#lewcest

Of course, Todd left no stone unturned. His entire room had been torn inside out in his search. He even interrogated his housemates about the shirt's whereabouts, suspecting a prank, but to no avail. Now Todd was sweaty, irritated, and dreading having to put his room back in order.

Truth be told, it wasn't a particularly special shirt. On first glance, it looked like any other button down in Todd's (formerly) impeccably organized closet. It wasn't more expensive, held no particular sentimental value, nor did he feel superstitious about it the way some of his frat brothers felt about a lucky hat that supposedly made them do better on tests or a pair of underwear that 'always' got them laid. It was just a nice shirt - light blue in a way that accentuated his eyes, sleeves that rolled up easily to showcase his forearms and whatever Rolex he decided to wear that day, with a collar that never seemed to wrinkle even when put through the most vigorous activities. Todd just liked it. It felt good to wear. He felt more confident in it. And it didn't hurt that one Professor Ben Mears never failed to compliment Todd whenever he wore it.

The thought of Ben made Todd glance at his phone and the notifications he'd ignored. There weren't many of them, unusual for a prolific texter like Ben. But before he could press the little banner on his screen, Todd's eyes flicked down to the time.

"Shit!" he swore, tossing his phone back down on the bed and scrambling for another shirt.

There was one appointment today he couldn't miss - a meeting with the new Dean of Student Affairs. He'd have to continue the hunt (and clean up his room) later on, much to his chagrin.

"Whoa, what happened in here?" Tom asked as he stepped into Todd's room minutes later, sharply dressed as instructed and painfully punctual. "One night stand gone wrong? Or really, really right?"

"Not exactly," Todd grumbled, stepping out of the bathroom, still clasping his cuff links. The shirt he ended up choosing was another blue one, slightly darker and with little white buttons at the points of the collar. It was an old, reliable button down, one of his first he'd bought as the president of KNA. Todd had considered wearing his newest dress shirt. After all, he was dressing to impress. But considering how the day had gone so far? A safe bet seemed to be the wisest decision.

Fortunately, he and Tom were so in sync with one another that the other man picked up the suit jacket on the bed and threw it over his shoulder, careful not to crease it. That was Tom all right, always one step ahead.

"Need anything else?" Tom asked, glancing around the room as Todd hastily shoved his keys and wallet into his pockets.

"No, I think I'm…" He paused, spotting the phone on his dresser before snagging it and slipping it into his only remaining pocket - the one on the front his shirt. "Good catch, Sunshine. Let's get going. I'll drive."

The meeting was…less than encouraging to say the least. That combined with lingering thoughts of Mitch's blow up at the pledge pick a few days prior (not to mention the day mostly spent tearing apart his room) led Todd to suggest grabbing a late lunch, his treat, a prospect Tom was more than happy to take him up on.

One perfectly-cooked medium rare steak and multiple beers later, and Todd Stevens was in a much better mood. The good food and cheap beer helped, but it was Tom's company that really helped lift the weight of such a shit day off his shoulders. Conversation was kept light - upcoming parties at other frats, hardass professors, and eventually romance. Or at least sex.

Tom had been telling him about some girl called Annabelle. He tried to act like it was a casual thing, but Todd wasn't stupid. He could see the soft look in Tom's eyes when he spoke about her, making a note to himself to find out who this elusive girl was and see about inviting her to the next kegger.

"And what about you?" Tom asked, turning the topic around so quickly that it took Todd a second to catch up.

"Me?" Todd said, pointing at himself. "Ahh, you know. Just the same old, same old. Meeting some chick on campus who's hot for me or at a party who wants to let loose. Nothing new."

"Really?" Tom asked, eyebrows raising in surprise. "I haven't seen that many girls doin' the walk of shame outta your bedroom lately. Pretty sure it's been a few months. Even before summer vacay."

Had it? Todd wondered, thinking back over the past semester, finding himself even more surprised than Tom when he couldn't recall the last time he'd had a hook up that didn't involve a certain annoyingly hot professor. Guess I'll have to up my game, he told himself, pushing down the strange pit forming in his stomach at the thought of sleeping with some random sorority girl who was more interested in his title and money than in him.

"I've gotten better about hiding 'em," Todd said, shooting Tom a wink. The other man's face visibly relaxed before he broke into a laugh, one Todd joined in on.

"You better not be makin' them climb out the window! You're on the second floor!" Tom exclaimed, still laughing.

"Well, there's that Magnolia tree right outside. I just tell 'em to aim for the branches," Todd said with a grin, chuckling when Tom guffawed, slapping Todd's arm in an involuntary show of amusement.

"Apparently that isn't running them off, seeing how your phone's been blowing up for the past 30 minutes," Tom said, pointing at Todd's phone, which just then buzzed, rattling lightly against the table. With the music so loud and the good conversation distracting him, Todd hadn't heard it make a sound.

"Huh, I hadn't noticed," Todd said, forcing himself to be casual as he picked up the phone and not snatch it up off the table. It couldn't be urgent KNA business or else someone would be texting Tom as well. Most likely wasn't his family; they knew he was busy the first few weeks of the new school year. So that could only leave one person who would message him repeatedly with zero shame.

