Page 66 of Beautifully Conflicted

I’ve never really lingered with anyone like this after sex since I was conscious of the fact that doing so might give the wrong impression. But that can’t happen here since Damien knows this is just a convenient arrangement, so I might as well take advantage and do what I want. Right now, that seems to be tasting us.

“Keep this up and we won’t get to the film review.”

My eyes drift to my lap, where his soft cock twitches slightly against mine. My dick tries to take notice, but my jaw is solidly opposed, and rather than try to save my pride this time, I let his finger fall from my lips and tell him the truth. “I don’t have another blow job in me today, but I’m glad I got to do it at least once.”

“You didn’t like it enough to do it again?” He drags his finger through our mess, smearing it over my skin.

“I did, I’m just not sure it’ll happen again.”

His finger stills as his wary eyes meet mine. “Why wouldn’t we do this again?”

“I doubt we’ll have any more film study after today—” I get a drop of our release on my finger and spread it over his thigh “—so I’ll have no reason to come to your place.”

“Seeing me isn’t a reason?” Damien’s tone has a forced playfulness about it, like he’s dead serious and pretending not to be.

“Not one that people would buy since I’m supposed to hate you.”

“You don’t have to keep that act up, you know. Being my friend doesn’t inherently mean we’re fucking around.”

I tick my locked jaw back and forth. “If we’re friends, my roommates would expect you to hang out at our house.”

“That’s bad?”

“Well, we’re not fucking aroundthere, so you tell me. Can you leave without trying to sneak up to my room or some shit?”

It takes him about two seconds to consider that before he huffs, “Fine, we’ll hang out here then.”

“Again, I don’t have a reason to be here without film study.”

“So, you’re saying you want this to be the last time we hook up?” Damien’s whole body goes stiff, like he’s preparing himself for bad news. That should be a sign that he’s already in too deep, but I choose to ignore it since I’m enjoying myself.

“No, I don’t. I’m just saying I don’t know how it’s gonna work going forward.”

“What if I give you a key? Whenever you get free time, you can just come over.”

Normally, I’d say keys are a red flag, but in this circumstance, it might be the most logical solution. That is, as long as I can be certain no one will find out.

“What if you have friends over or something?”

Damien snorts, “I don’t have any friends. I’m new here, I only know some of the guys on the team, and none well enough that we hang out outside of practice. No one will know you’re here.”

Once again, my heart beats heavily in my chest, only this time I think it’s less from a bone deep sense of contentment and more due to…guilt. Damien doesn’t really have anyone here, and I could change that by inviting him to hang out with me and my roommates. ButI won’t, since that only increases the likelihood my two worlds will collide.

Instead, I take the easy way out. “Okay, hook me up with a key.”

Damien

“You look unscathed,” Aiden says as he takes his seat next to me in our Culture and Gender in Film class.

My head tilts to the side as I look at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Bennet got in pretty late last night and booked it straight for his room, so I thought he might be trying to hide the evidence.”

“What evidence?”

“You know, black eyes, bruised knuckles. A body.”

“Ha, ha.” I roll my eyes before pinning him with a droll look.There’s evidence, just not on eyes or knuckles. My hips and thighs are another story.“We’re getting along much better now, thank you very much.”

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