The one where Dom acts on his crush.
Oct. 12th, 2003 11:02 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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inclineoftrees disclaimer
One.
Billy supposes it’s the way Dominic moves. Languid is the word that comes to mind, although he desperately wishes words that make him think of Dominic's lithe body moving and mewling beneath him wouldn’t spring to mind so easily.
Lithe.
Dammit. Dominic is a student and this line of thought completely unethical, he reminds himself. Focus on the lecture, which is hard because Dominic has just slipped off his sandals and stretched out his legs, sliding down in his seat and giving him a look that burns. Billy quite forgets what was so interesting about existentialism in the first place.
Two.
Ever since he’d taken his first philosophy course, Dominic has nurtured this crush—sought Boyd out, volunteered for projects, visited during office hours—anything to get close.
And he has learned many things. Not much philosophy, but fascinating things nonetheless. Things like knowing the good Professor only stumbles through a lecture when he feels nervous and, more importantly, what unnerves him. Dominic likes to push against the line of propriety that Boyd maintains.
Last year, and it would be a shame, he decides, if his crush comes to nothing. Stretching in his seat, he watches, amused, as Boyd stops mid-sentence.
Three.
Billy dismisses the class early, berating himself for being so easily distracted. He turns his back to the departing students, scrubbing a little too hard at his own barely legible handwriting from the blackboard.
“Professor Boyd?”
The eraser goes flying from his hand at the sound of his name. He doesn’t dare turn around, knows what he would see. Young Dominic Monaghan: jeans barely resting on his hips, tiny star tattoos on his foot, trendy stubble on his cheeks and sex in his eyes.
He kneels down, fumbling for the eraser, attempting to hide—well, whatever needs to be hidden.
Four.
Dominic smiles when the eraser goes flying but the professor on his knees stifles all thoughts of humor. How easy it would be to just pounce…
But, no. That isn’t the plan. The plan involves seduction. Reciprocation. A bed.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wondered if maybe I could come to your office again to talk about—" What? The ethics of sleeping with students? Boyd stands up and Dominic inches closer. He can now plainly see why class had been abruptly cancelled. Dominic smiles in a manner he hopes feigns innocence. “To talk.”
Screw the plan.
Five.
“Em.” Synapses. Neurons. Impulses. Impulses that can be overcome. Now, focus, he chides himself. “Em.”
Dominic’s innocent smile is now quite predatory. The eraser drops again and Billy sags against the blackboard, using the chalk tray to hold himself upright.
“Now isn’t a good time.” There. He’d acted the professional. God, why is the boy moving closer?
“I think now is a very good time.”
Billy dares to look up, meaning to be stern, but there is the problem of a warm mouth on his own and the words ringing through his head like a siren, 'this is a student!'
Six.
Billy gives a half-hearted struggle before pulling Dominic closer, the kiss becoming more frenzied. Pinning Billy against the blackboard, Dominic feels the rush of triumph.
“Dr. Boyd,” Dominic mumbles as his mouth seeks the flesh right below Billy’s ear.
“Don’t call me that.” Billy bites back his words as Dominic’s hand creeps lower. He struggles to regain control, holding back a groan. “Stop. This is madness.”
“You want me.”
“You’re a student.”
“My last year.”
“You’re still my student.”
“Yours.”
“Not what I meant.”
Dominic smiles because even as Dr. Boyd—Billy—argues, his hands have inched underneath Dominic’s shirt.
Seven.
Dominic’s skin is hot, like Billy knew it would be, and his body thin and hard. His shoulder blades jut out sharply and Billy traces his fingertips along the edges. He wants so much to see them. Kiss them.
The sound of a zipper brings him back to reality.
Billy opens his eyes, shaking his head in an effort to clear the haze he felt has settled over his mind. He can see the empty lecture hall over Dominic’s shoulder, the chairs scattered from the exodus of students only a few moments ago.
“Not here. We can’t do this here.”
Eight.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Bend me over a desk. Give me an--” Dominic slides his hand into Billy’s trousers before whispering, “oral examination.”
“Dominic--” Billy’s voice is a warning that shatters Dominic’s name like a polysyllabic kaleidoscope. A warning that is ignored as Dominic roughly turns him towards the board and pins his arms behind his back. “Or is this what you want. To be taken.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Billy draws in a ragged breath.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“If I wanted to take you here--”
“Please. If we’re caught…”
“You would obey.”
