Roommates With Benefits [BL]

I turned my gaze back to the ocean, hoping it might explain how I’d found myself here.

Then back to him. ”When did you buy an island?”

”When I was seventeen.”

I slowly turned to him.

”You bought an island when you were seventeen?!”

”I was bored.”

I stared at him, completely baffled. ”You were bored?!”

”Yes.”

”And your solution was to buy land in the ocean?”

He shrugged, as if it made perfect sense. ”It seemed reasonable at the time.”

I covered my face with both hands. ”I hate rich people.”

Damien just laughed. ”You’re basically dating one.”

”I know. It’s one of my many bad decisions.”

He moved closer, gently taking my hands away from my face, his thumbs brushing softly against my knuckles. ”I’ve never brought anyone here, you know.”

He tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, his movements slow and careful.

”I’ve never brought my family here either.”

I frowned slightly. ”Then why...me?”

His gaze softened, the usual cool facade slipping away. ”Because I wanted you here.”

Something warm settled in my chest. His tone had shifted, losing its teasing edge and I looked at him. ”This is my special place. And now...it’s yours too.”

Mine too...

A place so isolated and beautiful...just for us.

”You bought this place just to escape everyone?”

”When I was younger, yes.”

”And now?”

He looked out at the ocean for a moment and then turned back to me, golden light catching the sharp angle of his jaw.

”Now I don’t want to disappear.” His fingers brushed against mine. ”I wanted somewhere I could bring you.”

I swallowed, realizing I could probably say something deep and meaningful in response, something equally heartfelt.

Instead, my brain decided to go with sarcasm.

”You know, most people just buy their totally-not-a-boyfriend some flowers. I like flowers a lot actually.”

Damien smiled. ”I’ll keep that in mind, Sunshine.”

I tried to hold back a smile, but I couldn’t manage it.

We started toward the villa after that, and as Damien walked beside me, I was still trying to process that I was spending winter break on an island owned by Damien something I never thought I’d actually say, let alone mean literally.

And the villa itself? Even more ridiculous. It wasn’t just large; it was the kind of large that made me wonder if the architect was instructed to keep adding rooms until someone told them to stop.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the ocean, pale stone floors spanning the main living areas, and the design blending the outside in perfectly.

There was a massive infinity pool facing the beach, various lounge areas that looked like they belonged in a magazine, and a private stretch of sand that could’ve been tailored for a travel ad.

There were also staff waiting to greet us, standing with that kind of quiet professionalism that instantly made me uncomfortable.

I froze as one of them took my bag.

I almost tackled him. ”No, no, no. I can carry that.”

The man looked confused and glanced at Damien for guidance, Damien sighed.

”Let him take it.”

”But—”

”Oliver.”

I shot him a look.

”It’s his job.” He said.

”I know, but—”

”You don’t have to do everything yourself.”

That was the end of that conversation.

I still watched the poor guy carry my huge as fuck bag like he was stealing my child or something, mentally listing everything inside just in case I needed to describe it later.

Damien caught me staring..”You’re going to have to adjust to this.”

”No.”

His eyebrow raised. ”No?”

”No.”

”You’re staying here for the whole break.”

”Then you better prepare for approximately three weeks of me trying to carry everything myself.”

He smiled. ”I can deal with that.”

We finally reached the bedroom.

That’s when I really gave up pretending I was handling any of this well.

The room was massive. A huge bed facing the ocean, soft white curtains fluttering with the breeze, and a wide balcony opening toward the sea, the whole space carrying a faint scent of salt and something floral I couldn’t place.

I walked in slowly, then I paused and glanced at the bed.

Then at the ocean, then back at Damien.

”Are you seriously expecting me to sleep in there?”

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, clearly enjoying my reaction.

”Yes.”

I dropped my bag next to the bed and wandered to the balcony. The sun was setting, turning the water into golden hues, the horizon blending into stunning shades of orange and pink that looked almost too vivid to be real.

For once, I had nothing to say, no jokes, no sarcastic comments.

Just silence, filled by the sound of the ocean.

Damien came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, his chin resting gently on my shoulder as he stole a kiss from my neck.

I leaned back against him instinctively, feeling the warmth of his chest against my back.

”Do you like it?” He asked.

I looked at the view, then at his reflection in the glass.

”It’s insane.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my back. ”You’ve said that a few times.”

”Because it keeps being true.”

His chin settled lightly on my shoulder.

”I wanted you to have somewhere peaceful.”

I glanced down at his arms around me. After everything with his family, the fights, the bruises, the secrets, and the fear that had trailed us like a shadow, standing there with him felt oddly comforting.

No family problems, no campus drama, no jobs that basically demanded you soul for minimum wage, no hospital bills awaiting me on my phone, no Jeremy, no judgmental eyes of rich ignorant Hawthorne University students.

Just the ocean...and Damien.

I took his hand, lacing our fingers together.

”You know this is probably the most absurd thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

”I know.”

I managed a faint smile. ”You’re so spoiled.”

”I’ve been told.”

”I’m being serious.”

”So am I.”

I turned in his arms to face him, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

He looked down at me with that special softness, the kind of look he rarely showed around anyone else, making me forget, even if just for a moment, all the crazy things about this trip...the islands, the money, the absurdity.

And suddenly, everything didn’t feel as overwhelming.

It was still ridiculous.

Still ridiculously expensive.

Still owned by a guy who bought an island at seventeen because he was bored.

But it was also his.

A place he kept away from everyone.

A place he’d never shared.

And somehow, he chose to share it with me.

I leaned my forehead against his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of him mixed with salt.

”I still can’t believe you own this paradise.”

He tightened his hold around me. ”You’ll get used to it.”

I snorted. ”That’s what rich folks say right before they do something even crazier.”

He chuckled softly and kissed the top of my head. ”Come on.”

”Where are we headed?”

”To dinner.”

I pulled back, bracing myself. ”Is dinner going to cost more than my childhood combined?”

”Probably.”

I groaned. ”Damien.”

He grinned, taking my hand and gently leading me toward the door.

”Come on, poor country boy.”

I stared at him.

”You did not just call me poor country boy on your private island, I’m not even from the country, asshole.”

”I just did.”

Unfortunately, he was right, and that was the most dangerous thing about all of this. Because as I stood there with the ocean stretching endlessly behind us, his fingers snug in mine, I realized that for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t thinking about costs.

I was focused on how happy he looked and somehow, that mattered more.

He bought an island because he was bored as a kid.

And out of everyone in the world, he chose me to share it with.

I was beyond grateful for that.

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oliver: oh my gosh!!! you’ve got a private island???!!! you’re such a spoiled rich boy!!!

damien: 😌😎

also damien: *thinking* wait till he finds out about the yacht

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bonus Chapter because he hit win-win tier 1 again🤩🥳!

although we might not be able to hit tier 2 like last month, I’m still beyond grateful you for all of your support, power stones, comments and gifts❤️

thank you all for your support and encouragement 💪, let’s keep this book growing!

ok bye 💕