Archive of Our Own

“Hey Lucas, do you think you can get us into Pike’s party tomorrow?” Max asked, tossing an arm over her eyes as she sprawled out across the living room couch.

Lucas looked up from the stove, a wooden spoon mid-air, steam curling up around his face. “You actually want to go to a Pike party?” he asked, sounding genuinely bewildered.

“Well, I think we all should go. We’ve never even been to a traditional frat party before,” Max argued, sitting up and kicking her legs over the edge of the cushions.

“Not true,” Will chimed in from his spot on the floor. He was leaning against the base of the couch, a sketchbook resting on his knees. Without looking up from his doodling, he added, “We went to one freshman year.”

Max scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You mean the Sigma Chi mixer that got shut down thirty minutes after we walked through the door? Please. That doesn't count.”

“What about Sigma Chi?” El asked, padding out of the bathroom and drying her hands on a hand towel.

“Max is trying to drag us to Pike tomorrow night,” Will said dryly, finally capping his marker.

El let out a soft laugh, tossing the towel onto a nearby chair. “Why? I thought we collectively hated traditional fraternities. No offense, Lucas.”

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head as he went back to stirring the pot. “None taken. You know I love my Black and Gold, but I get it.”

“Okay, so can you get us on the list or what?” Max pressed, leaning forward and targeting Lucas with her best pleading look.

Will pushed himself up from the floor, stretching his legs before wandering into the kitchen to casually hover near Lucas and the stove. “Why do you suddenly want to go so bad, Max?”

Max shrugged, though her expression turned slightly defensive. “I just want to experience at least one massive college house party before we graduate. Just to see what it’s actually like. Call it a severe case of FOMO.”

Lucas glanced over his shoulder. “I take you guys to parties all the time. What about the crossover party  with the Ques last week?”

“Or the Valentine’s Day party with the Nupes?” El added with a bright smile. “That was so much fun. I still have the rose they gave me.”

“As much as I love those parties, and you know I do, this is different,” Max explained, gesturing with her hands. “It’s a massive rager at a literal mansion. Plus, the one tomorrow is pool-themed.”

The playful mood in the room shifted slightly. Will leaned against the kitchen counter, his voice dropping into a quieter, more serious register. “I don’t know, Max. Usually, those specific house parties aren’t exactly safe for… you know. People like me.”

An uncomfortable silence briefly hung over the room. Everyone knew exactly what he was alluding to.

“Pike isn’t like that,” Lucas said, breaking the tension as he turned off the burner. “Or, at least, Mike isn’t allowing it to be like that anymore.”

Will looked skeptical. “And how do we know that for sure?”

“Because I know Mike. He’s a good guy, Will. He’s trying to change the culture over there.”

And it was true, Lucas did know Mike, though it was a relatively recent development. The two of them had bonded the previous year while serving together on the university’s fraternity council, and they had only become roommates at the start of this semester. 

Will knew of Mike, of course. He’d heard the name tossed around by Lucas and plenty of other people on campus, but their paths had never actually crossed. Every single time the apartment planned a group hangout, Mike inevitably text-apologized Lucas at the last second, dragged away by some urgent fraternity business. He was like a ghost who paid half the rent.

“Come on, guys,” Max pleaded, looking between El and Will. “Let’s just go. Just for tomorrow. If it sucks, we never have to set foot in a house like that again.”

El gave a sympathetic wince. “I actually have plans with Dustin tomorrow night. We’re finally going to see that movie. Sorry, Max.”

Max’s shoulders slumped, and she turned her full attention to Will. Will looked at Max’s desperate expression, then over at Lucas, who just gave a neutral, 'it's up to you’ shrug.

“Okay, fine!” Will threw his hands up dramatically, leaning back against the kitchen counter with a heavy sigh. “But the second it gets weird, we are leaving. No arguments.”

“Yes! Of course! Deal!” Max’s face instantly lit up. She turned a beaming, pouty-faced smile toward the kitchen. “Please, Lucas? Pretty please?”

Lucas chuckled, grabbing a dish towel to wipe his hands. “Alright, alright. I’ll text Mike and see what I can do. I’m pretty sure their guest list closed this morning, but I’ll ask for a favor.”

Max clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on the couch. “Yay! We are going to have so much fun!”

Friday night arrived in a haze of mid-tier vodka and half-empty red Solo cups. For the past hour, the living room of Lucas and Mike’s apartment had served as a pregame. They weren't completely blasted, but a heavy, warm buzz had settled over them, making the humid walk over to the fraternity house feel significantly shorter than it actually was. Max and Lucas were stumbling along the sidewalk, laughing loudly at something on Max's phone, while Will walked a step behind them, finally feeling relaxed enough to stop worrying about what the night might hold.

That relaxation evaporated the exact second his sneakers hit the front lawn of the Pike house.

The bass from inside wasn’t just loud;  it was vibrating the grass beneath Will’s feet and rattling his ribs. The front porch was a chaotic crowd of people, but a makeshift line had formed near the front door, guarded by a tall guy holding a laptop. He was the sterotypical frat archetype: backwards baseball cap, a black tank top, and a pair of salmon-pink shorts with a comically long twelve-inch inseam.

As the group stepped up to the porch, the guy didn’t even bother to glance at Lucas. He flicked his eyes over Max, lingered on Will, and then stared back down at his screen. He shook his head, holding a flat palm up.

“Sorry, guys. Can’t let you in. We’re at capacity,” the guy said, his voice entirely devoid of inflection.

“You literally just let four people in,” Will argued, stepping forward.

Will froze mid-sentence. He hadn't actually looked at the door guy's face until he spoke, but the voice was instantly, horrifyingly recognizable. Will's gaze snapped up to meet the guy's eyes, and his stomach plummeted straight into his shoes.

It was Troy.

Troy. The guy Will had spent three incredibly awkward, secretive months hooking up with last semester before Troy abruptly ghosted him, terrified to his core that his fraternity brothers would find out he wasn't straight.

Troy looked back at Will, his expression hardening into a defensive glare. “Sorry, man. The ratio is off. We’re only letting in brothers and girls right now.”

Will took another step forward, the vodka giving him a sharp edge of boldness. “I thought you just said you were at capacity?”

Lucas quickly reached out, putting a hand on Will’s shoulder and gently pushing him back. “Look, man. I know Mike. He’s my friend.”

Troy let out a mocking laugh, leaning against the doorframe. “Right, man. Mike’s your friend. Like I haven't heard that from everyone tonight.”

Will rolled his eyes, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. “Come on, guys, let’s just get out of here. This is stupid.”

Max shook her head aggressively. “What? No, we aren’t leaving. We just got here!”

“Look, dude,” Lucas said, his tone dropping into something much firmer. “Mike is my roommate. He specifically told me he put us on the list.”

Troy rolled his eyes, tapping a finger against his laptop. “Look, man, everyone tonight apparently knows Mike. But I don't know who y'all are, so you aren't getting in. Now move to the side so we can keep the line moving.”

“Lucas, seriously, let’s just go,” Will pleaded, tugging at Lucas’s sleeve.

Instead of moving, Lucas swat Will’s hand away with a reassuring smirk and pulls out his phone. He dialed a number, held it to his ear, and stared straight into Troy’s face.

“Hey, Mike, it’s Lucas. Yeah, we’re outside,” Lucas said, his voice loud enough to carry over the bass. “One of your pledges on a power trip isn’t letting us in. Says you’re at capacity. He also claimed the ratio is off…” Lucas paused, keeping his eyes locked on Troy. “Yeah, I’m with Will… Yeah, Max is here, too… Alright, cool. Thanks.”

Lucas hung up, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, and just stared at Troy, raising a smug eyebrow.

For a fraction of a second, Troy looked like he was about to laugh and physically push them off the porch. But less than three seconds later, a sharp, aggressive ringtone blasted from Troy’s own pocket.

Troy frowned, pulling the phone out. He looked at the screen, and Will watched the blood completely drain from the guy's face in real-time.

“Uh… hey, Mike,” Troy stammered, his tough-guy posture instantly evaporating. He went completely rigid, his shoulders squaring like a soldier being scolded by a general. “Oh. Wait, really? The guy with the – oh. Oh, shit. No, man, I didn’t know he was with you.” Troy flicked a terrified glance toward Lucas. “No, I didn’t ask his name. Okay, give me a second…” He looked up, swallowing hard. “What’s your name?”

Lucas laughed, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. “My name is Lucas. I’m Mike’s roommate. And this is my girlfriend Max, and my friend Will.”

Troy looked down at his laptop, his fingers flying across the trackpad. He let out a ragged sigh. “Yeah, Mike, I see it now. It was under VIP… No, I completely missed it. I’m sorry. My bad, it won’t happen again.”

Troy hung up, visibly sweating under the collar of his tank top. He looked at Lucas and then his eyes shifted, landing squarely on Will. A flash of pure, awkward panic crossed Troy’s face as the reality of the situation set in: he had just tried to flex on his secret ex in front of the chapter president’s roommate.

“Uh… you guys are good,” Troy said quickly, stepping completely out of the way and throwing the heavy front door wide open. He pointed a finger toward the interior hallway. “Go right on in. Seriously. There’s a pledge right inside the kitchen; I’ll text him to give you guys whatever drinks you want. My bad, man.”

Lucas smirked, tossing a casual, “Thanks, bro,” over his shoulder as he sauntered past.

Will paused for just a fraction of a second as he crossed the threshold. “Thanks, Troy,” he said softly, letting a smug, knowing smile hit his lips before stepping into the house.

The Pike house was absolutely massive, a sprawling, three-story maze of high ceilings and hardwood floors that were currently vibrating so hard Will was kind-of worried they were going to fall in. The theme of the night was “Splashing Back Into the Semester,” and the fraternity had clearly spared no expense. Tiki torches lined the perimeter of the backyard, inflatable palm trees were wedged into the corners of the living room, and practically everyone was dressed in neon swim trunks, unbuttoned linen shirts, or bikini tops.

