Campus 3

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The pads of my fingers swept across smooth, endless skin.

I inhaled sharply as the pressure between my hips made me numb for those few seconds right before my ineluctable peak. The euphoria came without cessation, pleasure now and bliss later.

I saw the tickles coming after I'd relaxed from my high, and it sent me into a fit of laughter as usual.

"David," I practically cried. "Stop; we'll be late!"

"No, we have like two hours," he refused, digging his head into my neck to plant a kiss there. I moaned at the sensation it gave me.

"First day of school," I reminded as he lifted his head. I had to be the sane one whenever we fooled around, but even I had to admit that we both enjoyed the fleeting cloud of marriage too much. We didn't want the summer to end, but time waited for no one, nor did it ever pause.

Seemingly in one fell swoop, I had become a husband and a father. I completely understood my parents' concern about it, but with the support I had, it wasn't difficult to deal with stress. Sex, for instance, took care of most of that. As timid as I would always be, my innocence was lost forever, never to be returned. I was shy everywhere else except the privacy of our bedroom.

Even as I made the effort to get myself and David out of bed, my nakedness taunted him, my widely opened legs beckoned him closer to me, my lips—plump and parted—begged to be kissed. He couldn't resist, and neither could I.

"Stop going to sleep naked and we won't have this problem," he joked, still giving me kisses.

"It has benefits, like improving circulation and confidence. I kinda need that." I pushed him away playfully. "We've gotta shower before Dawn wakes up." I knew the mention of our little girl would do the trick.

"Alright, come on." He pulled me to my feet.

After freshening up and putting on our clothes, we made our way downstairs to make some breakfast together. "I'll check on Dawn while you set the table," I informed, heading back up the stairs. I entered the nursery which was next to our room. The space was big enough to become our daughter's permanent room as she grew up, so it would change as she became older. That fact alone made me smile as I entered the room. Dani was sleeping on the window bed, one of her legs hanging off the side. Sofie, our golden retriever, was asleep on the floor nearby. I stepped toward Dani and carefully placed her leg onto the bed then covered her with the blanket before walking over to Dawn's crib.

She had her small first finger stuck in her mouth, sucking on it quietly as her eyes were closed. "Oh goodness," I lightly said, reaching down to rub her stomach. Her eyes opened slowly from the touch, but she didn't cry. She must've been awake for a short while without making a peep, but she was evidently hungry. "Come here, sweetheart."

I picked her up, lifting her to my chest before snuggling and kissing her. "Did you sleep well?" I took the time to change her diaper and put her in some warm clothes. Her eyes remained shut almost the entire time, and she only made cute little sounds as I picked her up again. "We're gonna go eat," I said to her, rubbing her back.

I grabbed one of her baby blankets from the rocking nursery seat and put it around her as I walked out of the room and down the stairs.

"She's awake?" David asked, done setting our food down. He rounded the table to give Dawn a kiss and assess her.

"She needs to eat. I'll make a bottle; could you hold her?" I moved her into his arms and he caressed her head affectionately.

"You look beautiful in your panda onesie," he gushed, stroking her chubby cheek with his finger. He held her securely in one arm, and used his other to eat his food. I prepared a bottle of milk for her and began to warm it up. "You're okay," he soothed when she started to cry. "Your bottle's coming, love, it's okay."

"It'd be a bit more convenient if I had boobs, huh?" I joked, testing the milk's warmth against my wrist.

"If we both had boobs," David insisted as we laughed.

"It's perfect," I said, approaching them. "Got it right on the first try again. I'm getting really good at this."

He chuckled, taking the bottle from me and introducing it to our baby's mouth. She quickly latched onto it, quieting down, and sucking almost fervently. "There we go," he comforted, kissing her again and laughing as her round cheeks rose and fell.

I sat down to eat, playing with our little girl's tiny fingers at the same time. "Dani's still sleeping," I informed.

"Yeah she must be exhausted; I don't blame her."

"I don't want her to leave," I confessed.

"She isn't leaving for another eight or so months, Casper."

"I'm just so used to having her here. She's always had my back. Plus, Dawn needs her."

"Of course. And Dani isn't moving too far; she'll be right here the moment Dawn needs a mother. Don't worry, it's still ways away before that time comes."

I nodded, smiling. "You know something? This week, last year, is around the same time we met."