Ben.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Todd knew Tom was talking, razzing him for being so in demand and blase about it, but he wasn't listening. He was thumbing through the messages he'd left unread, of which there were at least two dozen. Probably more.

Okay, definitely more.

And he sent pictures. Oh my God, what did I miss?

The first text that caught his eye was the very last one sent:

The words Mmm, feisty popped unbidden into Todd's brain. God, he loved it when Ben got angry. It usually led to the kind of sex where they fought over who was going to top. Todd normally won, but he'd be lying to himself if he said he hated when Ben won.

However, the smirk that curled his lips at that didn't last very long. One scroll up and the messages flashed in pieces before his eyes:

Oh no.

Oh God.

FUCK!

All at once, Todd stood up so abruptly that Tom visibly startled.

"Whoa, is everything okay, man?" Tom asked, tone genuinely worried. "You need me to get the waiter to get our check?"

"Don't bother," Todd said, his tone as stiff as other parts of his body were threatening to become. He dug around in his pocket, grabbing his wallet, and hastily throwing some bills on the table. "That should be enough to cover it."

As he grabbed for his suit jacket, not giving a damn if it wrinkled this time, Tom stared wide-eyed at the money in front of him.

"Todd. Hey man, this is way too much for the bill." Seeing Todd's hurry, Tom started hastily snagging his coat and phone, but Todd waved him off. The phone was already to his ear, the ringing impossibly drawn out as he impatiently waited for Ben to pick up the goddamned phone already.

"Give a good tip; keep the rest. You don't mind taking a cab back to campus, do you? I have some urgent business."

Todd didn't even wait for Tom's assent, already headed for the front door, walking swiftly and taking large steps. When he passed their waiter, he gestured back towards Tom.

"Left the money on the table. Make sure he gives you a good tip, darlin'."

And with a wink, he was out the door.

Naturally, Ben picked up on the very last possible ring. As if Todd's heart wasn't already hammering in his chest as he threw himself into the driver's seat of his car. He probably timed it that way to up Todd's anxiety even further.

Or he was debating whether he wanted to answer me at all, you fuckin' idiot, Todd thought to himself.

"Oh, so now you want to talk to me," said an extremely pissy Ben Mears. Todd could practically see him, arms crossed in one of his cozy sweaters, pouting in the way that always made Todd want to bend him over his desk.

"I am so sorry. It has been the weirdest fuckin' day." As he spoke, Todd hastily turned the car on, switching the audio over to the car's speakers so he could talk and drive at the same time. "The meeting with that new Dean prick was fuckin' horrible. I had to reschedule an inter-fraternity meet up last minute, and of course that tightass Richards from Lambda Beta Nu is gonna be up my ass about it like he always is when I cancel. And I didn't even get to work out this morning or else I woulda sent you a gym selfie. I had those grey sweats set out and everythin'."

The silence on the other end of the line felt indeterminable. As much as he wanted to peel out of the parking lot and break numerous traffic laws to get to campus as fast as possible, Todd waited. There'd be no point in risking life, limb, and multiple tickets if Ben didn't want anything to do with him, after all.

Finally, a sigh, the kind Ben usually did while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"That does sound like a pretty shit day," Ben said, not bothering to hide how begrudging the words came out. "I guess I could see why you were too busy to answer."

Todd's whole body went slack in sheer relief, his head lolling back against the headrest.

"Thank God," he muttered under his breath.

"You started driving yet?" Ben asked. Todd lifted his head, looking at his phone as if trying to gaze into his hook up partner's face to read his expression. Unfortunately, the only thing that stared back at him was his own reflection, slightly smudged from his fingerprints.

"Uhh, no. Not quite yet," Todd admitted almost sheepishly.

"Good, good," Ben said offhandedly. "Stay there for now."

"Oookay…" Todd drawled, still staring at his phone, now in a state of confusion.

"So, I have a little…confession to make, Todd."

There was some rustling noises coming from the other end of the phone, like Ben was moving something around. When he heard a little groan, the same kind the professor let out when he was getting up off the couch or bed, things started to click. Ben was going somewhere.

"Haven't you noticed something different?" Ben asked, his tone not quite back to the level of teasing that it normally was when he and Todd played their little games, verbally prodding and poking at each other to see what would make each other tick. Todd took it as a positive either way, that Ben was willing to overlook being ignored enough to go back to their status quo. Whatever that was.

"Something…missing?" Ben prompted.

Earlier in the day, those words would've triggered something in Todd Stevens. Anger, maybe, for the literal hour that he spent combing through and tearing apart his room. Outrage, perhaps, for the audacity of a man he was just fuck buddies with taking something of his. Annoyance, definitely, for Ben finding yet another way to be a little shit and get under his skin. But this Todd was too focused on the here and now, on the sound of Ben Mears' voice coming through the speakers, wrapping around him, ever the devil on his shoulder.

