It had been a long first month back in action, but Levi had managed to get through the first wave of grading. Pausing as he landed on his very last essay before he’d be completed by lecture this morning. Remi’s essay. So far, it was well written. The assignment was to argue for or against the young teen’s love. It was clear that the wolf was arguing for it. ‘Despite how young both these two characters seem, it is not unlikely to say they are..or were certain their love was real. Only two connecting souls are conscious within that space of passion. Love doesn’t know time limits, love doesn’t know accomplishments and experience, it can not be measured via an outsider looking in, love just finds it’s way. To everyone. At anytime,’

Levi sat back at his desk, contemplating the words he just read. ‘Love just finds it’s way…’ hmm..what an intriguing twist of perspective as he marked a couple misspelled words before he slapped an A- on the paper. He was more than impressed by the level of depth the student was displaying at this early in the game, it excited the professor, to see more from brilliant minds. “Great Work! Interesting perspective!” He marked up next to the prominent grade proudly. Students started to slowly trickle into the classroom as the white haired man straightened up his papers and placed them in the pick up basket. Eventually, each of them noticed the papers awaiting them on the Professor’s desk, slowly creeping their way back up to collect their respected assignments.

In typical fashion, Remi was the last to enter with one large coffee in each hand, the bell rang but this didn’t stop the wolf from approaching his teacher’s desk, placing the coffee down and snagging the last graded paper in the basket. “Morning Professor Levi, I brought you a pick me up…” flashing his pearly whites at him, garnishing a slick grin. Nodding rather dryly with but a simple smile, Levi responded with a gentle ‘Thanks..’ taking it and bringing the beverage to his lips. His eyes widened before he looked down at the cup and then over at the wolf while the students bustled about, chatting and gathering their materials. White Mocha with oat milk and 3 pumps of caramel syrup? But..how would the other know that’s his usual coffee order? Lucky guess…he shook his head to focus.

“Alright, Class as you can see I’ve graded your recent essays and it was refreshing to read so many different points of view!” Smiling openly at his focused class. “Would anyone like to discuss their point of view?” A girl with strawberry blonde hair raised her hand in the back. One of the only other A’s Levi had handed out. “Yes! Lizzy?”

“Well, it’s foolish, to think two young kids know anything about love, I mean, if you don’t even know how that person reacts to tragedy, how do you know you’ll be the right person that helps them through those moments? Clearly their first example of that went poorly…” the girl scoffed outwardly, rolling golden browns before Remi slammed his hands down on the table and stood up.

“And how would you know? You’re what? 25 and still single? So let me guess, no one is that right person? Or oh, you just haven’t met them? No. You know when you’ve fallen for someone, you know the night and day difference between the feral need to protect and respect what you have and the careless one of brushing off something not worth your time. I’d say that the younger you are, the less likely you’re tainted and spoiled by such ideologies that preach a modern indoctrinated perspective of love. ‘Oh you don’t know how they act broke’ or ‘how they act when someone’s died’ you don’t need any of those things to know you’d be willing to figure it out. When you love someone, nothing else matters…” his bright green eyes narrowed at the now shrinking woman. His voice had been a bit annoyed, he’ll give them that, maybe he could have approached it with less passion, it’s not like he was being personally questioned. Levi clapped his hands together, causing everyone to jolt in their seats, tossing his closed fist up in the air.

“Amazing! Amazing! I love to see such passion erupt from readers! Yes! I can see both of your guys’ perspectives, it’s very much a double edged sword. Are they too young to value love in its entirety? Or are they just young enough to? Forever conundrum no one but Romeo and Juliet can truly solve! As Remi mentioned in his wonderfully written essay, only the two afflicted by such emotions can truly ever know,” smiling softly at the slightly shocked man. The wolf had never really been a star student, he got by where he could and did what he had to. The sudden praise had him feeling just a touch embarrassed but also accomplished. God, as if he wasn’t already obsessed with the educator. Their eyes locked while Levi explained the importance of writer’s authenticity. Almost helplessly lost in each other.

“It’s so important that each of you understand how much it means to remain yourself within your writings, don’t tell me what you think I want to hear, just tell me something, be individual…such as Remi..” he paused and choked a bit, clearing his throat. “And of course, Lizzy,” gesturing a hand towards the girl who would rather be anywhere but there right now. Meanwhile, Levi finally breaking eye contact to turn back to the board. The class continued to go on, but Remi was lost in the way the Professor’s freckled nose would crinkle every time he giggled at his own jokes, oh that giggle. What he wouldn’t give to be seeing it at a closer angle..with their lips just about to…the loud chime of the school bell echoed inside Remi’s distracted head. ‘Shit..’ he thought inwardly realizing he hadn’t written anything down. Scrambling to scribble what was on the board, he swore he would decipher it later. Levi leaned up against his desk with his arms crossed across his chest, watching the last of his students walk out, besides Remi who was determined to keep in good graces.

