Two
"How am I supposed to find him?" Dean demanded. "This is your fault, Dolph! You fix it."
His cousin raised an eyebrow. "Ummm no. Also, Dean if we can be serious for a minute. Roman's a very good friend of mine. He's really into you."
"I got that the first time you said it, Dolph."
"I'm not kidding, Dean. Don't let this thing between you be your bed em' and leave 'em act." Dolph took out his cell phone and seemed to be scrolling. He passed Dean his phone then. "That was Roman in high school."
Dean found himself staring at a chubby looking Roman who was grinning at the camera with an arm around Dolph as they stood in front of the White House. He was wearing a baggy t-shirt and bermudas. His hair was shoulder length but his smile was still the same warm one.
"I spoke about you so often to him. Showed him clips of us doing our stupid usual selves just fooling about. He seemed interested in you. Often enquired after you so I thought of setting you two up countless of times. Of course after hearing your escapades, he was not ready to do so. He actually started to eat right and work out, grew his hair out-"
The whole thing was starting to freak Dean out. No casual relationship with this one. "Wait," the auburn haired man interrupted. "He did it for me? He barely knows me."
"Well, that's what dating is for, right?"
"I'm not sure. I mean I'm flattered and he's a nice guy but after hearing that…"
"Just give the guy a chance. I only told you what I did because I care about him and don't want to see him get hurt. He's a real nice guy. If you don't wish to see him again, then let him know. But don't lead him on. That's all I ask."
Leave it to Dolph to interrupt them when he finally worked up his courage to ask the guy he had practically been crushing on for ages to dance let alone talk.
Roman Reigns was beginning to think that maybe he was destined to be a lonely old man.
When he finally reached his dorm room at six, he found his roommate, Seth Rollins, snoring in bed. Carefully shutting the door so it wouldn't wake him up, Roman's next thought was to call Dolph and asked for Dean's number.
Or maybe he ought to reach him through Facebook.
When Dolph mentioned about Dean a few times since their high school days, Roman was intrigued by his devil may care attitude, his wild Casanova ways. Of course those photos and random clips that his friend had showed him helped as well.
His friend noticed how bad he had it for Dean and tried to deter him by proclaiming that Dean would never settle down with just one man so busy he was playing the field.
Roman was unconvinced. He was certain that he could win Dean's heart.
So Dolph tried setting them up on a date but Roman felt he wasn't ready yet. He needed to be more enticing. Surely a man like Dean wouldn't want to be seen with a chubby bunny.
So he worked out and was careful with his meals, let his hair grow out… superficial probably but he wanted to make an impression on Dean.
It had been three years in the making.
The Samoan man wasted no time in logging into his account and searching for Dean under Dolph's list of friends.
His crush looked hot in his profile picture, wearing a black leather jacket over a black wife beater. Dolph had once commented that the mass communication major owned a limited number of clothes.
Roman didn't mind. He thought this look suited Dean more than the suit and tie he had been wearing just now.
Dean had a lot of friends which of course Dolph had also mentioned before casually; the man made friends easily.
He argued with himself mentally if he should reach out to him. Dean was interested, wasn't he? He had flirted with him about the sponge baths… of course, Dean flirted with anyone and everyone.
He wasn't called the Titty Master for nothing.
Roman decided to hell with it. He'd ask Dean out and see where it'd go from there. Clicking on the messenger icon, he quickly typed in: Hi Dean. It's me, Roman. We met at your cousin Paige's wedding. I was wondering if you would like to meet up for coffee on campus? Let me know.
Right.
He hoped this would be enough. Biting his lip, he clicked the send button and then freed his hair from the man bun.
All he had to do now was wait.
"I hate Dolph," Dean declared to his best friend, Kevin Owens as they walked towards Blue Hall. The brunette had fetched him from the wedding as Dean's bike was still at the repair shop. It was seven in the evening on a Sunday and Dean wanted a quick bite. "I mean I could have gone through life not knowing about those stuff."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Sounds like a prize winner, that Roman guy. Dude literally ran away from you."
"He is a prize winner though not for the reason you mentioned."
"Oh, really?"
"Yep. He's got beautiful eyes and a nice ass."
"You know that this won't last, right?"
