'Relief'

"I also want to kiss you, Ash," Beau murmured, voice husky, filled with arousal.

Asher leaned closer and pressed his lips to Beau's.

An exhale escaped Asher.

Relief... That was all he felt.

To him, Beau was like cold water during a drought, seeping into his guts to soothe and hydrate him. Asher clung to Beau for dear life. It seemed like pulling away was suicide.

Well, it was.

Beau sensed Asher's grief. He tasted the saltiness of the tears streaming down Asher's face. It made him furious, angry with whoever made Asher that way. Beau was gentle. He allowed the male in his arms to take the lead. Asher seemed desperate for some sort of relief and Beau wanted to give him that.

Asher clung to his shoulders, pulled his neck down, and allowed their tongues to meet. He got fed exactly what he needed: energy, hope, warmth.

Slowly, Beau led Asher to a chair. Their temperatures rose to boiling point. Asher didn't try to stop or prevent their display of affection for each other.

Beau was the one who broke the kiss. His chest heaved; he seemed out of breath. "Please, don't say that was a mistake or an action you regret," he begged. "I might run mad if you do that."

"I... I was actually going to ask why you stopped."

"Do you want me to kiss you some more?"

Asher answered with his lips smashing against Beau's. The fire rose again, this time, faster than before.

Asher trailed his fingers over Beau's arms and chest. Hard muscles contracted beneath his touch. He couldn't believe he had such a sexy body all to himself. Beau touched him too but not in very intimate places.

Asher wanted to be touched in places he had not even touched himself. He wanted Beau's skin against his, his dick in him. He took the initiative by grabbing Beau's hand and resting it on his crotch.

Beau got the message. He pulled Asher to himself, at the same time massaging his hard crotch.

Asher moaned into the kiss. At this point, he knew there was no going back. He had bottled up feelings for too long, too much love and attention laid to waste.

"What do you want me to do?" Beau pulled back and asked. He grabbed Asher's cock through the trouser fabric and slowly stroked it.

"I... I don't know." Asher looked drunk in desire with glassy eyes and unsteady eye contact. "I just want you to do something." It was finally happening. Asher was finally being touched by a man.

Beau did not stop touching him. "Have you ever been with a man before?"

"No, never."

"That's okay. I will give you the relief you want."

Asher's heartbeat tripled. "Will... Will you... fuck me?"

The innocence in Asher's eyes made Beau smile. "No, pumpkin. You are not ready yet. I won't do that."

"But..." Asher leaned closer. He did not notice how Beau's respiration became heavy. "But... I really need you to touch me." Asher could not tell where the boldness was coming from. He was acting like a whore and he didn't even seem to care.

"I will touch you. Leave that to me." Beau slowly undid Asher's belt and zipped down his trouser. He looked up for a moment to make sure Asher wasn't in any form of pain. "Are you okay?"

Asher could not speak. He only nodded in response. He held his breath as Beau slowly fisted his erect cock.

Using the same level of speed, Beau stroked him, gently, slowly, looking at him to see the expression on his face.

Asher had touched himself on many occasions but it never felt so good as what Beau was doing now. With parted lips, he kept his eyes on Beau, monitoring the occasional tongue swipe, the glistening line of saliva Beau's tongue left on his lower lip.

"You like this?" Beau asked, his fingers slowly circling the tip of Asher's cock.

"It feels... so good," Asher moaned. He spread his lap for better access. He was getting a hand job in a class and he wasn't even scared! Someone could see them! Getting caught was the last thing on Asher's mind. Beau was taking him to a height beyond the clouds, and he was desperate to get there, desperate to go beyond. "Yes, right there!"

Beau slowly stroked to the tip and settled there. He gave short, rapid strokes. Asher's moans increased. Beau had to kiss him to silence his moans which were slowly getting loud.

Asher grunted into Beau's mouth, arched into him, pulled him close, and kissed him deeply, yet it wasn't enough. He couldn't get enough of Beau's hands on him.

"You're so good at this," Asher moaned. His voice came out muffled and Beau had to pull back to ask what he said. "I said you're so good at this," Asher repeated, his eyes filled with lust.

"I'm happy you find this pleasuring. I hope you are getting the relief you want." Beau was whispering and he didn't know why. Hell, they were both whispering with their breaths against each other's faces.

Asher spared a moan. "I... I am... Beau, I want you to touch me so bad."

"Trust me, I want to touch you."

"Don't let me go." The tears which had previously dried up suddenly started falling again. "Don't stop... Don't stop chasing me even when it seems I push you away. I don't know what I want... I'm a mess."

Beau kissed him. He couldn't find the right response to assure Asher that he wasn't going to leave. He snuck his free hand into Asher's shirt and pinched his nipples in turns.

Beau heard an audible gasp from Asher who moved close to him, moaning, a high sound of intense pleasure vibrating in his throat.

Asher tried to say something but his voice got muffled in Beau's throat.

Beau knew what he wanted to say. Asher was so close...