“Where were you today’s lesson?” The professor questioned him and Remi froze mid sentence, pencil led snapped. So he /was/ being perceived, then? The wolf chuckled before he just decided to snap a photo of the board, saving himself the time it would take to sharpen his pencil. Sliding his notebook closed he shrugged his shoulders, stuffing the items back in his bag.

“I was too busy staring at your ass…my bad, let my natural instincts get the best of me..” he turned swiftly around to lock eyes with the blushing educator.

“You need to stop flirting with me, Mr. Connors,” he furrowed his thin light colored brows but was only met with another one of Remi’s famous smirks.

“Okay but…I was just telling you the truth, so you either want me to honestly tell you why I wasn’t paying attention, or you want me to lie,” he cocked a curious facial expression at the flushing and nervous professor.

“You need to get your head out of the clouds or you’ll throw away your whole future,” eyebrows still knitted together with disappointment, Remi could only shrug in response.

“Well, I mean…maybe I need some incentive…” his voice dark suddenly, a new aura surrounded the student laced with mischievousness. Levi’s breath caught in his throat before he was pinned up against his desk as the wolf closed the distance between them in a mere few steps. His face just hovering over the smaller as their noses brushed past each other. He tilted the blushing face upward with a single index, glowing green eyes baring into those cerulean blues…he could stay just like this, and be more than fine. This was enough in some sense. ‘Just keep looking at me like that…’ as if Levi saw something inside himself that he’d been searching for this whole time.

“M-Mr. Connors…?” The educator stammered slowly, encasing his lower lip between two rows of perfect teeth before he inevitably switched his gaze to the door behind them, making sure there wasn’t a student, or worse, coworker coming to witness. The wolf disappointed to see his line of sight change.

“I want to kiss you…” it was almost a desperate whisper from the tall, domineering man. Levi shook his head back and forth, avoiding eye contact now.

“Remi…It wouldn’t be right…” his own voice low enough to just be heard between each man in this particular situation.

“If I pass my first test with 100%…I mean a full 100, it’ll prove to you I'm serious..You’ll see I value what you need...You’re a scholar? Fine. I can be scholarly…” pressing his body closer to the other, he could almost feel Levi’s racing heart beneath his own chest. Too stunned to move or even speak. “I get that 100, and out of that, you’ll let me kiss you...I promise that’s all it’ll take,” huffing a snide laugh through the nostrils of his nose before he finally stepped back. Something about that, confidence, made Levi snap into reality again. He crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes at the taller.

“Fine, but keep in mind, you missed ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ over the summer, which I can assume you missed the other two reading assignments that were given over that time….all three will be on the test, so truly, Mr. Connors…” walking to the other side of his desk, hoisting his large side bag upon his thin shoulder as he stopped only to look the man up and down. “I wish you luck,” his own playful smirk spreading over the once flushed face. Remi couldn’t help but grin as he followed his professor outside of the classroom now, feeling a spring in his step.

“Then I’ll see you next class…Professor Levi,” the words left his mouth like water pouring from a glass. The leopard had to try his best to show no visible signs for how good that sounded to him. If the man wanted to play a game of cat and mouse, then let the games begin. He was expecting a lot from the raven haired student.

It had been a quiet last few weeks within the class. It was almost like the wolf had gone back to normal, he paid attention, he stopped giving Levi those hungry eyes during lulls, and he stopped sticking around afterwards to harass him. The professor almost felt…neglected? Everyday he woke up with this, excitement. What would he do today? What would he say? Suddenly he’s putting forth 110% effort just as he wanted but, he couldn’t help but admit he missed the banter, at the very least.

“Alright everyone, tests are coming out, you have an hour to finish, if you need more time, just stay after the bell has rung and I can write a note for your next professor…I don’t want any of you worrying about time, I will make sure you get plenty, just trust your gut and answer to the best of your ability, please, PLEASE check the back as there is one single essay question…there is no limit to how short or long the answer needs to be, just answer it honestly,” the Leopard paced back and forth in front of the first row of students, glancing back at the corner desk where Remi was preparing all his seemingly, new and shiny school supplies. Pens, extra pencils, erasers of varying sizes and textures, highlighters, white-out…Jesus, why was he so prepared? It was a simple English test.