The trio fitted right into the summer-rave aesthetic, though they had handled the pool-party dress code with their own distinct styles. Will adjusted the sunglasses resting on top of his head, looking down at his crisp white shorts and a cream button-up patterned with olive green stripes, the first two buttons left casually undone to handle the sticky humidity of the house. Beside him, Lucas kept things classic and athletic in a simple white t-shirt paired with bright red shorts, while Max had fully embraced the pool theme, rocking an emerald green bikini top paired with high-waisted jean shorts.

Through a set of massive double doors leading to the backyard, Will could see the pool. It was a chaotic, churning sea of people. Drunk students were floating on giant inflatable flamingo rafts, splashing each other, and screaming over the music blasting from a professional DJ booth. A strobe light pulsed rhythmically across the water, turning the entire backyard into a makeshift pool rave.

“Holy shit,” Max muttered, looking around with a mix of awe and amusement. “They really don’t do things small here, do they?”

“Look at this house,” Will said, staring in shock at the architecture. “The structure literally wraps around the entire backyard.”

“Yeah, Mike wanted his back-to-school party to be the biggest one in Pike history,” Lucas said, yelling slightly over the thumping bass. “Though I still don’t think he’ll beat the live bull riding they did back in the '70s.”

“The what?” Will asked, his jaw dropping.

“Hey, I’m gonna go see if any of my line brothers are here,” Lucas interrupted, scanning the crowded hallway and waving at a few guys passing by. “You guys good to head to the bar?”

Max nodded, gave Lucas a quick kiss on the cheek, and immediately grabbed Will’s arm, dragging him toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was just as cavernous as the rest of the house, centered around a giant marble island that had been entirely converted into a makeshift bar. Behind it stood a nervous-looking freshman wearing a loud, floral Hawaiian shirt and a taped-on nametag that simply read: PLEDGE. The poor kid looked stressed out of his mind, frantically cracking open beers and pouring seltzers into red Solo cups like his life depended on it.

Will approached the island and yelled over the roaring music, “Hey! Troy said we could get drinks here?”

The pledge snapped his head up, looking at Will and then at Max. “You Mike’s friends?”

They both nodded.

“Right now all we have left is beer, Twisted Tea, and some Smirnoff seltzers,” the pledge said, visibly relieved to have an official order.

“Can I get a beer and a seltzer, please?”

The pledge nodded rapidly, retrieving the drinks and sliding them across the marble.

“Alright, the party is finally starting,” Max announced, her hips already swaying to the heavy beat of a hip-hop remix blasting through the house speakers. She popped the tab on her drink. “Come on, Will, let’s go dance!”

Will shook his head, holding up his seltzer. “Let me down this first to loosen me up. I’ll get another one and find you out there.”

Max rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. “Fine, but don’t take too long. I’ll be by the pool!” she yelled before disappearing into the dense, sweaty crowd.

Will turned back to the bar, catching the pledge's eye to gesture for a second can. But before he could even vocalize the request, a low, confident voice spoke up right next to his ear.

“You know, if you keep drinking those shitty seltzers, you’re not going to get drunk at all.”

Will jumped slightly, turning around. Standing right next to him was a tall, dark-haired guy. He was wearing black swim trunks and an unbuttoned black short-sleeve shirt with nothing underneath. Up close, Will could see his lean, defined frame, his pale skin contrasting sharply against the dark fabric of his clothes.

Will recognized him immediately from photos on Lucas’s phone and various campus Instagram pages. He had always thought the guy was a little cute in pictures, but standing less than a foot away, he realized Mike was really cute.

“I’m Mike,” the guy said, a slow, effortless smirk spreading across his face. He extended a hand.

Will didn't take the hand right away. Instead, he leaned back against the edge of the kitchen island, crossing his arms and letting his eyes trail deliberately down Mike's open shirt before looking back up. “The elusive roommate. Nice to finally meet the guy who never actually lives in his own apartment.”

“Hey, it takes a lot of work to run an empire,” Mike said, throwing a casual glance out at the massive crowd filling his house before fixing his gaze right back on Will. “But, if I spent more time at the apartment, I would’ve met you months ago. Clearly, I've been mismanaging my priorities.”

“Well, you might want to try running things a little better, Mr. President,” Will said, taking a deliberate sip of his seltzer, holding Mike's gaze over the rim of the can. “The guy at your front door was a total asshole.”

Mike let out a genuine laugh, leaning in a bit closer, his shoulder brushing against Will's. “Sorry about him. He's a pledge. He’ll learn his lesson tomorrow morning.”

“That sounded vaguely ominous.”

“Don’t worry, Will. It won’t be anything he can’t handle. I can be very reasonable when I want to be.” Mike tilted his head, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Though I usually prefer a different kind of negotiation.”

Will blinked, caught entirely off guard. Obviously, Will knew who Mike was , he was the president of one of the largest fraternities on campus, and he was Lucas’s roommate, but he had no idea Mike had any clue who he was.

“You know my name?” Will asked, tilting his head.

Mike looked up, his eyes locking onto Will’s, and smiled. “How could I not know my roommate’s cute friend?”

“What?” Will asked, the music suddenly feeling a bit louder.

“I said, how could I not know my roommate’s cute friend?” Mike repeated, his tone perfectly steady, his smirk widening. “Lucas talks about you all the time. He just forgot to mention that the pictures don't really do you justice.”

Will just laughed, shaking his head, trying to play it cool despite the sudden warmth in his cheeks. “Sure, Mike. I’m sure you tell every person in a five-mile radius whatever they want to hear to keep your guest list full.”

“You're definitely special,” Mike said without missing a beat, leaning his forearm against the counter next to Will, closing the distance between them. “But if you’re worried about my sample size, feel free to ask around. I don't usually look at anyone the way I'm looking at you right now.”

Will raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft huff. “Oh, please. I bet you have that exact script memorized for your pledges during orientation.”

“Ouch. Harsh,” Mike teased, a dimple flashing in his cheek. “I’ll have you know I’m completely improvising. You just happen to be very inspiring.”

“Is that your way of saying you’re out of practice?” Will shot back, a sharp, playful glint in his eye.

Mike let out a low chuckle, clearly loving the pushback. “Far from it. But if you think you can do better, I’m all ears. What’s your opening line usually? Or do you just stand by the kitchen island looking incredibly pretty until someone brings you a better drink?”

“I don’t need an opening line,” Will said smoothly, tilting his chin up. “Clearly, my presence alone was enough to get the president to abandon his post.”

“You got me there,” Mike conceded, bowing his head slightly in mock defeat. His gaze dropped down to Will’s seltzer, then back up into his eyes. “Tell you what. Let me get you something real from the back cabinet. A peace offering. Unless you’re afraid you won't be able to handle it?”

“I can handle myself just fine, thanks,” Will said, a competitive spark lighting up in his chest. “And I'm not that easy to buy off.”

“Good to know. I like a challenge,” Mike murmured, his voice dropping an octave as he took a half-step closer. He completely cut off Will's view of the crowd, forcing Will to focus entirely on him. “I’m serious, Will. I find you really cute. And for the record, my guest list is always full. I don't have to work this hard unless I actually want to.”

Will let out another nervous laugh and took a massive gulp of his seltzer, finishing off the can just to give his hands something to do. He set the empty aluminum down on the marble with a soft click, looking Mike up and down. “Oh, so this is you working hard?”

“I’m just getting warmed up,” Mike whispered. He leaned in, his breath warm against Will’s ear as he spoke, his hand sliding smoothly to rest on the small of Will’s lower back, his thumb tracing a slow, deliberate circle through the fabric of Will's shirt. “Why don’t I show you exactly how cute I think you are?”

The touch sent a jolt straight down Will's spine, but the sheer, blinding confidence of it kicked his defenses into gear. He placed a flat palm against Mike’s chest, feeling the solid, rapid heat of his skin, and pushed him back just a fraction of an inch. “You use that line often?”

“Just on the ones that are worth it,” Mike said, completely unbothered, radiating an annoying amount of charm as his eyes dropped briefly to Will's lips.

Will laughed, rolling his eyes as he stepped away from the kitchen island entirely. “So, that means yes.”

“Wait, Will,” Mike said quickly. The effortless charm cracked, and he reached out, his fingers wrapping gently around Will’s wrist to stop him from melting into the crowd. A hint of real panic broke through his smooth demeanor. “Hold on. I’m kind of dumb, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. Don't leave yet.”

“I should go,” Will said, pulling his wrist back gently but firmly, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I have to find Max. I told her I’d meet her outside.”

“I’ll go with you,” Mike offered immediately, stepping forward, his eyes searching Will's face. “I’ll help you look.”

“No, I think you should stay here and make sure another one of your pledges doesn’t get out of line,” Will said as he turned on his heel and walked away.

Will pushed his way through the heavy double doors into the humid backyard. He scanned the dense sea of bodies near the pool, finally spotting Max’s bright hair. She was dancing wildly near the DJ booth.

“Where were you?” she yelled over the deafening bass as he approached.

“I was trying to finish my drink!” Will yelled back. “Let’s dance!”

Will took Max’s hand, stepping into the rhythm and letting the heavy, pulsing music wash over him. He tried desperately to focus on Max’s ridiculous, over-the-top dance moves, but he couldn't shake a heavy, prickling sensation on the back of his neck. It felt like a physical weight.

He glanced through the crowd, looking back toward the wide doorway leading into the house.

Sure enough, Mike was standing right near the doorframe. Lucas had joined him. The two of them were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, completely ignoring the massive party swirling around them, their eyes locked directly on Will. Mike was saying something to Lucas, his expression intense and entirely unreadable. Lucas just listened, nodding slowly, before looking back at Will with an infuriating grin.

