Sebastian POV
The days that followed the kiss in the college gardens were lived in a state of heightened, almost surreal intensity for Sebastian. Their relationship, now undeniably romantic, was a secret, precious thing, a hidden flame warming the cold, lonely corners of his existence. Their first night together in his college rooms was a revelation.
After years of a loveless marriage, of dutiful, passionless encounters with Margaret that felt more like a chore than a connection, the intimacy he shared with Ethan was overwhelming, a deluge of sensation and emotion that left him breathless and profoundly grateful. His body, long dormant, responded to Ethan's touch with an eagerness that surprised and thrilled him.
Ethan was a surprisingly tender lover, attentive and intuitive, his hands knowing just where to touch, his kisses igniting fires Sebastian had thought long extinguished. Yet, beneath the tenderness, there was an underlying confidence, a subtle command, that Sebastian found intoxicating.
In Ethan's arms, Sebastian felt cherished, desired, seen in a way he had never been before. The shame that had clung to him for decades like a shroud seemed to dissolve in the heat of their encounters.
He was forty-seven years old, a respected Oxford don, and yet, with Ethan, he felt like an adolescent experiencing the first, dizzying rush of love. He was reborn, every nerve ending alive, every sense heightened. The world seemed brighter, sounds sharper, even the stale air of his ancient college rooms felt charged with a new, vibrant energy.
His happiness was a fragile, incandescent bubble. He knew the risks, the potential for scandal, the inevitable pain it would cause Margaret, however distant their marriage had become. Guilt was a constant, low hum beneath the symphony of his joy, a dissonant note he tried to ignore. But he pushed it away, compartmentalised it.
For the first time in his life, he was choosing his own happiness, however precarious, however forbidden.
This is worth it, he told himself. This feeling… it's worth anything.
***
Ethan POV
Ethan played the part of the ardent, devoted lover with consummate skill. He mirrored Sebastian's passion, feigned an equal depth of emotional investment, and meticulously catalogued the Professor's reactions, his vulnerabilities, his every sigh and whispered endearment. Each touch, each kiss, each shared intimacy was, for Ethan, a strategic move, a further entrenchment of his control.
Sebastian's unbridled joy, his almost pathetic gratitude after each encounter, only served to underscore the success of Ethan's manipulation. It was, at times, almost too easy.
He observed Sebastian's transformation with a kind of detached, clinical interest. The lonely, melancholic professor was blooming, his face losing its habitual lines of worry, his eyes shining with a new light. It was a testament to Ethan's power, a living, breathing trophy of his conquest.
While Sebastian experienced genuine connection, Ethan experienced the cold satisfaction of a plan perfectly executed. He was an actor in a meticulously crafted play, and Sebastian was his enthralled, unsuspecting audience of one.
***
Sebastian POV
They established routines, their secret life woven into the fabric of Oxford's ancient rhythms. Late evenings in Sebastian's rooms, after the last students had departed and the college had settled into a hushed quiet, became their sanctuary. Stolen moments in secluded library alcoves, their hands brushing as they reached for the same book, a shared, conspiratorial smile that sent a thrill through Sebastian.
They even acquired a cheap, untraceable mobile phone – Ethan's idea, "for our private conversations," he'd said, his eyes sparkling with a mischief that Sebastian found endearing. Sebastian would wait for Ethan's coded texts – a line from Donne, a cryptic reference to a shared joke – his heart leaping with anticipation like a schoolboy's.
He began to see the world through Ethan's eyes. Ethan's ambition, which had once seemed perhaps a little too sharp, now appeared as admirable drive. His occasional cynicism was reframed as worldly wisdom. Sebastian found himself deferring to Ethan's opinions, seeking his approval not just in academic matters, but in almost everything. Ethan was his confidant, his lover, his intellectual sparring partner, his entire world.
Margaret returned from Yorkshire, her mother's condition having stabilised into a slow, grim decline. Her presence in their North Oxford home was a constant, jarring reminder of the life Sebastian was betraying.
Her silences were heavier now, her glances filled with a suspicion that was becoming harder for Sebastian to ignore, and for Margaret, harder to deny. He knew she sensed a change in him, a new preoccupation, a distance that was more than just his usual scholarly abstraction.
The strain between them was palpable, a taut wire that threatened to snap with the slightest pressure. He made excuses, pleaded overwork, buried himself in his college life – a life that now revolved almost entirely around Ethan.