After making sure each student had a copy of the test and were all sitting at a reasonable distance from each other, he sent them off. “Test starts now,” his voice calm, collected as he wandered around the classroom, eyeing each student to make sure there was no cheating. When he stopped at Remi’s desk, the wolf looked up at him for the first time in weeks they SAW each other, relief washed over the leopard when the student cheesed a very smug smile at the educator. Rolling his eyes, unable to fight the slight grin that crept across his freckled face, moving forward he continued to make his rounds. Levi walked several loops around the desks before feeling satisfied that everyone was focused on their own assignments, sitting down at his own. He leaned back in his chair and allowed his legs to prop up comfortably on the desk, eyes still slowly scanning over the busy body of students.

Time ticked by slowly, eventually 45 minutes in, a majority of students had already finished and gone home for the day. Remi and a few others were still working tirelessly. A few more minutes in and Levi noticed that Remi had entered the writing portion, but it was extremely short. ‘What? That took him no time, did he pre-read the question?’ Levi thought with curious surprise. Even so…a few sentences would take longer than 3 seconds. The leopard was incredibly intrigued as he watched the tall 28 year old cross the room and turn the paper into the basket with a sly lick of his teeth. In the blink of an eye, he started walking off, he raised up two fingers in a peace sign and then the room suddenly felt very empty to the cat. He was trying his hardest not to snag the test out of the basket to read what was written, but he managed to keep it cool. He waited. Another grueling, 30 minutes, then, the classroom was empty and he looked around to make sure nothing was left behind.

Levi, finally, with a feral snatch shuffled through and acquired Remi’s test. He scanned quickly over all the circled multiple choice answers and got straight to the question at hand. What. Did. He. Say?

In Your Own Words; What is the best thing you hope to achieve this year in my class?

You

Levi’s face turned hot, his whole body in fact, turned hot. He bit his lower lip and threw his head back. White strands fell in a mess behind him. No. This isn’t happening. He isn’t gushing over a simple one word answer to a non-specific question. It was so cheesy, cliche, so…what he needed to hear. After being in a 3 year long, love-less marriage to a woman…just even the simplest form of flirtation was sending him into a frenzy of butterflies and feelings. “I should dock you points for being so cliche…” muttering to himself feeling a bit embarrassed for how quickly he looked forward to even getting the answer. There was also one more looming question….did he get 100%? Levi HAD planned to grade these all tomorrow…but he couldn’t wait to know if the wolf really applied himself, or was just pullin’ smoke out of the Educator’s ass.

Pulling his answer key out he leaned back to brace himself for the destiny that was about to unfold. “Don’t be nervous…it’s fine…he couldn’t read 4 books in 3 weeks time, he is just like every other dude in his 20s, all talk, you’re fine,” brushing off the unnecessary nerves, and going over the man’s test now. 10 in, he was feeling okay, alright…25….30…45?….the more he went through each answer, he double checked, triple. There was no way, but he got all the way to 85 and it was clear as day to him, Remi was more than a smooth talker, but he backed it up with ambition, drive and charisma. To say he was impressed would be an understatement truly, he pulled his hand back and up, his thumb brushing just gently over his own lower lip. “Oh…” he said out loud almost lost in a trance.

It turns out, he was not prepared to lose this challenge. So the leopard found himself quite restless through the next few days as his next class period with Remi, was creeping up. What was he going to do? He could just deny the man…threaten to kick him out of class permanently…but the raven haired student was right…he did like it. If he didn’t, Remi wouldn’t even be in his class still. How was he to keep his job, while also, living his life? He couldn’t have his cake and eat it too could he? No…impossible. He’d have to turn him down. So that’s what he did, in his spare time in between grading the rest of the tests he practiced the way he was going to tell the other, this? Was just not happening.

“I’m sorry Mr. Connors, but as a professional Educator we can’t have any sort of physical relationship…but I admire your motivation and drive, it speaks volumes of what you’re capable of when you apply yourself!” He pointed his pencil into the air before he sighed shaking his head. “That was so…robotic…” chewing the eraser end now before he checked over a few more answers, marking them as needed.

“Remi, I admire your perseverance, but I could lose my position…” he stopped again with another deep inhale, and dramatic exhale. “Why is this so difficult? I’ve said no to hundreds of people before…” dropping the pencil with a light *tick* sound before burying his face in his hands, groaning painfully.