Being analyzed like a specimen under a microscope by his best friend and a hot, annoyingly cocky frat president made Will’s stomach twist into a tight knot of unease. The backyard suddenly felt incredibly claustrophobic.

“Hey,” Will leaned in, shouting directly into Max’s ear. “I need some fresh air. I’m gonna step out front to smoke real quick!”

Will slipped around the side of the house, away from the roaring bass and the humid chaos of the pool. He found a secluded alcove near some weathered, decommissioned pool equipment and a stack of plastic lawn chairs. It was quiet here. The air was cool, smelling faintly of chlorine and damp grass.

He pulled a crushed box of cigarettes from his shorts pocket, tapped one out, and sparked his lighter. The flame illuminated the dark brick wall for a brief second before he took a long, grounding drag.

He was only able to exhale a couple of plumes of smoke before his tranquil alone time evaporated. He caught the crunch of gravel, followed by a set of heavy, deliberate footsteps approaching. Will didn’t even have to look up to know who it was; the sudden, distinct shift in the air pressure gave it away.

“Those things will kill you, you know,” a voice called out from the shadows.

Will finally looked up, lazily exhaling a cloud of gray smoke. Mike was leaning against the brick wall a few feet away, hands pushed casually into his swim trunk pockets, a lopsided, effortless smirk on his face.

“So will alcohol poisoning, Mr. President,” Will shot back, keeping his voice dry as dust. “But I don't see you stopping anyone inside.”

Mike chuckled, stepping away from the wall and walking over until he was standing directly next to Will, close enough that their shoulders brushed. He looked out over the dark lawn, the ambient light from the party casting long shadows across his collarbones. “Touché. But we do have a strict no-smoking policy on chapter property. Unless, of course, you’re willing to share?”

Will let out a soft laugh, but instead of handing it over, he dropped the cigarette onto the gravel, twisting his sneaker over the ember to put it out. He looked up at Mike through his bangs. “Rules are rules.”

Mike stared down at the crushed bud, then back up at Will, his smirk widening. “Wow. You’re a tough nut to crack, Will. But I like someone who doesn't instantly fold under pressure.”

Will shrugged, leaning his back against the brick. “I’m just not easily impressed by a giant house, cheap LED lights, and a title.”

“Good. Because I'm way more interesting than the title,” Mike said softly. He took a half-step closer, tilting his head. His dark eyes dropped down to Will’s lips for a lingering, heavy second before locking back onto his gaze. “You know, it’s nice out here, but the air conditioning inside feels way better.”

Will tilted his chin up, a sudden surge of confidence hitting him. “Maybe I just want to see you sweat a little.”

Mike’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling register that vibrated right through Will’s chest. “And maybe I just want to make you sweat a little.”

Will choked slightly on his own spit, letting out a sharp, breathless laugh as the tension broke. “Oh my god. That was awful. Do you actually use that line on human beings?”

“Hey, if it works, it works,” Mike grinned, completely unbothered by the rejection, his chest shaking with a quiet laugh. “Did it work?”

“Not even a little bit,” Will lied, though his heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He defensively crossed his arms over his chest, trying to anchor himself. “You’re just full of corny lines, aren't you?”

“Only for you,” Mike murmured. The playful, cocky edge to his voice completely vanished, replaced by something much more intense, much more focused. “Look, let’s go inside. Want a real drink? All they have in the kitchen downstairs is trash beer.”

Will raised a skeptical eyebrow. “How? Your pledge at the bar looked like he was down to his last warm case of Bud Light.”

Mike’s sharp, confident smirk returned. “I told you. I'm the president. I keep the good stuff hidden.” He stepped backward, gesturing toward a side door leading into the house. “Come on. Trust me.”

Will hesitated for a fraction of a second, but the pull of Mike’s presence was entirely too strong to fight. Letting out a loud, theatrical sigh to mask how fast his pulse was racing, he followed Mike back into the house.

But instead of heading back down to the suffocating, crowded first floor, Mike led him straight toward a carpeted staircase restricted to the second level. It was a slow trek; every three seconds, Mike was stopped by fraternity brothers dapping him up or girls trying to catch his attention. Mike handled it all with practiced, easy charisma, but his hand stayed firmly planted on Will's lower back, guiding him through the sea of people without letting him drift away.

The second floor was noticeably quieter, lined with closed bedroom doors. At the very end of the hall, a few guys were hanging out in a smaller, secondary kitchen, laughing and blasting music from a portable Bluetooth speaker.

The exact second Mike stepped through the doorway, the entire atmosphere in the room shifted. The loud chatter cut off almost instantly.

“Oh! Yo, Mikey, what's up?” one of the guys said, his posture straightening up immediately as he set his drink down.

Mike didn't smile. He just stepped into the room, leaning his hip against the counter. “Just want to know if any of y'all touched my stuff in here.”

“Course not, bro,” another guy said quickly, motioning defensively toward the refrigerator. “Yours is on the top shelf, like always. Nobody touched it.”

Mike didn’t say a word. He just kept staring at them, an intense, quiet authority radiating off him that Will hadn't seen downstairs. The silence stretched, turning incredibly awkward. Will let out a tiny, nervous laugh to break the tension, which caused one of the guys to quickly snap his eyes over to him.

“Oh, right. Mikey, we were actually just about to head downstairs anyway,” the first guy added hastily, grabbing his phone off the counter and nodding to the rest of the group. “The backyard is getting crazy.”

“Yeah, man. We'll see you later.”

Within thirty seconds, the guys had practically fled the premises, scrambling down the hallway and leaving Mike and Will completely alone in the quiet kitchen.

Will looked around the empty room, completely bewildered. He hopped up, sitting on the edge of the marble counter and shaking his head. “What the hell was that? Are you the alpha wolf or something? Why did they just flee the room like you were going to suspend them?”

Mike let out a rich laugh, the tense, stern mask melting away as he walked over to a sleek, stainless-steel refrigerator. “Perks of the title. When the president walks into a room with a pretty guy on his arm, the brothers know to give him some space.”

Will’s face burned instantly hot, the blush spreading all the way to his ears. “You are ridiculous.”

“I am efficient,” Mike corrected smoothly. He opened the fridge, reached all the way to the restricted back shelf, and pulled out a plastic tray filled with brightly colored Jell-O shots, alongside a premium, chilled bottle of Don Julio. He set them on the counter next to Will with a flourish. “See? I don't lie.”

Will looked at the bottle, hiding his fluster behind a layer of sarcasm. “Jell-O shots and tequila. Wow, I’m being so incredibly spoiled.”

“Oh, so you don't want any?” Mike teased, leaning in close as he reached for the cabinet above Will's head.

“I never said that,” Will retorted, his fingers already reaching down to pluck a red Jell-O shot from the tray.

Mike grabbed two shot glasses, setting them down and pouring the clear, chilled tequila right to the brim. He handed one to Will. “Alright. Take this shot, and chase it immediately with the Jell-O shot.”

Will rolled his eyes, a playful challenge sparking in his chest. “I know how to take a shot, Mike. I don't need to be talked through it”

“Well, then,” Mike murmured, lifting his glass, his eyes locking onto Will’s with absolute focus. “Let’s toast to formally meeting.”

They clicked their glasses together, a sharp clink echoing in the quiet kitchen. Will tipped his head back, slamming the burning liquor down his throat, followed instantly by the sweet slam of the Jell-O shot. They both set their empty glasses down on the counter with a loud slap and laughed, the shared burn of the alcohol melting away the last bit of Will's hesitation.

Mike didn't step back. Instead, he stepped completely into the space between Will’s knees, planting his hands flat on the marble counter on either side of Will’s thighs. He just stood there, tall and quiet, his chest less than an inch away from Will's.

“You having fun yet?” Mike asked, his voice slipping into a low murmur.

Will leaned his head back against the kitchen cabinets, looking down at Mike through a half-lidded gaze. The tequila was working fast, settling thick and heavy in his veins. “I’m starting to think the fun is just beginning. But I think you rely a little too much on your reputation, Mr. President.”

“Oh, really?” Mike tilted his face up just a fraction, his dark eyes locking onto Will’s lips before slowly dragging back up to meet his eyes. “What makes you say that?”

Will let his arms drop from his chest. Slowly, deliberately, his fingertips found the edge of Mike’s open black shirt, tracing the smooth fabric down until his palms rested flat against Mike’s bare chest. He felt the sharp intake of Mike’s breath, followed by the sudden, heavy thud of his heart.

“Because,” Will murmured, his voice dropping into a quiet purr as his fingers lightly hooked into the belt loops of Mike's swim trunks, pulling him just a fraction closer. “You talk a really big game. But so far, you’ve just been standing here waiting for me to make the first move.”

A heavy silence descended on the kitchen. Mike’s lopsided smirk completely vanished, his expression turning focused. His hands slid an inch closer on the counter, his knuckles brushing the outer skin of Will’s thighs.

“I was just trying to be polite,” Mike whispered, his chest rising and falling heavily against Will’s palms. “But if you’re tired of the talking… I can change the pace.”

“You know, I think you talk way too much, Mr. President,” Will said smoothly. “And I think you need another shot.”

Mike’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, thoroughly amused. “Oh, do I now? What happened to your lecture about alcohol poisoning?”

“I think I’d be perfectly okay with you getting it if it meant shutting you up for a second.”

Will uncrossed his arms, his fingers tracing a slow, agonizingly deliberate line down the open placket of Mike’s black shirt, stopping right at the center of his bare chest. He could feel the rapid, heavy thud of Mike’s heart beneath his fingertips.

“Just close your eyes and open your mouth,” Will commanded softly.

