surface in the fucking room. He groans, a deep rumble from within his chest.Â
âShit,â he breathes. âShit, you're so fuckinâ good fâme.âÂ
He works up a steady rhythm, using his precome as lube, biting his lip. Would Michael use his spit? Would he lick along the veins on Calumâs cock? Ask politely for a taste, look at him through tears because he wants it so bad?
âI know youâd beg for it,â Calum says, because he knows Michaelâs listening. âAhâtake me so nice.â
He tightens his grip, squeezing his head at every upward stroke. He gasps, moans, putting on a show for Michael, the way Michael had been doing for the past week.Â
âF-fuckingâthink about you all the time,â Calum moans. âOn yâknees. Sitting pretty for me. Taking whatever I give you like a good girl.âÂ
His hips buck up into his fist. He can almost feel it: the phantom touch of Michaelâs lips, the scratch of his nails against Calumâs thighs as he opens wide for him, takes him down his throat like heâs made for it.Â
âMmmn, fuck, youâd be so easy, wouldnât you? Iâd make it so good for you, sweetheart.âÂ
Calum flicks his wrist, stroking himself faster, savouring the pressure, the vision of Michael in his headâ
âF-fuck, MichaelââÂ
A door slams open and shut across the wall. Calum startles so hard, heart jumping to his throat. And then thereâs a sudden pounding at his front door, and Calumâs laughing to himself because this is exactly what heâd expected. Â
He tucks himself into his sweats, still hard. He takes his own sweet time, wiping his hands and pushing his glasses up his nose.Â
Michaelâs still banging on his front door when he tugs it open. Calum smirks at the violent blush lighting his cheeks. He leans against the doorframe, letting Michael take a moment to look down the length of his body. Michaelâs eyes trail down his chest, where a bit of sweat gathers in the valley between his pecsâŠdown his absâŠdown to his hips , where his dick tents his sweats, straining against the fabric.Â
Michaelâs eyes snap back up. He points accusingly at Calum. âY-youâŠâÂ
âMichael?â Calum asks innocently. âIs there anything you need at this late hour?âÂ
Michael bites his lip, trying and failing to meet Calumâs eyes. âYouâŠyouâreâŠthis isnât fair.âÂ
Calum crosses his arms, brow quirked in amusement. âWhatâs not fair?â
Michael squints at him. The colour travels further down his neck, dipping under his shirt. Calum licks his lips.Â
âI know what youâre doing,â Michael takes a shaky breath. âI kn-know what youâre doing, andââÂ
Michael gulps. God, he looks fucking pathetic. Standing at Calumâs doorstep, fidgety and stuttering, skin glowing a bright shade of red. Calum almost gives in.Â
âAndâŠâ Michael trails off. He takes a little step back as Calum leans into his space. Calum derives a sick satisfaction from it.Â
âDid you need anything, Michael?â he asks, and thereâs a touch of authority in his tone. Calumâs in charge now, and itâs about time Michael gets that into his head.Â
Michael looks away. âUm,â he breathes. âN-no.âÂ
âYâno, I donât need anything.âÂ
Calum pulls back. Tilts his head and smiles patronizingly at Michael. âGood.â
Michael turns away to return to his apartment. Then, seemingly rethinking it, turns back to Calum. He clears his throat, but his voice sounds small.Â
âIâm sorry,â he murmurs, cheeks burning.Â
âYouâre sorry?â Calum prompts. Michael inhales, meets his eyes.Â
âGood,â he says. âNow go on off to bed, Mikey.âÂ
The next week is uneventful. Calum works very hard to keep it that way.Â
The next time Calum meets Michael in the lobby, heâs friendly, but keeps his distance. Michael can barely make eye-contact.Â
Itâs good. Itâs easy. It puts Michael on edge. Michael will be expecting something from Calum now, and Calum wonât give it to him until Michaelâs fucking begging for it.Â
âHaveâhave a good day at work,â Michael says to him, the playful, teasing glint gone from his eyes. A genuine warmth replaces it now, and an underlying ache of desire.Â
âThank you, Mikey,â Calum replies, because he knows the nickname would trigger the memories from that night. It works, because then Michaelâs flushing up to his roots.Â
This is their routine. In the mornings, if they meet, Michael wishes Calum a good day. In the evenings, if Michael streams, he keeps the volume down. Heâs ashamed, now. He knows his place, now.Â
Calumâs not a monster. He doesnât touch himself every night. In fact, Calum doesnât touch himself at all. On occasion, though, heâll squeeze himself or palm himself, and let his eyes fall shut, his mouth fall open to the pleasure. Michaelâs apartment is always very quiet afterwards.Â
Calum becomes increasingly conservative with the attention he gives Michael. Over the week, their formal greetings go from a few sparse words to Calum brushing past Michael with a hand on his waist, or even just a friendly wave. The disappointed, flustered rage on Michaelâs face keeps Calum going for the whole day.Â
But then Finals start at school, and Calum is flooded with work.Â
He has students staying back hours after class to clear doubts and ask questions, which means he doesnât get time to finish up his own workload. He stays up late at night, loses track of time as he pours over textbooks and looks over his studentsâ study notes, busy setting and rechecking paper and correction patterns.Â
He walks around like a ghost, drained of any social and emotional capacity. All he can spare for Michael is an occasional tired smile. He sees Michaelâs concern etched into his cheeks as he smiles back, always almost-reaching out to talk, to comfort Calum. Maybe just to spend their silences together. To share space. Coexist. And Calum finds that he wants that with Michael, more and more with each passing day.Â
Thereâs just so much work. Calumâs days begin to blur into just school, his desk at home, and his bed. In all the grey, the only colour he sometimes finds is in Michaelâin the dye of his hair, in the pink of his lips, the glint of his jewellery, the green of his eyes.Â
Except Calum is exhausted. Too exhausted to reach out and talk to the man. All he does is scribble away, and check and recheck notes, and sink into the dull throb of pain as his neck and back protest in response to all those hours spent hunched over.Â
He knows, in two weeks, once all the examinations are over, the papers will be sent out for grading, and then heâll be free. Next week, while his students are away on their school-issued study break, Calum will take advantage of all the free time he gets.
Itâs late at night on a Thursday that Calum finally caves and decides to have a smoke. If for nothing else, then to have a few minutes of silence.Â
Heâs out on his balcony, leaning against the railing, cigarette pinched between two fingers. Thereâs a pleasant breeze, and the sounds of the city are almost melodic in their thrum. The lights seem so far away, stretching out for miles ahead of him until they disappear into the smog of the horizon. Itâs serene. Peaceful.
