Page 38 of Bend Him, Break Him

Isaac announcing their relationship completely stunned Colton in the best way possible. It was unexpected, to say the least. But as expected, Isaac immediately dragged Colton off after the GSA meeting to have a sit-down and privately discuss matters.

“Obviously, that was unplanned.” Isaac slowly strolled across campus as the sun set and students went about their business.

Colton enjoyed the casual walk, considering Isaac usually had a tendency of speedwalking everywhere without delay. And that often left Colton rushing to keep up either to meet Isaac discreetly in his car or dorm or some other semi-isolated location across campus.

“So, we’re dating,” Colton said, not asked.

“If you have to put a label on it.”

Colton didn’t need clarification. This all pieced together quite soundly in his mind. But he gathered from Isaac’s rambles about the reactions in GSA that despite being the one to declare them a couple, Isaac still required more time to wrap his head around things.

Reaching out with his hand, Colton interlocked his fingers with Isaac’s and tightened his grip before his skittish boyfriend could retreat. Boyfriend . Colton liked the sound of that, the thrill, the rush, the everything!

“What are you doing?” Isaac hissed, his eyes darting about in every direction for onlookers.

“This isn’t a hookup anymore. This isn’t an arrangement of kink.” Colton raised their interlocked hands up and smiled. “This is a relationship. People show off relationships. People show affection in relationships. People—”

“I don’t do PDA.”

“I wasn’t planning on blowing you for an audience.

” Colton smirked. “But I will hold your hand. I might even demand a kiss from time to time. Just a peck. You won’t have to go full tongue in front of a crowd.

Unless, of course, you desperately want to shove your tongue in my mouth because I’m just that irresistible. ”

Isaac glowered, face burning bright red, and it fueled Colton even more.

“We should probably discuss what this means, what we officially are,” Colton said, leading them in the opposite direction of Isaac’s dorm room. “Like, are we just dating? Are we in a relationship? I know we’re exclusive, but that was more for intimacy. Do you wanna be exclusive and serious and…”

Colton struggled to find the right words.

He’d never had a real relationship before.

Sure, he’d dated girls in high school, but that was often for show.

Not so much a cover as a popularity contest. Picking the right partner gave folks clout, status, and access to another inner circle of friends.

Most of his time and energy was dedicated to his athletics in high school, so dating really had become a standard thing for him to check off the list. In college, no one seemed to care much about dating.

Hooking up was easier than ever before with guys or girls.

But as little as Colton understood about dating, he was miles ahead of Isaac, who still looked like a wide-eyed deer in traffic as they walked across campus holding hands.

“We’re gonna need a story on how we met, how we got together.

” Colton cringed at the idea of the truth.

“Neither of our initial get-togethers were that flattering. Between me bullying you nonstop until I switched gears to semi-stalking you until you sucked me off in high school and you threatening to get me kicked out of college unless I let you fuck me, our origin story needs a bit of editing.”

“To be clear, you offered yourself up on a dick-sucking platter.” Isaac tried to pry his hand loose from Colton’s grip to no avail. “I simply asked for an extra side of ass with my order.”

“Yeah, being quippy doesn’t make our arrangement cuter.” Colton strummed the fingers of his free hand. “I say we just keep it vague. Knew each other in high school, reconnected here. My charm was captivating—obvs—and your spitefulness was endearing.”

“Is this going to be a regular thing?” Isaac tightened his grip and lifted their held hands. “Parading me around?”

“Maybe.” Colton winked. “You look cute flustered.”

“I’m not flustered,” Isaac said with a crack in his voice. “Or cute.”

“You’re fucking adorable. Emphasis on the fuck.”

Isaac scowled, which only made him that much cuter in Colton’s eyes.

“Are we just going to wander aimlessly as we hash out the details of our um, hmmm, coupling?”

“Jesus fucking Christ, dude.” Colton wheezed, clutching his ribs with his free hand. “You make it sound painful. Is the idea of dating that scary to you?”

Isaac didn’t respond; he just kept studying their surroundings like he was mentally accounting for the unfamiliar.

“And just an FYI, we’re not wandering aimlessly.” Colton dragged Isaac alongside him toward the on-campus apartments. “Figured since we’re officially official, we can have this conversation at my place.”

Isaac hesitated. So much of their arrangement required discretion.