Mike blinked, a look of genuine shock crossing his features, followed instantly by a dark intrigue. “I’m slightly confused about the mechanics of what you’re asking for, but you’re incredibly hot, and I’m entirely a victim of my own curiosity right now, so I’ll let it slide.”

Will didn't give him an answer. Instead, he flexed his legs slightly, his knees firmly trapping Mike in at his sides, pulling him completely flush against the edge of the counter until there was absolutely no space left between them.

“Close your eyes,” Will repeated, his voice dropping into a firm whisper. “Open your mouth.”

“Yes, sir,” Mike whispered back, a thrilled smile playing on his lips as he finally closed his eyes and parted them.

Will didn't know what possessed him, whether it was the lingering adrenaline from seeing Troy, the heavy buzz of the alcohol, or just the intoxicating weight of Mike’s undivided attention, but a sudden, wild impulse took over. He grabbed the bottle of Don Julio, poured a heavy shot directly into his own mouth, and set the bottle down with a thud.

Before he could swallow, he reached forward and tangled his fingers into the thick, dark hair at the back of Mike’s head, tilting his face up.

Will leaned down and pressed his mouth firmly to Mike’s.

Mike let out a muffled, sharp gasp against Will’s lips, and Will didn't hesitate. He parted Mike’s mouth with his own, slowly pouring the burning liquor straight down Mike’s throat. The shared heat of the tequila bloomed instantly between them, a sharp, intoxicating rush that made Will's head spin. Mike’s hands instantly snapped out, his fingers digging hard into the fabric of Will’s shirt at his waist, gripping him for stability as his throat worked to swallow the tequila. 

The exact second the liquid cleared, Mike let out a low, ragged growl against Will's mouth. His grip shifted instantly, his hands burying deep into Will’s hair, fingers twisting aggressively into the strands as he pulled him fiercely into a deep, breathless, and bruising kiss.

They were completely lost to it, making out frantically against the kitchen counter. The quiet of the upstairs kitchen disappeared entirely beneath the sound of their heavy panting, the wet, desperate friction of their lips, and the heavy thud of the bass vibrating through the floorboards. Will’s hands roamed restlessly through the dark, damp strands of Mike's hair, tilting Mike's head to press even deeper into the kiss, drinking in the taste of tequila.

Mike’s grip on Will's waist tightened into a bruising hold, his large hands anchoring him to the marble as he pinned Will down, trying to pull him completely off the counter and flush against his bare chest. There was a desperate, heavy hunger to it now. Mike groaned low into Will's mouth, a sound that Will felt all the way down his spine, before sliding his hands down. His palms were scorching as they gripped the skin of Will's inner thighs, dragging Will's legs wider to anchor them around his waist, pulling himself so tight into the space between Will's knees that Will could feel the frantic, heavy thud of Mike’s heart beating violently against his own chest.

The sudden, intense friction sent a sharp jolt of electricity straight through Will’s body. He arched into the touch with a quiet whimpering sound, his own fingers scrambling blindly for the buttons of Mike’s open shirt. He wanted the fabric gone; he needed to feel the warmth of Mike's bare skin against his hands. His knuckles scraped against the hard muscle of Mike's chest as Mike bit sharply at his lower lip, sucking it into his mouth and pulling a breathless gasp from Will’s throat.

Mike managed to rip the third button of Will's shirt open, his thumb tracing the slick line of sweat at Will's collarbone, his mind entirely consumed by the intoxicating scent of him and the dizzying rush of the alcohol. He was aggressively reaching for the fourth button, pulling Will closer by the fabric, when a harsh, panicked voice shattered the room.

“Sir?!” a guy yelled from the hallway.

They both snapped apart, chests heaving, blinking against the sudden intrusion. Mike immediately dropped his head into Will’s lap with a frustrated groan, his forehead resting against Will's thigh.

“Yo! Mikey!” the voice called again, closer this time.

“In here!” Mike barked back, his voice rough.

A breathless, sweaty pledge practically stumbled into the kitchen doorway, gripping a walkie-talkie like a lifeline. “Mike! Holy shit, Mike, sorry to interrupt, but– ”

Mike snapped his head around, his eyes flashing with absolute fury as he bolted upright, shielding Will from view. Will scrambled backward on the counter, frantically wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his face burning a dark crimson.

“– but people are getting way too rowdy by the pool!” the pledge rambled, completely oblivious to the murder in his president's eyes. “Someone almost shattered the glass patio table, and some guy from Sigma Chi is trying to start a physical fight with the DJ!”

"Can you guys handle literally anything without me for five minutes?!" Mike yelled, his voice echoing sharply off the kitchen tiles.

"I'm sorry, man! They won't listen to us!" the pledge said, taking a defensive step back. "They keep saying pledges can't tell them what to do!"

Mike rubbed his temples aggressively, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. In an instant, the cocky, flirty guy vanished, and the commanding president aura was back in full force. He turned back to Will, his expression instantly softening into genuine regret. “Duty calls. Meaning, I have to go handle these freshmen so the cops don't shut us down. Stay here? Please?”

Will, his heart still beating a mile a minute and his lips tingling, shook his head. “I think… I think I’m gonna go find Max. My head is spinning a little.”

Mike looked visibly disappointed, but he nodded understandingly. He reached out, gently squeezing Will's knee one last time before stepping away. “I’ll find you soon. Don't leave.”

Mike marched out of the kitchen, shoving the panicked pledge ahead of him into the hallway. Just before he disappeared around the corner, he threw one last lingering smile back over his shoulder at Will.

Will hurried down the staircase, his lips still buzzing with the taste of tequila and Mike. He navigated the dense, sweaty sea of neon bodies on the first floor, his eyes scanning the crowd until he finally spotted Max’s bright red hair near the back patio exit. He marched straight over, grabbed her upper arm, and dragged her backward into a shadowy corner behind a giant, fake plastic palm tree.

"Whoa, okay, aggressive," Max laughed, adjusting her grip on her solo cup to keep it from spilling. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere."

"You cannot tell Lucas. Or El. Or anyone. Ever. If you do, I will deny it until the day I die," Will hissed, his eyes darting around wildly to make sure nobody was listening.

Max’s eyes went completely wide, a slow, wicked grin spreading across her face. "Oh my god. What did you do?"

"I just spent the last twenty minutes making out with Mike upstairs."

"No way!" Max gasped loudly.

Will instantly slapped his hand over her mouth, his eyes widening in panic. "Shh! Seriously, shut up!" he whispered frantically, pulling his hand back once he was sure she wouldn't scream. "We did a mouth-to-mouth shot with tequila, Max. It was… it was insane."

"I knew it!" Max cackled, rubbing her hands together in pure glee. "The elite frat president falls for the artsy boy. This is absolute gold. I won't tell Lucas, I swear, but oh my god, Will."

"Let's just go outside," Will muttered, his face incredibly warm, though a small, helpless smile was finally breaking through his serious expression.

They stepped out onto the concrete pool deck, and the tense, dramatic vibe from upstairs completely dissolved into pure, chaotic comedy.

The crowd had formed a massive, roaring circle around the shallow end of the pool. In the center of the patio stood Lucas and Mike. Apparently, "presidential duties" involved water guns.

Both were armed with massive, high-powered neon-green water guns. They were completely drenched, laughing like maniacs as they circled each other like gunslingers, aggressively soaking each other's faces with heavy jets of water. The crowd was screaming and cheering them on as if it were a gladiatorial arena.

Suddenly, Mike caught sight of Will and Max stepping onto the deck. A mischievous, familiar smirk crossed his wet face, and he instantly swiveled the massive water gun, aiming the barrel directly at Will’s chest.

Will didn't even flinch. He took a single, deliberate step forward, raising a highly threatening index finger and pointing it squarely at the two roommates.

"Don't you dare, Mike," Will warned, his voice cutting clearly through the roar of the music. "If a single drop of water gets on this shirt, I will personally waterboard your PlayStation the second we get back to the apartment."

Lucas immediately froze mid-laugh, dropping his water gun to his side with a look of pure, unadulterated terror. "Whoa, whoa, Mike, stop! Put it down! Put it down right now! He's serious! He’ll actually do it, he has absolutely no mercy!"

Mike let out a booming laugh, lowering the weapon to his side. His dark eyes locked onto Will's with a playful shimmer. He stepped away from the pool, jogging over until he was standing close enough that only Will could hear him over the thumping bass.

"Message received," Mike murmured. His wet hair was clumping over his forehead, water droplets tracing down his bare chest, and he looked incredibly, annoyingly hot. He leaned in just a fraction. "Hey… stay after? When everyone leaves?"

Will looked at him, the memory of the kitchen counter hitting him all over again. He took a breath. "You offering more fun?"

“Finishing what we started sounds like fun,” Mike said into Will's ear.

“Fine,” Will said softly, "I'll stay.”

Mike offered Will one last lingering look before turning on his heel and walking up the steps of the elevated DJ booth. The student DJ nodded respectfully, instantly cutting the music down to a low simmer and handing Mike the microphone.

“Hey, listen up!” Mike’s voice boomed through the high-powered backyard speakers. “Did everyone have a good time tonight?”

The crowded backyard erupted into a massive, deafening cheer, cups waving in the air.

“Who runs the best house on this campus?” Mike asked, leaning over the railing of the booth with an easy, confident grin.

“PIKE!” the crowd roared back in unison.

Standing by the edge of the patio, Will shook his head, a faint blush creeping up his neck. It gave him a heavy dose of secondhand embarrassment, but he had to admit, there was something deeply captivating about watching Mike command the room like that.

Max nudged Will’s shoulder, leaning in so she could be heard over the ambient noise. “Do you think he enjoys the spotlight just a little too much?”

Will let out a breathless laugh, his eyes still fixed on the tall, dark-haired guy at the mic. “Oh, he absolutely loves it. He’s having way too much fun.”

