It was late when the crowd finally dispersed. Lucien didn't want to wake Jamie, so he followed Leon back to the city apartment.

Lucien showered quickly and scrambled under the duvet. By the time Leon stepped out of the bathroom, Lucien had his eyes clamped shut, pretending to be out cold.

Leon stood by the bed, towering over him. "Baby? Did you sleep?".

Lucien didn't move. He focused on keeping his breathing steady, but his eyelashes wouldn't stop trembling.

Leon smirked, sitting on the edge of the mattress. "If you're asleep, I guess I can do whatever I want".

Lucien's hand tightened under the covers. His heart did parkour against his ribs.

Leon leaned down, his breath hot against Lucien's ear. "How about your feet? They're so white and soft. Maybe I'll just rub the soles until they're red and swollen. You won't even know it was me".

Lucien's eyes snapped open. "Don't you dare—".

Leon's mouth crashed against his before he could finish.

The taste of citrus toothpaste exploded between them. Lucien tried to pull back, but Leon's tongue was a heavy, warm intrusion that demanded space.

Leon pulled back, panting slightly. "Stupid boy. I trick you a hundred times, and you fall for it ninety-nine".

Lucien's eyes were misty, the corners of his lids stained pink. Leon's self-control wavered at the sight.

"Close your eyes and sleep," Leon whispered, kissing Lucien's forehead. "If you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to stop".

Lucien slammed his eyes shut. Leon climbed in behind him and pulled the "sticky rice ball" into a crushing embrace.

Lucien's phone screamed him awake the next morning.

He groped blindly at the nightstand, his hand landing on Leon's face instead. Leon nipped at his fingers with a low hum.

Leon handed him the phone and swiped the screen. Jamie's voice practically exploded through the receiver.

"Lucien! Did you check the forum? You're viral! You and Leon got caught".

Lucien sat up so fast his head spun. "What?".

"The concert! Someone took pictures of you two!".

Lucien hung up and logged into the campus board. The top three threads were highlighted in red.

LEON BOLTON'S NEW BOYFRIEND?. Are they dating? So sweet.. Is no one going to talk about how cute this guy is?.

Lucien stared at a grainy photo of Leon shielding him from the crowd. He felt like the floor was falling out from under him.

Leon walked over with a glass of warm water. He pressed it to Lucien's lips. "Drink".

Lucien shoved the phone in his face. "Leon! People took pictures!".

Leon glanced at the screen and hummed. "I didn't add honey to the water. Is that okay?".

"Who cares about honey?!" Lucien waved the phone. "Look at this!".

"So what?" Leon asked. He sat on the bed, his gray-blue eyes unreadable. "What exactly are you worried about, baby?".

Lucien bit his lip. "I'm used to being invisible. I don't want all this... attention".

Leon kissed his temple, his hand settling on Lucien's waist. "Ignore them. Just look at me. Those people don't matter".

Lucien went to the bathroom to wash up. Leon picked up the discarded phone.

He scrolled through the comments. Sweetie. Cutie. Small fry. One guy was asking for Lucien's contact information.

Leon's expression went cold. He took a screenshot of the thread and stepped out onto the balcony to make a phone call.

By the time Lucien finished breakfast, Leon had already packed his backpack. He'd stuffed it with juice boxes and small snacks.

"Let's go," Leon said, grabbing his keys.

"You're actually coming to class with me?" Lucien asked. "Don't you have training? I can go by myself".

Leon ruffled Lucien's soft black hair. "Walking my boyfriend to class is a normal thing to do".

Lucien swatted his hand away. "Stop it. You're ruining my hair".

---

The rumor mill at WK hit overdrive. Leon Bolton had a boyfriend.

The fact that it was a delicate Eastern boy sent the campus boards into a frenzy. Grainy photos of Lucien flooded the threads all morning, though Leon's digital cleanup was surgical. The posts vanished as fast as they appeared.

Lucien stiffened as they stepped into the tiered lecture hall. Every pair of eyes swung toward them like a synchronized firing squad. He ducked his head, his face flushing a violent pink as Leon's hand clamped firmly around his.

The room was mostly empty toward the back. Leon steered him into a row of seats, caging him in.

Leon slid a bag of strawberry gummies onto Lucien's desk. "Taste these. I picked them up on the way."

Lucien looked up, meeting Leon's steady gray-blue gaze. He popped a candy into his mouth, the sweetness settling his nerves.

The professor's voice droned on in a language that still felt like a puzzle to Lucien. His head bobbed, his heavy lashes eventually fluttering shut.

Leon's palm was already there, catching Lucien's chin before it hit the wood. He guided the boy's head to his shoulder, his free hand picking up Lucien's tablet to take over the notes.

The bell jolted Lucien awake. He blinked, the room mostly empty.

Leon watched him, a smirk playing on his lips. "Sleep well? You've got a mark on your cheek." He pinched the skin where the fabric had pressed in.

Lucien leaned into Leon's heat. He realized having a personal pillow and an automatic note-taker made these lectures much more bearable.

His phone buzzed. A string of exclamation points from Jamie—Honey.

Is Leon Bolton actually useless in bed? Jamie's text flashed across the screen.

Lucien's face caught fire. He typed back with shaking fingers. No. He's very capable. He added a row of 'Good' emojis for emphasis.

Leon caught a glimpse of the screen and let out a low, vibrating chuckle. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Lucien slammed the phone face-down on the desk. "Stop reading my chats!"

Leon's hand drifted to Lucien's ear, his fingers rubbing the lobe. "My parents finished their tour. They're coming to stay for a month. They want to see you."

Lucien froze. "Me? Do they... even know about me?"

Leon's brow furrowed. "Of course. I'm marrying you, Lucien. I was always going to introduce you."

"Marrying?" Lucien squeaked.

Leon leaned in, his lips hovering an inch from Lucien's. "A spring wedding. Lawn, beach, a cliffside in the Alps. I'll make my vows anywhere you want."

Lucien slammed his palm over Leon's mouth. "Stop saying that in the classroom!"

Leon kissed the center of Lucien's palm. "Fine. At home, then."

Lucien pouted. "I'm nervous. I don't have parents. I don't know how to do this."

Leon handed him a bottle of fresh orange juice. "Don't be. No one could dislike you."

Lucien took a long sip. "When?"

"This weekend. I'll arrange it." Leon squeezed his hand. "Is a wedding too fast? I'm older than you, Lucien. I'm always worried you'll find me boring."

Lucien...