Mitch lay quietly in bed as the dawn slowly flooded the bedroom. He was enjoying his morning and the soft breathing of his boyfriend sleeping in the bed beside him. He couldn't believe that they were already 6 weeks into the semester, and fall break was approaching. He knew they both needed a break, but on a graduate student stipend there wasn't really much of a chance of them going anywhere. Mitch was still recovering financially from the meal they and their friends had at The Republic after Darrin passed his orals. At that memory he had to smile though, since that night Darrin had been the first to get his ass. He had planned it as the ultimate gift to Darrin and didn't expect to really enjoy it. But he was so wrong! Mitch wiggled his bum a little and enjoyed the slight soreness from last night as proof that he had indeed entered the world of the versatile. Darrin had also become very excited about his new role as top. Mitch had gotten the impression that Darrin had primarily been submissive in previous relationships. Yes, Mitch was amazed at the changes each of them had made in the other. But he guessed that was just part of being in love.
He rolled on his side and gently started tracing his fingers over Darrin's face. He had to chuckle a little when the still sleeping Darrin interpreted his light touches as a fly and tried to shoo him away. Mitch moved his hand to Darrin's chest and ran it through his light brown chest hair. Before he got too carried away, Mitch leaned in and kissed Darrin firmly on the lips. From experience he knew that a gentle kiss would earn him a 'fly shoo' swat against his face. But with the kiss, Darrin's eyes fluttered open and he stretched. Finding Mitch, he threw his arms around him and pulled Mitch against him in a tight hug.
"Damn, you get more handsome with each day!"
Mitch laughed and said, "You are just a horny boy who wants to tap my ass again, and again."
Darrin chuckled and then stretched again. "Damn straight! That's the nicest piece of ass I've ever seen, much less tapped."
Mitch looked at him with mock severity, "And should you get the urge to tap another ass, you best run. 'Cause I'll cut 'em off!" With that statement Mitch reached down and grabbed Darrin's nuts and tugged.
Darrin jumped and in a high falsetto said, "No! Never! Don't want to lose the boys."
Mitch growled and moved so he was over Darrin's body. Leaning down he bit Darrin on the lip and then barked out, "That's right boy, you might be proud-cut, but you'd still be cut!" and with that he moved lower and then leaped at Darrin's ticklish belly. Soon the two were rolling on the bed, both laughing uproariously. Once they settled down Darrin held Mitch's face and kissed him again.
"We gotta get moving. I don't ever want to walk into my 9am class late again. Especially not smelling like fresh sex!" said Darrin.
"Ah babe! But you are so cute when you were all flustered."
"Asshole!" said Darrin, and then started laughing. "God, having Karen lean over, sniff, and then wink at me. I wanted to go through the floor."
"Well come on then. If we don't hurry we'll end up showering together and I think that's how it started last time," said Mitch.
They finally moved out of the bed and went through what had become their morning routine. Mitch cooked their breakfast while Darrin showered and then he showered while Darrin fed the horses. By the time they found themselves pulling into the department parking lot, they had plenty of time. As they walked toward their office Mitch heard someone calling him.
"McRichards."
Mitch stopped and turned thinking he recognized that voice and sure enough he saw Dr. Koch walking toward him.
"McRichards, after your class come to my office," he looked at Darrin, "Morning Anderson." And with that he moved down the hallway. Darrin quickly pulled Mitch into their office and closed the door.
"What was that about?"
"Hell, I don't know. Maybe I didn't get something right. We haven't really had much of a conversation since last summer's little chat," said Mitch.
Darrin nodded, "Well I guess you'll find out after class, because it's five 'til."
Both men threw what they needed for class in their book bags and left for class. Mitch heard very little of the lecture as he ran through his mind what Koch could be calling him on the carpet about. The end of those 50 minutes found him standing at Koch's door and knocking softly.
Koch looked up at the noise, "Yes, get in here and shut the door."
Damn! Thought Mitch, this couldn't go well. When he started grad school, he had been given the same instructions as Darrin about avoiding behind-the-door conversations with Koch. He sat in the chair he was motioned to and watched Koch digging through his desk. With a grunt Koch located what he was looking for and tossed it across the table to Mitch. Mitch opened the manila envelope and peered inside. Reaching in he retrieved a key and some papers. He looked up to find Koch staring at him.
"I have a cabin in Colorado, above Durango. I'd already gotten my landowner elk tag, but now I have to go to a goddamn conference in Florida. I transferred it to your name. Thought you and Anderson could use a break."
Mitch froze, this was so unheard of that he was looking for the trap. Finally he realized that he needed to say something, anything.
"Thanks. We really appreciate it! We do need the break and I love elk."
"Yeah, well don't fuck up the hunt. I expect a hindquarter as payment."
"Oh yes sir. We can certainly do that," said Mitch.
"Get out. That's it. There isn't going to be any orchestra, this isn't a 'moment'."
Mitch scrambled to his feet and escaped out the door. Completely stunned he walked in their office and closed the door. Darrin watched him sit down with a look of utter disbelief on his face. Darrin waited for Mitch to explain, but when the silence stretched on too long his temper flared. Assuming the worst he began a diatribe against Koch.
"Fucking old homophobe! I knew this would happen! Well he can't target you. Goddamnit! You work harder than anyone else in his lab. I'm going to go give that asshole a piece of my mind. How dare he. . ." Mitch grabbed his arm and stopped him. He chuckled raggedly and motioned for Darrin to calm down.
"No, no. Nothing like that."