“Seriously,” Max laughed, taking a sip of her drink. “Look at him. He’s basically preening.”

Mike handed the mic back to the DJ and stepped down from the booth. On his way back to the patio, he caught the eyes of a few senior brothers, leaning in to whisper a few quick commands. The guys nodded instantly, expressions shifting into serious, working modes before they scattered into the crowd to start clearing people out. Mike then smoothly navigated his way back to Will, Max, and Lucas.

“We’re about to officially wrap things up,” Mike said, “But you guys are completely fine to just chill and hang out for a bit. Don't feel like you have to rush.”

“Are you actually kicking everyone out, or are you just trying to look responsible?” Will teased, raising an eyebrow.

“A little bit of both,” Mike murmured, giving Will’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze that sent a quiet jolt straight to his chest. “But mostly, I’m just ready for the noise to stop. I'll be right back.”

Before Will could reply, Mike walked toward the edge of the pool to handle the stragglers. Will leaned his hip against a patio table, his eyes tracking Mike’s movements. He watched the effortless way Mike interacted with a group of girls sitting on inflatable rafts. He squatted down at the pool's edge, laughing at something they said, completely charming and charismatic.

Will couldn't help but stare at how Mike’s dark hair was completely soaked, clinging to his forehead, and how the total lack of a shirt highlighted his lean, defined frame. As if sensing the stare, Mike flicked his eyes over to Will, offering him a secret smile. Then, turning back to the girls, he pointed a polite but firm finger toward the side exit.

“Alright, ladies,” Mike’s voice floated over the water. “Safety hazards are over for the night. Let's start moving toward the front doors.”

Right on cue, Semisonic's “Closing Time” began to blare from the speakers. The universal college signal worked instantly; the crowd let out a collective groan and began shuffling toward the house to find their shoes and wallets.

Mike marched back up to the DJ booth, snatching the mic one last time.

“Alright, it’s almost two in the morning!” he yelled into the microphone, a wicked grin on his face. “If you aren’t a brother, or you aren't currently sleeping with a brother – get the fuck out of my house!”

The sheer, unfiltered bluntness of it made Will burst out laughing, burying his face in his hands.

Lucas, who had just walked over with a stray Solo cup, chucked a piece of ice at Mike’s booth before turning to the group. “Alright, the dictator has spoken. You guys ready to head back to the apartment?”

Will’s laughter quieted down. He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling incredibly shy under his friends' gazes. “Um. I think I’m actually gonna stay a little longer.”

Lucas blinked, looking genuinely bewildered. “Wait – what? Why would you want to stay?”

Max didn’t say a word. She just locked eyes with Will, a massive smirk spreading across her face. Will darted his eyes at her in a silent, desperate plea for backup.

“Max, why are you making that face?” Lucas asked, looking between them. Then, his jaw slowly dropped as the puzzle pieces finally clicked in his brain. “Oh. Oh my god. No way.” Lucas let out a loud, booming laugh, clapping his hands together. “No way Mike finally managed to make a move on you.”

“Shut up, Lucas! Keep your voice down!” Will hissed, his face instantly turning a violent shade of scarlet as he checked to see if any passing pledges had heard.

“Hey, man, I’m not judging! I’m proud of him,” Lucas laughed, putting his hands up in mock surrender. He stepped forward, patting Will firmly on the back with a massive grin. “Well, have fun. I’m sure you will.”

“Go away, Lucas,” Will muttered, though he couldn't help the helpless smile tugging at his lips.

Lucas chuckled, reaching out to grab Max’s hand. “Come on, Max. Let's leave the lovebirds to it.”

“Don't do anything I wouldn't do!”  Max called out with a wink over her shoulder before the two of them disappeared into the exiting crowd.

Left alone in the rapidly emptying backyard, Will walked over to the deep end of the pool. He sat down on the smooth concrete edge, swinging his legs over and letting his bare feet drop into the cool, undisturbed water. It felt incredibly peaceful after hours of chaos.

He didn't get to enjoy the silence for long. Within two minutes, a shadow fell over him, blocking the light from the tiki torches. Will looked up to see a burly sophomore brother standing over him with his arms crossed over a Pike jersey.

“Yo, man. Didn’t you hear the announcement?” the guy asked, his voice dripping with standard door-guy authority. “Party’s over. You gotta wrap it up and head out. Gates are closing.”

Will let out a patient laugh, kicking his feet slightly in the water. “Yeah, I heard it. I’m just waiting for someone.”

The guy didn’t budge. He tightened his crossed arms, entirely unamused. “Oh yeah? Who exactly are you waiting for? Everyone's leaving.”

“I’m waiting for Mike,” Will said calmly, looking right up at him.

The brother let out a loud, mocking scoff, rolling his eyes. “Right, man. Waiting for Mike. Listen, dude, I’ve heard that exact line about fifty times tonight from random people trying to camp out. You’re going to have to get up and leave right now.”

Will sighed, pulling his dripping feet out of the water and standing up to face the guy on the concrete. He didn't feel like dealing with another power trip. “No, seriously. I am actually waiting for Mike. Ask him if you don't believe me.”

“Look, dude, I don’t care who you know,” the guy said, stepping firmly into Will’s personal space, trying to use his size to intimidate him. “You need to walk out those gates right now before I call campus security and have you cited for trespassing. I'm not playing around.”

“Security? Are you serious?” Will asked, his temper flaring slightly. “I literally just told you I’m waiting for–”

“What’s the problem over here?”

A cold voice cut through the air from behind Will. Mike walked up, his eyes sharp and entirely unreadable as he looked between Will and the sophomore.

The brother instantly straightened his posture, though he still had a smug look on his face. “Hey, Mike. Glad you're here. This guy right here is refusing to leave the pool deck. He’s trying to use the old 'I'm waiting for the president' excuse to stay after hours.”

Mike didn’t look fazed. He didn't even look at his fraternity brother; his eyes were locked entirely on Will, tracing the tense line of his shoulders. “And are you calling him a liar?”

The guy’s smug expression flickered, a hint of genuine confusion hitting him. “Come on, Mike. Everyone says that tonight to try and stay. I'm just enforcing the house rules you set.”

“Well, he happens to actually be waiting for me,” Mike said, his voice dropping into a dangerously stern tone that made the sophomore instantly shrink. Mike finally turned his head, fixing the brother with a chilling glare. “But thank you for showcasing that classic, chivalrous Pike gentleman attitude we always praise ourselves for in front of our guests.”

The guy’s face went completely pale. “Wait, Mike, hold on, I didn’t know he was with you. Seriously, my bad, I thought he was just another random– ”

“You and Troy are officially on backyard trash duty with the freshman pledges tonight,” Mike interrupted smoothly, cutting him off without an ounce of hesitation or mercy. “For disrespecting my guests. Both at the front door and the back door.”

The sophomore’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious, dude? Trash duty? The whole yard? Troy was the one who actually messed up at the door, why am I getting dragged into it?”

“I am entirely serious,” Mike said, his tone leaving absolutely zero room for negotiation. “Go find Troy. The two of you are going to help the pledges clean up every single solo cup, aluminum can, and stray piece of garbage on this property. And if I find out you guys try to flake and sneak out like you did last weekend, you’ll be joining the freshmen in the basement tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Am I clear, or do I need to make it an official chapter penalty?”

The guy swallowed hard, his tough-guy demeanor completely shattered. He looked down at the concrete, thoroughly defeated. “Yes, sir. Clear.”

“Thank you. Go find a trash bag,” Mike said flatly.

The sophomore turned on his heel and quickly scurried away toward the house.

The second the guy was out of sight, the cold, rigid authority melted off Mike’s face like ice. A soft, breathless laugh escaped him, and he stepped right into Will's space. He reached out, his large, warm hand sliding smoothly around Will’s waist, his thumb resting gently against the side of his hip through his shirt.

“Sorry about that,” Mike murmured, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he looked down at Will. “I swear, I try to train them, but some of them are just naturally thick-headed.”

Will laughed, leaning slightly into the solid warmth of Mike’s touch, his heart doing a violent flutter against his ribs. “You’re kind of terrifying when you use that president voice, you know. I almost felt bad for him.”

“Don't feel bad for him, he deserves it,” Mike whispered, a smirk spreading across his lips as he tugged Will just a fraction closer. “And besides, I can think of much better things to do with my voice now that they're all gone.”

Will tilted his head up, his eyes dropping to Mike's mouth. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Like showing you the rest of the house,” Mike murmured, his grip tightening playfully on Will's waist as he guided him away from the pool and back toward the quiet, empty interior. “Come on. Let's get out of the dark.”

The chaotic noise of the backyard finally faded into a dull, rhythmic hum as Mike led Will back up the central staircase. This time, they bypassed the secondary kitchen entirely, heading down the long, carpeted corridor toward the restricted end of the hall. Mike was balancing a paper plate stacked with surprisingly high-quality catering food he’d raided from the executive fridge down the hall. It was enough for them to snack on like sliders, chicken tenders, and a handful of seasoned fries.

At the very end of the hall, Mike pulled a heavy brass key from his pocket and unlocked the heavy wooden door, pushing it open with a dramatic, tired grin.

“Welcome to the suite,” he said, stepping aside. “Or, you know, my bedroom.”

Will stepped inside, looking around in genuine surprise. It was a massive, high-ceilinged corner room, completely solo. no shared bunk beds, no mismatched plastic drawers, and none of the standard, sterile university housing furniture. It felt like a sleek, modern apartment, complete with a dark leather armchair, a massive flat-screen television mounted on the wall, a neatly organized bookshelf, and a king-sized bed pushed against the far wall under a pair of large windows.

