Ansel frowned as he listened to Lucio speak, his dark brows knitting together in mild curiosity. "Grissom?" Ansel scoffed, shaking his head slowly. "That man is rather unpleasant, I must say. We don't talk much but it seems whenever I encounter him he has a very sour demeanor. I didn't realize he was at your performance. Hmmm." The professor paused, crossing his arms over his chest as he took a few seconds to let Lucio's mild warning simmer. If George Grissom had witnessed his and Lucio's interaction in the parking lot, there was the potential for rumors and perhaps some trouble to come his way if Grissom had any particular vendetta against Ansel. Then again, if he hadn't seen them, there was nothing to worry about. Either way, Ansel decided it was best to keep an eye out for Grissom. Any unusual probing for questions, strange encounters, and suggestive words would be analyzed with a hyper-vigilant eye.<br/><br/>"Thank you for letting me know, Lucio. Don't worry about Grissom. I'll take care of things. I promise, nothing will come back to you." Ansel smiled reassuringly and turned away, his gaze escaping out the window of his office that overlooked one of the university's many foliage covered courtyards. Even if the heads of the university found out about Ansel's habit of bedding his students, Lucio would never be affected. In cases such as his, the students' identities were always kept confidential while the professor was quietly let go, his record black marked and his reputation shot. No one would ever whisper Lucio's name, but Ansel's career would be ruined. Although Ansel loved his job and the lifestyle he had built, the idea of ending this fling with Lucio was unfathomable. Just going the day without seeing him had left Ansel feeling irritable and manic. He couldn't imagine how painful it would be to end things with him completely.<br/><br/>Thankfully, ending things didn't seem to be on Lucio's mind, and Ansel's attention was yanked back as Lucio stood and made his way to him. The professor watched the lazy drag of Lucio's fingers along his desk, feeling more of those arousing shivers rush down his spine. He opened his arms to receive Lucio, letting the younger man entangle himself in him without resistance. Ansel gave himself over to Lucio instantly, returning the kiss fully, passionately and without worry that anyone may be watching.<br/><br/>But . . . something seemed off. It took a few seconds for Ansel to realize it, once the sudden rush of testosterone had quieted for just a moment and let Ansel focus. Lucio's trademark flavor, the clean and crisp taste that Ansel had become intimately familiar with, having had his lips and tongue explore most of Lucio's body, felt<i>tainted</i>. At first, Ansel wondered if maybe Lucio had just eaten something odd, the residual taste on his breath causing the disconnect between what Lucio tasted like now and what Ansel had become accustomed to. But it didn't seem like any food that Ansel was familiar with, and no, the flavor seemed wrong for food. It was muskier than that. Sour and salty at the same time.<br/><br/>Now Ansel realized that it wasn't just Lucio's taste, his scent was contaminated, too. Lucio, the perfect specimen who always somehow managed to smell practically like nothing at all, had a lingering<i>stench</i>to him that Ansel couldn't quite place. It was extremely subtle, just a tickle in Ansel's nostrils, but it was there.<br/><br/>Lucio had been with someone else. No, not just a frivolous encounter. If it were Lucio's decision, Ansel knew his lover wouldn't choose to amuse himself with someone whose specific bouquet left such disagreeable traces. No, sex of Lucio's own volition didn't bother Ansel. The thought of Lucio playing with toys of his own aroused the professor. But he wasn't playing. He was working.<br/><br/>Lucio was prostituting himself again.<br/><br/>Ansel felt a lump in his throat and a curl of his tongue as he pulled his mouth away from Lucio's, catching his breath. He looked away, eyes directed down at the floor, unsure of what to say. His prince, Ansel's prized jewel was throwing himself at some unworthy louse when Ansel was there, ready and willing to give Lucio whatever he wanted. It made Ansel feel as if there were a jagged hole growing in his chest.<br/><br/>He pried himself away from Lucio, something he never thought he'd want to do, and wiped at his mouth with his hand, letting it rest there for a moment as he inhaled slowly, deeply. He let the hand fall to his side and shoved it into his pocket.<br/><br/>"Baby . . . " he said lightly, biting his lower lip before continuing. "Mr. Bane, I was just about to go get something to eat. Would you be interested in joining me?" Ansel asked, not wanting to taste the other on Lucio's tongue but not truly wanting to be apart from him, either. Perhaps with some food, some drink, a little time, that despicable taste would dissipate and Lucio would taste like himself again. As he turned his eyes back on Lucio, he felt himself internally sigh at Lucio's beauty. How intensely he wanted to touch that face, caress those lips, tear the clothes from Lucio's body and fuck him, passionately and without restraint. But he couldn't. As fiercely as he wanted to, he couldn't.