"Maybe but hey there's always a chance I can convince him to enter a casual relationship with me."
"See I don't know about that. If he went through so much of trouble for you, I doubt it's a casual relationship he's looking for."
Dean checked his iPhone for any new message when saw a number one next to his Facebook messenger icon. Tapping on it, he saw it was from Roman.
Roman!
Roman wanted to meet him. Dean thought hard. On one hand, he wanted to see more of Roman but on the other hand, he wasn't so sure after hearing what Dolph had told him. In the end, he decided to just go. He quickly sent him a reply to meet him the school's cafe at eight.
No sooner than he had sent it, he received a text message replying: Sure. See you soon!
"Why are you smiling like that?" Kevin asked.
"I have a date," Dean beamed.
"Why do you like this guy so much?" Roman heard Seth asked as he changed his t-shirt for the seventh time.
"I know it sounds superficial but I like his personality. He seems like a bad boy who needs someone who can understand him. Plus I think he's sexy too."
"Sexy?"
"Yeah. Those arms. That face. The sound of his voice…"
Seth leaned against the bathroom door. "You're seeing him with rose covered glasses, Roman. This could end bad."
"Relax, Seth," Roman assured his friend. "It's just one date." Though deep down in his heart, he hoped there'd be more after this.
An hour later, Roman found himself having to restrain smiling like an idiot as he sat across Dean in Amber Cafe over chocolate croissants and coffee. The auburn haired man was relating a story about a cooking class gone wrong in Home Economics.
"I must remember to keep you away from knives," Roman giggled.
"There's always scissors, Swiss Army knife and-"
"Maybe from anything sharp altogether."
Dean leaned forward. "But now I have a good reason to play with such objects. If I get hurt, I'll only have to look for you."
"For a sponge bath?" Roman couldn't help but tease.
Dean's face lit up. "No but since you're offering…"
"Tempting but no. A band aid ought to fix it."
"I thought you're supposed to kiss it to make it better?"
"That's just an old wives' tale. But I'd still kiss you, injury or not."
Dean's eyes were dancing. What was going on in that head of his? "Oh would you?"
"If you play your cards right."
"I always win," Dean boasted.
A smile spread across Roman's face. "What a coincidence; me too."
They went to the park and continued walking and before they both knew it, somehow Dean and him had winded up at the main building. "Well… I had a great time."
"Me too," Dean replied softly.
"Call me when you reach your dorm so that I know you're okay."
"What?"
"Yeah. I meant gotta be careful these days, you know? Lots of weird people running about."
"Sure there are. Maybe if I bat my eyelashes, I'll be able to escape."
Roman looked amused. "Maybe I'll just walk you back instead"
"You don't have to worry; I'll be fine."
"See you tomorrow?"
"I'll be busy with classes. I'll message you, okay?"
That was it? He kicked himself mentally. Dean probably had a lot of guys vying for his attention. "Wait. Here's my number," Roman offered as grabbed Dean's hand and wrote on it. "I hope we can meet up again soon."
Dean gave him a tight smile. "Me too."
Roman sighed as he watched Dean walk away. So much about making a good impression
"Why did I take this class again?" Dean asked Kevin as he sank in his seat beside him on Monday morning in the auditorium.
Kevin smirked as he opened up his notebook. "I think you wanted to be a journalist. Yeah that's what it was. But of course you need to get a college education-"
"Sarcasm is not wanted, Kev. At least not this early."
"How did your date go?"
"Pretty good." Dean clicked on his pen. "He gave me his number."
"And?"
"And what?"
Kevin shoved him. "Are you going to call him?"
"I want to but I don't know, Kev. I think you're right. He's too nice of a guy."
"Then you let him go. There are lots of other fishes in the sea."
Let him go? Dean wanted him but not in the normal way. Relationships made him feel trapped. Granted he was only in two during high school but those were ended when he felt himself being smothered.
He wanted Roman. There was no question about that. He wanted him beneath him, those grey eyes looking into his as he took him again and again-
"Didn't that senior Randy something ask you out when we were sitting at the quad?"
"Yeah."
"So call him and catch up."
Dean sighed. "We'll see."
