His Tiny Sun

Chapter 39 - A Promise Fulfilled

Jonah took a deep breath as they walked through the door, inhaling the building’s distinct scent. He held his head high as he absorbed his surroundings, pride swelling his heart and almost making him giddy. University—at last.

The entrance hall was crowded with apprehensive and ecstatic people alike, the latter buzzing around them like overexcited mosquitoes. Inside Jonah’s chest, a similar choreography unfolded, but he did his best not to let it show. It helped that it wasn’t his first time setting foot here.

All his previous visits had been after dark, however, when stressed out students tricked their brains into forgetting about their woes with booze, drugs, and sex.

Those very students had been Jonah’s sole incentive to come here back then. They were easy to seduce, which made them the ideal targets for a quick, no strings attached fuck.

Not so long ago, Jonah would have been thrilled that he now had access to even more of them. However, he was no longer interested in meaningless hookups.

“Okay, so your first class will be in this building, but the next is all the way on the other side of the campus. You’ll have to hurry if you don’t want to be late.” Alan gave Jonah back his schedule, then pointed down the hall. “It’ll be that way to your right. The classroom numbers are on the left of their respective doors. There’s one bathroom right here, and another one up the stairs to your left. I recommend going before class because there’s a really long waiting line during breaks. If you’re hungry—”

“Hey,” Jonah said, squeezing his beautiful ball of nerves’ hand, “I’ll be fine.”

Alan exhaled a long breath, offering an apologetic smile as he looked at him. “Sorry. I was so nervous the first time I came here.”

“I’ve been here before,” Jonah said as he pulled him close. “It’s where you touched my chest for the first time. Remember?”

Alan’s smile relaxed. “Mm. Yeah, so firm.”

“Wait.” Jonah narrowed his eyes. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

Alan bit his bottom lip sheepishly. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Says the man who stripped in front of me in the parking lot right after.”

Alan gasped. “That’s not what happened.”

Jonah leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Alain in ‘A Hoodie and Nothing Else’ would disagree.”

“Cursed be the day I gave you access to that account,” Alan whispered back.

“You didn’t seem to mind when ‘John’ ate your ass the other day.”

Alan inhaled sharply through his nose as his fingers dug into Jonah’s arms, making him smile wickedly against Alan’s hair. His tiny sun believed only him could make Jonah all hot and bothered in public, but two could play at that game. Alan was now getting a taste of his own medicine.

Jonah had just put a curse on himself as well, though. Now he was guaranteed to get random boners during class as his brain replayed his vivid memories of the sounds Alan had made, while he’d squirmed and gripped the covers almost frantically.

They both started taking deep breaths simultaneously. Being surrounded by a crowd of loud, agitated people helped, and they were soon able to safely let go of each other and brave the world, erection-free.

“Time to go. You wouldn’t want to be late,” Jonah teased.

Alan smiled, then hugged him tight. “I love you.”

“I love you too. See you at lunch.”

Alan made a cute little sound as he let go of him. He gave Jonah one last, long, loving look before turning around and making his way toward his own class with a spring in his step.

Jonah walked across the hallway with a relaxed but confident stride. He’d been nervous in anticipation as his first day of university grew near, but now that he was here, it felt nothing but right.

I’m doing it , he told Elliot in his mind, just like we dreamed of.

In Jonah’s case, he’d initially been drawn to this career for the prestige and wealth it would bring him, but Elliot had been dead set on changing the world for the better. Now Jonah would get to do both .

In Elliot’s memory.

He spotted room 106 and walked in, putting on his best half-smile as he surveyed his surroundings. Everything was a varying shade of beige, which was what he’d been expecting. These sorts of establishments only made the visitor-facing areas of their buildings appealing to the eye. That was how they lured potential students in and convinced them to relinquish their souls for the upcoming three to ten years.

Not that it really mattered. Jonah wasn’t paying thousands of dollars a year to come here and admire the decor.

Another thing Jonah had been expecting was for most pairs of eyes to be glued to his person the moment he set foot into the classroom. Again, his prediction had been accurate.

Three girls in the back of the class stopped chatting to ogle him full-time, and the guy sitting in the first row not-so-subtly moved his things aside to make room at his table.

Jonah ignored them entirely and headed to an empty table, where he sat down and took out his phone to send Alan a heart emoji.

Thus began Jonah’s serial heartbreaks.

———

The girl burst out laughing again, her body leaning toward Jonah like a magnet as she brought her hand to her plunging cleavage. Every single time he opened his mouth to say something, she was all over him, like he’d just found the cure to cancer. How many drinks did she have? Three? Four? She was all but licking her straw seductively now. Did she have no shame?

“Looks like someone’s gonna score tonight,” Eric said.

Alan gasped, giving Eric a shove. “Not funny!”

“It is a little. You should see your face every time she touches him.”

