William had learned the value of restraint not because he wanted to but because he had to. There had been a moment-one he refused to replay too clearly-when something between him and Est had tipped too far, too fast. Since then, everything had become careful. Controlled. Measured down to the smallest distance between their bodies. Est seemed content to let things stay that way. William just tried to forget. Because some mistakes are easier to bury than confront. Easier to ignore than name out loud. And if both of them were willing to pretend nothing had changed, then maybe the fragile balance between them could survive. But buried things have a way of resurfacing. Especially when they were never truly dead to begin with. "If this is about sex... then just have sex with me." "Stay in my bed, at least then I know you are safe." Safe. Like offering, the one person he's been trying not to touch, his own bed is somehow the responsible decision. William should have probably refused. Instead he had quietly agreed to the rules. And by the time the night is over- William was exactly where Est had insisted he should be. In Est's bed. The safest place Est could think of. For William? Or for both of them?

Est Supha did not make his way through twenty years of academia, a brutal divorce, and a department full of egos just to have his life derailed by an alpha. Again. He's months away from becoming Head of the Department, and finally-finally-his world is stable. Predictable. Quiet. Maybe too quiet. Fine. He's boring. He drinks the same tea every morning, goes to the same gym twice a week, and hasn't hooked up in... a while. But he learned his lesson with his ex-husband: predictable alphas get you wrecked, emotionally and financially. So when a stupidly handsome, stupidly charming young alpha-William Jakrapatr, all dimples and wild energy-asks him for a very strange, very alpha-coded favor. Est, for reasons he refuses to examine, actually agrees. It's one reckless night. One stupid moment of weakness. One very (very) distracting scent he definitely should not be thinking about. Then that same alpha walks into his lecture hall the next week... ...as his new student. Uh ohh.... ~~~~ William Jakrapatr has never wanted a boyfriend before. His friends call him picky-William says he's just got a sensitive nose. If someone's scent doesn't hit right, it doesn't hit, and that's that. But then he meets Est-sharp-tongued, soft-hearted, smelling like citrus and warm rain-and suddenly William is thinking about mating instincts and long-term plans and what it would be like to have Est's scent on his clothes permanently. Minor issue: Est is his professor. ...Major issue: Est is convinced William is a walking disaster who will ruin his career and possibly his life. William disagrees. He's pretty sure he's the best thing that's ever going to happen to the man. And he's absolutely not about to let Est run away now-not after getting a taste of exactly how good they can be together. He's going to make sure Professor gives him enough privet tuitions. CrossPosted On AO3