Roman wasn't listening to a word his cousin Jimmy was saying as they crossed across the quad towards the direction of their halls. Where had he gone wrong in that date? All night he had replayed it in his head but came up with nothing.
"I take it you had a rough weekend," Jimmy remarked.
"Sort of," Roman admitted. "I finally went on a date but I think he wasn't into me."
"Oh. I'm sorry, Uce."
"Yeah. What can you do about these things, right?"
"Listen, we're having a party tonight at our dorm. We're celebrating one of the guys' birthday. You should come."
"Nah. I've got tonnes of reading to catch up on."
"Are you serious?"
Seth wasn't in when Roman returned. His roommate was in Pre Law so he was always busy.
Roman changed into some comfy clothes, cleared his desk and tied his hair up in a tight bun. He boiled water while he tidied up the dorm room. He never heard from Dean. The Samoan man wondered who the lucky guy was today.
He was about to go back to his desk holding his coffee mug when there was a knock on his door.
A smiling Dean was standing in front of him. "Dean?"
"Hey."
"How did you know where I live?"
"I have friends, you know."
Roman stepped aside to let him in. Once he closed the door and leaned against it, his eyes admired the auburn haired man in front of him. "I've got to be honest. I wasn't expecting to hear from you."
Dean looked surprised. "Really?"
"You couldn't get away from me fast enough last night."
"Yeah, sorry about that. Roman, can we talk?"
That was random. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Coffee would be nice."
Roman nodded and made his way to the kitchenette to make Dean a cup. Okay so maybe he did something right last night, he mused as he poured black coffee in the mug. "Do you want some chocolate chip cookies? I baked those on Saturday."
"You bake?"
"And cook. It's a form of therapy for me. You know?" Roman carefully placed the cookies on a white with blue floral ceramic plate. "Well aside of exercising."
Dean clucked his tongue. "I never had a guy bake me stuff before."
No surprises there. "I'll bake. I'll cook."
"See that's the thing. Roman, I don't stay with a person long enough to experience that. I do casual relationships. That's kind of my deal."
"Oh." Roman pretended to be ignorant of that fact.
Dean scratched the back of his head. "And you're a real nice guy. I'm just afraid that I can't offer you what you're looking for."
"Dean-"
"Dolph told me about what you did for me. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was flattered."
He knew? Roman was horrified. How could Dolph rat him out like that? "I know it seems off but putting all that aside, you can give me a chance. Sometimes you just need the right person."
"And you think that it's you?" Dean looked surprised.
"I don't think so, Dean. I know so."
"That's quite the confidence you have, Roman."
"But it's true. I'll agree to this casual relationship thing but I can guarantee you that after you're done playing the field, you'll definitely be running back to me to hold onto you for life."
"We'll see," Dean grinned.
"Yeah we will," Roman whispered as he leaned nearer, his lips inches away. Gosh, how badly he wanted to kiss him till he was a panting mess.
Dean licked his own lips. "Great. So how about-"
Roman's lips covered over his then, swallowing his words. If humans could float, he'd pretty sure he'd be doing that. Dean returned his passionate kiss, trying to reciprocate with equal ardor. Oh how wonderful it was to be kissing him. He used to wonder how it'd feel like and right now, it felt like he was flying.
Kissing Dean made him feel like Superman.
Roman sucked on the blue eyed man's bottom lip as he gripped Roman's shoulders tight.
Fuck.
A moan escaped from Dean's lips then. Roman covered his lips once more.
"Do you like that, baby boy?" the nursing major whispered huskily into his ears.
In response, Dean slowly slid his hands down to Roman's butt cheeks, trying to squeeze them but Roman swatted his hands. "Too early for that, baby boy."
"Really?" Dean said, feigning an innocent look. "I think otherwise."
"Oh no, you don't. You're not getting anything so fast."
"I like a challenge, Roman. You'll be moaning in pleasure beneath me by this Sunday."
"I doubt it but keep dreaming, okay?"
Dean wound his arms around the grey eyed man's neck then. "Can I have a cookie?"
Roman gave him a quick kiss. "You can have a cookie."
A/N We're just getting warmed up, guys. Thank you for the favorites, follows and comments. Please review. It'd mean so much to me :-)