Page 78 of Beautifully Conflicted

“Just testing your reflexes.” He winks at me, and my heart melts a tiny little bit.Silly banter. Private looks. It’s really happening. He’s falling for me.

“You can test my reflexes during our horizontal tango.”

“Cock slut.” He chuckles with a slight shake of his head. I pretend to blow him a kiss.

Bennet

When I asked Damien about his birthday last week, I wasn’t expecting him to tell me it was so soon. That gave me almost zero time to plan, but the universe must think I’m onto something since everything fell into place so seamlessly.

Well, almost.

I’d have preferred to take him to a football game since he’s never been to one and that’s his favorite sport, but our own season, coupled with the fact his birthday comes during hockey season, dictated I get tickets for the Colorado Bulldogs. And I was lucky enough to find two seats that aren’t in the nosebleeds.

I have no idea if Damien likes hockey, but a live game is a live game. Ever since learning he’d never been to a professional one, I’ve had this compulsion to make it happen. The idea that his first pro game might be one he’s playing in… Even back when I wanted to hate him, that didn’t sit right with me.

My own NFL dreams were fueled by witnessing the energy of the stadium, and I found myself resenting the fact he’s never even experienced that. When he arbitrarily mentioned something about birthdays a few weeks back I got the idea to get him tickets. At the time, I thought I’d have several months to work with, but here we are.

Maybe he’ll wear that beanie I love since hockey rinks are cold.

There’s a movie on the TV when I let myself inside, but Damien’s not sprawled on the couch watching it. I follow the scent of soap to his bedroom and find him pulling on a pair of boxers. His hair is still wet, shedding the occasional drop that slides down his chiseled chest.

“Perfect timing. Want to see how nice and clean I am?”

I prop a shoulder against the door and watch him toy with the waistband of his shorts. “I assume you’re talking about your ass since your mouth is so filthy.”

“Obviously.”

“Maybe later. Pack an overnight bag. And dress warm.”

The waistband snaps against his skin as he stills, cocking his head at me like he can’t make sense of what he’s seeing. “We’re going somewhere? Together?”

“Why else would I have you pack a bag?”

“Where’s your bag?”

“In the car.”

“So, you didn’t get me a one-way bus ticket?”

“I got you a ticket, just not for a bus.” I toss him my phone, which has an image of our tickets to the game.

Damien stares at the screen for so long I damn near ask if he needs reading glasses. When he finally blinks up at me, I can’t read the expression on his face.

“You got me… Seriously? Why?”

“Giving me tips to improve my game, making practice amusing, letting me fuck you, take your pick.” I lift a casual shoulder.

“Some of those things were self-serving.”

“Call it a birthday present. Either way, the first pro game you go to shouldn’t be as a player. You should get to experience it as a fan. Sorry it’s not football.”

“Sorry it’s not… You got me tickets to a game! This is… This is way fucking better than shoes.”

I have zero warning before he launches himself across the distance between us. Arms wrap around my neck as his legs circle my waist. It’s only because I’ve got the presence of mind to grip his ass and hold him to me that we don’t both topple over. Though, I’m not sure how I thought to do that with his tongue plunging into my mouth. When I realize I’m holding him in my arms while making out two things cross my mind; this is hot as fuck, and he’s heavy as fuck.

“Thank you, thank you.” Damien says between kisses.

“You’re too big to latch onto me like a spider monkey,” I grunt in return, even though I secretly love it. Makes me feel like his hero or some shit.

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