Nine.
Dominic’s voice is low and rough and feels like steel against his skin. Billy knows he will do whatever Dominic asks of him and wonders at this sudden need to please. The humiliation of being caught in an empty classroom while being fucked by a student seems nothing next to his need of having Dominic continue his seduction. He would obey; there is no other option. “I would.”
As he speaks the word, it’s over. Dominic releases him, turns him around and begins dusting chalk from his shirt, straightening his clothes.
“I said I would.”
“You said not here, Billy.”
Ten.
Billy’s cheeks flush red. A fucking mind game and he fell for it. He knocks Dominic’s hands from their task and pushes him away, trying to think of something to say that would cut as deeply. He feels exposed and dirty and a little more than foolish. “Don’t play with me. I can’t—"
“—You can, and you will take whatever I decide to give you.” Suddenly close, Dominic cradles Billy’s face between his hands, stroking his thumb over Billy’s lips. “I know what you want better than you think. Trust me. Go back to your office and wait.”
Eleven.
“No.”
“What?” Dominic drops his hands and stares in disbelief.
“I don’t think you know what I want at all, young Dominic, but I’m quite willing to show you.” Moving fast, Billy twists around and pushes Dominic against the blackboard. Hard.
“You seem fond of playing games. Let me teach you another.”
“Billy?”
“Professor Boyd. Say it.”
“Professor—“ Dominic’s words were cut off as Billy presses against him, demanding another kiss. When Billy pushes away, Dominic sags against the board, his knees giving under his weight.
Twelve.
“You’re good, lad, and I have to admit I’m sorely tempted.” Billy runs his hand down the tight line of Dominic’s body, letting his hand come to rest on Dominic's hip, dipping his fingertips just below the waistband. “But I don’t think you’re quite ready for the responsibility.”
“You could teach me.” Dominic’s voice was slightly breathless, eyes hooded.
“Aye. But I know what kind of student you are. Inattentive. Impatient.” Billy steps away leaving Dominic against the board while he gathers his things. “Tell me,” he says conversationally, “what would you have done had I gone to my office?”
Thirteen.
“Whatever you wanted me to.” By the professor’s single raised eyebrow, Dominic knows this is the wrong answer. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “I would have fucked you. I would have had you on your couch. I would have begged you to fuck me.”
“And is that what you want, Dominic? A brief interlude in my office. A fulfillment of a boy’s wet dream?”
Dominic shakes his head, his hand creeping between his thighs to rub at his cock through his jeans. “I want to belong to you, professor. I want you to want me back. I need you.”
One.
Billy supposes it’s the way Dominic moves. Languid is the word that comes to mind, although he desperately wishes words that make him think of Dominic's lithe body moving and mewling beneath him wouldn’t spring to mind so easily.
Lithe.
Dammit. Dominic is a student and this line of thought completely unethical, he reminds himself. Focus on the lecture, which is hard because Dominic has just slipped off his sandals and stretched out his legs, sliding down in his seat and giving him a look that burns. Billy quite forgets what was so interesting about existentialism in the first place.
Two.
Ever since he’d taken his first philosophy course, Dominic has nurtured this crush—sought Boyd out, volunteered for projects, visited during office hours—anything to get close.
And he has learned many things. Not much philosophy, but fascinating things nonetheless. Things like knowing the good Professor only stumbles through a lecture when he feels nervous and, more importantly, what unnerves him. Dominic likes to push against the line of propriety that Boyd maintains.
Last year, and it would be a shame, he decides, if his crush comes to nothing. Stretching in his seat, he watches, amused, as Boyd stops mid-sentence.
Three.
Billy dismisses the class early, berating himself for being so easily distracted. He turns his back to the departing students, scrubbing a little too hard at his own barely legible handwriting from the blackboard.
“Professor Boyd?”
The eraser goes flying from his hand at the sound of his name. He doesn’t dare turn around, knows what he would see. Young Dominic Monaghan: jeans barely resting on his hips, tiny star tattoos on his foot, trendy stubble on his cheeks and sex in his eyes.
He kneels down, fumbling for the eraser, attempting to hide—well, whatever needs to be hidden.
Four.