“I’m not jealous,” Alan said, realizing too late how the absolute opposite of not jealous he’d just sounded.

He couldn’t help it; seeing someone sitting so close to Jonah and touching him like he were their property made his skin prickle with anger. Couldn’t she see that Jonah didn’t like having his personal space invaded? Didn’t she know that touching someone without their consent was a shitty thing to do?

“Right,” Eric teased.

Alan huffed. “He’s clearly not interested. Why doesn’t she get the hint?”

And why isn’t he pushing her away?

Eric put on an air of superiority, like he always did when they discussed the art of seduction. “Indifference is the strongest aphrodisiac,” he shared, making himself sound like an ancient sage.

“That makes no sense,” Alan said.

It made all the sense.

Alan groaned internally. It was all his fault; he’d pushed Jonah to get to know his classmates better despite Jonah saying he had no interest in doing so—or rather, that he ‘couldn’t care less about those arrogant douchebags’ .

Alan had been quite proud of himself when he used Jonah’s argument against him, telling him he’d benefit from knowing which of the douchebags were the least arrogant, so he could team up with them for group assignments.

Jonah had seemed on the verge of simultaneously throwing up and exploding at the mention of group assignments, but Alan’s tactic had worked all the same. Jonah had accepted his classmates’ offer to hang out and celebrate their first week of class.

Alan sorely regretted it now, though. What if Jonah ended up choosing to work with that bitch?

Alan’s eyes widened at the harsh word his brain produced. Eric was right; he truly was jealous. It was unfair to Jonah. Alan would have to find a way to quiet the feeling.

It didn’t help that Alan’s first week of class had been exhausting, and that he wished he were cuddling in bed with Jonah, rather than sipping a drink at the university bar and behaving as though he fit in.

“I know just what you need,” Eric said as he wrapped an arm around Alan’s shoulders. A few rounds of shots.”

Alan shook his head. “I don’t—”

“—I’ll take one.”

If they were in a movie, the music would have stopped abruptly and every single person present would have turned around to stare at Marina. None of that happened, but Eric froze with his mouth wide open, as though his brain had just short-circuited.

Alan tried not to let his surprise show. Marina was making a major effort by being there with them; Alan would rather not make her feel self-conscious about deciding to drink .

“Be right back!” Eric exclaimed as his brain rebooted, springing to his feet and rushing to the bar.

“He doesn’t care about her,” Marina said as soon as Eric wasn’t within earshot. “Jonah,” she specified.

Alan sighed. “I know…”

“It’s up to you to decide how many people will go home sad tonight.”

Alan winced. Marina could be brutally blunt at times, but it was never unwarranted. She was right; Alan had no control over that girl’s feelings, but he could manage his own. As for Jonah, he was probably boiling inside, wishing they were cuddling in front of the TV instead.

So why was Alan so worked up about this?

“Eric is mistaken,” Marina continued. “Indifference isn’t an aphrodisiac. It’s a blow to the heart, which leaves a hole that seeks to be filled.”

Alan’s gaze fell. He knew exactly what Marina meant; he’d been there before. It made him all the more grateful that, against all odds, Jonah loved him back.

Eric returned to their table carrying a minuscule tray with six shots, three of them topped with whipped cream. Marina snatched two of the boring ones and put them in front of her, prompting Eric to give her a funny look, but he had the presence of mind to keep his mouth shut. He sat back down and raised the remaining boring shot in the air. Alan grabbed a delicious-looking one and did the same.

They clinked their minuscule glasses together, before downing their contents in one gulp. Alan’s aim failed him, of course, and he ended up with some of the sticky substance trickling down his chin. It tasted far too good to be annoyed by it, though. “What is this?” he asked after licking it clean and wiping his face.

“They’re called blowjobs,” Eric said with a teasing spark in his eyes. “Just like what that girl wishes she could do to Jonah.”

“Eric. Shut up .”

Both of their jaws dropped as they once again stared at Marina. Alan couldn’t recall ever hearing her order anyone to shut up before—especially not Eric. Alan’s brain went into overdrive as he tried to understand the reasoning behind her behavior, but it was nearly impossible to tell what was going on in Marina’s head .

Marina averted her gaze, her embarrassment visible despite the low lighting of the university’s basement bar.

Alan nearly let out an audible ‘ohh’ when it hit him. Earlier that week Alan had told her about the interesting psychotherapy approach he came across in his new textbook from Dr. Gruger. It consisted in identifying stagnant behavior patterns in relationships, and attempting to alter them by applying small changes and observing the results.

Marina always paid attention when Alan talked to her, but she’d seemed particularly interested this time.

She must have read more about it.

Marina was much more clever than she let on, and Alan trusted her judgment implicitly. He hoped her experimentation yielded results. Things couldn’t just stay the way they were, with Marina too afraid to tell Eric about her feelings, and Eric rubbing his dating life into her face. Something had to give.

