Office Hours
an alternate reality Star Wars story
by Nermal
Hastily checking his watch, Ben locked the car door and started to walk across the car park. He had forgotten how long it would take to walk to the Faculty of Letters building, where Quinton's office was located. The few times he had been to the university in the months since he got his degree had been with Quinn. Ben had to park in the visitor's lot, not right behind the building like his boyfriend. As a result, he found himself sprinting across the lot toward the lawns in front of the Letters building, in the hopes that he'd get there before Quinn's office hours had ended.
Ben slowed down when he reached the edge of lawn to catch his breath. The late spring sunshine was still at its full strength, although evening was approaching. Most of the other students and faculty had gone home for the weekend - Friday afternoon classes not being popular with either group. Quiet, peaceful, disturbed only by a slight, warm breeze the campus lawns would have been an ideal place to spend the spring evening. Ben ran a hand through his short hair then scrubbed it across his face. It would have been ideal, if he were not in a hurry and if he were not allergic to the grass pollen. He could already feel his eyes starting to water a little as the breeze brought the sweet scent of new grass to him. Shaking his head, Ben cleared out the itch in his throat and began to sprint across the lawn. The walk around the perimeter would have taken longer and now that he could feel his allergies acting up, would have been no safer.
Besides, he was eager to see Quinn again. The week Ben had spent in Germany for a conference had been a first for him in many ways. It was the first overseas conference on European history he had attended, it was the first time he presented after receiving his doctorate. It was also the first time, since he moved in with Quinton, that he had been apart from his lover for more than a few days. His whole body ached for Quinn's touch, for the taste of his kiss, for the sound of his voice. Ben considered running faster then paused as the pollen he was kicking up started to bother him.
A delicate tickle, right at the back of his sinuses and throat, built slowly. With one hand raised to his face, Ben stood in the middle of the lawn. He held his breath as still as his body, the sun sending a trickle of sweat down his spine. When the tickle expanded, his body remained rigid, but his breath started to waver.
"Ehh... Hihh... IhShoo! Shoo! huhTISH!" Ben sighed, part out of relief, part out of exasperation. It felt good to sneeze out that tickle, but the sensation that remained told him that he was not finished. He had gotten enough of the pollen up his nose to give him an allergy attack. Possibly not a violent one, but one strong enough to keep Ben sneezing and sniffling for a while. "ehh...K'shoo!"
With a sniffle, Ben wiped his nose into the shoulder of his t-shirt and kept walking. The decision to visit his lover was not going to change, whether his allergies acted up or not. It would have been easier if they had not, of course, but then, Quinn never seemed to mind when they did. Ben smiled happily, even as he sniffled and avoided the bright light of the sun. Not only did he not mind, but also he was ever patient with Ben's allergy problems. Half the colognes that Quinn had worn when they first started seeing each other had made Ben sneeze. A good part of one evening was spent, on Ben's part, sneezing and apologizing after they started necking. Quinn had just brushed the back of his hand over Ben's face and smiled. A smile that made Ben fall in love with him every time he saw it, his blue eyes bright and the curve of his lips heartachingly tender. He had smiled thus that night, caressed Ben's cheek softly as he told him to stop apologizing. Quinn got rid of the scent that night and Ben moved in a few days later.
Of course, he still had to put up with everything else that bothered Ben's nose. Like the grass that was making his nose run now, or the numerous other allergens that he had a sensitivity to. Ben never could understand how Quinn could put up with it, but he was always sympathetic, affectionate and gentle. He liked to hold Ben, and, if it were not his dear Quinn, Ben knew he would probably try to wriggle out of the embrace when the sneezes get to him. But no, not when Quinn put his arms around Ben and kissed the back of his neck. That was something he could never refuse. It was comforting, anyway, to have the feel of Quinn's soft lips brushing over the nape of his neck, or the prickle of his beard on his skin. He did not like being allergic, but he rather did like the affection he got from his lover. Holding the thought in his mind, Ben quickly strode across the walkway and into the Letters building. The walk and itchy nose would be worth seeing his love again.
The corridors were quite empty by that time, most classes having been dismissed and lights shut off. Stepping though the cool, dim hallways Ben stifled the few sneezes that tickled his nose. The thought of the sound of his sneezes racing up and down the hallway made him uneasy. Even if there were not enough people there to notice, even if he tended to sneeze rather softly, he did not like the idea of his allergies being made more noticeable than they had to. His sniffles, one of the only sounds in the room as he entered the English department, sounded loud enough.