Calum brings the cig to his lips.Â
âHey, handsome,â comes a playful voice, somewhere to his left. Calum turns to find Michael stepping out into his own balcony, wearing a fond smile. âFancy seeing you out here.âÂ
Calum exhales the smoke before smiling back.Â
âHi, pretty,â he says, then almost backpedals because the nickname wasnât meant to slip out. Except it brings a warm glow to Michaelâs cheeks as his eyes flit over their view. He comes over to lean against the railing of his own balcony. Â
The wind carries the faint scent of Michaelâs cologne over to Calum. In the darkness, under the faint moonlight, Michaelâs skin seems to glow. The image before him is just like Calum had wantedâto share silences with Michael. To share space, comfortably.Â
âYouâve been busy,â Michael observes. His eyes follow a couple, far below, as they stroll along a street, before turning a corner and disappearing.Â
Calum takes another drag before replying. âWork has been crazy,â he sighs.Â
Michael looks at him. âTired?âÂ
Calum lets his head drop. âExhausted.âÂ
âIâm sorry,â Michael says, and his voice is so sweet, so genuine. âI wish I could help.â
Calum shakes his head, meets Michaelâs gaze and smiles. âYouâre helping right now.âÂ
It draws a melodic laugh from the man.Â
They fall into a comfortable silence. The breeze whistles, rattling the glass doors of their balconies gently. Far below, flower petals from a tree catch the wind and drag across the sidewalk. The moon dims and glows as the clouds pass before her, and Calum sips deeply from his cigarette, eyes closed to the world.Â
âIâmâŠâ Michael starts. âIâm sorry. About everything.âÂ
Calum opens his eyes. He raises a brow, turning to the other man. Michael fidgets with the sleeves of his shirt.
âI shouldnât have doneâŠall of that,â he goes on. âI know the sound bothered you, and I kept it up still. TheâŠum, the pranks too. Some of themâsome of them werenât okay.â
Michael flushes. Calum knows theyâre both thinking of âThe Speaker Incident.âÂ
Michael clears his throat. âThey were all stupid,â he says, shaking his head. âI justâŠI guess I just wanted you to talk to me, and I was childish about it. Iâm sorry.â
Michael takes a deep breath, like heâs trying to get out the words that are stuck in his chest.Â
âI shouldâve been braver,â he says, cheeks burning. He canât bring his eyes to meet Calumâs. âI shouldâve done something else, but I was stupid becauseâbecause I really, really like you, and I still want something with you.âÂ
Michael looks at Calum, a worried frown marring his beautiful features. âIf youâll have me,â he adds, self-conscious.Â
Calum breathes in the night air. He puts out his cigarette, tosses it to the side.Â
âIâm sorry, too,â Calum says. âI shouldnât haveâŠacted the way I did.âÂ
Michael smiles. Understanding. Warm.Â
âItâs okay,â he breathes. âI guess we were both stupid.âÂ
He tilts his head, like theyâre sharing some kind of secret, and chuckles under his breath. Calumâs chest aches at the sound. His heart flutters.Â
Oh, he thinks. Iâm absolutely fucked for this guy.Â
Michael looks out at the city again, and the breeze ruffles his hair a little.Â
âI shouldâŠprobably get back inside,â he says. âItâs getting late.â
âYeah,â Calum says, even though he really wants to say no stay please lets talk forever let me make you laugh again stay stay stayâ
âGoodnight, Calum,â Michael says. He slides his balcony door open and steps in.
âMichael,â Calum says, because really, heâs waited long enough. Heâs fucked around long enough. And now that theyâve finally had this conversation, told each other the truth, what more is left to do?Â
Michael pauses. Meets Calumâs gaze.Â
Calum looks at him, at the hopeful shine of his eyes, the way his fingers tighten around the doorframe.Â
âIâll pick you up at seven tomorrow,â Calum tells him. âDress nice.âÂ
Michaelâs face splits into the most beautiful smile.Â
âOkay,â he says, unable to hide his relief, his excitement. He closes the balcony door, but pauses to look back at Calum before he disappears into his apartment.Â
Calum thinks, I might be in love.Â
Calum knocks on Michaelâs door at seven o'clock on the dot. Michael swings the door open with the biggest smile on his face, and Calum has to resist the urge to pounce on him right then and there. But he doesnât. No, heâs got a plan.Â
The date goes wonderfully. Calum takes Michael to a place with warm lights and fantastic liquor. They talk for hours, forgetting the food on their plates, laughing and smiling and flirting like theyâd been this way for years. Calum wants to stay there forever, watching the light catch Michaelâs eyes, the whisper of mirth on his lips, the way their fingers intertwine as though coming home.Â
They go out for ice-cream after. Michael picks something exotic and tangy. Calum wants to lick it from his tongue.
On the walk home, Michaelâs hand finds Calumâs, and the memory etches itself into place. Under streetlights, under stars, Calumâs shoulder brushes Michaelâs, and he feels like he can finally breathe.Â
When they get home, Michael leans against his door, biting his lip shyly. Theyâre standing far too close together, and Calumâs fingers are buzzing with anticipation.Â
Michaelâs hand finds Calumâs collar and he pulls him in. Calum goes willingly. All alone in that hallway, Calum kisses Michael, sweet and lingering. He breathes Michael in, tastes the tip of his tongue, memorizes the way his body curves into Calumâs. Michael moans, licks into Calumâs mouth, deepening the kiss, desperate, wantingâ
With an enormous effort, Calum pulls away. He stays close, nearly speaking into Michaelâs lips.Â
âItâs late,â he says.Â
âMm,â Michael responds, distracted as he chases Calumâs lips. Calum stops him with a hand on his lip.Â
âI have to be up early tomorrow,â he smiles. Itâs a lie. Itâs Saturday tomorrow.Â
But the disappointment on Michaelâs face is immediately evident. It makes Calumâs knees weak, the way he pouts up at him.Â
Calum steps back from Michael, and all the warmth leaves him immediately. God, itâs an effort not to take Michael right there in the hallway with the way heâs looking at him so invitingly.Â
âIâll see you tomorrow, pretty,â he tells Michael. He moves to unlock his door.Â
Michael gulps. âOh,â he says, voice small. Almost hurt. âOkay.âÂ
He watches as Calum opens the door to his apartment and pockets the keys. Calum smiles tenderly at Michael, even as he shuts the door in his face.Â
Calum waits by his door, listening intently as Michael stands there for a moment, then unlocks his own door and steps in.Â
Itâs funny. Calum steps back from his door, grinning to himself. He unbuttons his shirt, smiling like an idiot, because heâs teased Michael for so long now. Let Michael have a little taste through that kiss, then took it all away.Â
Michael must beâfrustrated. Pissed off, even, and rightfully so because to him, it probably looks like Calum led him on only to leave him high and dry. Calum expects Michael to crack any moment now. Either heâd stand there, pressed against his door, getting himself off with his shirt held up between his teeth, orâ
