Roommates With Benefits [BL]

He reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek a moment longer than necessary.

”You’ll like it.”

”That sounds suspiciously like something someone says before ruining my life.”

He laughed. ”I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

I studied his face, searching for any hint of what he was planning. The warmth and smugness in his gaze made it impossible to stay annoyed. ”Where are we going?”

”Not telling.”

”Damien.”

”No.”

”Just give me a hint.”

”No.”

”Just one tiny hint.”

He shook his head. ”You’ll have to wait, baby.”

I groaned, burying my head in the couch to fully express my suffering. ”I hate you.”

He leaned down to kiss the top of my head, far too pleased with himself. ”Pack your bags, we leave tomorrow.”

I lifted my head. ”For how long?”

”A few days.”

”Where?”

”You’re quite repetitive.”

”Because you’re being suspicious.”

”Go pack.”

I pointed at him dramatically. ”If I end up somewhere terrible, I’m fucking beating your ass.”

”Fine.” I turned around to walk to the bedroom but paused, when I remembered something dreadfully important. ”And if there’s no decent food—”

”There will be food.”

”Good.”

He smiled, I secretly hated that smile.

Mostly because I loved it. That was honestly the most inconvenient part of our relationship.

The next morning, I woke up to find Damien already dressed, looking ridiculously put together for this early hour.

That was my first red flag.

My second was the three suitcases lined up by the door, packed with an alarming level of precision that suggested Damien had orchestrated this.

My third was Harris, waiting downstairs next to the car, wearing the patient expression of someone who had clearly done this countless times before.

And my fourth was the limousine.

I came to an abrupt halt. ”Not again...Shit.”

Damien looked back at me, far too calm. ”What?”

I pointed at the vehicle, feeling personally betrayed. ”That.”

He glanced from the limo to me, genuinely confused, then he burst out laughing, the sound echoing across the driveway.

”Get in.”

I gave him a flat stare. ”You’re enjoying this way too much.”

”Very much.”

I climbed inside, muttering a string of complaints under my breath, almost as a way to feign resistance.

The inside was unbelievably comfortable. Leather seats, tinted windows, ample legroom, and refreshments that probably cost more than my weekly groceries, all arranged to perfection as if Damien existed in a different world.

I grabbed a bottle of water, examining it like it might give away its price. ”Do you guys still just keep fancy drinks everywhere?”

Damien chuckled, he took my hand, casually brushing his thumb across my knuckles.

”Relax.”

”I am relaxed.”

The last time I was here, I was no where near relaxed though. I could just remember it, going to a hockey game that Damien pretty much blackmailed me into going, still thinking (and hoping to God) that I still hated Damien despite knowing deep down that I had some sort of feelings for him.

”You’ve been staring out the window for ten minutes straight.” He murmured, glancing at me with a smile.

”I was admiring the view.”

He laughed again, and I tightened my grip on his hand. ”So seriously, where are we going?”

”You’ll know soon enough.”

”Damien.”

”Yes?”

”If you don’t tell me, I’m going to start guessing.”

”Have at it, then.”

”Okay...um, a museum.”

”No.”

”The zoo.”

”No.”

”Somewhere with fancy drinks?”

”No.”

”You family’s home?”

His demeanor shifted suddenly, the light-heartedness evaporating in an instant.

”No.”

The change was quick but noticeable, a flicker of something tense that flickered beneath the surface.

Good, because I’d rather be caught dead naked in the bathtub than step into a home that hurts their children.

I squeezed his hand gently this time. ”Okay.”

He looked at me. ”You don’t have to worry about that.”

”I wasn’t.”

”You were.”

”I was joking.”

”I know.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the road filling the space between us. Then Damien lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles, slowly and my heart skipped a beat making me grimace that he had this much effect on me.

”Just trust me.”

I looked at him, that was the problem, I did...far more than I probably should have.

”Fine,” I muttered, rolling her eyes. ”I trust you and whatever...”

His smile turned smug. ”Good.”

I leaned back against the seat, letting myself sink into the leather. ”But if you kidnap me, I’m fighting back.”

”You wouldn’t win.”

”That’s rude.”

Damien laughed, a warm and genuine sound that caught me off guard sometimes.

For the first time in days, I felt the weight I’d been carrying start to lift. The exhaustion from exams and worry about my dad and everything else was finally loosening its grip, even if just a bit. Whatever this surprise was, at least I wasn’t going to have to spend the winter break alone.

Eventually, the limousine slowed to a stop.

I glanced out the window.

At first, I didn’t recognize where we were.

Then I spotted the signs. My stomach dropped, I slowly turned to Damien.

He was already looking at me, waiting for this exact reaction.

”Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me! Damien?!”

His smile widened, I looked back out the window, half-hoping I had misread it.

We were at the airport, the freaking airport!!!

A huge ass airport!

I turned back to him, betrayal all over my face. ”Damien.”

”Yes, Sunshine?”

”Why are we at an airport?”

”You wanted to know where we were going.”

”I meant somewhere within driving distance!”

He laughed, completely unrepentant, I stared at him in horror.

”Are we leaving the country?”

”Maybe.”

”Damien!”

He got out of the car, looking far too pleased with himself, straightening his coat like he was gearing up to savor every moment of my impending frustration.

I climbed out after him, pulling my suitcase with all the indignation I could muster.

I stared at the airport entrance...then at Damien.

Then back at the airport.

I had thought we were going somewhere nice in the city, maybe a cozy cabin just an hour outside of town.

Clearly, I had been catastrophically optimistic.

No freaking way...