With a mental sigh of relief, Ben approached the light that spilled from Quinton's office door. His sinuses were telling him that holding in those sneezes had been a bad idea, threatening to let the pressure behind his eyes develop into a headache. Once he got into Quinn's office and shut the door, he could remedy that. The relief turned to warm happiness when he recalled his original reason for going onto campus that afternoon. He wanted to get behind that closed door for a more important reason. Oh, how he missed his Quinn. The sound of a keyboard tapping reassured Ben that his boyfriend was not only there, but also not on his way out anytime soon. He walked up to the office and rested his hand on the doorframe.
Quinn sat in front of his computer, fingers hovering above the keyboard as he gazed at the screen. His outfit told Ben that he had not taught that day - worn, dark brown corduroy trousers and a blue shirt, the first few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. He always wore a white t-shirt, too, so Ben knew that was closest to his skin even though he couldn't see it. Even in his old clothes, he made Ben's black t-shirt and jeans look shabby. Ben could have stood there for hours, watching Quinn type or push the few strands of long hair that escaped his pony tail behind his ear. Though he would laugh when Ben told him, Ben still believed Quinn was the most beautiful man he had ever seen. It was his smile, his eyes, the strength of his hands.
Ben moved forward and stepped into the compact room as he knocked. Victim to a running nose, he decided to let Quinn know he was there before walking in, stealing the box of Kleenex and dissolving into a sneezing fit. In addition, the urge to clear his throat and nose had become strong enough that Quinn would have known he was there very soon even if Ben had not knocked.
"Hmm?" Quinton didn't look up from the screen when he knocked on the door, just sort of made a curious sound. He clicked something on the document he was working with, stretched his back, and then turned. His eyes lit up.
"I'm home, Quinn." Sniffling, Ben rubbed his nose. He kept rubbing it, trying to get rid of the itchiness that made his nostrils want to twitch, as Quinton rose from the chair.
"Ben, my Benjamin." His voice was deep and quiet. There was happiness beneath the words; he didn't have to say he was glad to see Ben. It was there, just like it was in the smile on his face. He walked around the desk, slipped one arm around Ben's waist, and drew Ben close to him. "How long the days have been without you, dearest."
Oh, and how Ben wanted to pour all his attention into his lover, his touch and breath, but his nose was trembling. Inhaling made the tickle worse. Hugging Quinn briefly, Ben turned his face into his shoulder and tried to suppress the sneezes.
"EhhKshn! CHshnn!! Heh... ISH! heh-CH! CH'shuh! EhhCHishhih!!" They got too strong at the end and Ben was sneezing over his shoulder by the time the last one came. Sniffling wetly, he turned to Quinn when he felt the touch of a finger on his jawline.
"Ben, what's wrong? Did you catch cold on the flight home?" There was that smile again, infinitely tender. Leaning around him, Quinn shut the door. "Or are you just sneezey today?"
Ben shook his head. "Allergies. I made the brilliant decision to walk through your lush grass."
"Oh, Ben. It's probably not just the grass, though, everything seems to be coming alive now." He kissed him softy on the forehead, then on the cheek. Nuzzling the few days' stubble on his face, Quinton continued to kiss him until his lips touched Ben's ear. "You make me feel alive."
That never failed to make him weak. The feel of Quinn's breath on him, whispering over the sensitive skin of his ear, tickling, tingling, trapping him between the desire to laugh and moan with pleasure. This time he moaned. Quinn's hand had snaked around his back, down to his buttocks, and he pulled him closer. Ben was sniffing madly, too, attempting to keep the sneezes back. He wanted more than just Quinn's touch, more than the teasing warmth of breath in his ear. His nose, however, had started to tickle more from the small sniffly actions. A slow inhale, followed by a mumbled pardon, and Ben tilted his head back.
"Tishh!! HepTishhih!" He sneezed urgently, aiming them away from Quinn the best he could. "Ishhoo!" Ben's eyes watered, tears stinging his eyes, and his nostrils flared as the fit continued. "Ehhh... Ish! EhTish! HuhTishIH! Eishh, EhHishhoo!"
"Ben, god bless you, here, baby." His hand remained on Ben's back, but Quinn put some space between them as he drew a handkerchief from his trouser pocket. "Your poor nose."
Ben took the handkerchief, grateful. Quinton had moved away more, until he stood next to him, hand caressing his back, down to his buttocks. Blowing his nose, Ben felt the sensation of want tingle inside him. He wanted to be touched so badly - a week is not that long a time, but it is long enough to make you hungry for your lover. It is even long enough for you to be willing to deal with allergy-induced frustration. And then, he thought again, Quinn never seemed to mind. Ben's allergy attacks only made him a more attentive, gentler lover. He was stroking Ben's hair and pressing quiet kisses to his shoulder as he blew his nose. Comforting, yet still subtly erotic, the attention warmed Ben. A headiness, like being delightfully drunk on sweet wine, flowed through him. Ben twisted around to look at Quinton.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so stupid." Ben muttered and wiped his nose on the cloth.
