giving the impression that this isn't a dead end

[quatrains]

Getting Ryan to come over is surprisingly easy. He Ming thought there might be some kind of academic policy about not going to students' places, but then, they're in college. The administration probably doesn't care enough, which makes things much more convenient, especially if things should go wrong.

He's really hoping nothing will go wrong. He likes Ryan a lot. Someone smart and attractive and cool draws He Ming's attention and holds it easily, and with his prior attempts having apparently failed, he's taking drastic steps to show Ryan exactly what he wants.

(The help with math is nice, too.)

He Ming sprawls on his couch scrolling aimlessly through social media on his phone until he hears the knock on the door. Jumping to his feet, He Ming nearly sprints to let Ryan in. As soon as he opens the door he's grinning. "Come in, come in!"

Comments

[amorality]

How laughable. There's no good reason for him to like him — he doesn't even really know who he is! Ryan behaves differently with people he's essentially being paid to interact with. He's patient, tolerant, even kind at times. If He Ming met him under any other circumstances, he would almost certainly hate him...

What an unpleasant thought.

Well, there's no reason he can't have a little fun with him in the meantime. He'll teach him why he shouldn't be so careless with his heart, and he won't even charge. Ryan twists to face him properly, delicately resting one of his hands on He Ming's upper thigh. Since he never returns all those casual touches, he's pretty sure he'll take notice.

"And how would you help me, exactly?"

[quatrains]

Even though He Ming only ever spends time with Ryan in the context of tutoring sessions, he wants more of what he has. When a hand comes to touch him in return, He Ming brightens, pressing towards the attention with obvious delight.

"By helping you relax. I'm good at it." He Ming isn't really shy about what he likes. With an equal lack of discretion, he runs his hand to Ryan's wrist and pulls him closer. "Let me try?"

[amorality]

The voice in his head that always demands for Ryan to behave logically and with restraint fades slightly, temporarily overpowered by amusement and his insatiable curiosity. He doesn't respond verbally. Ryan just tilts his head back with a challenging little grin, daring He Ming to keep going.

[quatrains]

A challenging look like that is no deterrence, and in fact more like encouragement. He Ming moves quickly. He swings a leg over Ryan's lap to straddle his hips, moving to hold his shoulder instead as he leans over to kiss him. It's mostly eagerness and enthusiasm and a lot of other experience He Ming won't mention at that moment, as he finally feels Ryan's lips on his.

[amorality]

In contrast, Ryan has no experience whatsoever. He's never even held hands with a prospective partner, much less this. It's a little more than he'd bargained for, and it leaves him temporarily at He Ming's mercy as he's forced to just go along with his pace. He's close, he's too close, Ryan's trapped —

Forcing himself to calm down, he places his hands on He Ming's chest and leans up into the kiss to regain a little control. This isn't what he had in mind, but he thinks he can go with it.

[quatrains]

The response takes a moment longer than He Ming expects, and he's starting to consider sitting up and giving Ryan a chance to speak. When Ryan finally kisses him back, He Ming hums with delight and wraps his arms around him to better hug him close.

He keeps shifting on Ryan's lap. He's almost trying to squirm closer, though they're already pressed chest to chest, and with another soft moan he runs his tongue along the seam of his mouth.

[amorality]

Now that really is too much. Ryan breaks the kiss and looks up at He Ming quizzically, slightly flushed.

"How long have you been thinking about this?" He really would actually like to know, though he's mostly asking now to gain a little time to think. Maybe he should try to convince He Ming to "help" with his medical studies, he'd be the one in control then...

[quatrains]

He Ming stops when Ryan pulls back, eyes wide with excitement.

"How long..? Um, for a while. I thought you were cute when we met, and you're so nice to me." Setting his hands on Ryan's shoulders, He Ming watches him with quiet attention as he runs his palms over his chest. He really does like Ryan. He thinks he's smart, and more than that, his personality is impressive.

"I like you," He Ming tells him softly. "I really do."

[amorality]

Behaving in a seductive manner does not come naturally to Ryan at all, but with He Ming handing him all the power by confessing like this, he gains some confidence he usually wouldn't have. His hands drop to the hem of He Ming's shirt, fingertips slipping up inside to stroke his bare torso.

"What if you helped me study this time? I'm in medical school, you know," he says softly.

[quatrains]

"What do you mean?" He Ming stays still, carefully controlling his breathing as he lets Ryan put his hands under his shirt. He's tense, almost nervous, but he wants this. At least he thinks he does.

"How can I help you study..?" Beginning to lean in again, He Ming tilts down as if about to kiss him once more.

[amorality]

Slowly, he starts to hike up He Ming's shirt. Ryan leans in too, but he moves so that his mouth ends up near his ear rather than kissing him properly again.

"Let me study you," he whispers.

[quatrains]

He Ming's gaze on Ryan becomes hot and almost dark, until his eyes shut. He doesn't expect Ryan to bypass him, and at the sound of his voice at his ear, he shivers.

"How are you going to study me?"

Perhaps wrongly, He Ming takes that as only an innuendo, and holds himself very still for Ryan's touch.

[amorality]

And for once, Ryan mostly means it as an innuendo. That's not to say he won't be genuinely studying his musculature, but he's definitely planning on making him squirm.

"Studying a body in motion would really help me nail down the mechanics of certain muscles," he replies, fingers ghosting over his skin.

Ryan presses in on his abdomen, huffing a soft laugh. "Like this right here... you have some tension in your abdominal obliques. A lot of people get tense there when they're turned on. Are you excited just from this?"

[quatrains]

Of course he's tense, he's sitting on his crush's lap and he's touching him. He Ming pouts, just a little, forcing himself to relax and slump down.

"I'm excited," he admits, voice quieter than usual before he gathers himself again to look into Ryan's eyes and tug at his shirt. "Do you not like this? Do you not like me?"

[amorality]

How cute. Ryan does feel a little bad, though. He doesn't dislike He Ming, but he can't say he likes him in the way He Ming wants — not right now, at least. He's never really thought of him in that way, but he doesn't think of anyone in that way so it doesn't really count as a point against him. Ryan starts playfully inching He Ming's shirt up, silently encouraging him to take it off.

"If I didn't like it, you'd be on the floor right now." Which is decidedly a non-answer, but he hopes he doesn't push it.

"Do you not like to be teased?"

[quatrains]

He Ming gives Ryan the benefit of the doubt, or at least he gives him the benefit of his massive crush that he wants so badly to be reciprocated. Ryan's lack of answer slips past and He Ming smiles at him as he reaches down to get the hem of his shirt and pull it off over his head. He lets it crumple into a pile on the ground next to the sofa.

"I don't mind being teased." Even with his torso exposed, He Ming is comfortable with himself and with sitting where he is. His hands start to travel over Ryan's chest in return. "As long as the teasing ends eventually."

Took a long weekend!

[amorality]

Well that's something Ryan can't promise. The hands on his chest make his gut tighten slightly, and even Ryan couldn't say if he likes it or not. He wraps both arms around He Ming and pulls him in close enough that it won't be an issue, trailing his fingers along his back as he gently kisses and nibbles at his neck. That someone apparently trusts him enough to allow him access to such a vital area is admittedly a rush, and he lets himself indulge more than he usually would.

[quatrains]

He Ming is pliable to Ryan's touch, his exploratory touch and the feel of his mouth and even the brush of teeth against his throat. It's contact, and that's all he wanted. With a quiet moan He Ming begins to rock gently against his lower stomach.