And truly he was, because the next minute, he erupted, springing forth his release, coating Beau's fingers with it.

Beau did not stop kissing him. Asher shuddered in his hold, clung to him, and moaned into his throat.

When the wave settled, Asher collapsed against Beau's chest, a heap of shivering mess, chest heaving like an athlete running a marathon.

"Are you okay?" Beau whispered. He kissed Asher's forehead.

"I am okay." Asher remained glued to his chest. "That was a very huge relief."

"I'm glad I could help." Beau kissed his forehead again. "We should get you cleaned up and probably get something to eat."

*. *. *. *.*

Beau was beside Asher the entire time during the walk to the condo. After they got cleaned up, they headed out.

Asher found himself clinging to Beau most of the time. It seemed very funny considering what he'd said the previous night.

By the time they got to the cafeteria and settled down with their meals, Asher was already in high spirits.

"You never told me where you stay," Asher started a conversation. "You stay with your parents?"

"Hmm." Beau nodded, chewing fast so he could talk. "They stay about three hours from this institution. That's on the outskirts of Elite's high neighborhood. You'd love them."

Asher could not say the same for his own parents. His family was entire chaos. "Siblings?"

"Two older brothers. They bother the hell out of me."

Asher laughed. "Sorry, but I can't relate. I am an only child. My mom always says that I came as a miracle when she least expected it. She had almost given up."

"She is so lucky to have you." Beau stopped eating so he could intently stare at Asher. "You are a good boy."

"You don't know that for sure."

"I do. And don't ask me how."

Asher chuckled. "I was actually about to," he said. "I have a secret to tell you."

"Okay... Shoot."

"Don't tell anyone... Please."

"I promise not to, not to anyone."

"I. Am. Gay." Asher expected Beau's expression to change but it didn't.

"Okay... Is that supposed to be the secret?" Beau asked incredulously. "I am also gay and everyone knows."

"Everyone?" Asher asked in surprise. "Like, the entire university?"

"Yeah, and even my parents."

"You're lying."

"Nah, I'm not. My parents are aware. I came out some years ago. I was scared shitless. It ended well. Do you mean to say that your parents don't know about your sexuality?"

"No... Not even my mom."

"It's okay. You don't have to rush yourself. It's a personal decision." Beau shrugged. "I was just tired of being in the closet. It felt like I was being choked. I just had to free myself."

"That would never happen to me. My dad will see me dead before hearing that I am gay. He is one of the most religiously homophobic people to strive on this fucked-up planet. He won't accept it."

Beau's voice dropped. "He must be domineering."

Asher broke eye contact with Beau and nodded. "He practically controls my life. I never wanted this shitty business course. All my life, I've always wanted to be a pediatrician. He practically controls everything concerning my life and future."

"Have you tried telling him how you feel?"

"Mr. Randall is not one to be spoken to. Even my mom has not gotten to the level of reasoning with him, so who am I?"

"Ash, I am so sorry. I can only imagine how growing up must have been for you. I always used to complain about how my parents are in so much debt and lack. I never thought to appreciate them for loving me all these years."

"Money is a facade," Asher smiled softly. When he raised his head, Beau's fists were tight, his brows furrowed in anger. "You look pissed."

At once, Beau's expression settled. "The thought of you going through all that doesn't sit well with me. It's making me mad."

"Don't worry about that. I am used to it."

"No child deserves to be treated that way."

"I am fine." Asher smiled, reached to the other side of the table, and grabbed Beau's hands. Wrapped around his petite fingers, Beau's fingers almost overshadowed his. "I will be okay."

The ambassador nodded, though it was clear that he was very unsatisfied with Asher's response. At once, he lost his appetite.

"You're not eating," Asher noticed.

"I'm not hungry. My stomach is full."

"I was about to say the same thing. We should go now."

Beau offered a silent prayer of thanks to the universe that he wasn't bombarded with questions.

They walked out of the cafeteria in silence. Asher brought back the topic they were discussing.

"Do you think society will ever accept the picture of two men in intimacy?"

"I don't give a fuck what society says. I will live my life how I want it."

Asher exhaled. "I wish I can be that way." When they got to his condo, he stopped Beau halfway up the stairs. "Beau?"

"Hmm? Do you need something?"

"I'm sorry for the way I pushed you off the other time. I'm sorry for—"

"Shh!" Beau placed a finger on his lips. "That's okay. You are confused, and intend to help you out of the web of confusion. Forget about whatever happened."

"Do you think it will work out between us?" Asher's breath grew heavy. "Do you think we can be anything?"

"Do you want us to?" Beau gently cupped his face. "What do you want us to be? I'm down for whatever you want."

"I am scared that it wouldn't work between us," Asher confessed.

"Do you want us to try? If it doesn't work, we can pull back. What do you say?" Reluctance flashed in Asher's eyes. Beau pressed on. "Do you want us to try?"

Asher found himself in a confusingly tight web, struggling to get out of the constraint, scared of what laid in the web he was wrapped in, and scared of what was in the world above.