“Wow,” Will said, walking further into the room to inspect the bookshelf. He ran a finger along the spines of a few novels, noticing a surprising mix of political biographies, art books, and campus directories. “A single suite in a frat house. I didn't know this kind of luxury even existed on campus.”

“Like I say, perks of the job,” Mike said, setting the plate of food down on his desk with a soft chuckle. He leaned back against the edge of the dark wood, crossing his arms over his bare chest as his dark eyes tracked Will's movements around the space.

Will paused, noticing an entire shelf dedicated to neatly arranged Star Wars figurines and collectibles. He turned around, tilting his head. “If you have this entire place to yourself, why do you even have a lease with Lucas at the apartment?”

“That place is more like my crash pad,” Mike explained, a lopsided smile hitting his face. “For when I get sick of these guys. Don't get me wrong, I love the brotherhood, but sometimes I just need a break.”

Will walked over to him, a teasing glint in his eye. “A break from your incredibly hard life as king of the castle?”

Mike laughed, the sound low and tired. “Believe it or not, being chapter president is stressful. Especially when you’re legally responsible for two hundred and forty active brothers and fifty completely clueless pledges who don't know how to use a trash can.”

Will stopped just a few feet away, “Well… do you need a stress reliever, Mr. President?”

“Come over here and find out,” Mike murmured. His voice dropped into a low, raspy register that sent a sudden, heavy wave of heat straight to Will’s stomach.

Will didn't hesitate. He took the final step forward, closing the remaining distance until he was standing just inches from Mike’s chest. The air between them felt thick with the quiet anticipation of the room. Mike reached out, his large, warm hands finding Will’s waist, his fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt before pulling him securely into the tight space between his thighs.

“You’re driving me completely crazy tonight, you know that?” Mike whispered, his dark eyes searching Will’s face, tracing the sharp line of his jaw.

“Good,” Will breathed, tilting his chin up, his eyes dropping to Mike's mouth. “You deserve a challenge.”

Mike let out a soft, defeated groan and closed the final inch between them, burying his mouth in Will's.

The kiss was deep, intense, and completely devoid of the frantic, hurried rush from the kitchen. It was slow and deliberate. Mike shifted his weight forward, pulling his unbuttoned shirt off so his bare chest rubbed completely flush against Will's thin shirt as they began to stumble backward toward the far wall. They moved together blindly, lips locked, limbs tangling in the dim light, until the backs of their legs hit the frame of the massive bed. They collapsed onto the heavy, dark comforter without breaking the kiss for even a fraction of a second.

Mike scrambled up immediately, crawling completely on top of Will, using his larger frame to pin him to the mattress. He kissed him hard, his tongue sliding deep against Will's, before dragging his lips down to the sensitive skin of Will's neck. He sucked sharply right below Will's jaw, biting down lightly with his teeth and pulling a quiet, breathy whine from Will's throat.

“Fuck, you sound so beautiful like this,” Mike whispered against his skin, his breath hot, heavy, and ragged. “I’ve been wanting to get you up here all fucking night. You have no idea what you do to me.”

“Shut up,” Will breathed out, his hands wrapping tightly around the back of Mike’s neck, fingers knotting in his damp hair to pull him down for another bruising kiss.

But Mike resisted, pushing himself up on his forearms to look down at Will. His dark hair was messy, falling over his forehead, and his chest was rising and falling rapidly. He stared down through his thick lashes, his expression completely stripped of the cocky confidence from the party downstairs, replaced by a desperate, heavy hunger.

“Can I suck you off? Please?” Mike asked, his voice rough, low, and completely unvarnished. “I want to taste you so bad, Will.”

Will nodded quickly, his own breath catching hard in his throat at the sheer intensity in Mike's eyes. “Yeah – yeah, of course. Please– .”

Mike didn't waste another second. He slid down Will's body, his hands moving to grasp the waistband of Will's shorts and boxers, tugging them down past his hips. Will was already achingly, painfully hard, the cool air of the bedroom hitting his flushed skin. Mike’s large hand wrapped securely around the base of Will's length, and he leaned over, his thumb tracing over the tip to catch the moisture there before starting to stroke Will with a slow, agonizingly deliberate friction.

“Fuck… Mike,” Will moaned, his head rolling back against the pillows, his fingers gripping the heavy comforter beneath him as his hips twitched.

“Look at you,” Mike muttered, a low growl in his throat as he increased the pace slightly, his eyes never leaving Will’s face. “You’re so fucking hot when you’re desperate. Look at how hard you are for me already. Do you like this?”

“Yes – fuck, yes,” Will gasped.

“Good boy,” Mike whispered. He leaned down, his warm tongue licking slowly up and down the sensitive underside of Will's length, before swirling heavily around the tip. Will's hips twitched violently at the wet contact. Before Will could even catch his breath, Mike leaned over and took the entire length into his mouth, his lips wrapping incredibly tight as he pushed all the way down.

The sudden, intense heat made Will’s hips involuntarily buck upward, forcing the length deeper into Mike's throat. Mike choked slightly, his chest heaving, but he refused to pull away. He stayed right there, anchoring Will's hips down with his heavy hands, his thumbs digging into Will's hip bones as he began to bob his head up and down, letting saliva fall carelessly from his mouth onto the base of Will's shaft as he worked.

“God, Mike– ” Will choked out, his eyes squeezed tightly shut as the pleasure hit him in waves.

Mike pulled back with a heavy, wet pop, using his slick hand to continue stroking Will at a frantic, merciless pace. He leaned up, a trace of his smug, cocky smirk returning to his lips despite how flushed his face was. “Am I impressing you yet? Tell me how good it feels. Let me hear you say it.”

“Shut the fuck up and make me cum,” Will gritted out through his teeth, his hips twitching blindly against the mattress, his face entirely red.

“You like ordering me around, don't you?” Mike whispered, his smirk widening as he went right back to work, loving the control. “Say please. Tell me exactly how you want me to take it.”

“Please, Mike – fuck, go faster.”

He wrapped his hand around the length, pumping it rapidly while leaning down to plant sharp, heavy hickeys along the sensitive skin of Will’s hip bones. The biting friction made Will’s hips jerk upward again, a loud, uninhibited moan tearing from his throat.

Without breaking the rhythm of his hand, Mike took him back into his mouth, deepthroating the length with a desperate, frantic speed. He was gagging against the size, his eyes watering, but he refused to back off, his hands squeezing Will's thighs hard enough to leave marks, keeping him pinned.

“Fuck, Mike – I can’t - I’m about to cum–”  Will groaned, his hands flying down to tangle into the dark hair at the back of Mike’s head, unthinkingly pulling him closer, begging for the friction.

Hearing the strain in Will's voice, Mike looked up through his bangs, his eyes completely dark and dilated with lust. Instead of slowing down, he went even deeper, his throat clamping down tight as his hand pumped the base, matching the desperate speed.

Will let out a loud, breathless cry as he broke, spilling entirely into Mike’s mouth and down his throat. Mike didn't flinch, he kept swallowing every drop, his throat working heavily as he sucked firmly until Will was reduced to quiet, trembling whines, his chest heaving violently as the aftershocks ran through his body.

“Fuck, that was so incredibly hot,” Mike breathed, his voice a low, raspy rumble as he finally pulled away. He wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes wide and completely consumed by the sight of Will beneath him. He crawled back up Will’s body, his heavy weight settling over him, chest-to-chest, sending a new wave of friction right through them.

“Holy shit, Mike…” Will breathed out, his vision swimming slightly, his entire body feeling completely heavy, melted, and beautifully ruined into the comforter.

Mike leaned down, his forehead resting against Will’s, his large hands sliding up to securely cup Will’s flushed face. His thumbs traced slow, soothing circles across Will's cheekbones, but his eyes were pure fire. “Can I fuck you? Please, Will? I want you so bad. I’m losing my fucking mind right now.”

Will sat up slightly, propping himself up on his elbows as a sudden surge of heat hit him. He reached up, his fingers wrapping into Mike's curls and yanking him down into a hard, desperate kiss. He pulled away just a fraction of an inch, their lips still brushing.

“If you don't fuck me tonight, I am going to personally blow this entire house up,” Will whispered against his mouth.

Mike let out a loud, breathless laugh, the heavy tension breaking for just a split second before snapping right back into place, thicker than before. “Say less.”

He reached blindly over the edge of the mattress, rummaging underneath the bedframe for a heavy moment before pulling out a bottle of lube. He popped the cap with his teeth, coating his long fingers in the cool, slick liquid. He slid his hand down between Will’s legs, his palm pressing flush against the heat of Will’s inner thigh before his slick fingers found Will’s entrance. He pressed his thumb firmly against the tight seam, slowly working his way inside to open him up.

Will let out a sharp, ragged gasp, his head snapping back as his fingers dug desperately into the solid muscle of Mike's shoulders. “Fuck, Mike– ”

“Relax for me, baby,” Mike murmured, his voice thick, strained, and impossibly sweet as he leaned down to press a soft kiss to Will's trembling jawline. He added a second finger, slowly stretching the tight muscles. He began to move his fingers in a slow, rhythmic motion, his eyes locked onto Will’s face, watching every micro-expression. “You’re so fucking tight for me, Will. Do you not… you don't do this often?”

Will whined, his eyes tightly shut, his hips involuntarily twitching against the comforter as he tried to accommodate the heavy pressure. “I do, but your fingers are so fucking big, Mike.”

Mike let out a low, deeply satisfied chuckle against Will's neck, the vibration sending shivers straight down Will's spine. “Yeah? You like how they feel inside you? Tell me.” He didn't wait for an answer, instead adding a third finger, opening Will up even further. His hand moved in a faster, deeper rhythm, his long fingers curling upward, hitting Will's sweet spot with a brutal, pinpoint accuracy.