Dominic smiles when the eraser goes flying but the professor on his knees stifles all thoughts of humor. How easy it would be to just pounce…
But, no. That isn’t the plan. The plan involves seduction. Reciprocation. A bed.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wondered if maybe I could come to your office again to talk about—" What? The ethics of sleeping with students? Boyd stands up and Dominic inches closer. He can now plainly see why class had been abruptly cancelled. Dominic smiles in a manner he hopes feigns innocence. “To talk.”
Screw the plan.
Five.
“Em.” Synapses. Neurons. Impulses. Impulses that can be overcome. Now, focus, he chides himself. “Em.”
Dominic’s innocent smile is now quite predatory. The eraser drops again and Billy sags against the blackboard, using the chalk tray to hold himself upright.
“Now isn’t a good time.” There. He’d acted the professional. God, why is the boy moving closer?
“I think now is a very good time.”
Billy dares to look up, meaning to be stern, but there is the problem of a warm mouth on his own and the words ringing through his head like a siren, 'this is a student!'
Six.
Billy gives a half-hearted struggle before pulling Dominic closer, the kiss becoming more frenzied. Pinning Billy against the blackboard, Dominic feels the rush of triumph.
“Dr. Boyd,” Dominic mumbles as his mouth seeks the flesh right below Billy’s ear.
“Don’t call me that.” Billy bites back his words as Dominic’s hand creeps lower. He struggles to regain control, holding back a groan. “Stop. This is madness.”
“You want me.”
“You’re a student.”
“My last year.”
“You’re still my student.”
“Yours.”
“Not what I meant.”
Dominic smiles because even as Dr. Boyd—Billy—argues, his hands have inched underneath Dominic’s shirt.
Seven.
Dominic’s skin is hot, like Billy knew it would be, and his body thin and hard. His shoulder blades jut out sharply and Billy traces his fingertips along the edges. He wants so much to see them. Kiss them.
The sound of a zipper brings him back to reality.
Billy opens his eyes, shaking his head in an effort to clear the haze he felt has settled over his mind. He can see the empty lecture hall over Dominic’s shoulder, the chairs scattered from the exodus of students only a few moments ago.
“Not here. We can’t do this here.”
Eight.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Bend me over a desk. Give me an--” Dominic slides his hand into Billy’s trousers before whispering, “oral examination.”
“Dominic--” Billy’s voice is a warning that shatters Dominic’s name like a polysyllabic kaleidoscope. A warning that is ignored as Dominic roughly turns him towards the board and pins his arms behind his back. “Or is this what you want. To be taken.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Billy draws in a ragged breath.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“If I wanted to take you here--”
“Please. If we’re caught…”
“You would obey.”
Nine.
Dominic’s voice is low and rough and feels like steel against his skin. Billy knows he will do whatever Dominic asks of him and wonders at this sudden need to please. The humiliation of being caught in an empty classroom while being fucked by a student seems nothing next to his need of having Dominic continue his seduction. He would obey; there is no other option. “I would.”
As he speaks the word, it’s over. Dominic releases him, turns him around and begins dusting chalk from his shirt, straightening his clothes.
“I said I would.”
“You said not here, Billy.”
Ten.
Billy’s cheeks flush red. A fucking mind game and he fell for it. He knocks Dominic’s hands from their task and pushes him away, trying to think of something to say that would cut as deeply. He feels exposed and dirty and a little more than foolish. “Don’t play with me. I can’t—"
“—You can, and you will take whatever I decide to give you.” Suddenly close, Dominic cradles Billy’s face between his hands, stroking his thumb over Billy’s lips. “I know what you want better than you think. Trust me. Go back to your office and wait.”
Eleven.
“No.”
“What?” Dominic drops his hands and stares in disbelief.
“I don’t think you know what I want at all, young Dominic, but I’m quite willing to show you.” Moving fast, Billy twists around and pushes Dominic against the blackboard. Hard.
“You seem fond of playing games. Let me teach you another.”
“Billy?”
“Professor Boyd. Say it.”
“Professor—“ Dominic’s words were cut off as Billy presses against him, demanding another kiss. When Billy pushes away, Dominic sags against the board, his knees giving under his weight.
Twelve.
“You’re good, lad, and I have to admit I’m sorely tempted.” Billy runs his hand down the tight line of Dominic’s body, letting his hand come to rest on Dominic's hip, dipping his fingertips just below the waistband. “But I don’t think you’re quite ready for the responsibility.”