“It’s cause I don’t want to…I know that, I want to eat the cake…I want to eat the cake so Fucking baaaaaaad,” he screamed into his palms now with brows knitted forward. “Get it together Levi Flynn!” He chastised himself before zeroing in on the pile of papers ahead of him. “Worry about it later…” reminding himself that he indeed had a job to do. Flashing through the rest of the grading he sat back on his couch, looking at the time he realized he would have but 6 hours to sleep…then he would have to face a very nerve racking situation. Bringing Remi to the realization that he won the challenge. To be fair, Levi never agreed to it, he just assumed, so who’s to say? The leopard’s head continued to buzz as he slowly passed out on his couch, he couldn’t really get to sleep in his own bed anymore anyway. Something about it had changed, and he couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

The night passed him by and before long he awoke to the ringing chime of his regularly set Tues & Thurs alarms. “Hnnn…” he grumbled before rolling over to slam his finger down on the stop button. Blinking his ocean eyes several times to arrive into the current plane of existence. He dragged himself off the couch and threw himself into a hot shower, quickly washing himself down before stepping back out. He paid extra attention to his outfit today, a silk blue button down long sleeve, he left 2 buttons undone to expose a bit of professional flesh. He contemplated…should he ? No…’Don’t be a whore, Levi, you’re turning him down,’ he reprimanded himself before begrudgingly sliding on a plain black pair of boxer briefs, then a pair of slick black slacks to go over those. Throwing some gel in his hair, checking himself over in the mirror he nodded immediately taking himself to the living room to gather the finished tests. “Okay…I think I have what I need…” looking once more over his house before he left and made his way to the college. To save gas, he took the bus seeing as the stop was down the road from his house and the bus ride was only 5 minutes away.

Levi tiredly unlocked and walked his way into the empty classroom, flicking the lights on he gazed about at the empty desks sighing inwardly as he tried to mentally prepare himself for today’s lesson and encounter. Slapping his bag down onto his own desk now, slowly pulling the graded tests out and into the basket, then deciding to write down the basics of what he’d be introducing them to today. As time seeped closer and closer to the start of class, the first student in today was in fact, Remington. Almost as if he was a little too excited for the results of last week’s test. Trying to act like he was busy, burying himself into his practically empty emails on his phone. Remi smirked, ‘Trying far too hard to act like nothing is wrong…I definitely nailed that test..’ the wolf was more than confident, it took 5 seconds of being in the room to know he was the winner and he couldn’t wait to collect his reward. He didn’t need to even get his paper, and he wasn’t going to. To make a very clear point, he wanted the leopard to know, he knew, based off his body language alone.

It was painful having to sit through this lesson, knowing what waited for him after. The raven haired man contemplated and fantasized how he was going to lay it on the educator. Forceful? Sweet? Passionate? It needed to be memorable that’s for sure. He dragged his hand along the end of his chin, trying to write the notes, but also unable to keep his toxic green eyes off the bouncing professor. He was not in his usual nerdy attire…he was wearing something very..sensual today. Silk? Naughty. Unbuttoned a bit? Oh, yeah. Not a soul on earth could tell him that the Professor didn’t want him. Come on now, he dressed up, specifically for him. For the kiss they were destined to share. He was so lost in his reward, the bell rang and nearly made the wolf jump out of his skin. ‘It’s cool..be cool…time to wait,’

The class finished up, everyone started to walk out and Levi finally noticed, Remi never came to collect his test. Narrowing his eyes at the lone sheet of paper. ‘Smug asshole,’ he thought to himself. The last student, minus Remi of course, walked out and that was the taller’s que as he stood up and made quick work of crossing the room to reach him. Remi stood at the front of the desk with his palms slapping down against the wood. “Boo!” He grinned brightly waiting for the other to turn around. From behind the desk, Levi turned to look at Remi, famously crossing his arms against his chest.

“I have to hand it to you, I wasn’t expecting for you to actually follow through but you did…” an almost inaudible growl escaped Remi’s chest before making quick work to circle around the desk that separates them, just a few inches apart. “Hey, no..” Levi said defensively taking a step back only to be met with the wolf taking another step forward.

“Oh? You didn’t forget did you? I would think not…seeing as you dressed specifically for my win..” eyeing the leopard up and down slowly before locking gazes with cautious blue eyes.

“Remi, You know I can’t agree to that…I could lose my job,” trying the realistic route, certainly there was some sense of responsibility within the other.

