Chapter 150: My Ass Files A Complaint
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I woke up slowly, wrapped in a bundle of warmth that felt way too comfortable for a dorm bed that had definitely seen better days.
Sunlight peeked through the half-drawn curtains, casting a golden glow over everything, and the first thing I noticed was the steady rise and fall of a chest beneath my cheek.
Damien.
His arm was draped possessively around my waist, holding me close even in sleep...or at least what I thought was sleep until I cracked one eye open and saw him already looking at me.
That soft, infuriatingly fond smile curled his lips, the kind that made his usual sharpness soften into something dangerously tender.
My heart did this ridiculous little flip at the sight.
Holy crap...
"Good morning, sunshine," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep, like velvet dragged over gravel. "How did you sleep last night?"
Heat shot to my face instantly. Memories from the night before came flooding back in vivid, overwhelming detail...the way his hands had explored every inch of me, the stretch and burn that had eventually turned into blinding pleasure.
And the sounds I’d made that I would probably deny until my dying breath even when presented with undeniable proof.
We were both still completely naked, tangled together under the sheets, skin against skin in a way that felt both intimate and exposing all at once.
I shifted experimentally, only to wince as a deep, unmistakable soreness flared through my backside.
It was the kind of ache that served as a very physical reminder of just how thoroughly Damien had claimed me.
Fuck that hurt like a bitch.
"Didn’t you say you were going to be gentle?!" I yelped, the words tumbling out in a rush before I could stop myself.
My voice cracked halfway through, which only made it all the more embarrassing.
I shoved at his chest half-heartedly, but there was no real force behind it.
Damien’s chuckle rumbled through his chest, low and warm, vibrating against me in a way that sent unwelcome sparks dancing along my nerves.
He didn’t even have the decency to look guilty or even remorseful. Instead, that smirk of his deepened, the one that always promised trouble.
"I was gentle," he said innocently, shrugging one broad shoulder as if he hadn’t spent hours reducing me to a moaning, trembling mess. "Relatively speaking."
I grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked him with it, the soft thump barely making an impact but satisfying all the same.
"Relatively? My ass feels like it went ten rounds with a fucking freight train!"
Another swing of the pillow for good measure, though my aim was laughably off because I was still tangled in his arms and the sheets.
He laughed outright then, the sound bright and boyish in the morning light, and before I could land another hit, his arms snaked around my naked waist, pulling me down flush against him with effortless strength.
The pillow tumbled forgotten to the side as his mouth found mine in a slow, lingering kiss that stole whatever protest I might have mustered.
His lips moved against mine with unhurried affection, tasting of sleep and last night’s promises, and I melted into it despite myself, my fingers curling against his chest.
"Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy me fucking you so roughly," he whispered against my lips when we finally pulled apart, his breath warm and teasing.
His blue eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was something deeper too, a quiet satisfaction that sent my stomach fluttering.
"Hmph, I didn’t," I lied right away, though the way my voice wavered probably gave me away.
My cheeks burned hotter than the morning sun streaming through the window.
His hand slid lower, boldly grabbing a handful of my sore backside, and I yelped again, jerking against him. The pressure sent a confusing mix of ache and lingering heat straight through me.
"Hm?" he hummed, clearly pleased with himself. "Seems like you’ve forgotten how much you screamed for me to keep going. All those pretty little sounds you made, Oliver... begging so sweetly."
His mouth trailed to my neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses along the sensitive skin there, sucking lightly in a way that made my breath hitch.
I shivered, caught between embarrassment and the undeniable pull of wanting more.
"Damien..." I started, but it came out more breathy than stern.
"Do you want me to remind you a little?" he offered, his voice dropping into that low register that always unraveled me. His teeth grazed my collarbone, just enough to tease.
I hesitated, biting my lip as another wave of shyness washed over me. The soreness was real, but so was the warmth pooling low in my belly at his touch.
"Maybe... a little reminder wouldn’t hurt," I admitted shyly, my fingers threading through his hair as I tilted my head to give him better access.