“You could teach me.” Dominic’s voice was slightly breathless, eyes hooded.
“Aye. But I know what kind of student you are. Inattentive. Impatient.” Billy steps away leaving Dominic against the board while he gathers his things. “Tell me,” he says conversationally, “what would you have done had I gone to my office?”
Thirteen.
“Whatever you wanted me to.” By the professor’s single raised eyebrow, Dominic knows this is the wrong answer. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “I would have fucked you. I would have had you on your couch. I would have begged you to fuck me.”
“And is that what you want, Dominic? A brief interlude in my office. A fulfillment of a boy’s wet dream?”
Dominic shakes his head, his hand creeping between his thighs to rub at his cock through his jeans. “I want to belong to you, professor. I want you to want me back. I need you.”
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no subject
Date: 2003-10-30 05:38 pm (UTC)The poem is beautiful, as Billy discovered in reading Dominic's "poor" translation. Billy knows he will ask to hear more of those poems—especially the originals—soon, and he hopes Dominic will be willing to read them aloud—something he's always expressed irritation about when asked to do so in class.
And then Dominic stops, apparently nervous and pleased with himself all at once, and it takes everything Billy has not to turn him in his arms and bend him over the desk. Instead, Billy closes his eyes and inhales the scent of Dominic's hair, relishes the warmth of Dominic's body as he begins to speak again.
Yes, I believed in you, Billy wants to whisper. I just didn't believe what your body was telling me everytime you came to my office with eyes hungrier than your stomach. As Dominic continues his speech, weighed as heavy as a confession to Billy's ears, Billy closes his eyes tighter, trying to ignore the burning he feels behind their lids.
There is a chance that this compassionate, strong young man is in love with Billy. And Billy has no idea what to do.
Billy cannot remember ever really being in love, much less with a—shite, shite, he's a student, you idiot, a student—student, but he knows that the strange, unfamiliar pulling and tightening in his heart and lungs cannot be written off as simple lust. Not when Dominic could have braved this at any other time, could have dropped to his knees after class one day and gotten this out of his system. No, Dominic thought about this, weighed the consequences in his mind and found Billy to be worth this effort, worth the chance.
Billy is breathing deeply now, trying to quell the even more unfamiliar desire to cry, to pull Dominic into his arms. He needs to be calm about this. He needs to be practical. When all he wants is to drive back to his home and stretch Dominic across his bed and learn every part of that tanned body.
To forget about consequences and the future and everything.
"Never knowing," Billy whispers. "How are you so brave?" He falls into Dominic's kisses willingly, allowing the younger man to take his nervous steps in the lead. Billy sees it in his mind, almost feels it—Dominic taking him instead, all that stubborn pride and soft passion pouring into him while Dominic's wild eyes rake over him like they do in class. Billy arches up against Dominic before he knows what he's doing, and then he pulls away in surprise.
"We should," Billy murmurs. "We should go, Dominic. Somewhere, anywhere. What—" and here Billy looks up, wondering if Dominic will understand the significance of what's trying to say. "What you would like to do now?"
no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 06:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 07:18 pm (UTC)Let me stay with you tonight.
A sharp, spiky thrill runs up Billy's back. Yes, take Dominic home, have him in his bed, spend all of tonight and the early hours of the morning making love to him, yes. It sounds perfect, feels perfect—and is very much not perfect. There are too many possibilities of their being caught. Of course, they are both adults, and both consenting (Billy suppresses a small laugh at that). And Billy wants Dominic to stay with him tonight.
Billy pulls his hands from Dominic's grip, resting them on Dominic's cheeks, trying to quiet him. "Dominic," he says softly. "If you want this, if you truly do want this, then we'll go to my ... my house." Billy blinks and has to look away from Dominic's gaze before he continues. His hand drops to wrap around a fold of Dominic's tee shirt, and his voice drops to a heavy, driven rasp. "Want to take this off you next time. Want to see you like you were, Dominic. Want you to—" fuck me, Billy thinks, but cannot say it. "Want you to come home with me," he whispers instead. He presses a kiss to Dominic's lips, biting gently as he pulls away. "Shall we go?"
no subject
Date: 2003-10-31 08:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 03:49 pm (UTC)Billy moves around his desk, gathering his blazer and briefcase. "I suppose it's best if you do walk over ... I ... we mustn't let anyone see us. You understand. And if I get us some dinner," Billy's face flushes with the idea—this is rapidly moving from a quick fuck to a date, a date, Boyd, with your student, let's not forget—but he presses on. "If I get dinner, then we should make it there at about the same time."