Thereâs an impatient pounding at Calumâs door.Â
Shirt still half-undone, Calum waits a few moments, just to torture Michael a little. He swings open his door.Â
Michael stands there, cheeks flushed, brows furrowed because heâs upset. Itâs a cute look on him, as he looks Calum over, then lunges at him.Â
His hands go around Calumâs shoulders immediately, pulling him in, and Calum catches him by his waist. The door shuts loudly as Calum presses him back into it, and Michael captures his lips.Â
âYouâfuckinâ tease,â Michael accuses, as he nips at Calumâs bottom lip. Heâs insatiable. The kiss is hungryâviolent, almost, in how messily Michael sucks at Calumâs tongue, moans into him, grinds his hips against the other manâs.Â
Calum laughs into the kiss. Michael draws him impossibly closer, one leg coming up to wrap around Calumâs thigh, to press him further into himself. His hand goes down Calumâs chest, fingers exploring the bare skin.Â
Calumâs painting small, biting kisses down Michaelâs neck, and Michael turns his head to give him better access. His teeth scrape dangerously along Michaelâs jugular, and the man lets out a high-pitched whine.Â
âFffâCalum,â he gasps, nails digging into Calumâs shoulder. Calum only chuckles into his skin. âCalumââÂ
âYeah?â Calum calls, busy tracing a path down to his collarbones with his lips. When Michael tugs at his sleeve, Calum knows heâs asking for his attention. He pauses.Â
Michael looks down at him, uncertainty bleeding into confidence in his eyes. âYouâŠâ he licks his lips. âYouâre going to let me suck your cock.âÂ
Calumâs belly swoops, his heart skipping like ten beats in a row. Fuck. He really wants that, butâŠnot yet.Â
Calum tilts his head, grinning up at Michael. âI am?âÂ
Calumâs hands creep up to find purchase on Michael's hips as the other man fumbles. âY-yes,â Michael breathes, clearly struggling to pay attention. âYou are.âÂ
âHm,â Calum tilts his head. He comes up to press a quick kiss to Michaelâs lips before using his grip on his waist to spin him around. Michael gasps, hands coming up to find support against the door. Calum crowds him into the wall, licking along the line of his shoulder and nibbling at a spot under his ear. Michael whines.Â
âI think,â Calum starts, drunk on the taste of Michaelâs skin. âI ought to teach you a thing or two about manners, hm?âÂ
Michael bites his lip, trying and failing to keep his little noises hidden. When he doesnât reply, Calum trails a hand up from Michaelâs bellow, up his throat, and settles his hand there, squeezing just enough to get Michaelâs attention Michaelâs eyes flutter shut and his head falls back on Calumâs shoulder.Â
âWhat do you say, Michael?â Calum breathes, lips brushing his ear.Â
âY-es, sir,â Michael gasps. His fingers curl into fists, scrabbling for something to hold on to against the door. Calum presses one last kiss to Michaelâs neck, then steps back altogether. Michaelâs knees nearly give out, but he catches himself. Supporting his weight, he turns to meet Calumâs eyes.Â
He looksâhe looks fucking ruined already. Skin flushed and warm, pupils blown wide, lips bitten and raw. He takes Calum in. Calum, who stands tall, arms crossed, looking down his nose at Michael. He exhales through his mouth. He canât wait to take Michael apart, piece by piece.Â
Calum gestures towards the corridor leading further into his apartment.Â
âGo find my room,â he says. âI want you naked on my bed when I get there.âÂ
Michael hesitates for just a moment, before a sly smile parts his lips and he pads confidently towards Calumâs room, tugging his shirt up and over his head as he goes. He looks over his shoulder, gauging Calumâs reaction as the skin of his torso comes into view. Calum entertains him, letting his eyes trail appreciatively down his back.Â
Michael finds Calumâs room, pushes past the door and disappears out of view. Calum gives him a few minutes, generously. The apartment is so quiet, but Calum can hear his heartbeat as it pounds against his ribcage. His skin is crawling, blood thrumming as he tries not to fidget with excitement, anticipation. He knows Michaelâs stripping just one wall over. Michaelâs stripping for him.Â
It sends a zip of energy up his spine. Heâs going to break Michael down until heâs fucking sobbing, until heâs begging for Calumâs cockâand then some. Itâs a little sadistic, sure. But Calum never claimed to be nice.Â
The minutes stretch out into eternity. Calum knows heâs waited much longer than it would take for Michael to get his clothes off. But he revels in the wait, in the desperate itch of impatience in his bones. Michael will be squirming, belly turning as he tries to piece together what happens next.Â
Itâs a lazy stroll, unhurried and aimless, down to his room. He walks through the doorframe, and lets his eyes just barely flit over Michael.Â
His breath catches in his lungs.Â
The moonlight dances across Michaelâs skin in the dark room. He sits at the edge of the bed, thighs spread, already half-hard. Michaelâs cock is, like the rest of him, predictably pretty. Flushed pink, it sits untouched between his legs, even as his shoulders shake in restraint. He wants to be good, Calum can tellâbecause Michaelâs hands are fisted tight beside him. Heâs looking straight down, cheeks on fire, but heâs aware of Calum when he walks in.Â
Intentionally, Calum doesnât look too long, hides the arousal in his eyes. He walks across the room, to his dresser. Basically ignoring the fucking incarnation of Venus sitting on his bedsheets.Â
âYou know the colour system, Michael?â Calum asks, back turned as he looks through the top drawer. He finds what heâs looking for and pockets it. Then crouches to open his bottom drawer.Â
Michael nodsâthen, realizing Calum canât see him, clears his throat. âYes.âÂ
âGood,â Calum says. âI have a few rules for you before we start. Is that okay?âÂ
Michael is quiet this time. He stays silent, until Calum locates the item heâs seeking in his drawer and hides it in his palm. He turns and meets Michaelâs gaze expectantly.Â
âWe speak when spoken to, Mikey,â Calum tells him. Michaelâs eyes fall away, and he flushes.Â
âYes,â he murmurs. Then, catching himself, âYes, sir.âÂ
Calum lets him sit there, silent and uncomfortable once he notices just how undressed he is compared to the fully-clothed Calum. How exposed he is. How much Calum can see. Softly, he mutters, âI donât like rules.â
Calum chuckles. The sound clearly gets under Michaelâs skin, for he shifts a little on his thighs. Tries to draw his legs closed. Calum crosses the room again, not looking at Michael, not giving him the attention he needs.Â
âYouâll need them tonight if you want me to fuck you, pretty,â Calum replies. He hears Michaelâs sharp intake of breath.Â
Calum drags the chair from his desk to the centre of the room. Sets it so that itâs facing Michael on the bed.Â
âNow,â Calum says. He looks at Michael fully, checking him out as Michaelâs skin heats under his gaze. It settles the man, though. He needs the attention. âI want you to use your words tonight.âÂ