“Fuck– Mike – stop,” Will gasped out, a helpless, high-pitched sob catching in his throat. His hips unthinkingly lifted off the bed to meet the friction of the hand, his breath coming in short, panicked pants. “Stop, I’m seriously… I’m not gonna last if you keep fucking me with your fingers.”

“Alright, alright. I stop. I want the real thing anyway,” Mike whispered into the heat of a deep, reassuring kiss, immediately pulling his fingers out. He pulled back just an inch, his eyes burning with an intense possessiveness as his bare chest heaved against Will’s. “How do you want it, Will? Tell me how you want me inside you.”

Will looked up at him through his eyelashes, his chest heaving. He wrapped his legs tightly around Mike's waist, his heels locking behind Mike's back to pull him down flush against him, letting Mike feel just how achingly hard he had gotten again.

“Can I ride you?” Will asked, his voice suddenly steady, his eyes locking onto Mike’s with a challenging, sultry spark despite the deep blush on his face.

Mike’s eyes flared as his grip on Will's hips tightened until his knuckles went white. “Fuck. Yes. Of course you fucking can. Get up here.”

Mike scrambled off the mattress for a brief, agonizing second, his fingers working frantically to strip his swim trunks down his long legs and kick them carelessly onto the floor. He lay back down on the center of the bed, completely bare, his chest heaving violently as his eyes locked straight onto Will, heavy with hunger.

Without a trace of hesitation, Will moved. He scrambled up and straddled Mike’s lap, his knees framing Mike's flashing hips. The movement brought their lengths together, brushing flush against one another in a slick slide of friction. Mike was rock-hard veins tracing down his hot skin, while Will was still entirely flushed, a heavy bead of pre-cum catching and smearing between them with every micro-shift of weight.

Mike let out a heavy, vibrating groan at the sudden sensation, his hands instantly flying up to rest on Will's outer thighs, his fingers digging in so hard they left dark, white-rimmed impressions. Will couldn't help the slow smile that hit his lips. He rolled his hips forward, deliberately grinding his wet, leaking weight down against the entire length of Mike’s shaft, feeling every ridge and the frantic pulse beneath the skin.

“God… you’re so fucking big, Mike,” Will whispered, his voice dropping into a sultry, slow confidence, his tone dripping with a quiet malice as he rolled his hips a second time, watching Mike’s eyes squeeze shut. “Look at how hard you are for me. It’s pathetic.”

“Fuck, Will… stop teasing me,” Mike choked out, his knuckles turning white against Will's thighs as his hips twitched upward helplessly, begging for the contact. “Just take it. Please, fuck. Stop talking and just stretch your pretty little ass around it. I want to feel how tight you are.”

Will let out a quiet, breathless laugh, thoroughly enjoying the sudden, intoxicating shift in power. He reached down between them, his slick fingers guiding the blunt, burning tip of Mike’s length directly against his entrance. He paused for one agonizing heartbeat, locking his eyes directly with Mike’s, before he slowly, deliberately began to sink down.

The heat was immediate and overwhelming. Will stretched open around the thick width, his breath catching sharply in his throat as he pushed through the initial, tight resistance. He forced himself down inch by inch, his internal muscles clamping down incredibly tight around the massive intrusion, milking him on the way down until he was fully bottomed out, Mike's skin slamming hard and wet against his own.

Will let out a long, ragged exhale, his head tilting back as a quiet, strained whine tore from his throat. He placed his palms flat against Mike’s bare, sweaty chest to steady his shaking body. “I’m so full, Mike… fuck. You’re so fucking huge. You're stretching me open so wide.”

Mike’s hands instantly shot up to wrap tightly around Will’s waist, his thumbs digging into his skin to anchor him flush against his hips. He looked up through his dark lashes, his face strained, his jaw ticking with the effort of holding still. “You need a second, baby? You good? Fuck, you are so tight. Squeeze it like that again. Tell me it's yours.”

Will nodded blindly, closing his eyes as he took a few shallow, panicked breaths, letting his walls adjust to the massive stretch. Sensing the strain, Mike leaned his torso up off the mattress, burying his face in Will's neck. He rained hot, open-mouthed kisses up and down Will’s throat and collarbones, his tongue soothing the sensitive skin while Will found his rhythm, his breath catching as Mike lightly bit the sensitive skin right over his pulse point.

Once the initial ache faded into a deep, throbbing heat, Will placed his hands firmly on Mike's shoulders, pushing him back down onto the pillows.

“I’m good,” Will whispered, his eyes flaring with a sudden, wicked spark.

He tilted his hips, starting to slowly grind his weight in a tight, agonizing circle on top of Mike, moving up and down just an inch at a time, letting the head of Mike's cock rub directly against his sweet spot. He leaned down, his voice dropping into a dirty whisper “Do I feel good, Mike? Tell me how I feel on your cock.”

“Fuck, you feel unbelievable,” Mike growled, his hips twitching upward involuntarily against the slick friction. “You’re so tight. You're ruining me for anyone else.”

Eager for more, Will braced his weight and began to bounce up and down in a steady rhythm. Every time he dropped down, Mike’s length filled him completely, hitting his sweet spot with a heavy, blunt precision that made Will’s vision blur.

Mike let out a loud moan, his hands gripping Will’s waist tighter, helping to guide the frantic pace.

“Oh god, Mike… you’re so big. Fuck,” Will cried out, his pace getting faster, his dark hair falling into his eyes as the heat in the room skyrocketed, the slick friction between them making an incredibly loud, wet sound.

“Yeah, baby? You like how it fills you up?” Mike rasped, his eyes completely dark and dilated with lust as he looked up at Will’s flushed face. “You like having your ass stretched out by me? You want me to fuck you hard, Will? Tell me you're mine.”

Will bit his lower lip fiercely, trying to suppress the embarrassing, high-pitched moans building in his throat, and nodded frantically. “Yes – fuck, yes, please. I'm yours.” He placed his hands flat against Mike’s chest again for leverage.

Taking the invitation, Mike slammed his hips upward in a powerful, deep thrust that caught Will entirely off guard. The sudden depth hit his prostate so perfectly that Will broke, screaming out into the quiet bedroom.

“Oh my god! Mike!”

Mike didn't give him a single second to recover. He tightened his iron grip on Will's waist and began to thrust up and down from underneath him, his movements fast, heavy, and completely relentless. 

“Yeah, princess? You like when I fuck you like this?” Mike demanded, his voice a dirty, gravelly whisper as his hips slammed repeatedly against Will’s. “Tell me whose dick is stretching you out right now. Say my name. Let me hear you say it while I hit it.”

“Yes – fuck, Mike! Oh my god, Mike, please… please fuck me harder,” Will begged, completely stripped of his composure, his head rolling on his shoulders as the pleasure overtook him.

“Harder? God, you’re such a slut for me, aren't you?” Mike growled, a feral grin hitting his face as he accelerated the pace, his thrusts driving deeper and harder into Will's ass. “Look at you bouncing on it. You were begging for this all night downstairs, weren't you? You wanted everyone to know you belong to me.”

The pace was dizzying. Will’s hands slipped from Mike’s chest; he had to reach blindly behind him, gripping the heavy wooden headboard with both hands just to stop himself from completely collapsing onto Mike’s torso. The bed was creaking rhythmically now, hitting the wall loudly with every single slam of Mike's hips. Will’s mouth parted in a mindless, broken expression, a thin trace of drool escaping his lips as his mind went entirely blank under the assault.

“You’re fucking me so good, Mike… fuck, please, don't stop,” Will slurred out, his hips unthinkingly rolling into every upcoming stroke, completely consumed.

“God, your ass is so fucking fat,” Mike muttered, He reached one large hand around, bringing it down in a sharp, heavy smack right against Will’s bare, flushed cheek just as he delivered a massive, bottoming-out thrust.

The combined sting and pleasure made Will scream out again, his back arching beautifully as his eyes rolled back into his head. “Fuck, Mike! I’m gonna cum – I’m gonna break, I swear– ”

“Wait a bit, baby,” Mike commanded, his voice tight, his own breathing coming in ragged, harsh pants as he hit him deeper, anchoring him down. “Don’t cum yet. I want to cum with you.”

“I can’t wait– I'm so close, Mike, I’m gonna cum right now!”

“Okay, then touch yourself for me, baby,” Mike whispered urgently, his thrusts getting faster, shorter, and incredibly desperate from underneath. “Touch your cock for me right now. Prove to me how good I'm fucking you. Let me see it.”

Will let out a broken, sobbing moan. He released one hand from the headboard, reaching down between their tangled, sweaty bodies. His slick fingers wrapped around his own achingly hard length, and he began to jerk himself off with rapid, uncoordinated strokes. He only needed a few pumps before a loud, shattering moan tore from his throat, his entire body going completely rigid as he spilled a heavy, hot mess all over Mike’s tensed, muscled stomach.

Even through the desperate, shaking rush of Will’s release, Mike didn't stop. He kept his grip locked on Will’s waist, his large fingers digging deep into his skin as he continued to drive himself upward with a heavy, merciless pace.

Will’s remaining strength completely evaporated. His fingers slipped from the wooden headboard entirely, and his upper body collapsed forward until his hot face buried deep into the crook of Mike’s neck. His chest heaved violently against Mike’s bare torso, their slick skin sliding together, gluing them chest-to-chest as Mike kept a relentless, pounding rhythm from underneath.

“Aw, what's wrong, princess?” Mike teased breathlessly, his voice a rough, gravelly friction against Will’s ear, his hot breath fanning over his sensitive skin even as his hips kept up their brutal, punishing pace. “Did I fuck you a little too hard, baby? Look at how helpless you are now that you’ve had your fun.”

Will let out a weak, broken sound, his forehead pressing harder into Mike’s shoulder. “Shut up, Mike… fuck, just keep going.”

