Straight Until You

Chapter 9 — You’re Mine

Nathaniel Anderson was becoming dangerously attached.

That realization hit him Tuesday afternoon while sitting through a business ethics lecture he had completely stopped paying attention to fifteen minutes earlier.

Because Asher Reyes was asleep against his shoulder.

Which honestly felt more important than education.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Nathaniel looked down slightly.

Asher sat beside him in the back row wearing a black hoodie with one arm folded beneath his head while breathing slowly against Nathaniel’s shoulder.

Peaceful.

Comfortable.

Dangerously beautiful.

Nathaniel couldn’t stop staring.

A serious issue honestly.

An actual serious issue.

Beside them, Jordan looked emotionally devastated.

Jordan: “This is insane.”

Nathaniel finally looked away from Asher briefly.

Nathaniel: “Lower your voice.”

Jordan pointed dramatically toward Asher.

Jordan: “He fell asleep on you.”

Nathaniel tried very hard not to smile.

Failed immediately.

Dylan looked equally disturbed from the row behind them.

Dylan: “You look happy.”

Nathaniel frowned slightly.

Because unfortunately—

he probably did.

⸻

Truthfully, none of this had been planned.

Asher had shown up late to class after morning practice looking exhausted and irritated at humanity.

Normal behavior honestly.

Nathaniel had moved his backpack off the empty seat beside him automatically.

Also normal at this point.

Then halfway through the lecture, Asher’s head had slowly tilted against Nathaniel’s shoulder like it belonged there naturally.

And Nathaniel—

Nathaniel had immediately stopped functioning normally.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because the second Asher leaned against him, Nathaniel became painfully aware of everything.

The warmth of him.

The soft pressure against his shoulder.

The fact that Asher trusted him enough to fall asleep beside him publicly.

That realization hit harder than expected.

Most people trusted Nathaniel because of his name.

Because of money.

Because of status.

Asher looked half-asleep and annoyed at life when he leaned against him.

Which somehow felt infinitely more real.

⸻

Nathaniel’s phone buzzed softly against the desk.

Jordan.

Of course.

Nathaniel checked the messages one-handed carefully so he wouldn’t disturb Asher.

💚 Jordan

OH MY GOD.

🧡 Dylan

HE’S SLEEPING ON YOU.

💚 Jordan

NATHANIEL YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE ABOUT TO PROPOSE.

💙 Nathaniel

Shut up.

🧡 Dylan

You smiled at him.

💚 Jordan

SOFTLY.

💙 Nathaniel

I hate both of you.

🧡 Dylan

You look emotionally compromised.

💚 Jordan

Actually devastating to witness in person.

Nathaniel locked his phone immediately.

Too late.

Jordan already looked disgustingly entertained.

A nightmare honestly.

An actual nightmare.

⸻

Asher woke slowly twenty minutes later.

The first thing he noticed was warmth.

The second thing he noticed was that he was leaning against Nathaniel.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Asher froze slightly.

Because somehow—

Nathaniel hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t joked.

Hadn’t embarrassed him.

Instead, Nathaniel still sat perfectly still beside him like he was afraid to wake him up.

That realization affected Asher way more than it should have.

A serious issue.

⸻

Nathaniel noticed the second Asher woke up.

Of course he did.

He had become painfully aware of everything Asher did lately.

Nathaniel: “Morning sleeping beauty.”

Asher immediately sat up properly.

Too fast.

Which honestly made Nathaniel want to laugh.

Asher: “You should’ve woken me up.”

Nathaniel shrugged casually.

Far too casually.

Nathaniel: “You looked comfortable.”

Jordan physically covered his face nearby.

Traitorous behavior honestly.

Asher looked away immediately.

Because suddenly his chest felt warm again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

⸻

The lecture finally ended a few minutes later.

Students slowly packed their bags while conversations filled the room again.

Nathaniel stood beside Asher naturally.

Close enough to touch.

Close enough to distract him.

A problem honestly.

Then suddenly—

a girl near the front of the room approached Nathaniel smiling brightly.

Asher recognized her immediately.

Claire.

Business major.

Pretty.

Aggressively flirtatious.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Claire: “Nathaniel, are you still coming to the fundraiser Friday?”

Nathaniel looked polite immediately.

The fake polite smile.

Asher noticed the difference instantly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Nathaniel smiled differently around him.

Softer.

Realer.

That realization felt dangerous.

⸻

Nathaniel answered casually.

Nathaniel: “Probably.”

Claire smiled wider before touching his arm lightly.

Asher’s mood worsened instantly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because apparently he had absolutely no right to feel irritated.

Yet somehow—

he still did.

A serious issue honestly.

An actual serious issue.

Then Claire finally noticed Asher standing beside Nathaniel.

Her expression shifted slightly.

Curious.

Evaluating.

Claire: “Oh.”

A pause.

Then—

Claire: “You’re Asher, right?”