Calum approaches Michael. As he stands over him, Michaelâs gaze moves up to meet his eyes. Calum cups his cheek gently.Â
âIf you want something from me,â Calum tells him, voice gentle, coaxing. âYouâre going to ask for permission. Youâre going to say âpleaseâ.âÂ
Michaelâs eyes flutter.Â
âI wonât give you what you want unless you ask real nice, okay?â he continues.Â
Michael nods. Calum lets this one slide because Michaelâs still learning. Heâll catch up. Calum will make sure of it.Â
âI donât like to be disappointed, Michael,â Calum says, thumb tracing Michaelâs lower lip. âYou know that, donât you?âÂ
Michael meets his eyes. âYes, sir.âÂ
âAnd if you disappoint me, what do you say?âÂ
Michael bites his lip. He pauses, consideringâbut thatâs okay. Calum can wait. He wants Michael to figure it out for himself.Â
âThatâŠâ Michael ventures. âThat Iâm sorry.âÂ
Calum smiles. âVery good.âÂ
Michael exhales through his nose, relieved at Calumâs approval. Calumâs hand finds its place around Michaelâs neck again. Just feeling him out, never applying pressure. He feels Michaelâs adams apple bob as he swallows deeply.Â
âAnd when you feel good,â Calum tells him, voice low, barely above a whisper. âI want you to thank me.âÂ
Michael makes a noise low in his throat. Calum leans in, breath fanning Michaelâs cheek. The other man chases Calumâs lips, but Calum holds him in place.Â
âI need you to understand something,â Calum murmurs, eyes fixed on Michaelâs lips because he canât look away.Â
âYouâve gotta understand none of this is for you, baby,â Calum says, and Michaelâs eyes snap open to meet Calumâs. Theyâre dilated, green devoured entirely by the black of his pupils. He licks his lips as Calum continues. âEverything that happens tonight is for my pleasure. âÂ
Michaelâs eyebrows quiver. He moulds into Calumâs touch, but then Calum is pulling away. He lays out the things heâd recovered from his dresser onto the bed.Â
âAm I understood?â he says, voice firm now.Â
Michael nods, quick and desperate. âYes,â he gasps. âGod, yes.âÂ
Calum presses one last kiss to his lips, just barely brushing, before he steps back and falls into the chair heâd pulled out earlier. Michaelâs eyes fall onto the items laid out beside him.Â
A bottle of lube. And a bullet vibe.Â
His face flushes. He turns to Calum, who stretches out his legs lazily. Michaelâs eyes catch the bulge in his trousers before they come up to his face.Â
âYouâre not going toâ?â
âMe?â Calum laughs, loud and mocking. âOh, no, baby.â
Calum rests his knuckles against his temple, supporting himself with an elbow along his armrest. He looks at Michael through a smirk.Â
âAfter all your teasing?â Calum goes on. Michaelâ eyes widen, fist tightening around the little bottle. âFucking yourself while I could hear, whining my name like a whoreâŠI donât think youâve earned my touch just yet, sweetheart.â
Michael folds into himself, thighs pulling shut. He falls back onto the bed, looking between Calum and the bottle in his hands. Calum leans forward, resting his hands on his knees.Â
âMichael,â he calls softly, and Michael looks at him immediately. So obedient. It brings a smile to Calumâs lips. âYou want to be good for me, donât you?âÂ
Michae bites his lip. âI do.â
âThen touch yourself, pretty,â Calum says. âShow me what you did across that wall.âÂ
âBut I wantââ
âI donât care what you want,â Calum says, sitting back. âYouâre gonna work for it, arenât you? Not gonna touch you until you cry nice and pretty fâme.âÂ
Michael still looks like he wants to disagree. He unbuttons his shirt all the way, watching as Michael wets his lips, following the movement of Calumâs fingers. He goes as far as undoing the button of his trousers, but thatâs all heâll let Michael have at the moment. Sitting shirtless there, he rolls his shoulders.Â
âLean back for me, baby,â he murmurs. He watches as the command in his voice sinks into Michaelâs skin. Michael slides further up and leans back against the headboard of the bed. He slides his legs open, looking to the side as he does, cheeks stained red. The blush travels further down his chest.Â
Calumâs mouth goes dry.Â
âIâŠIâmââ Michael canât seem to get the words out, stuttering as he struggles to relax, to adjust to how vulnerable he is, how heâs at Calumâs mercy right now.Â
It makes Calumâs chest grow warm, arousal gathering low in his belly. Good.Â
âI know,â he shushes, condescending. âEmbarassing, isnât it? All spread out like this, for me to look at?âÂ
âWords, Michael,â Calum says, sharper now. âTell me how you feel.âÂ
âI feelââ Michael cuts himself off. âI feelâŠopen.âÂ
âYâlike being looked at?âÂ
Calum hums. âGo on,â he prompts. âPut on a show for me.â
Michael pauses, hesitant. Then, he uncaps the bottle in his hand. Slicks up his fingers.Â
âCan I?â he pleads, and his voice is so sweet.Â
âGo ahead,â Calum consents.Â
Michael sinks his index finger knuckle deep, all in one go. He drops his head back against the headboard, eyes falling shut. A reverberating moan slips from his lips. Calumâs eyes are locked on his slick hole, how he slowly pumps his finger in and out.Â
âWhat do we say?â Calum prompts, even as his voice is low, heavy with desire.
Michael clearly struggles to register Calumâs words, but when he does, he fumbles through the words. âTh-thank you, sir, ahââÂ
âTell me what you thought about,â Calum breathes. âAcross the wall, all those days.âÂ
Michael bites his lip upon a moan. âAh-ah,â Calum tuts. âCommit to it, baby. Let me hear you.âÂ
Michaelâs so fucking obedient, he lets his lips drop open and whines obscenely.
âI thought about you,â he gasps. âYourâyour handsâ around mâwaist. Thought about sucking you off in that fuckinâ grocery store.âÂ
Calumâs pants suddenly grow extremely uncomfortable at the image of Michael, taking him down to the base in one of the aisles of the grocery store. Michael gasps as he curls his finger, drawing Calum back.Â
âI thought ofâŠsitting on your cock while yâworked,â Michael breathes, eyes fluttering open. âWould you bend me over your desk? Fuck meâŠahâagainst that wall between us?âÂ
âAnything you want, gorgeous,â Calum replies, transfixed. The world disappears, everything coming down to just him and Michael and the distance separating them. He can see how the resistance disappears while Michael fucks himself. âAdd another finger.âÂ
âShit,â Michael pants, pushing another finger inside himself.Â
âThank you,â he says. âThank you, thank you, thank you.âÂ
His fingers stutter clumsily inside himself, pace unstable as he loses himself to pleasure. Calum commits it all to memory, biting his tongue as he takes in how Michael writhes against the headboard. Michaelâs fingers thrust in and out of himself, hips jumping as he grinds down onto himself.Â
âHow do you feel, princess?â Calum asks. He wants to know. He wants Michael to feel his absence, not just be aware of it. Wants Michael to know it could be Calumâs fingers instead, but it wonât be until Michael gives in completely.