"Shh... it's all right." Hugging him close, Quinton pressed a kiss to Ben's lips. He smiled when Ben blinked his eyes a few times and avoided a second kiss. "Another sneeze?"About to nod yes, the tickle flared up in his nose - first strong, then a bit weaker, then strong again, and Ben clamped the handkerchief to his face...."EhShmpff!! EhhChfff!! UffSHOO!! hehh..." Faint again, the sensation pricked at the back of his nose. He needed to sneeze again, but not quite yet. With a tired sigh, he blew his nose softly and then turned around in Quinn's arms.
"Blesses." Arms around his waist, Quinn held him near as he rested his head against Quinn's chest. "All right, dear?"
It felt too good, too comfortable in his lover's arms for him to move. His nose, on the other hand, thought that the perfect moment to let the itch expand had arrived. Lifting his head a bit, Ben pressed the hankie to his nose. "IhhCHH! KehCHnn! Chhuh! EhhChh! Ehh... KehSHH...ihhSHOO!" That should have been one sneeze, maybe two - not a another small fit. Sniffling, he nestled closer to Quinn. He had kissed the top of his head a few times as he sneezed, an action that made Ben feel incredibly loved and precious. It almost hurt to feel that way. Ben slid his hand up Quinn's chest and started to unbutton his shirt....quot;Excuse me. I suppose you didn't miss having to listen to my sneezies for a whole week."
"I missed all of you." Quinn laughed a little, then grew quiet. Leaning forward, he kissed him lightly on the lips. "I missed you, Benji."
Nobody else called him that; Ben did not let them. Quinn, however, could be half a foot taller than him, twenty-five years older, use that silly nickname on him and still not manage to make Ben feel as if he were some school boy kissing the teacher. It was just sweet when he said it. Just like it was sweet the way he blessed Ben after he sneezed. Slipping his hand into his shirt, he petted Quinn.
"Missed you, too, Quinn." He had to stop and sniffle a few times, crinkling his nose against what seemed to be an ever-present tickle. In a few short moments, Ben had undone all the buttons on Quinn's shirt and pulled it out of his waistband. "You feel so good next to me. I, huh...amp; oh - EhTishoo!" He sneezed once, softly, then gasped, a bit more loudly. Quinn's hands slid up the back of his shirt, tugging it up over his head. Need, want, desire, love - a combination of emotions coursed through Ben. When Quinn's hands ran up and down the plane of his back, it included arousal.
"I've missed this." Quinn nibbled his way from Ben's shoulder up to his earlobe. He lingered there for a moment, but when Ben pressed up close to him, he sucked gently. A hand slid between their bodies and Quinn stroked Ben's erection through his jeans....quot;Missed this, too."
"Oh, yes." Ben hissed out from between clenched teeth. He craned his neck, letting Quinn lick the corner of his jaw.
"You haven't shaved." Quinn murmured, then rubbed his cheek against Ben's. "Feels different."
"Just yesterday, and today..." Trying to concentrate on the maddeningly slow fingers moving over his body, Ben sniffled. Once, twice, then a third time he held back a silent sneeze. The fourth time he snapped his head to the side with a half-contained 'Ishhahh!'"Bless." Slow kisses urged Ben to face Quinton.
He brought his lips to Ben's and kissed the corners of Ben's mouth. "I don't mind, baby, just sneeze. You'll feel better."
"I don't have to snee - nohh, no wait -" Pre-sneeze breaths cut off Ben's statement....quot;K'shoo! Ehh... Eishh! ISHH! Eh-Shoo!" He sniffed, testing for another sneeze, and grinned bashfully. "Nevermind. Yes I do."
Before kissing him again, Quinton rubbed the tip of his nose over Ben's, slowly, gently, and whispered something about him being cute. Before Ben could retort, Quinn kissed him full on the mouth, a warm, wet and eager kiss.
He did not just kiss him. He filled him. With all the love and life he would ever need, with all the warmth and light Ben ever wanted to know. Quinton groaned into his mouth as Ben slid one leg between his. Mouth to mine, chest to chest, Quinn's hands grasping his arms- perfect. They parted, both panting, and Quinn planted a few tiny kisses on Ben's lips."Maybe we should go home."
Ben nuzzled his lover's chest, itching his nose into the soft fabric of his undershirt. That always felt so nice. Ben had to raise his hand to his face to rub his eyes, then stifle a few small sneezes. "Tsshh! Ehh...Tscht! Chhsh! Ekishh!"
"Bless you. That," Quinn paused to brush his lips over Ben's forehead, "was adorable. I could take you right now, here, Ben." He was so close, Ben could feel Quinn's erection pressing into his thigh. "I could take you, Ben."