Asher nodded once.

Already exhausted.

Asher: “Unfortunately.”

Nathaniel laughed softly beside him.

Again.

Hopelessly.

Claire looked between them slowly.

Then smiled knowingly.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Claire: “Well, I’ll let you two get back to your date.”

Silence.

Real silence.

Asher blinked once.

Nathaniel froze beside him.

Jordan made a choking sound somewhere behind them.

Then Claire walked away smiling before either of them could respond.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

⸻

For several long seconds, neither Nathaniel nor Asher spoke.

The hallway around them buzzed with students moving between classes while tension settled heavily between them.

Nathaniel finally looked sideways toward Asher.

Carefully.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Asher didn’t look uncomfortable.

Just thoughtful.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Nathaniel: “That wasn’t a date.”

Asher looked up slowly.

Then—

unexpectedly—

Asher: “You sound disappointed.”

Nathaniel stopped breathing temporarily.

Jordan nearly screamed behind them.

Dylan physically grabbed him before he could.

A nightmare honestly.

An actual nightmare.

⸻

Nathaniel stared at Asher silently.

Because suddenly—

that didn’t sound like teasing anymore.

It sounded dangerously close to flirting.

Real flirting.

And worst of all—

Asher looked calm after saying it.

Like he wanted to see Nathaniel’s reaction.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Nathaniel stepped slightly closer instinctively.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Just enough.

Nathaniel: “Maybe I am.”

Asher’s breath caught slightly.

Barely noticeable.

Nathaniel noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

And suddenly the hallway felt too warm.

Too crowded.

Too small.

Because somehow Nathaniel’s attention always felt overwhelming in the most dangerous way possible.

⸻

Asher’s phone buzzed suddenly.

Perfect timing honestly.

He glanced down automatically.

Then immediately regretted it.

Because Luca had somehow developed supernatural instincts regarding emotional moments.

🖤 Luca

Why do I feel like you’re flirting right now?

❤️ Asher

Go away.

🖤 Luca

THAT’S NOT A DENIAL.

🤎 Mateo

Where are you?

❤️ Asher

Class.

🖤 Luca

With rich boy?

❤️ Asher

Unfortunately.

🖤 Luca

You smile every time you say unfortunately now.

🤎 Mateo

That sounds suspicious.

❤️ Asher

You’re both insane.

🖤 Luca

We love you too.

Asher locked his phone aggressively.

Too late.

Nathaniel already looked amused.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Nathaniel: “Your brothers text you constantly.”

Asher sighed deeply.

Asher: “They think emotional boundaries are fictional.”

Nathaniel laughed quietly again.

Hopeless.

Absolutely hopeless.

And somehow—

that sound affected Asher more every single time.

⸻

Then suddenly—

someone shoved roughly into Asher while rushing through the crowded hallway.

Hard enough to throw him slightly off balance.

Nathaniel reacted instantly.

One arm wrapped automatically around Asher’s waist before he could fall.

The entire hallway seemed to freeze.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because suddenly—

Asher was pressed directly against Nathaniel’s chest.

Warm.

Close.

Dangerously close.

Nathaniel’s hand still rested firmly against his waist.

Neither moved immediately.

Couldn’t actually.

Because the tension between them had become unbearable.

Heavy.

Sharp.

Real.

⸻

Asher looked up slowly.

And immediately regretted it.

Because Nathaniel was staring down at him with an expression Asher had never seen before.

Not teasing.

Not playful.

Possessive.

Dangerously possessive.

The hand on Asher’s waist tightened slightly.

Barely noticeable.

But enough.

More than enough.

Then quietly—

dangerously quietly—

Nathaniel spoke.

Nathaniel: “Careful.”

Asher’s chest tightened painfully.

Because somehow—

that single word sounded intimate.

Protective.

Real.

A serious problem.

⸻

Around them, students openly stared now.

Whispers spreading immediately through the hallway.

Nathaniel didn’t care.

At all.

Which honestly scared him slightly.

Because right now—

the only thing Nathaniel cared about was the fact that Asher was still standing between his arms.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Then suddenly—

Jordan’s phone buzzed loudly behind them.

Breaking the moment instantly.

Reality crashed back immediately afterward.

Asher stepped back too quickly.

Nathaniel let go too slowly.

Both terrible signs honestly.

⸻

Jordan looked seconds away from emotional collapse.

Jordan: “I need everyone here to understand that was the most romantic thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

Nathaniel looked murderous instantly.

Nathaniel: “You ruin everything.”

Dylan nodded seriously.

Dylan: “Actually true.”

Asher looked away quickly before either of them could notice the heat rising in his face.

Too late.

Nathaniel noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

And suddenly—

he smiled.

Soft.

Real.

Dangerously fond.

Asher’s heart skipped painfully.

A disaster.

An actual disaster.

Because for the first time—

Asher realized he wasn’t falling slowly anymore.

He was already halfway gone.