Avoiding Colton’s place had been for his benefit since he shared the apartment with two other players on the team and explaining the angry goth guy slipping in and out of the room at all hours of the night was a lot harder for Colton to do than just dipping out and leaving his bedroom abandoned for the night as he slept at Isaac’s.

“Come on.” Colton led him toward the building, the much nicer building that’d been built a few years ago unlike the dormitories which were outdated and rundown. “You’re about to see why you need to quit the RA gig and live in the apartments.”

“They have RAs in the on-campus apartments,” Isaac said, still warily taking in the sights. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

“If your roommates are home, they’re gonna have questions.”

“Cool deal.” Colton smiled. “I’ve got answers. And questions. And stuff to clarify. Which can all be done inside.”

In that instance, Colton felt the rush that came with being open and honest slide over to Isaac.

Colton read Isaac’s expression with ease, watching the realization hit him like a wave.

The knowledge that this wasn’t some twisted game or private show between a dom and sub anymore but, in fact, something so much better.

Colton didn’t know exactly what, but the thrill of finding out practically made him soar.

“I’ve also got some other ideas of what we can do.” Colton made his most suggestive face as he led Isaac to the building doors. “And let’s just say that my bed is much nicer.”

“Oh?”

“Full-size mattress.” Colton nodded. “Not that we need all that room, but it’ll be fun to see what you can do when not constrained to a small twin size.”

Isaac laughed at that and followed Colton inside with ease.

The first few times Isaac came over to Colton’s apartment, no one had noticed.

Either his roommates weren’t home, or they were hunkered in their bedrooms quite possibly enjoying the company of their own guest. When they finally did spot Isaac, the shock wore off quickly.

It was possible they were more surprised by Isaac’s aesthetic than the fact he was a guy since everyone knew Colton’s bi status, and these particular teammates never expressed concern over it.

There was a grand total of one conversation between him and his roommates about it.

“You bagged yourself a bad boy.” Tim nodded approvingly.

“Just ‘cause he dresses like a freak doesn’t mean he’s bad anything,” Devon snarled, heading back to his bedroom.

“Have you seen the way he fucks around and finds out?” Tim snorted. “He’s badder than your bitch boyfriend.”

“Leon’s my friend, you fa—” Devon caught himself, glaring between Colton and Tim.

When Leon lost his edge to souring Colton’s days, he went to work poisoning Devon against his roommates.

It made practice and games uncomfortable and quickly made living together unbearable.

But aside from that singular setback, Colton’s days had a positive uptick, and he focused on spending most of his time with Isaac. Publicly and affectionately.

The pair seamlessly transitioned into a real couple, and Colton quite liked showing off his boyfriend for all to see.

Especially since Isaac remained indifferent and rude to just about anyone who pestered him.

Colton had never met someone so dedicated to helping people and equally annoyed by the presence of others and in no way afraid of showing that aggravation with a cutting comment.

Still, people reacted positively for the most part, which only encouraged Colton more. In fact, the only person who continued waving a flag of dismay about Colton’s queerness was Leon, who became more vigilant after Colton’s relationship with Isaac became public knowledge.

Leon’s jokes hit harder now. Sure, he’d always mocked Isaac, but seeing how the goth guy mattered to Colton, Leon made more of an effort to rag on him.

It threw Colton’s focus a bit, and his pitches kept going out of bounds until, eventually, a player managed to hit the worst foul ball off Colton’s shitty curve.

“Fuck me,” he hissed under his breath as the ball landed in the bleachers, where a handful of folks watched.

“Woooooo!” Mina shouted. “You got this, bitch!”

A few GSA members still had a habit of showing up during practices to support Colton, enjoy their lunch, and watch hot guys run around swinging their bats.

Isaac and Mina were among them and often the most vocal.

Since Colton’s audience had expanded months back, some other cliques started joining in to watch their favorite player practice.

“Damn, man!” Leon shouted from the sidelines, stepping out of the dugout. “Maybe you should call it. Not looking like much of a pitcher at all. Making me wonder what you and that weirdo get up to.”

Colton’s face flushed. He wanted to say something snappy, witty, mean, but he’d never been great at comebacks. Usually, Colton didn’t need them, and frankly, he didn’t like belittling people. Even people he didn’t like.