âSo good,â Michael whines. âSo full, butây-your handsâsirââÂ
âYeah? Want me to come over there, stretch yâout on my fingers?Â
âYâfingers just donât reach, do they? Need someone to open you out nice and wide, fuck up against that spot inside?âÂ
âThere we go,â Calum grins. âNow youâre getting it, baby.âÂ
Michaelâs back arches, his whines growing more and more desperate as he increases his pace. Calum stretches out to pick up the forgotten vibe from the foot of the bed. He tosses it gently, so that it lands where itâd get Michaelâs attention. Michael pauses his movements, eyes flitting between the toy and Calum, perplexed.Â
Calum tilts his head, mocking Michaelâs confusion. âUse that pretty head, Mikey,â Calum smiles. âTurn it on. I want you to hold it against your cock.âÂ
Michaelâs knees draw in, as though withdrawing from the viberator. âN-no, sirâŠIââÂ
âNo?â Calum pouts mockingly. âMaybe I should use it fâmyself then. Get myself off right here and leave you all fucked out on my bed. What do you think?âÂ
Michaelâs brows draw together. Heâs so pink and perfectly flushed, sweat glittering along his milky skin as it catches the light. âIâm sorry,â Michael whispers, upset, ashamed.Â
Calum tsks. âProve it to me,â he says. âTurn it on. Use it.âÂ
Michael complies. Calum nods his approval when Michael sets it to the lowest setting and presses it to his shaft. He shudders, the muscles in his abdomen tightening. Slowly, almost fearfully, he begins pumping his fingers again.Â
His toes curl into the bedsheets. Sweat lines his collarbone, the low hum of the vibrator fills the room, paired with the slick sound of Michaelâs fingers inside himself. The muscles in his whole body are tense. He looks like a fucking dream.Â
âShit, baby, look at you,â Calum breathes. He sees rather than hears Michael react to his words, in the way his spine curves, the way his eyes flutter, the way his pace stumbles as he opens himself up. âSo fuckinâ pretty. So perfect for me. What a vision.âÂ
Michael bites the inside of his cheek, eyes shut as he shudders through the stimulation.Â
âGonna fuck you so good, Mikey,â Calum tells him, and it elicits a melodic whimper from the other man. âShit, youâd take it so good for me, wonât you? Soak my cock like you were made for it.âÂ
Michael curls his fingers inside himself. âHngâsirâŠIââÂ
âTurn it all the way up, pretty girl,â Calum says. He catches the way Michaelâs lashes flutter at his words, both in shock and in shame for how much he likes it.
âI canât.â Michael gasps.Â
âTurn it up, Mikey,â Calum repeats. Michael frowns, sweat gathering on his brows. His hands shake as he pulls the toy away, turning it to the highest setting. Nervously, he looks at Calum. Calum leans further back in his seat, folding his arms. He spreads his thighs, intentionally guiding Michaelâs gaze down his body. Michaelâs lower lip parts in a shaky sigh.Â
He presses the vibrator down on himself. Immediately, his hips buck up. He chokes on a moan. âCalum.âÂ
Calumâs cock twitches in his trousers. He adjusts himself unsubtly. The vibrator is loudâalmost louder than the moans and curses spilling from Michaelâs lips. His fingers still inside himself.Â
âKeep fucking yourself, princess,â Calum tells Michael, but heâs gone completely. Tears gather along his lashes.
âI canât,â Michael gasps. âI canâtâŠahâit hurts, it hurts, pleaseââ
âYou can handle it, baby, canât you?â Calum urges. âFor me?âÂ
Michael mewls, a high-pitched, wet sound. His grip tightens around the vibe as he slowly starts moving his fingers again, almost slipping out multiple times. His back arches clean off the bed, hips jumping erratically. Calum knows heâs getting overwhelmed by his own touch. He opens his eyes. His gaze is unfocused and his lashes are wet.Â
âAdd another finger,â Calum orders, authority heavy in his voice.Â
Michael cries out, frustrated, on the verge of tears. Both his hands shake, unsteady as his hips grind up into the vibe, as his fingers twist inside himself. Painfully slow, he adds a third finger. The stretch makes him hiss, and his face scrunches up in pleasure, in discomfort.Â
He thrusts his fingers in a slow, deliberate, prolonged drag. Nearly immobile with pleasure, Calum watches as the precome dribbles down his flushed cock.Â
Itâs barely a few minutes until heâs clenching down around his fingers, shoulders shaking in pleasure as he whines and mewls and whimpers, lips slick with spit, eyes red with unshed tears. Calum smiles sweetly.Â
âGonna cum?â he asks.Â
Michael gasps, breathing shallow and uneven as he haltingly pumps his fingers. âYes.âÂ
âYeah?â Calum presses. âGonna make a mess? Fall apart for me?âÂ
Michaelâs nearly sobbing now, tears slipping freely down his red cheeks.Â
âYes,â he whines. âYes, yes, please, fuckââÂ
Michaelâs eyes fly open. He meets Calumâs gaze, steady in contrast to the way Michael shudders in pleasure. Heâs so fucking close. Heâs nearly there, he justâŠâN-no, plââÂ
âStop now, Michael,â Calum says, his voice dangerous, like a warning. The command is there. Michael is supposed to obey. Those were the rules. Itâs all for Calum.Â
Michael makes a frustrated sound, somewhere between a groan and a sob. His fingers curl deeply inside of him, the toy buzzing loudly against his shaft. He whines, eyes falling shut as he squirms, the pleasure overwhelming him. His thighs shake, and he gasps Calumâs name over and over. And then heâs coming, streaking his belly in ropes of white, the room filling with the broken sounds of his orgasm crashing over him like a tidal wave.Â
He collapses back against the pillows, sapped of energy. He catches his breath for a moment, before he notices the silence. Before he notices that Calum gave him an order, and he disobeyed it.Â
âFeel good?â comes Calumâs voice. Michael sits up on shaking limbs to meet his eyes. Calum reclines lazily against his chair, like he didnât just watch the hottest fucking scene unfold before him. He schools his expression, looks Michael over with languid disinterest.Â
