Page 89 of Devilry

I lift up my laptop bag that I brought with me. “I’ll help you, if you help me.”

He kisses the side of my neck. “What you got?”

“A paper on architecture and paganism.”

“I’ve got a better idea. I’ll make room for you on the bed and you study while I make sense of this mess.”

“I can help,” I argue.

He kisses me hard. “I don’t need you to. I just like that you’re here.”

19

Cole

Imove a whole bunch of clothes to the nearby wave shaped chaise lounge that sits in the corner of the room and gesture for Elijah to sit on the bed. “Make yourself at home.”

He places his bag down beside the nightstand and then carefully climbs onto the mattress. He places two pillows against the bed head and one in his lap as his eyes sweep across the room. “Tell me once all this is in its right place you’re actually a neat, tidy man.”

“I have my moments.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” he offers again.

I pick up a handful of shirts. “I got this. You need to work on that paper anyway. If we both finish in good time, I promise to make it worth it.”

As to be expected, his beautiful face blossoms into an adorable blush. “Stop lagging, Professor Huxley,” he teases. “We have things to do.”

Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a thick book he would’ve borrowed from the library. With a cushion nestled in his lap, he opens up to the page he wants and dives into reading.

It catches me off guard how much I enjoy watching him. In his element. In my space. I might not have felt like this about anybody else before, but part of me knows it’s not supposed to feel so right when there’s so much at stake.

“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” he asks me, looking up from his book.

“Shouldn’t you be paying attention to whatever it is you’re reading?”

“It’s a bit hard when I can practically hear your brain ticking.”

I swipe at a bunch of folded t-shirts and head to the dresser. “So, what happened to your study plans?”

“Aiden and Callie had no plans to study; they brought tequila and pizza instead of books.”

“Oh.” I bite my tongue, always surprised at my reaction to him bringing up his friends. It’s pure and unadulterated jealousy. It isn’t about a drunken kiss, it isn’t because I don’t trust him, it’s because anyone but me is a better option. And I’m just waiting for him to realize that.

“Aiden got a mysterious phone call and ended up bailing, so I just comforted Callie for a bit before she decided to go home.”

“Comforted Callie?” I query.

“Yeah,” he answers, his attention half on me and half on the book. “She likes Aiden.”

“Isn’t Aiden gay?”

“I believe society would put him in the bisexual box, but I really think he just goes where the wind takes him.”

“You didn’t mention it,” I say, giving my back to him as I stuff clothes into the drawers.

“Yeah, it slipped my mind. Along with how they originally tried to lure me in to a threesome.”

I whip my head around, not sure whether to make a joke, be shocked, or be jealous. “Jesus, Elijah, that definitely slipped your mind.”

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