Page 95 of Beautifully Conflicted

As he starts to stir, I place a gentle kiss on the pec muscle next to my lips. “Morning.”

“Morning.” He stretches his free arm above his head while hugging me to him with the arm I’m half laying on. “What time is it?”

“Eight, maybe? I haven’t checked. Why?”

“Feels like I slept in. This bed is amazing.”

“It better be. I used a good portion of the money my scholarship saved me on tuition to buy it.”

“Figures, spoiled rich kid.” Damien kisses the top of my head, confirming that while the words are somewhat accurate, there’s no malice behind them. “Any vices besides mattresses and shoes?”

“Who told you about my shoe collection?” It’s not a secret, just not something I thought he was aware of.

“No one had to tell me. You’ve got a different pair on damn near every day. Although Jagger did suggest you might be just a little obsessed about them.”

“Everything can’t be about football.”

“Speak for yourself.” Damien chuckles, which is nearly drowned out by his growling stomach.

“Not sure you could hear it over that racket.” I snort. “I guess I better feed you?”

“Breakfast in bed?” I can actually hear his heartbeat pick up with my ear pressed to his chest.

“Fuck no, I’m not that kind of secret boyfriend. But if you get your ass downstairs, I bet Cam will make you a protein shake, and I’ll make some eggs.”

“Deal.” Damien slides out from under me and slips on his discarded boxers from last night before heading for the stairs.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask him from where I’m still reclined in bed.

He pauses before he can take the first step, looking over his shoulder at me. “Uh, the kitchen.”

“Not like that you aren’t.”

“Like what?” He wrinkles his brow.

“In just your shorts.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“You can’t walk around nearly naked in front of my roommates.”

“Why not?” The lines on his forehead get even deeper. “I do it in the locker room.”

“That’s different. Everyone’s nearly naked, and there’s an unspoken rule that you don’t look at each other.”

“That same rule doesn’t apply here?”

“I mean, probably.” I run a hand through my hair. “But it’s not the locker room, and you’re in a house full of gay guys, so…”

Damien leans against the banister that frames the staircase of my attic room and crosses his arms. “You realize your roommates—most of them—are in relationships and probably won’t give me a second look whether I’m nearly naked or not?”

“I still don’t want you going down there in your shorts.”

“Lucy, are you possessive?” A smile pulls at the corner of his lip.

“No.”

“Kind of sounds like you are.”

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