“Say it louder,” Mike commanded, slamming his hips up with a sudden, bruising depth that made Will’s eyes roll back. “ Let me hear it.”

“Keep going,” Will mumbled desperately, his voice muffled, thick with lust, and utterly broken against the skin of Mike’s chest. He tightened his thighs around Mike's waist, refusing to let him slip away. “Don’t you dare stop, Mike. Don't you dare leave me empty.”

“God, you are such a visual creature,” Mike growled, the sound vibrating straight through Will's ribs. He didn't stop. If anything, the friction turned deeper, more frantic, and beautifully sporadic. “You like being filled up by me, don't you? You like knowing you're the one who gets me like this.”

“Yes – fuck, yes, Mike,” Will gasped out, his fingers knotting into the sheets on either side of Mike’s head.

“Fuck, Will… baby, I’m gonna cum,” Mike choked out, his smooth poise completely splintering as his throat clamped down on a ragged gasp. “I’m right fucking there. Your ass is gripping me so tight… I can’t hold it back. It’s too fucking good.”

Hearing the sudden, desperate shift in Mike’s voice, the total surrender of the cocky chapter president, a final, burning wave of desire hit Will. Defying his own exhaustion, he forced his upper body to sit upright again, placing his palms flat against the hard muscle of Mike’s chest for balance. 

Using the absolute last of his energy, Will tilted his pelvis and began to aggressively grind his tight, trembling weight straight down against the base of Mike’s shaft, meeting every single frantic upward thrust with a vicious, rolling friction.

“Then fuck me harder,” Will encouraged, his voice dropping into a low, commanding whisper. “Don't pull out .Please cum inside me.”

“Fuck… Will, look at you,” Mike gasped, his eyes rolling back for a fraction of a second at the filth of the command, his hands squeezing Will's hips so hard his knuckles went white. “You’re destroying me.”

“please, Mike. Cum for me,” Will whispered, leaning down just enough to brush his lips against Mike’s tensed jawline.

Between the heavy, bruising force of Mike’s upward thrusts and the wicked, rolling friction of Will’s grinding hips, Mike finally broke. He let out a loud, agonizingly deep groan, his chest heaving upward as his entire body went rigid beneath Will. The hot, frantic waves of his orgasm rippled powerfully through them both, filling Will completely as Mike rode out the release with a few smaller, trembling, deep-seated thrusts. His hands gave one last, bruising squeeze to Will's hips before his muscles completely gave out, his legs collapsing flat against the mattress.

Will let out a soft, profoundly satisfied sigh, a shuddering breath escaping his lips. Slowly, his trembling legs untangled from Mike's waist, sliding down the cooling sheets as he collapsed forward. He laid his head softly on Mike’s chest, his cheek resting right over the rapid, thumping beat of Mike’s heart.

Mike's arms wrapped loosely around Will’s back, pulling him close as his fingers traced idle, lazy lines through the damp hair at the nape of Will's neck.

“You okay?” Mike whispered after a long moment, his voice still incredibly rough and laced with exhaustion.

Will let out a sleepy, muffled chuckle against his chest. “I think I’ll survive. You didn’t break me completely.”

“Give me until tomorrow morning,” Mike murmured with a faint, tired smile, kissing the top of Will’s head. “I’m just getting started with you.”

They both lay there in the heavy silence of the suite, completely drenched in sweat, their breathing gradually slowing into a shared rhythm as the chaotic noise of the party downstairs finally died out completely.

Mike’s fingers slowed their trace against the nape of Will’s neck, his grip tightening just a fraction as he pulled Will a little closer into his side. The room was cooling down, the sweat on their skin turning into a chilly shine against the heavy comforter.

“Hey,” Mike murmured, his voice a low, gravelly vibration against Will’s cheek. “Don’t go back to the apartment tonight. Just stay here. Sleep in.”

Will let out a soft, sleepy chuckle, but he shook his head against Mike’s chest, his eyes remaining closed. “As tempting as a king-sized bed in a restricted suite sounds, I can’t, Mike. Max would absolutely kill me.”

“I can handle Max,” Mike teased, a faint, cocky smile returning to his lips in the dark. 

“Yeah, I’m sure that’ll fly with her,” Will said, finally blinking his eyes open and propping his chin on Mike’s chest to look up at him. “Besides…Mr. President, I really don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning and have to walk through a frat house at 8:00 AM. The smell of beer and regret on the first floor is bad enough at midnight soI can't imagine it at breakfast.”

Mike let out a dramatic, wounded sigh, rolling his eyes. “Ouch. You’re breaking my heart. Is my company really not enough to distract you from the aroma of Pike culture?”

“Your company is great,” Will purred, reaching up to lazily run a finger along Mike’s tensed jawline. “But my dignity is greater. I have a reputation to uphold. I can’t be seen doing the walk of shame out of the Pike mansion in broad daylight.”

“It wouldn’t be a walk of shame, it’d be a victory lap,” Mike countered smoothly, catching Will’s hand and kissing the knuckles, his dark eyes flashing with a sudden, sultry intensity. “But fine. If you’re going to deny me my presidential privileges, the least you can do is let me wash the evidence off you.”

Will slipped into Mike’s private bathroom, letting the steaming water of the shower wash away the heavy scent of sweat and sex. When he finally stepped back out, drying his hair with a surprisingly plush towel, he found Mike already dressed in a clean pair of grey sweatpants and a black hoodie, looking effortlessly good. Mike had another hoodie and sweats on the bed waiting for Will

“I’m walking you home,” Mike announced, sliding his phone into his pocket as Will began pulling the clothes on. “No arguments. It’s past two in the morning, and despite what you think of my brothers, I actually care about you getting back to our place in one piece.”

“I can handle a three-block walk, Mike,” Will said, though a warm, helpless feeling bloomed in his chest anyway.

“I know you can. But I want to,” Mike murmured, stepping close and catching Will by the waist, pulling him in for a slow, lingering kiss.

Before Will could tease him about being overprotective, a sharp, tentative knock rattled the heavy wooden bedroom door.

Mike frowned, his presidential authority snapping back into place. “Who is it?”

The door creaked open just an inch, and a nervous freshman pledge, the same kid in the Hawaiian shirt from the kitchen bar downstairs, stepped into the entryway. He was holding a paper plate wrapped in foil, looking completely terrified to be making eye contact with his chapter president.

“Um… sorry to bother you, Mike,” the pledge stammered, keeping his eyes firmly glued to the carpet. “But I was told you wanted the VIP guest taken care of before the house completely closed down. I… I made this.”

He extended the paper plate toward Will. Will blinked in surprise, reaching out to take it. He peeled back the foil to reveal a perfectly golden, heavily buttered, and steaming grilled cheese sandwich.

Will’s stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl. He looked up at the pledge, entirely bewildered. “Did you… did you just make me a grilled cheese at two in the morning?”

“Yes, sir,” the pledge said quickly, nodding rapidly. “Sourdough and cheddar. I used the good butter from the back cabinet.”

Will couldn't help the massive smile that broke across his face. “You are officially my favorite person in this entire house. Thank you.”

“Don’t get used to the customer service,” Mike joked, though his expression was soft as he clapped the pledge on the shoulder. “Good job, freshman. You are done with trash duty. You're down to five hours of house maintenance tomorrow instead of six.”

“Thank you, sir!” the pledge squeaked, practically floating out of the room with relief before shutting the door behind him.

Will took a massive, ecstatic bite of the sandwich, groaning at the pure comfort of the melted cheese. “Okay, maybe your empire has some redeeming qualities.”

“I told you,” Mike chuckled, grabbing his keys off the desk. “We treat our VIPs right. Come on, let’s get you home before that sandwich gets cold.”

The campus was eerily quiet as they walked the short distance back to the apartment complex. The humid summer night air felt thick and heavy after the crisp air conditioning of Mike’s suite, but the silence between them was completely comfortable. Will ate his grilled cheese down the sidewalk, occasionally feeding Mike a bite of the crust while Mike kept a steady, protective hand resting right on the small of Will's back.

When they finally reached the concrete steps of the apartment doorstep, Will turned around, leaning his back against the brick wall near the entrance, looking up at Mike. The ambient orange glow of the streetlamp caught the sharp angles of Mike's face, making him look devastatingly handsome in the quiet night.

“Thanks for the escort, Mr. President,” Will whispered, a playful spark in his eyes despite his exhaustion. “And thanks for the gourmet catering.”

“Anytime,” Mike murmured, stepping entirely into Will’s space, crowding him against the brick until Will could feel the heat radiating off his chest. He reached up, his long fingers gently tucking a strand of Will's dark hair behind his ear, his touch incredibly soft. “Hey. Look at me.”

Will raised his eyes, locking them onto Mike’s intense gaze.

“Promise me you’ll call me tomorrow,” Mike said, his voice dropping into a low, completely serious tone. His thumb traced a slow line across Will’s lower lip. “Call me. For real.”

Will’s heart did a sudden, violent flip against his ribs. He looked at Mike’s expectant, slightly vulnerable expression, the sheer cockiness from the kitchen completely gone. A real, helpless smile broke through Will’s serious expression.

“Fine,” Will whispered, his voice soft against the quiet street. “I promise. I'll call you.”

Mike’s eyes softened instantly, a relieved, breathless smile hitting his face. He leaned down, pressing his mouth firmly against Will’s in a deep, lingering, and possessive kiss that sent a final wave of pure electricity straight down Will's spine. It was slow, sweet, and heavy with a promise of its own.

When Mike finally pulled away, his lips brushed against Will’s cheek one last time before he stepped backward down the stairs. “Goodnight, Will. Don't let Max grill you too hard.”

“Goodnight, Mike,” Will laughed breathlessly, watching Mike turn and walk back down the dark sidewalk before he finally unlocked the apartment door, his lips still tingling with the taste of him.