A hot rush of desire raced through his veins. Quinn's hand had moved from his arm to the base of his spine. Delicately Quinn stroked the area, then dipped his fingers into the waistband of his jeans. Oh, yes, that was desire and want and need and love and his Quinn.
"Can you?" Ben gasped, then coughed lightly. His throat was starting to itch; he coughed again, sneezed a soft 'heishh!' and crushed his face to Quinn's chest. "Someone'll hear. Or one of your students might come by."
"No," Quinn said in a low voice, "office hours ended a long time ago."
"I'm special?
"Yes." He growled. Not spoke. Growled, and his chest vibrated with the sound.
Ben moved his hand down Quinn's chest to fondle his erection. He was hard, hot and Ben felt his penis twitch when he touched Quinn more firmly. Pushing his hand against Quinn's crotch, Ben rubbed slowly until a desperate groan came from somewhere even deeper in Quinn's chest. Ben don't know if it was the way Quinn groaned, or the way his own cock throbbed when he heard it, or just the desire that pulsed through him, but he could feel the blood rushing in his veins. Quinn pulled him toward the desk chair and he followed, only partially realizing what was happening. He wanted to feel all of his lover - his hands and mouth clumsily exploring whatever part of Quinn they could reach. Before they got to the chair, and when Ben took a few gulps of air, he had to stop and pinch his nostrils shut.
His whole body itched for Quinn, for tongues and erections to slide against each other. But, his nose, warm and tingling, had started to tickle again. Ben rubbed it into the shoulder of his shirt, squeezing his eyes shut in frustration.
"No, Benji, just sneeze it out," Quinn said, gentle even as passion darkened his eyes, "it's better for you, I told you."
Ben would have liked to be able to say that he'd normally argue with him, but in truth, he couldn't imagine a time when he'd been able to hold back an allergy attack. Quinn sat down into the chair, pulling him down to straddle his lap, and let him sneeze out the tickle.
"Huh... Eishh! Ihhshh! EhhKISHH! Hitshhoo!" Ben sneezed into his cupped hands, scrubbing his nose into the palms of his hands. Not quite finished with the one thing, but not quite willing to postpone the other, he leaned forward to kiss Quinton although the sneezes weren't finished. When he buried his face in Quinn's neck, muffling a small fit of sneezes, he felt a shudder pass through his lover's body. He knew Quinn liked being this close to him, and god, how he loved the feel of Quinn's desire.
"Ben," his voice was slow now, and hushed, "you are special. My Benjamin."
Just as slow as he spoke his works, Quinn moved his hands over Ben's chest and stomach, down to unbutton his jeans. Warm fingers stroked his erection, thumb rubbing over the head, making him ache for release. But it was when Ben looked into his eyes and saw everything he wanted, needed or desired there - everything he had missed in that one short week - that he came. Hard and fast, thrusting into Quinn's hand, not caring about making a mess. Only when he could breathe calmly did Ben notice the damp on his jeans or the soothing patterns traced by Quinn's fingers as they massaged his stomach.
"You're so beautiful when you come for me."
"Only for you."
Not as elegant as he wished he could be, drained by orgasm, Ben undid Quinn's belt and trousers, then rose from his lap. He slid his jeans down his thighs to his ankles, leaned against the desk, and looked over his shoulder.
Quinn, flushed with desire and fully aroused, gave him a smile as he rose from the chair. "Are you sure?"
Ben nodded, rubbing his nose into his arm. Suddenly, Quinn's mouth covered his. A finger, still slick with his own come, slid inside him, then another. Then the heat and burn of his lover entering him overtook Ben's senses. Pain that transmuted into pleasure, tension into release. Warmth flooded inside him and Quinn came, climaxing with a strangled groan. His chest covered Ben's back, his mouth, Ben's mouth. Needy kisses followed as they turned to face each other.
A yawn made Ben's eyes water as he settled into Quinn's embrace. They snuggled, standing, which led to more kisses, which led to Quinn pulling Ben into his lap once more.
"I want to make love to you again. When we get home." Ben nuzzled Quinn's neck. "And you're giving me a ride home."
"Hmm? Really?"
"Not walking across that lawn again." A weary sniffle punctuated the statement.
"Of course not. Shall I carry you to the car, too?" Quinn traced his fingers over Ben's face. "You tempt me so, lover."
Ben rubbed his nose, then relaxed into Quinn's arms. They'd be leaving, but a few more moments of basking in each other's arms would not hurt. And, in truth, Ben would walk across that lawn a dozen times for a few minutes with his love.
The End
Chars in this fic based on my lovely Jedi, who really aren't mine, but belong to GL.