Billy reaches for pen and paper on his desk, and leans over it, writing. "Let me write it down for you though, just in case. The address I mean. Just in case, Dominic. I'm sure you know where you're going." Billy scribbles out three lines in his spiky penmanship, pauses, then writes two more. He folds the paper in half and stands, his belongings tucked underneath his other arm, and crosses to Dominic, waiting by the door.
Billy takes Dominic's hand and sets the paper in the younger man's palm, folding the fingers closed over it. Billy meets Dominic's eyes, and his expression is serious. "Make sure you read it carefully, Dominic," Billy whispers, before he kisses Dominic softly and gestures him out of the office.
Billy moves slowly down the hall, in the opposite direction from Dominic. He knows that Dominic, if he has followed Billy's instructions, is reading what Billy could not speak aloud: his address, and this:
This is your last chance, Dominic. If you come to me tonight, I promise I will be kinder than I was today. If you do not, I will understand. Make your choice—and may it be the right one for you.
has to be posted in two comments as I got a little carried away :)
Date: 2003-11-03 07:27 am (UTC)Billy, to him, is more than a teacher and advisor—he’s who’s kept him in this university and saved him from himself. His father takes every opportunity to remind him that it was a accident that he got past the sixth form. He still doesn’t know how he passed the test but supposes what Billy said about a photographic memory is right. He wasn’t here a year before he was doubting himself, his father upset about the expense, his mother that he was growing so thin. He was afraid to come out to them and so kept that hidden in his heart, finding his experience in the club scene but never allowing himself to fall in love, to feel anything more than vaguely ashamed about who he was.
He’d first taken Billy’s class at the beginning of his second year, had just been trying to fill an time slot and found an introductory philosophy course. His German advisor had thought it a good area to study and encouraged him. He remembers Billy being kind to his students, being patient in explaining his points. He particularly remembers how Billy would put his hand gently on Dominic’s shoulder when he was fidgeting too much during lecture but wouldn’t embarrass him about it. Midway through the semester, Dominic had gone to his office asking for help on a paper. Dominic can mark that as the moment his feelings changed.
Feeling decidedly stupid, he’d shown Billy his paper, filled with spelling mistakes, and expecting to be ridiculed as some professors rejoiced in doing. Billy, however, had pointed out what was good, first, and then gently showed Dominic what he could do to make it more organized, how to better answer the question. Then he’d taken books from the shelves that lined his office, and read bits out loud, explaining and asking questions. It’d felt as though Billy had considered him an equal, had valued his opinion, and in the end he’d gotten high marks on that paper (one he still kept), his first ever.
Calmed, Dominic opens his eyes and looks around the pretty campus. It’s growing late and the sun is low in the sky. He opens his hand and looks at the paper Billy had given to him, reading the lines repeatedly. Billy was giving him an option, treating him as an equal as he always did. Sliding the piece of paper into his pocket, Dominic couldn’t imagine making any other choice. The wrong choice, perhaps, given that he knew Billy’s sense of responsibility wouldn’t let him carry on an affair with a student—even if that student loved him desperately. Especially if that. He also couldn’t imagine Billy returning that affection, not for someone so young and unintelligent—someone so broken.
and part the second
Date: 2003-11-03 07:28 am (UTC)That thought makes Dominic frown as he pushes away from the tree, nearly running across campus and through the narrow streets to Billy’s house. He would at least have this night, and then could maybe find a way to carry on without Billy haunting his every thought.
Approaching Billy’s house, Dominic sees that Billy has made it back before him. He starts towards the front door then decides against it, that it wouldn’t be proper. He goes around the side through the small garden to the back. He attempts to smooth down his unruly hair, wishing he was wearing something besides torn jeans and a threadbare t shirt. Knocking on the door, he waits for Billy.
Re: and part the second
Date: 2003-11-03 07:19 pm (UTC)Well, giddy is good, Billy supposes as he continues down the street, pulling in front of a small Chinese restaurant he frequents on the weekends. He’s in and out of the little place in less than ten minutes, bearing a large bag of food and still laughing. He had panicked as he stared at the menu, and he is now the proud owner of probably a week’s worth of meals. If they do not finish most of the food tonight, Billy will package it back up for Dominic to take with him, as the lad obviously is not eating as well as he should.