***
Ethan POV
The establishment of their secret communication, the burner phone, was a crucial step. It provided not only a secure channel but also a tangible symbol of their illicit bond, further isolating Sebastian from his normal life and increasing his dependence on Ethan. Every text, every secret call, binds him tighter.
Ethan also knew that to truly bind Sebastian, the Professor needed to feel not just desired, but also intellectually invigorated and even, in some small way, successful because of Ethan's presence. Sebastian had mentioned, almost dismissively, an old, stalled piece of his own research on a minor Metaphysical poet.
One evening, as they reviewed one of Ethan's essays, Ethan "casually" remarked, "You know, Sebastian, your earlier thoughts on Vaughan's use of hermetic imagery… I stumbled upon a rather obscure treatise in the Bodleian that might offer a new lens. It made me think your original angle was more promising than you perhaps gave it credit for."
He then outlined a complex, insightful connection that had Sebastian visibly excited, his eyes lighting up, his fingers drumming on the table as new ideas sparked. Sebastian, thrilled by the intellectual stimulation and Ethan's astute contribution, felt a fresh wave of admiration and a subtle sense of gratitude for Ethan's intellectual generosity.
Ethan noted the pleased flush on Sebastian's face, the way he spoke with renewed enthusiasm about his own scholarship. It was a small, morally ambiguous 'gift' – planting an idea that made Sebastian feel indebted and seen, further blurring the lines between mentor, lover, and now, even a source of intellectual inspiration for Sebastian himself. He'll remember this generosity when I need something in return.
Ethan also began to subtly weave academic topics into their more intimate moments, blurring the lines between the personal and the professional.
One evening, nestled in the worn leather armchair in Sebastian's rooms, the scent of their recent lovemaking still lingering in the air, Ethan broached his first small "favour."
"Sebastian," he began, his voice soft, almost hesitant, as he traced a pattern on Sebastian's bare chest, his touch light and teasing. "The reading list for next term's seminar on Renaissance drama… I know it's not finalised yet, but I was wondering… could I perhaps see a draft? Just to get a head start? I'm so keen to impress, to really dig deep into the material." He looked up at Sebastian through his lashes, his expression a carefully crafted blend of earnest ambition and loving entreaty.
***
Sebastian POV
Sebastian felt a momentary flicker of unease, a slight tightening in his chest. Reading lists were usually released to all students simultaneously. Giving Ethan advance access, however minor it seemed, felt like a boundary being nudged, a small deviation from the established rules. But then he looked at Ethan's eager, upturned face, the genuine passion for learning that always shone in his eyes, the implicit trust in their special connection. How could he refuse such a small request, a request born of intellectual curiosity, from the man who had brought such unexpected joy into his life?
His desire to please Ethan, to support his ambitions, to see him succeed, overwhelmed any nascent professional scruples. This was Ethan, his Ethan. Their relationship was unique; the normal rules didn't quite apply to them.
"Of course, my dear boy," Sebastian said, stroking Ethan's hair, the gesture feeling wonderfully natural. "I think I have a draft somewhere on my desk. It's no trouble at all." He felt a warm glow of pleasure at being able to help, at being the one Ethan turned to.
He rose and retrieved the draft list from his desk, handing it to Ethan with a smile. Ethan's answering smile was dazzling, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you, Sebastian," Ethan said, pressing a warm kiss to Sebastian's lips. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
Sebastian's heart swelled. He felt powerful, valued, loved. He had given Ethan a small academic advantage, yes, but what was that compared to the immensity of what Ethan had given him? He was utterly, blissfully, and blindly devoted. His emotional surrender was complete.
***
Ethan POV
Ethan accepted the reading list with an inward smile of triumph. It was a small thing, insignificant in itself, but it was a beginning. The first thread in the web he was weaving, the first subtle erosion of Sebastian's professional ethics. The Professor hadn't even hesitated.
He kissed Sebastian again, a long, lingering kiss designed to reinforce the emotional reward for this small act of compliance. The seduction was proceeding flawlessly. Sebastian was not just in love; he was pliable. And Ethan was just getting started.
Ethan's Internal Log: First academic favour secured (advance reading list). Preceding "intellectual gift" proved effective in fostering gratitude and reducing potential resistance. Subject emotionally invested and exhibiting clear signs of prioritising emotional connection over professional ethics. Documentation of favours initiated. Next: gradually escalate requests, test boundaries of compliance.