Chapter 295: back at her dorm IV

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: back at her dorm IV

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Vivienne lay still, staring at the ceiling.

Her breathing gradually settled.

The room was quiet again.

Too quiet.

Then the reality of what had just happened began catching up with her.

Her brows slowly drew together.

She turned her head.

Damian was still beside her, looking entirely too calm for someone who had just turned her already confusing night into something even more complicated.

Vivienne stared at him.

"Damian."

He glanced at her.

"What?"

She pushed herself upright and immediately pulled the edge of her dress back down.

"You did it again."

Damian knew exactly what she meant.

He didn’t answer.

Vivienne stared at him in disbelief.

"You didn’t even use anything."

"I know."

"You know?"

Her voice rose.

"Damian, seriously?"

He sat up.

"I wasn’t thinking."

"That is exactly the problem."

Vivienne dragged a hand through her hair.

She couldn’t believe him.

They had already been careless the previous day.

And now—

Again.

She glanced toward the clock.

It was getting late.

Her mind immediately ran through everything she needed to deal with.

She needed emergency contraception.

Again.

She was going to have to deal with that tomorrow.

And somehow, the fact that she had to think about pregnancy after an evening that had already left her emotionally wrecked made her want to scream.

"You’re unbelievable."

Damian watched her.

She looked genuinely angry now.

Not teasing.

Not shy.

Angry.

"I said I wasn’t thinking."

Vivienne gave him a look.

"Well, you should have been."

He didn’t argue.

That almost made her more annoyed.

She pulled the blanket around herself and looked away.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Vivienne sighed.

"Maybe we should stop this."

Damian went still.

"What?"

"This."

She gestured vaguely between them.

"Our friends-with-benefits arrangement."

He studied her face.

"You mean because of tonight?"

Vivienne hesitated.

"Partly."

She looked down.

"But I think maybe this arrangement isn’t a good idea anymore."

Damian was quiet.

Vivienne wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

She didn’t even know what she was thinking herself.

"I just think..."

She stopped.

She didn’t know how to explain it without saying too much.

--

(Damian POV)

Damian watched her.

He knew he had been careless, well, deliberate actually.

He knew she was genuinely angry.

But what unsettled him more was what came after her words.

Maybe we should stop this.

He had heard the hesitation in her voice.

This wasn’t simply about what he’d done tonight.

He knew that.

There was someone else in her thoughts.

Perhaps Christopher.

Perhaps Anthony.

Maybe both.

He didn’t know.

And he didn’t want to know.

The thought of her deciding that she no longer needed him made something unpleasant twist in his chest.

His first instinct was to argue.

To ask her why.

To demand to know what had changed.

But that would only push her further away.

He swallowed his irritation.

He knew he was at fault.

He had been reckless.

And if he wanted her to stay, anger wasn’t going to help him.

Being angry won’t get me anywhere.

So Damian softened his expression.

"All right."

Vivienne looked at him, surprised.

"I’ll be more careful."

"You said that already."

"I know."

His voice became quieter.

"But I mean it."

He reached for her hand.

Vivienne let him take it.

"I don’t want you to stop seeing me."

He leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss against her cheek.

"Please don’t."

Vivienne looked away.

Damian kissed her temple.

Then her forehead.

He knew exactly what he was doing now.

This was better.

This was the Damian she was used to—the one who spoiled her, indulged her, made her laugh when she was trying to stay annoyed.

And if that was what it took to keep her from walking away, then he would happily be that Damian.

"Are you hungry?"

Vivienne blinked.

"What?"

"Supper."

She glanced toward the clock.

"It’s almost eleven."

"So?"

He shrugged.

"We can still eat."

She stared at him.

"You want to go out now?"

"I do."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"And I know you haven’t eaten properly."

--

Vivienne hesitated.

She was actually hungry.

Her dinner earlier had been interrupted by Anthony. When she returned, the food had already gone cold, and she had barely eaten anything.

And after everything that had happened since then...

Well, she was hungry now.

Maybe supper was exactly what she needed.

"Fine," she said at last.

Damian smiled.

"Good."

Vivienne shook her head.

"You’re unbelievable."

"I’ve been told."

She glanced toward the bathroom.

"I need to wash up first."

Damian followed her gaze.

"I’ll come with you."

Vivienne immediately looked at him.

"You’re coming with me?"

"There’s only one bathroom."

"I know."

"Then it’s more efficient."

She stared at him for a moment.

Then rolled her eyes.

"Fine. But only if you behave."

Damian smiled.

"I will."

"Actually behave."

"I promise."

Vivienne gave him one last skeptical look before heading toward the bathroom.

Damian followed her.

True to his word, he behaved.

Mostly.

He stayed close, helping her when she needed it, but he didn’t push.

There were only a few stolen kisses.

One against her temple.

Another against her cheek.

Once, when she turned toward him, he caught her by surprise with a quick kiss before immediately stepping back with an innocent expression.

Vivienne narrowed her eyes.

"You said you’d behave."

"I am behaving."

"That was not behaving."

"It was one kiss."

She tried not to smile.

"You’re impossible."

Damian grinned.

"Probably."

And for the first time that night, the tension between them eased.

Not completely.

There were still too many things neither of them had said.

But for now, they could pretend the night had become ordinary again.

Afterward, Damian returned to the room and reached for his crumpled shirt.

Vivienne immediately frowned.

"Your shirt is all wrinkled."

"I don’t mind."

"It looks like you slept in it."

He chuckled.

Vivienne turned toward her closet and began looking for something to change into.

"At least fix your hair."

Damian grinned.

"My hair?"

"Yes."

"You noticed?"

She gave him an unimpressed look.

"Just fix it."

He ran a hand through his damp hair, making only a token effort.

Vivienne sighed.

"That isn’t fixing it."

"It looks fine."

"It really doesn’t."

He laughed.

--

Vivienne glanced around the room.

The sheets were a mess.

She stared at the bed.

Then at Damian.

"We need to fix this."

Damian looked around.

"It doesn’t look that bad."

Vivienne gave him a flat stare.

"Claire is going to know."

"Know what?"

"Everything."

Damian laughed.

"You’re being dramatic."

"Help me."

With an amused sigh, Damian began straightening the sheets while Vivienne gathered the things scattered around the room.

She opened the window slightly, letting the cool night air circulate through the room before reaching for the bottle of perfume on her vanity.

A few sprays filled the air.

Damian looked at her.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"The room doesn’t smell."

"I know."

She gave the room another quick spray.

"I just want it to smell nice."

Damian shook his head, smiling.

"You’re ridiculous."

"And you’re helping."

"Apparently."

Vivienne glanced toward the door.

Claire could come back at any time.

The thought of having to stand there tomorrow morning and pretend that absolutely nothing unusual had happened made her face heat.

"Oh, God."

Damian looked over.

"What now?"

"Nothing."

She picked up another pillow.

"Just help me make this look normal."

He smiled.

"Yes, ma’am."

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

But she was smiling too.

--

Tbc