Page 115 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“Sucks for you,” I tease. “I have to be home by sunrise. Or I’m grounded. Want to make a bet on the first thing I’m not allowed to enjoy?”

Ash chuckles and nips my jaw. “Me?”

“You.” I shudder again as his body moves against mine. “I need a break.”

I try to get up, but Ash wraps his arm around my middle and jerks me back down. I try again, but he just pulls me back into place. I laugh and swat at him. “Let me clean up.”

He watches me get up, a smile threatening his lips before he gives me one of his shirts and drags on loose boxers. We get to the bathroom, and I expect him to leave me alone, but he locks the door from the inside and jerks me close.

“Join me for a shower.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

But we get a shower together, playing around and doing absolutely nothing sexual. Ash peeks his head out of the door before we run back to his room, trying to keep our voices down as we shove the door shut and lock it.

Then we just cuddle. Ash tugs the hem of his shirt where it hits my thigh, then drags me closer. I snuggle closer, enjoying him in just boxers. Ash plays with my damp hair. “I like having you here.”

“I like being here,” I admit. “I like you.”

He chuckles and kisses my forehead. “Why do you like me, Sky?”

I think about it for a moment. “It doesn’t make sense really,” I warn. “I just … I feel good when we’re together. When we’re joking around and sassing each other, I feel like the me I want to be. You push me a lot, but it’s not always bad. When we were apart, I kept wanting to tell you things and cuddle you, to feel this.” I tug myself tighter against him. “I like who you are and how much more you add to my life.”

“Even if I won’t hold your damn tarantula.”

“The one who watches us have sex with all eight eyes?” I tease.

He rolls me onto his back and bites my bottom lip. “Just for that, you have to wait another ten minutes.”

“Oh, the humanity.”

“And I’ll introduce you to edging if you keep up that attitude.”

Despite his growly voice, I know he’s enjoying this. I know that he’s incapable ofnotmaking me come. And I know that leaving him is going to be next to impossible. I swallow. “We have a bigger thing to talk about.”

“It can wait.”

“It can’t.” I disagree. “I got the internship, Ash.”

His expression brightens as he grins. “Yeah! Didn’t I tell you? You had it in the bag. I didn’t doubt for one second.” He pulls me into a crushing hug. “Congrats!”

I can’t help smiling back, though there’s a lingering sadness there. “It means I’m leaving the first week in January. What happens then?”

“Depends on if you’re over me or not.” He kisses my nose. “A lot can happen in that amount of time. I hope we’re still together. I hope you’re willing to give long distance a try, if you can survive without my cock.”

“I made it eighteen years.”

“It’s different now that you’ve had it,” he grumbles but lays next to me, then wraps himself around me. “This is one conversation thathasto wait. We can only have it when we’re close to that date.”

Slowly, I nod, then kiss his chest, rubbing his sides. “What are your plans for tomorrow? It’s July Fourth, and my mom is throwing a little get-together. Kind of a‘I’m sorry for leaving’party, I think.”

He lifts my chin. “Want me there?”

I shake my head slowly, then swallow hard. “Ineedyou there, Ash. To deal with my mom, to be my boyfriend … to kiss me under the fireworks like I used to dream about.”

He beams, then kisses me hard and hungry. “Done.”

Chapter 35

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