He immediately let Wes know what he’d learned.
At first, because Lux had never acted like a weirdo before, Wes thought the man was merely informing him that their hookup had loose lips, but it soon became apparent that Lux’s main interest was in offering himself as a bedpartner.
Wes turned him down gently, with the truth that he and Assa did not mess around with other university employees.
But since then, Lux had grown bolder with his language. He didn’t outright suggest sharing their bed again, but he made sure Wes understood exactly what he thought about the couple’s lifestyle.
Whereas Wes and Assa saw their playtime with others as an expansion of their love, an expression of their trust and satisfaction, Lux saw them as a sexual curiosity, his lens solely lascivious.
He made inappropriate comments and insinuations, like what he’d said about Assa’s hair just now. The most egregious had come a month ago, when he remarked on the quality of Wes’s sweater, adding, “You like things rough, don’t you? I bet Assa likes it rough, too.”
Lux also spoke often about his prowess in bed. In one of their least subtle interactions, he'd assured Wes that there was no doubt he possessed the stamina to keep multiple men happy at once.
Wes had considered going to the department chair to complain, but that would require revealing his and Assa’s non-monogamy. The university couldn’t fire them for their lifestyle, but if the administration disapproved, they could make their work life difficult. He didn’t want to risk it.
He thought about how their lives would be altered if everyone found out their personal business. As much as he was unashamed, polyamory was still outside the norm. If his coworkers knew, they would treat him differently.
Lux was a case in point. Before he discovered their secret, he had been cordial and polite. Now he acted like a lustful perv.
Others might do the same. And Wes didn’t want that. Not for himself, and definitely not for Assa.
If there was one thing that made the situation bearable, it was that Lux hadn’t approached Assa directly. That was mostly because they rarely crossed paths and didn’t know eachother well, but whatever the reason, Wes was grateful. Assa had enough going on with his miserable alpha father and his lingering self-esteem issues. He did not need Lux’s gross behavior to make him doubt himself.
As Wes pulled out his notes for Lux, he realized there was another reason to worry about him knowing their secret.
If their polyamory became public knowledge while they were trying to adopt, it could cause a problem. Even if Wes and Assa committed to monogamy in the future—something they were willing to do if an omega birth father asked for it—their past encounters would work against them.
Wes needed to stay on Lux’s good side.
Wes handed him the papers with a wan smile. “Here you go. Hope the lecture goes well. Let me know if I can help.”
Lux blinked, then gazed inquisitively at him. He gave Wes a slow perusal before his mouth spread into a grin.
Wes forced himself to remain in place, hanging his thumbs from his belt loops as Lux stepped closer.
Lux reached up tentatively, brushing a thumb across Wes’s cheek. “Assa’s hair is gorgeous. But he’ll never be as pretty as you.”
Wes was shaking on the inside, his outrage a fire in his gut.They were colleagues. Lux had no right to treat him like this. To make him feel cheap.
But nothing was more important than the adoption.
He huffed out a laugh, backing away. “I’ve never been called pretty before.”
“Not surprising,” Lux said. “I bet most people think of you as a big tough guy, right?”
Wes’s thighs hit the desk behind him. “Are you implying I’m not tough?”
Lux inched closer. “I’m saying sometimes it’s nice to just relax and be pretty and let someone else be the tough guy.”
Wes chortled awkwardly. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
It irritated him that the other man was so near the truth, that in the right situation, especially with the right alpha, Wes enjoyed being bossed around. He hated that his repulsive colleague had guessed that.
But that's exactly what Lux was doing—guessing. This man didn’t know him. Or Assa.
With another smirk, Lux tapped the papers against his chest and lifted his chin. “See you soon, Professor Pashuk. Thanks for the assist.”
Wes heaved a sigh of relief after he left. It sucked that he needed to keep Lux happy. But what choice did he have?