That thought finally stops the laughter.
Billy guns the motor and returns to the main road, steering around corners as his thoughts speed up as well. Billy is supposed to care for Dominic Monaghan as an advisor, as a teacher, nothing more, and yet ... The lad came to him and bared his soul long before he bared his body, and Billy knows that everything—yes, everything, Billy nods to himself—has changed tonight.
He has not promised Dominic anything more than tonight, Billy knows, but there is a part of him that already believes Dominic is in love with him—and that Billy can do much more for him than advise him on his studies. Billy can be very good to and for Dominic—and that gives Billy a thrill he's never known before.
Billy parks the car and juggles his briefcase and the large bag of food, grateful that Dominic has yet to arrive. He has time now to find a few beers—the combination of beer and Chinese food being one of Billy’s chief evening joys—and check the bathroom and living room for anything incriminating and/or more untidy than Dominic would already expect to see.
Once that is done, Billy retreats to his bedroom, where he shucks the blazer and tie he’s worn most of the day and rolls his sleeves up, unbuttoning the shirt again at the neck and throat. He runs his hands through his hair, just a bit of a check, that’s all, nothing fancy, and washes his hands. When he catches himself in the mirror, Billy has to laugh again. The image of a somewhat satisfied, if nervous, man stares back at him, and Billy likes what he sees.
Just remember to eat first, Billy reminds himself, and he kicks off his shoes and socks, throwing them in a corner of the bedroom before he wanders back down the hall. He hears the knock at the back door and is confused until he suddenly understands.
Billy opens the door and smiles at Dominic’s shy face, and his gaze softens.
“Good choice, Mr. Monaghan,” Billy breathes. He has barely pulled Dominic inside before he’s trapped him in another kiss. Billy takes and teases, only slightly more gently than in his office, and then he suddenly pulls away, still smiling. “You’re a bit cold, Dominic,” he says kindly. “Come have some food.”
Re: and part the second
Date: 2003-11-04 07:15 am (UTC)He smiles at Billy’s answering laugh and watches as Billy opens box after box explaining what is inside each before picking up his chopsticks. Dominic feels clumsy picking up his own set, trying to imitate how Billy has them held.
Re: and part the second
Date: 2003-11-04 01:34 pm (UTC)When Billy turns again, Dominic is holding the chopsticks steadier. "There. There, you've got it. Just keep your fingers a little higher." Billy drops the glasses on the tables and repositions Dominic's hand, cradling it for a moment before he lets go. "Perfect."
Billy sits back down, content, and allows both of them a few minutes silence in which to eat. He's frankly alarmed by the rate at which Dominic is eating, and Billy's heart cracks just a tiny bit at the confirmed notion that Dominic is not taking good care of himself.
"I think you should try some of this," Billy says lightly, pouring an enormous portion of mixed vegetables next to the already impressive amount of food on Dominic's plate. "They're really good. Oh, and Dom, I was thinking—well, never mind now." Billy reaches for his glass and holds it for a moment, thinking.
"What d'you think we should toast to, Dominic?" Billy murmurs.
Re: and part the second
Date: 2003-11-05 05:03 am (UTC)When he looks up, he finds Billy studying him and he feels self-conscious, shy, in a way that is ridiculous to him—especially after this afternoon. He’s always been comfortable with Billy, even if a little awed sometimes. But to be here, alone together, in his house…
He sets down his chop sticks and picks up his glass. He closes his eyes for a minute, thinking—allowing himself to pretend that this is more, that there will be more than just this night. “I think… I think we should toast Dr. Wagner, who strongly encouraged me to take your class, though I think it was only to ensure I wouldn’t be in his German lit class that was at the same time.” Dominic laughs, then imitates his old advisor, “I’m thinking, Herr Monaghan, that you should be taking philosophy courses. I hear they all have the fortitude of Gandhi in that department. Perhaps they have someone there who will have the patience to teach you as you need to be taught." Dominic stops, laughing again at the memory of his old professor. "I miss him. He was a good teacher and I was sorry at his passing last quarter, especially since he brought you into my life.”
Dominic blushes at having spoken so openly. He holds his glass steady, staring down at his plate while waiting for Billy to say something.