“Then don’t tell anyone,” shrugging without giving much more thought to it, stepping closer, and as Levi tried to back away, only found himself backed into the white board. You’d think by now he would have figured out his spacial boundaries so this didn’t keep happening. Yet, here they were, Remi had one leg pressed in between Levi’s slightly spread ones. His hand came up to grab Levi just under the chin forcing his face up at him. “Cause I’m going to collect my winnings…if you got a problem with it…well…you have the authority here,” he ghosted his lips just over the other’s, his hand tightened, savoring this moment as Levi didn’t make the slightest movement. Feeling like he was just about to drop on a Roller Coaster he knew, he knew he was more than literally backed into a wall. There was no use pretending anymore. They both did.

There was dead silence and then Remi spoke again, “Kiss me,” commanding of the smaller, their eyes sliding back and forth looking for…something…neither knew what it was they were searching for in this heated moment, but it didn’t take long within their gaze before Levi pushed up on his tip toes and cut the distance between their lips together in fervent desperation. Their mouths slid together in a smooth sultry dance, almost like they were meant to fit. Levi practically melted in his palm, allowing the other to slide open his lips and introduce twisting tongues. Unconsciously, the wolf shifted his leg upward, brushing up against the educator’s awakening length, whom whimpered behind clashing mouths. Fueling something hungry inside of Remi, he did it again, but this time he broke the kiss, using his still firmly grasped hand to pry open the leopard’s whimpering mouth in a perfect O fashion.

“Re—hh—i…?” his professor tried to cautiously call out his name but it went beyond deaf ears as Remi looked down at him, taking in this perfect sight of the other’s maw spread out for him. He sucked up his own lower lip before he made a very sudden, very forward, very out of bounds command.

“Stick your tongue out,” Levi was confused, this kiss was sending him over the edge of his sanity, there was no way he could explain his way out of this situation if someone were to walk in on it. Yet, the other’s husky, threatening tone sent shivers down his spine. He felt compelled…no…he felt certainly excited to oblige for the other, ‘Fuck it all I suppose,’ Levi stuck his slick pink tongue out as much as he could with the force against his cheeks. “Gooood…very good boy..” scoffing, look at that. Was he ever wrong? Some cases, but he knew, he knew when he had someone at the palm of his hand. Once again, he dipped his head in to capture the tongue between his lips, sucking deliriously before meeting their lips together again in quick heated lust. Seconds that felt like hours, the white haired man was certain he was about to pass out from overflowing euphoric passion. He reached up to take fistfuls of Remi’s tee, holding back just enough to reserve the urge to rip the material straight off the man. With a few more short passionate chuffs, Remi pulled back, releasing the panting educator.

Blue eyes met green, and they stared silently at one another for a long moment catching their breaths, trying to find sanity. Sanity…’Oh, FUCK,’ Levi cursed himself suddenly looking as though he’d just been slapped. Remi’s eyes furrowed, looking the now shaken man up and down.

“That can’t happen again,” shoving the student off him he ran a clammy hand through his hair. “Oh my god, I’m so lucky no one came in…That was incredibly careless..” panicking openly, Remi couldn’t help but smirk, leaning up against the desk.

“It’ll happen again….and again…in fact at some point…”he stood back, turned around and made rectangular shapes within his fingers at the desk, eyeing it down. “I will have you bent over this desk…” turning again to look at the now furiously blushing man in the eye.

“I-Y-…You need to leave! Grab your test, go…I can’t…that won’t happen again! Period! End of story!” Shaking his hands out in front of him before shoving a finger towards the door his other arm crossed against his chest. Laughing menacingly Remi snagged his test in a crumpled fist. He stepped towards the door, but he stopped just inches from Levi half way over, to share one last word.

“…but, you’ll be thinking of me…as I will about you..” continuing his journey to the door and out of the classroom. Levi stood there, flushed, blushed, and absolutely turned on. This was certainly more than he bargained for…the other wasn’t going to stop, especially not after how he responded the way he did during. So much for turning him down. ‘Why am I so weak against him?…How can he have this much power over me?’ The leopard bit his lip, licking it, already trying to find traces of the wolf he found himself missing. “I’m so screwed..” Levi sighed out loud before falling back into his chair, head slumped back as he began to stare blankly at the ceiling. He realized all he could do was picture the student pressed right up against him, those hot lips knitted against his.. “I’m SO fucking screwed…” realizing there was no escape.