He knows his gaze will sting. Itâs meant to.Â
âIââ Michael starts.Â
âI should just leave you here,â Calum says.Â
âWhat?â Calum mocks, sitting up. âI was so nice to you, wasnât I? Letting you touch yourself when I couldâve just used you to get myself off and left you hard and wanting.âÂ
Michael shifts uncomfortably. He knows heâs disappointed Calum. ââM sorry, sir.âÂ
âYeah? Youâre sorry?â Calum pouts, condescending. âThatâs not gonna cut it, sweetheart.âÂ
Michael looks away. ââM sorry forâŠcoming without permission.âÂ
âForâŠfor not listening. For being bad.âÂ
Calum tilts his head, catches the glint of tears along Michaelâs lashes. âAw,â he nearly fucking laughs. âGonna cry fâme?âÂ
Michael sniffs. He shakes his head.Â
âNo?â Calum says. He sighs dramatically. âIâm almost insulted yâdonât trust me to get you off. Donât think I can get you there, baby?âÂ
âCouldâve bent you over that balcony out there, have the whole city hear just how good I can give it to youâŠif youâd just waited,â Calum continues. He hears Michaelâs breath catch.Â
âNo, that doesnât sound right,â Calum shakes his head. âMaybe I couldâve let you ride my faceâŠmake a mess all over those pretty thighs?âÂ
Michael whimpers. The sound cuts through the air, goes straight to Calumâs cock.Â
âHow do you think I should punish you, Michael?â Calum asks. Itâs a trick question. He wants to see if Michaelâs been paying attention.Â
Michaelâs hands fist the sheets. He bites his lip, cheeks flaming. âThatâs notâŠfâme to decide, sir.âÂ
Calum smiles, pleased. âGood.âÂ
The tension ebbs out of Michaelâs frame, just from that simple word of approval. God, heâs so fucking desperate for it. Even though heâs ashamed, Calum can see him chubbing up between his thighs. Calumâs going to fucking destroy him.Â
âCrawl to me, Michael,â Calum says.Â
Michaelâs head jerks up. âWhat?âÂ
Calum sighs through his nose, irritated. âI wonât say it again.âÂ
Michael hesitates for barely a split second, before heâs sliding off the bed and onto the ground. Itâs humiliating, and thatâs exactly what Calum wants from him. His cheeks are burning, the flush travelling down his neck as he grovels on his hands and knees, across the room, to come sit between Calumâs thighs.Â
He looks up at him through wet lashes, lips pink, mouth watering already. Calum cups Michaelâs face, and the man leans into his touch. Calum knows now that Michael wears mascara, because it smudges across his cheek. Fuck.Â
With his thumb, Calum wipes away a stray tear.Â
âWhatâs this?â he smiles. âThought you said you could handle mean?âÂ
Michael frowns. âI can.âÂ
âMichael, sweetheart,â Calum laughs. âYâcouldnât even handle a bullet vibe.âÂ
Michael flushes, looking away, blinking fast.Â
âI should fuck your face for the way you acted tonight,â Calum tells him, and Michael inhales sharply, eyes snapping to the outline of Calumâs cock. His pupils dilate in anticipation. Eager.Â
âBut I have a feeling youâd enjoy that, wonât you?â Calum continues. His thumb traces Michaelâs bottom lip, pressing down slightly. Michael takes him into his mouth, licking the tip of his thumb.Â
âAsked you a question, baby,â Calum reminds him. Michael lets him go with a wet pop.Â
âPlease,â he says. His voice is deep, sultry with arousal.
âHm,â Calum feigns consideration. Then, âBeg for it.â
Michael rises to the task immediately. He brings his hands to slide along Calumâs thighs. Looks up at him sweetly, licks his lips. Fuckinâ slut, Calum wants to say. Tempress. You know what you do to me, donât you? Â
âPlease let me suck your cock,â Michael breathes, voice dripping in seduction. âPlease, sir?âÂ
Itâs an effort to keep the bored look on his face, to keep his posture relaxed, to keep his muscles from tensing under Michaelâs touch.Â
âIâll make it so good for you,â Michael stresses. âIâll take you so deep, make a messâjust the way you like.âÂ
He leans in, mouths wetly at the outline of Calumâs dick in his trousers. Calum has to force himself not to move, not to buck up against him.
âDonât you want to know?â Michael goes on, eyes hooded. âWhat itâs like? Want me to choke on it? Take you down to the base, memorize the taste of you?âÂ
Calum holds his breath without realizing it. Michael nips at the zipper of his trousers.Â
âPlease, sir? Wanna taste you. Wanna feel you in my mouth.âÂ
âShit,â Calum gasps. âFuck, go on, baby.â
Michaelâs fingers shake as he tugs Calumâs zip down. Calum lifts his hips so that Michael can pull his trousers down, just enough to reach for Calumâs cock, to pull him out, exposing his hard-on to the low chill of the room.Â
Michael sits back on his haunches as Calumâs cock bounces against his abdomen. Heâs painfully hardâhas been since the first moan Michael let spill from his lips, nearly half an hour ago.Â
âShit,â Michael says, staring unabashedly. âThisâŠyâwonât fit.â
It goes straight to Calumâs ego. He smirks, unashamed. âWeâll make it fit, wonât we, princess?âÂ
Michael gulps. He reaches for Calum, goes to wrap his hands around the base but Calum stops him with a click of his tongue.Â
âPut your hands behind your back,â Calum tells Michael. âGonna fuck that pretty mouth. Shut yâup for once.âÂ
Michael complies. Calumâs sweet with him with how pliantly he goes. Calum tucks stray strands of Michaelâs hair behind his ear, even as Michaelâs lips part, how he loosens his jaw and sticks his tongue out, trying to hide the excited glint in his eyes. Tease.
âTap my thigh twice if you want out,â Calum tells him. He presses the tip of his cock to Michaelâs mouth, spreading the precome over his lips, before he feeds himself into Michaelâs mouth completely.Â
Michael takes him like a champ. He chokes quietly when Calum hits the back of throat, eyes falling shut. Calum strokes his cheek to get his attention.