“Sorry,” Eric said.

Alan gave him a genuine smile. “It’s alright. I’m being ridiculous. Jonah isn’t even attracted to women. You were right to tease me.”

“He’s looking your way,” Marina said.

Alan jerked his head in Jonah’s direction. As soon as their gazes met, Jonah tapped his nose three times. “That’s my cue!” Alan exclaimed as he jolted up.

“Did you want your second shot?” Eric asked.

“No thanks. It’s yours. I’ll pay you back later. I had fun tonight! Love you! Bye!”

Alan snatched his cup and made his way toward the table at which Jonah was seated. He barely noticed the dense crowd as he pushed through it. He was on a mission, and nothing could stop him.

Alan circled the table and nonchalantly walked behind Jonah like he was headed to the bathroom, then let out a loud gasp as he pretended to lose his footing and spilled his drink on Jonah.

“What the hell!” Jonah shouted as he got up.

“Oh, no!” Alan exclaimed. “I’m so sorry!”

“Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

“Sorry! I—I tripped and—”

“Ruined my night,” Jonah grumbled as he stormed off, with Alan following closely behind, still apologizing and offering to pay for his stained shirt.

Alan threw his cup into a trash can as they reached the top of the stairs, still pursuing Jonah as he led them to his locker.

“Did it have to be grape juice?” Jonah asked as he grabbed his gym bag.

Alan tried to give him an apologetic smile, but his tipsy brain turned it into a smug one. “You’ve removed a grape juice stain before.”

Jonah took off his shirt, revealing his delectable chest and abs, which probably tasted of grapes and almond liquor now. “It’s still a pain in the ass to wash,” he said.

“Will you forgive me?” Alan asked, batting his eyelashes with an exaggerated pout.

Jonah pulled him close and squeezed his ass with both hands. “I might if you suck my dick tonight.”

A sudden gasp made them jerk their heads. The flirty girl had apparently followed them all the way here, and had just turned the corner in time to hear Jonah’s request. “O-oh s-sorry,” she stuttered in shock, before turning on her heel.

Alan watched her disappear, then looked back at Jonah, who had an enticing smirk on his face.

“Do you think she got the hint now?” Jonah asked as he squeezed Alan’s ass possessively

“Let’s hope so,” Alan said with a chuckle, then failed to stop his insecurities from asking, “Why didn’t you tell her you were taken?”

“Because my personal life is none of her business.”

Alan relaxed. He’d been an idiot. Just because Jonah was unashamed of giving him affection in public didn’t mean he wanted to discuss his love life with a near-stranger. Both were normal Jonah-behavior—nothing to be worried about.

“Your place or my place?” Jonah asked as he let go of him and started looking through his bag.

Or your car , Alan mused. Getting caught by that girl had awakened something in him, it seemed. Or maybe the alcohol coursing through his veins was making him too horny to wait until they got home.

Alan was still debating which answer to give Jonah when his phone alerted him, via loud electric guitars, of a new text from Eric.

? Eric: I won’t be coming home tonigh t

Alan raised an eyebrow as he took in the potential implications of Eric’s text.

“So?” Jonah asked, sadly not shirtless anymore.

“Eric won’t be home tonight…” Alan murmured suggestively.

We can be as loud as we want.

Jonah’s eyebrows shot high, then fell back down as he gave Alan one of his alluring smiles. He stepped forward while holding Alan’s gaze, their bodies nearly touching as he crowded Alan and towered over him with a darkened gaze.

Alan’s heart skipped a beat; he loved when Jonah dominated him like this.

Jonah reached for the back of Alan’s head, his fingers producing goosebumps across Alan’s skin as he leaned in. “Will you wear your bunny suit for me?”

Waves of warmth and lust washed over Alan as he recalled the inferno Jonah had in his eyes the first time he wore it. “Do you deserve it?” he teased, nearly panting with how worked up he already was.

“I deserve everything ,” Jonah declared, his gaze falling to Alan’s lips before looking into his eyes again. “And so do you.”

Alan gripped Jonah’s shirt, his body vibrating with want as Jonah slowly closed the distance between their lips. They shared a deep, salacious kiss that made the world spin. A kiss that made Alan grateful to be alive. A perfect kiss from the perfect man.

Alan looked into Jonah’s eyes as they caught their breaths, a slow smile growing on his lips as he cupped Jonah’s cheek and stroked it with his thumb.He still struggled to believe that Jonah was truly attracted to him at times, but one simple look into those little windows to Jonah’s heart was all Alan needed to silence his internal bullies.

Jonah only had eyes for him. And so did he.

Alan gave Jonah a soft kiss, then whispered against his lips, “ Tu es un charmeur, Monsieur Delamare. 20 ”