We lost ourselves in each other for a while after that, the kiss deepening into something heated and sweet all at once.
His hands roamed my back with gentle reverence, tracing the lines of my spine like he was memorizing me all over again.
I could feel the lingering evidence of last night in every careful shift of his body against mine, the way my muscles protested but still craved the closeness.
It was domestic in the strangest, most wonderful way, tangled up in sheets that smelled like both of us, trading lazy kisses while the outside world kept spinning without us.
That blissful bubble burst when my phone alarm suddenly blared from the nightstand, shrill and insistent. I jolted upright, heart racing as reality crashed back in.
Work.
Joy’s Café.
I was supposed to be there five minutes ago... oh god, I was already running horribly late. Again.
"Shit, shit, shit!" I scrambled out of bed in a panic, my legs wobbling like jelly the moment my feet hit the floor.
The soreness in my backside intensified with the movement, a deep throb that made me hiss through my teeth.
I nearly tumbled forward, grabbing onto the edge of the mattress for balance, which only made Damien laugh from his comfortable position on the bed, watching my struggles with open amusement.
"Careful there, sunshine," he drawled, propping himself up on one elbow. His gaze raked over my naked form without a hint of shame, fond and hungry all at once.
"You better wipe that stupid smile off your face before I kick the living shit out of you!" I yelled back.
But there was no real heat in it...mostly because I was too busy trying to waddle toward the bathroom without looking as ridiculous as I felt.
Every step was a comedy of errors, my thighs aching, my gait awkward and careful. I could practically feel his eyes on me the whole way tracing the marks he’d left on my hips and thighs.
The shower helped a little, hot water cascading over my body and soothing some of the tenderness, though it did nothing to erase the memories replaying in my mind.
As I washed up, I caught myself smiling like an idiot in the foggy mirror. This waking up beside him, the banter, the way he looked at me like I was something precious...it felt different from anything I’d ever known.
Safe and wanted. Like coming home after years of wandering and not even realizing I’d been lost.
I got dressed as quickly as I could, pulling on clothes that felt slightly too tight after the night we’d shared, and did my best to walk normally as I emerged from the bathroom.
Damien was still in bed, sheets pooled low around his hips, watching me with that same soft smile that made my chest ache in the best way.
"Have a nice day, baby," he called out lazily as I waddled to the door like a penguin, his voice laced with laughter.
I shot him one last glare over my shoulder, though it was softened by the stupid grin I couldn’t quite suppress.
"Dumbass," I muttered, but I shut the door gently behind me anyway.
Out in the hallway of Preston Hall, away from his sinful, watchful eyes, I let the emotions hit me fully.
My ass crack still throbbed with every step, a constant, ridiculous reminder, and my legs felt unsteady, but none of that could dim the warmth blooming in my chest.
Never in my life had I felt this way about someone...completely, terrifyingly seen.
The rivalry that had once defined us had transformed into something deeper, something that made ordinary mornings feel like the start of everything.
As I made my way toward Joy’s Café, waddling just a little despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
I must have looked like a complete fool to anyone passing by, sore and late and grinning like I’d won the lottery. Internally, I turned over the night’s events again and again: the way Damien had held me through every uncertain moment, the laughter we’d shared afterward, the quiet certainty in his touch.
I used to feel so out of place around him, like we were always one sharp comment away from disaster. Now, waking up in his arms after a pleasurable night or not felt like the most natural thing in the world.
My phone buzzed in my pocket just as the café came into view...probably Joy wondering where the hell I was. But before I could check it, I remembered Damien’s parting words. I pulled it out and fired off a quick text.
Me: made it out alive, barely thanks to you. don’t smirk too hard while I’m gone.
His reply came almost instantly:
Damien😈: text me when you get to work. can’t have my sunshine getting lost on the way.
I rolled my eyes, but the blush returned full force. Sore, late, and still blushing like an idiot.
And the worst part? I couldn’t wait to do it all over again tonight.