âLook at me,â Calum instructs. âYou take your eyes off me, Iâll stop.âÂ
Michael moans around him, and the vibrations are delicious. Calum threads his hand into Michaelâs hair and tightens his grip. Slowly, he rolls his hips in and out, watching the tears gather in Michaelâs eyes as he struggles to take him. The spit as it dribbles past Michaelâs lips, slips down his chin.Â
âShit, made for this, werenât you?â Calum groans.Â
Michael tries to nod, but his breath hitches, throat closing. The wet heat draws Calum in further. He uses his hold on Michaelâs hair to tug him up and down on his cock, hissing every time Michael groans. His mouth feels like heaven.Â
âThatâs my good fucking girl,â Calum breathes, as Michael swirls his tongue, hollowing his cheeks as he tries to take more of Calum. Tears slip down his face. Calumâs pace steadily increases. He moves his hand from Michaelâs hair to his throat, feels it bulge as Calum fucks his mouth. He presses down lightly, if only to feel Michael panic, the way his eyes go wide, his throat constricting.Â
It draws a laugh from Calum. âLook perfect on your knees,â Calum tells Michael, as the man struggles to keep his eyes open. âShould keep you under my desk all day, cock buried down these pretty lips.âÂ
Michael licks slyly around the ridge of Calumâs cockhead. A string of curses spill from Calumâs lips as the movement of his hips grow rougher, faster, more desperate. The wet sounds of Michael as he chokes around him fill the room, tears streaming freely down his cheeks.Â
Calum feels the hot coil of pleasure tighten in his belly. Without warning, he pulls off from Michael. The other man gasps, heaving as he catches his breath. He coughs as Calum strokes his cheek. âSo good for me, baby,â Calum praises. âCanât wait tâbe inside you.âÂ
Michael keens. âPlease, sir.âÂ
His voice is deliciously hoarse, wrecked completely as he begs so pretty on his knees for Calum to fuck him.Â
Calum guides him up from his knees, meets him halfway with a kiss so gentle, it clearly takes the other man by surprise. Michael responds in fervour, hands travelling mindlessly over Calumâs skin as Calum grips him by the hips, walks him back till they hit the edge of the bed. Calum nips at Michaelâs lip, pushing gently so Michael falls back onto the bed.Â
Michael rises on his elbows, licking his lips as Calum rids himself of his trousers and boxers. Calum wraps a hand around himself, pumping himself lazily as he looks down at Michael, waiting to split him open, to devour him.Â
âWant me to fuck you?â Calum mocks, watching Michael spread his legs, arch his back invitingly. âStretch you out, see how this pretty hole takes me?âÂ
Michael whimpers. âPlease,â he breathes. âShit, I need it. I need it.âÂ
 He slides further up the bed as Calum gets his knee on the edge of the bed. He wraps his palm around Michaelâs ankle, traces a teasing palm up, up, up to high inner thigh. Calum crawls over him, kissing where his hand has stopped, then further along Michaelâs chest, taking one of his nipples into his mouth and sucking gently.Â
Michaelâs hand drags up Calumâs back, into his hair. He fists his hand into the hair at the base of Calumâs neck and Calum hisses at the string. Michael drags him up, claiming Calumâs lips for his own.Â
Calum finds the line of Michaelâs jaw as they make out lazily. He sets his hand there as he pulls away, coaxes Michael to look at him.
âOpen your mouth,â he breathes into the space between them. Michael does, brows furrowing in confusion.Â
Unashamed, Calum spits on Michaelâs tongue, guides his lips shut. âSwallow.âÂ
Michaelâs eyes flutter. It makes Calum laugh as he draws back to shit on his knees.Â
âLook at you,â Calum says. âLaid out like a whore, just begging fâme to fuck you.âÂ
âC-Calum,â Michael gasps.Â
âI know, baby,â Calum says, teasing at Michaelâs hole, abused but still loose. He slides two fingers in, curls them up just so, and Michaelâs eyes are rolling back into his head. âBut I think Iâll take my time, no? And youâve waited so long. Hold on for a bit, Mikey.âÂ
Michael bucks up into his hand. Calum pulls out, lubes his fingers up before thrusting them back in. Heâs justâŠtrying to make sure Michaelâs open enough for him, but the way Michael writhes at his mercy is an enormous pro.Â
Calum brings his other hand to play with Michaelâs chest. Michael immediately arches into his touch as Calum pinches and twists and teases his nipples. Heâs so fucking responsive, itâs driving Calum insane.Â
He fucks with Michael for a bit longer, easing another two fingers in, enjoying the way Michael shudders and gasps. When heâs had enough, Calum slips on a condom and lines himself up. Just at the touch of his tip to Michaelâs entrance, the man is whimpering, already grinding down.Â
Calum holds Michael still by a firm grip on his waist. Michael opens up so easily for him. The tight, wet heat is almost too much for Calum, and he digs his nails into Michaelâs skin. In response, Michael clenches down, whining.Â
When he bottoms out, it's with a barely-there gasp. Michael groans, eyes falling shut, fingers grappling for purchase on the bedsheets. They hold still for a moment, waiting to adjust and itâs so fucking good, Calum knows he wonât last long. Theyâve both been on edge for far too long, and Calumâs just waiting to give Michael what heâs been asking for.Â
Eventually, Michael starts squirming, and Calum takes it as his sign to move.Â
Itâs a slow drag as he pulls all the way out, allowing Michael to feel the emptiness where Calum's supposed to be, until heâs whimpering. Calum slams his hips back, burning himself to the hilt, and he moans at the feeling. Itâs so fuckingâhot and tight and slick.Â
âS-sir,â Michael gasps, as Calum does the whole ordeal again. He goes slowâas slow as he can without bucking his hips forward into Michael, with the way his hole flutters around him, wanting, waiting, aching.Â
He picks up the pace, and the sound of their skin slapping fills the room. Calum thrusts into Michael at a brutal pace, hard and fast, and Michael just takes it, slipping further up the bedsheet with each time Calumâs hips meet his ass. Thereâs sweat gathering along Michaelâs bare chest. Calum slides his right hand up, all the way from Michaelâs belly, up, up, until heâs got Michaelâs throat underneath his palm.Â
He squeezes, careful, just enough for Michaelâs breath to stutter. He gasps, something raw and wanting, and his hand flies to Calumâs wrist.Â
âGripping me so fucking tight,â Calum grits, the pleasure overwhelming. âGonna milk my cock, yeah? Show me what youâre really good for?âÂ
Michaelâs eyes roll back again, and he bites his lip. The hand thatâs not locked around Calumâs wrist moves, slowly and unsubtly towards his own leaking cock, abandoned between them. Calum watches, lets him get close enough to his aching shaft, then grabs his wrist harshly, pinning it instead to the mattress above Michaelâs head.Â
Michaelâs eyes squeeze shut, and he openly sobs, turning his head to the side. Calum leans over him, nosing at the line of his jaw, nipping gently as he slows the movement of his hips to a tortuous, slow grind.Â