David laughed softly. "Yes, I'll never forget speaking to you for the first time."

I grimaced. "I'm almost ashamed that of all the things I could've talked to you about, it was psychology. I was so boring; how did you ever fall for me?"

"Don't say that. You are not boring."

"Well now I wanna know. We never really talked about that. How did you fall for me?"

He grinned, stealing a glance at Dawn as she peacefully drank her milk. "First, it was your beauty. Until you talked to me, I didn't realize your eyes were so purely blue."

"Aww." I smiled. "Is there a second reason?"

"Second, my love, was the person you were and are right now. You're forgiving, you try to stay out of drama even if it wants to follow you. You're loyal. I mean, who else would become friends with their husband's ex?"

I shrugged. "But Rowan is a nice man, who ultimately wanted you to be happy. I respect him. And thank you for those compliments." I blushed. I was about to tell him what made me fall for him too, but our conversation was interrupted.

"Good morning!" Dani, coming into the dining room.

"Hey, sleeping beauty," her brother greeted as I sent her a sweet smile.

"There she is." She walked up to David and gave Dawn a light tickle. "Here, I'll take her so you can eat your breakfast."

"Alright." David carefully removed the bottle from the baby's lips and she whined in protest. "Mama's gonna feed you, okay?"

Dani lifted her into her arms and grabbed the bottle. "Let's go watch some Mickey Mouse." She walked slowly out of the dining room.

"I'm not ready to go to school," I admitted. "I much rather hold Dawn all day while lying on a sofa beside you."

"Me too. But this might be a great school year for the both of us. I teach two classes today, and when your classes are done, you can swing by my office until my hours are over."

"Okay. I really wanted to be your Teacher's Assistant. I just thought it'd be nice. You could introduce me to your classes as your husband and we can laugh at all the dumb answers they choose on their tests."

That made him laugh. "I already have a T.A."

"I know." I pouted. "When can I meet her?"

David stood up with his plate and took my empty dish as well. "Today in my office. Oh, and it's a he."

"Interesting. Can't wait." I stood up, swinging my backpack over my shoulder.

**

Office 336.

My, how I missed it.

I was in complete awe as David and I approached his old office, the exact one where we practically fell in love and nurtured our relationship. He opened the door and we walked inside.

"You got your office back. Okay, now I'm kinda excited."

"Brings back some memories?"

"Are you kidding? This office and your little apartment were our safe places. We were ourselves when we couldn't be that anywhere else."

"I miss that cozy apartment."

"I do too."

He took a deep breath. "We might move again though."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Wait, seriously?" He sat down in his swivel chair and I took a seat across from him. "Why?"

"Because when you graduate from here, you'll be looking for a good medical school. The best medical school, hopefully. After that, you'll have a job at a hospital. I think it's for the best to move a bit closer to your new school and job, wherever that may be. That way, you won't have to drive too far. And should Dawn ever need you, you'll be near."

I swallowed, considering that. I knew he was right. I didn't want to be an entire hour or more away from him or Dawn. I was excited to see her grow up in her current nursery, but moving may be necessary. "I'm a little worried about the future. Like I know medical school can be difficult to get into, and it's stressful once you actually get in... But like I always say, home is wherever you are, David. I'll go anywhere with you."

"Casper, I'll follow you anywhere too. And... I really, really want to kiss you." His smile was breathtaking. It was the kind that made my heart shudder, the kind he gave me when I tried flirting with him for the first time in this very office.

"Then come kiss me," I accepted. "There's nothing holding us back anymore, not ever again."

He wasted no time in standing up from his seat and rounding the desk to my side. I was so looking forward to that kiss, but when our lips were merely inches from each other's, we were cruelly interrupted by someone clearing his throat.

Startled, we straightened up our positions to gaze at our intruder, and I was instantly confounded by the sight.

What was he doing here?

"Dr. Larsen," he acknowledged, completely ignoring my presence.

"Good morning! You're early."

"Only by six minutes. You said be here by nine o'clock."

David nodded, probably as annoyed as I was that we couldn't devour each other's lips. But my irritation went far beyond that because if this guy was what I thought he was, then this would not be a good semester for me in any way. Please do not be my husband's teaching assistant.

I stood up, scowling at him.

"Oh, Casper, this is my TA. His name is Trey Macfield."