Roommates With Benefits [BL]

"I just wanted him to look me in the eye and feel a bit remorseful for once."

The words were softer than I’d anticipated, and I looked down at my hands. "After everything he did, I wanted him to know he couldn’t just disappear and act like it never happened."

Damien was quiet for a moment. "His family is trying to minimize the damage."

"Because of the scandal it could cause to their family."

"Exactly, at least they couldn’t just sweep the issue under the rug because of the evidence this time around."

I let out a bleak laugh. "Rich people really are something else."

As soon as I said it, I glanced at Damien to gauge his reaction. He didn’t respond, but I felt the urge to clarify. "Not you, though."

He chuckled, "Of course, baby."

"Mostly not you."

He finally gave me a small smile and I sighed. "Sorry."

"You don’t have to apologize."

I shifted closer. "So what happens now?"

"I’ve filed for restraining orders."

My eyebrows shot up. "Already?"

"Yes."

"Against Jeremy?"

"Against Jeremy, to protect both of us."

I stared at him, impressed. "You really managed all this today?"

"Most of it."

I eyed him suspiciously. "Are you secretly three people?"

"No."

"Because I’m starting to think there’s another Damien out there handling paperwork while the first one stares dramatically out of windows."

His lips curved up. "You’re tired."

He took my injured hand gently, his fingers moving carefully around the bandage, feeling the swelling that had thankfully gone down since I’d last confronted Jeremy.

"You should’ve seen a doctor like I said you should, it’s been four days."

"I know."

"And you still haven’t."

"..."

"Sunshine, you promised."

"I vaguely remember agreeing to something."

He met my gaze. "Oliver."

I smiled innocently. "Yes, boyfriend?"

His expression clearly showed he was reconsidering his life choices.

I glared at him. "Fine. I’ll go."

"Tomorrow."

"Why does that sound less like a suggestion?"

"Because it isn’t."

Damien shook his head, but he didn’t let go of my hand. His thumb traced my knuckles gently as the room fell quiet once more. Not an uncomfortable quiet, just a calm one.

I looked around the apartment. Nothing had changed; the same furniture, the same books, the same soft lighting, the same ridiculously expensive everything. And yet, it felt different.

For weeks, every moment of silence had carried a threat. Each unknown car outside made me think someone was watching us, every notification tightened my stomach, and leaving the apartment made me wonder if I’d return to yet another problem waiting for me.

I let out a slow breath. "I forgot what normal feels like."

Damien looked at me. "So did I."

I turned to face him. "Do you think it’s really over?"

He didn’t respond right away. That was typical for Damien; he never offered comfort he didn’t truly believe in.

But eventually, he said, "Jeremy is dealt with."

I managed a smile. "That’s not the answer I was looking for."

"I know."

His thumb continued to glide across the back of my hand. "There are still other issues."

The smile faltered a bit. "Your family,"

"Yep."

I swallowed hard. There it was, the storm we’d both been avoiding. Jeremy had been one monster, but he wasn’t the only problem we were facing.

My dad’s hospital bills were still a reality, Damien’s parents were still furious, his inheritance had vanished, and the succession contract was still looming. William Lockwood hadn’t magically transformed into a decent person just because his son had fallen out with him.

And buried beneath all of that was the uncomfortable truth that we’d probably only bought ourselves a little time.

I let my head fall against Damien’s shoulder. "Can we pretend none of that exists tonight?"

He was quiet for a moment, then pulled me closer with an arm around me. "Yes."

"Thank you."

"Tonight only."

"You’re ruining the fantasy."

"I prefer reality."

"That’s because you’re emotionally constipated."

He glanced down at me.

I smiled. "You know I’m right."

"I have no idea what that means."

"It means you need to lighten up."

"I think you’re mixing me up with yourself."

"Impossible! I’m a delightful fucker."

"You punched a guy twenty minutes after claiming you were going to be reasonable."

I lifted my head. "That was actually emotional growth."

Damien stared at me. "How?"

"I stopped after several punches."

He actually laughed, not loudly, but warm enough to ease something in my chest.

I smiled at him. For the first time in a while, we sat in silence. Then Damien leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. It was such a simple act that it almost hurt.

There had been so much noise in our lives recently, arguments, threats, secrets, anger, fear.

And somehow, this was what I needed most: his hand around mine, his arm around my shoulders, the quiet weight of his head resting against mine.

His grip on my hand tightened slightly. "I love you."

I closed my eyes. "I love you too."

"Good." Damien said with a satisfied nod.

"Good?"

"Yeah, just checking."

I snorted and shook my head, "You’re impossible."

I chuckled quietly.

For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to relax, not completely, of course; I wasn’t naive enough to think everything was suddenly perfect.

But enough, enough to breathe, enough to stop waiting for footsteps outside the door, enough to let my eyes close without worrying about another nightmare waiting for me.

Jeremy was gone, the photos had been dealt with. The evidence was in the right hands. The immediate threat had an ending. For tonight, at least, we were safe.

I curled closer to Damien, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing while the city hummed quietly beyond the windows. It felt almost peaceful.

Almost, because somewhere deep down, under the relief and exhaustion, I had a sense that this wasn’t the end of our problems.

Just the end of this one. And given everything that had happened, it probably meant I had about twenty-four hours until the universe remembered I existed.

But for once, I wasn’t going to complain. Tonight, I had Damien. Tonight, the apartment was quiet. Tonight, nobody was watching us. And for the first time in weeks, that was enough.

Jeremy was gone. The photos were taken care of. And still, something about the air felt like the calm before the real storm.

A storm I knew all too well was coming very soon.

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