Finding Love in Winter Nostalgia

Chapter Eleven

"I doubt I'll be able to walk up-straight," Kairo says after a while of silence. We're leaning against each other, getting our breathing under control.

"Did I hurt you?" I raise my eyes to him, concerned. I can't help the guilt I feel for moving the way I did. This was only his second time.

"No, baby. You were spectacular." He presses a chaste kiss on my lips. "This kind of sore will be a sweet reminder of our time here. It was worth it—even though it's gonna take me a shitload of time to recover."

I stand up straight and smile at him. "I'll step outside and give you a minute. Class starts soon."

"I'll be out just now," he says quietly. I step aside, wet my hand, and stroke my flaccid penis. "Love, I have wet wipes in my bag."

You brilliant man. It's awe-inspiring how well you take care of yourself.

I reach into his bag for the wipes. I use them to tidy up, and quietly step outside to wait for him. The building is awfully quiet. Anyone passing by could've heard us.

I read the wall signs—rules which I'm certain Kairo and I just broke a dozen of—until he emerges from the stall with a heart-warming grin on his face.

He kisses me. It's brief and sweet.

"Hi," I say, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Hi." His grin mirrors mine; his arms around my waist. He glances down at his watch, and his expression falls. "Draco, we're six minutes into the lecture."

"Shit." I take his hand and hurry for the exit.

"Babe, slow down. I can't walk that fast; my ass hurts."

Oh fuck.

I slow down, overcome with guilt once again. "I'm sorry. I just—I hate being late."

"Don't worry. I'll speak up if we're asked anything, 'kay?" He squeezes my hand.

"This prick of a professor is undoubtedly gonna ask. We're late for a class we skipped yesterday—a day which we had a task. And-and we have front seats in all of our classes because we chose to be some fucking nerds. And—oh God. Our classmates witnessed us making out as if we were on libido enhancers of some sort, so they'll likely connect the dots as to what we've just done. Great."

I'm rambling. My anxiety is off the chart. I feel like I'm back home again, being forced to attend one of my parents' conferences.

"Draco, relax. We're almost there." He kisses my hand repeatedly as I focus on keeping my breathing steady.

We let go of each other's hands upon entering the class, and because I'm luckless Draco, the attention is drawn to us. The class falls silent as we make our way to our seats, and the lecture resumes once we're seated.

Kairo doesn't let go of my hand the entire duration, caressing my knuckles as he did in the previous class.

PROFESSOR AHLSCHLAGER ASKS TO see us after class—just when I thought we were in the clear. We approach his desk. He doesn't bother glancing up. He and Cullinan have the same irksome ill-mannered bearing.

"Gentlemen," he says, still looking down at his files. "You were extremely late for my class today. What happened?"

We were fucking. It took longer than expected.

"It wasn't—"

"We left campus after the previous lecture, but the rain slowed down traffic on the way back," Kairo explains. "We apologise to you, Sir."