âI know you werenât going to touch yourself, were you, baby?â Calum breathes into Michaelâs skin. Michael mewls, shaking his head.Â
âGood,â Calum says. âYouâre gonna come on just my cock today, or not at all.âÂ
Michaelâs eyes fly open. âSir, Iââ
âWhat?â Calum pouts, kissing the corner of Michaelâs lip. âDonât think you can do it? Câmon, sweetheart, work these fuckinâ hips. Letâs play.âÂ
Michael responds almost immediately. It warms Calumâs skin, just how compliant, how eager, how obedient Michael is. He lifts his hips, meeting Calumâs thrusts with a slow roll of his own.Â
Calum leans over him, bringing his hands around Michaelâs thighs to press them wide, to fold him in half. The new angle has him fucking into Michael harsher, deeper.Â
Suddenly, Michaelâs eyes go wide. He gasps, broken, wet, urgent, his hands flying to scratch down Calumâs back as Calum touches something inside him. He tightens around Calum, deliciously, coaxing Calum to slam into him.Â
âThere!â Michael sobs. âThere, thereâplease!âÂ
His eyes are fixed to the feeling, glazed with tears and unfocused. Calum knows what heâs hit, and he keeps the angle, taking an unforgiving pace as he gives it to Michael hard, taking in the gasps and broken-off moans he lets out, the way his nails dig into Calumâs shoulders. Michael squeezes him like he doesnât want to ever let go. Calum hisses, tightening his hold on Michaelâs thighs, painting bruises into his skin that are sure to show up tomorrow.Â
âFeel so good, princess,â Calum presses down on Michaelâs belly, feels the shape of himself as he pistons in and out. Michael chokes at the feeling. âCan feel myself right here. Gonna fuck you into the shape of my cock.âÂ
âSir, IâI canâtâIâm going tââ
âHold it fâme, pretty,â Calum tells him. His pace is unrelenting, Michael gasping little ah! ah! ah!s of pleasure every time Calum fucks into him.Â
Michael brings his hand to his lips, bites at his knuckles.Â
âY-youâre so big,â he gasps. âItâsâsir, I w-wonât make it.âÂ
âThirty seconds,â Calum tells him. âThen I want you to come when I tell you.âÂ
Michael shakes with the effort, his noises more punctuated as he struggles now. Calumâs close too, nearing the edge, sweat dripping from his hair onto Michaelâs flushed skin. Michaelâs clenching down on him just right, stealing the breath from his lungs. His movements grow harsher, more desperate and fractured.Â
âShit, Mikey,â he gasps. âKeep doing that, IâmââÂ
Michael whines. It echoes through the room, punctuated by the sound of their skin meeting, the way he reaches blindly for Calum, pulls him in, wants him closer.Â
âNow, baby,â Calum says. âGive it to me. Let go, câmon.âÂ
On command, Michael makes a high keening sound, clenching down hard, He moans, shaking so violently, Calum has to press hand palm to Michaelâs sternum to hold him down as he thrusts a few more times. Michael sobs, crying as his cock spurts ropes of cum across his chest.Â
âFuck,â Calum gasps, and then his vision goes white, Michaelâs scent, his touch the only thing grounding him as he presses in deep and spills into the condom. Michael shudders, groans weakly at the feeling.Â
It takes Calum a minute to catch his breath, and then heâs pulling out, tying off the condom and collapsing beside Michael on the bed. Michael seeks him out immediately, curling into him even as he winces at the movement. He presses a kiss to Calum's shoulder, and Calum throws an arm around him, even as he pants.Â
He hadnât expected to lose himself so quickly. But Michael justâŠseems to have that effect on him. He feels wrecked, ruined altogether for anyone else.Â
He strokes the skin of Michaelâs hips, sliding up to trace the ridges of his ribs. Michael shivers at the feeling.Â
âHow do you feel, baby?âÂ
âMmm,â Michael hums, eyes falling shut. âFloaty.âÂ
Calum presses a kiss to his temple.Â
âI was good?â Michael asks.Â
âSo good,â Calum murmurs back. âSo pretty, so obedient.âÂ
Michael smiles to himself. Calum stays there with him, whispering praises and memorizing the feel of his skin until Michael dozes off. Then, carefully, he extracts himself and draws out a warm bath. He cleans Michael up with a wet cloth, and it rouses him. He blinks blearily at Calum.Â
Calum only chuckles. âWanna join me in the bath?â Calum asks, and he knows Michael will say yes.
Michael pouts, refusing to move, even though he wants in on the bath. Calum just hooks his arms under Michael and lifts him up, carries him to the bathroom while Michael giggles, hides his face in Calum's chest.Â
They stay in the bath, Michael sitting between Calumâs legs, talking and laughing until Michael comes back down.Â
The waterâs cooling around them as Michael leans into Calum and fiddles with his fingers.Â
âWhat are we, now?â he asks, hesitant, almost afraid. He doesnât turn to meet Calumâs eyes, so Calum kisses his shoulder tenderly.Â
âI want you in every way youâll have me,â he replies.Â
And Michael smiles. And Calumâs gone.Â
Of course, the first thing Luke says to Calum when he finds out is a loud screech: âI fucking told you so!âÂ
Theyâre sitting across from each other in a pseudo-luxury restaurant somewhere downtown, because theyâre all on measly salaries. Michael cackles, leaning into Calum as Calum resists the urge to lunge across the table and throttle Luke. Ashton, beside him, is snickering into his hand.Â
âI hate all of you,â Calum frowns. But he squeezes Michaelâs hand under the table.Â
Ashton reaches across the table for the menu. âSorry we were late,â he says, because itâs half past noon and they were supposed to meet nearly forty-five minutes ago, outside Lukeâs house. But Luke had texted last minute that theyâd meet Michael and Calum directly at the restaurant.
Michael squints suspiciously at them. âYou were fucking, werenât you?âÂ
The menu slips from Ashtonâs hand, but Lukeâs grin widens. âOh, I like you.âÂ
Michael winks cheekily at him. Calum pinches him. âHeyâow!âÂ
âDonât fall for his tricks,â Calum tells Michael. âHeâll lure you in with promises of friendship and fuck you over when it comes down to it. Also, heâll drink all your tequila.â
âSo that was one timeââÂ
âIt was the expensive shit, Luke!â
âYour momâs the expensââ
âHey!âÂ
Michael and Ashton are cackling. Their table is getting odd looks from the other guests. Across the room, the bartenderâs eye twitches.Â
âOh,â Michael wonders aloud. He turns to Calum. âI neverâŠasked you how you found out. That I was your neighbour.âÂ
Calum looks at Michael, and wonders why heâd ever waited so long to do something about how he felt for the man. Neighbour or not, he shouldâve asked Michael out long ago. Andâ
âOh, I told him,â Ashton chimes in.Â
Michaelâs neck nearly cracks with how suddenly he jerks to glare at Ashton. Luke is laughing in the background, and itâs beginning to annoy Calum how much enjoyment heâs deriving from all this. Michael stares at Ashton. âYou what.âÂ
Ashton shrugs. âI mean, it was really jââÂ
This time, Michael really does lunge across the table.Â
Yeah, Calum thinks. Thatâs my fucking boyfriend.Â
And the rest is history.Â
Like, literally. Michael and Ashton make it into the local newspaper.Â