When Todd didn't answer, Ben chuckled.

"Just sent you a text. Make sure you actually look at that one."

And with that, the call disconnected.

Perplexed, Todd pulled up their messages again, ready to comb back through them to see whatever missing clue would finally answer the impossible riddle his day had turned into. He expected to see that last text message again, the hot one where Ben threatened him. Almost like he's jealous. The words floated through Todd's mind, but he ignored them, shoving them back down just like he did to any feelings about Ben Mears that weren't annoyance, amusement, or pure lust.

Instead, he found a picture of a familiar sight - His. Fucking. Shirt.

Before he could get worked up into a lather, Todd's brain registered the rest of the picture in little pieces - light tufts of chest hair peaking out from where Ben had unbuttoned the front, a flash of skin that Todd recognized the very plush thighs that he'd had draped over his own shoulders on more than one occasion, the white fabric of the briefs Ben wore that clung to his lower half, exposing…

Todd was dialing Ben's number as he put the BMW into reverse. Unlike a few minutes ago time, the professor picked up on the first ring.

"Yeeeeessss?" Ben taunted. There he was. The annoying little fuck who liked to wink at him when they passed by each other on campus, knowing Todd would text him asking to hook up later on in the day.

"Get your ass over to my dorm, Mears."

Ben's chuckle this time was even richer than before, filled with the kind of smug amusement that never failed to drive Todd crazy.

"Aren't you going to say please?" he teased, but there was something in his voice, that deep, gravelly thing Ben did when he was turned on. Just as that picture had grabbed Todd by the balls, Ben was already hooked, too.

"Now," Todd practically growled, as he sped out of the parking lot, already mentally calculating the fastest, most efficient route back to campus.

The dinging of an open car door sounded from the other end of the phone.

"I'm already on my way."

BONUS:

Divider Credit -> @/strangergraphics

Images in headers (and texts) are not mine.

Hope you liked it! Feel free to like, reblog, or comment!

rhett also finds board games from miles' childhood. scrabble, yahtzee. he manages to get his hands on some of the original games, with the packaging in mint condition. the very same editions that miles' nana had in her game cupboard back home. he and rhett play hours of those games. miles finds that they're very calming for his mind, and it gives his hands something to do.

miles also speaks of a little purple hippopotamus plushy he had as a boy. its name was "hip". it's not something he asks rhett to find, but the cowboy looks for it anyway. he doesn't find an identical hippo plush, but he does find one that's similar, and he bashfully presents it to miles. rhett's heart swells with love and fondness as he watches miles hug that little hippo to his chest, tears in his eyes, as he whispers "thank you, thank you, thank you." that hippo becomes a permanent fixture in their lives. even after they move into their home together, miles always places hip on their bed when he makes it each morning. he finds great comfort in that little stuffed animal.

rhett gets his hands on some boxed sets of miles' favorite tv shows. the andy griffith show, lost in space, get smart. they watch countless episodes of those shows together while miles is healing. even long after he's recovered, his favorite thing to do on lazy sunday mornings is to cuddle up in bed with rhett and watch those shows. at that point, after all they have been through, miles no longer needs any comforts of home, because his home is now this strong, unwavering cowboy who holds him in his arms and loves him with all his heart.

edit: I FORGOT TO ADD THE THING MILES INTRODUCED HIM TO AHHHH!!!

as for this one, miles introduced rhett to cockwarming. it’s something rhett never thought he’d be into, but there are times when miles craves that closeness, that connection, without the pressure of chasing a crescendo. because miles wanted to do it, rhett was willing to give it a try that first time. he doesn’t expect to like it as much as he does. miles in his lap, rhett’s cock buried deep inside him, chests pressed together, breathing in sync. it’s so relaxing, rhett finds. it quiets his mind and allows him to bond with his lover in such an intimate way.

“s’okay if you decide you don’t like it, i won’t be upset,” miles tells him.

but rhett merely kisses miles as he murmurs against his mouth, “no, no, i…i actually really like this. it’s nice.”

it makes miles’ heart sing.

miles remembers every significant date, without fail. and rhett's birthday is no exception. miles always makes sure rhett feels extra special on that day. rhett once told miles that his favorite dessert is apple pie, which his mom would always make on his birthday, but hasn't in the last few years. well, rhett isn't going to have another apple pie-less birthday ever again, not as long as miles can help it! miles bakes rhett that pie and uses the scraps of trimmed dough to write happy birthday! on the top. he even makes vanilla bean ice cream to go on top, and most definitely cooks rhett his favorite dinner.

rhett is in awe that miles would go to so much trouble just for him. a soft, gravelly "thank you" is all he can utter, because if he speaks any louder he knows he will cry. the weather is usually always nice during rhett's birthday, so they sit outside and enjoy their dinner and dessert on the deck, usually with miles cuddled up in rhett's lap. and when it comes to gifts, miles either makes him something, or gets him something he's been wanting. after miles begins making a steady income with selling quilts and running a booth at the farmer's market, he's definitely able to buy more elaborate gifts.