#piv

Your eyes drifted to the clock. 9:32 pm. Ledger was about 12 minutes past his eta now. Before you could pick up your phone to call, you heard the familiar sound of his truck pulling into the driveway. Rolling off the couch you made a beeline for the door, opening it to see him walking up with bags of groceries in both hands. You silently watched with a soft smile, waiting for him to explain. When he met your eyes he gave you the same expression, shaking his head as he began his declaration. “I’m sorry, I know I’m late!”

You moved to let him past, absentmindedly shutting the door before following him to the kitchen. Once he set the bags down, he made his way over to you. Circling your waist to pull you close, he dipped down, placing a lingering kiss on your lips. Leaning into his touch, your hands trailed along his chest. Giving your hip a reassuring squeeze, he parted. “To make up for having to reschedule tonight, I figured we can still have one here”.

Ledger informed you sometime in the morning that your date night would have to be rescheduled due to a bar emergency. You understood, assuring him that it was fine. And although that was the truth, you missed him during that period. He ended up spending majority of his time—during his day off—at work. It wasn’t often that you two got to spend one day together, even on weekends.

Intrigued, an amused smile came across your features. Raising a brow, you questioned, “oh…? And I assume that’s what the groceries are for?” Your gaze briefly shifted to the bags located behind him before focusing back to see a wide grin forming on his face.

“There’s two more things in the truck”. Ledger left another peck on your lips, urging, “stay right here”, before heading back outside. You listened for about five seconds before your curiosity sparked. Just as you began wandering over to peek into the groceries, you swiftly turned around upon hearing him step into the house. When he rounded the corner, a warm smile formed on your face at the sight. Feeling heat creep up your neck, you glanced down to the products he held. A bottle of your favorite wine and a large bouquet of flowers from the local florist.

Ledger studied your initial reaction, chest warming upon seeing the familiar sparkle in your eyes. Bringing you flowers was nothing new, yet every time he did you adorned the same expression. “For you”, he gestured, handing them over as a small laugh escaped you at the size. You breathed in the scent, expressing your appreciation while you did.

“Thank you. I love them!” Giving him a grin, you turned, setting them down on the counter. Ledger came up behind you, setting the bottle right next to the flowers before snaking his arm around your waist, pulling you back.

Pressing you flush against his body, he mumbled, “you’re welcome”. Shifting his head now, he murmured next to your ear, “and I’m cooking your favorite tonight”.

Settling into his touch, you gently traced along his forearm, resting your head against his chest. Your eyes floated over to the wine, a feeling of anticipation beginning to stir. It never took long for things to get explicit when alcohol was in the equation. Gnawing on your bottom lip for a moment, you pointed out, “I can’t finish the bottle by myself…”. Turning to face him now, you teasingly trailed your hand up his neck. Swiping your thumb across his jaw, you suggestively asked, “you’ll help me, right baby…?”.

Lips curling into a faint smirk, Ledger gave your hip a squeeze, responding, “of course”. He pressed a kiss to your cheek before moving to put some of the items in the fridge. Nodding in the direction of the bathroom once he was done, he began unbuckling his belt. “You want to join me in the shower?”

“As much as I’d love to…”, you started, briefly pausing as your eyes trailed down to his waist, following the movement. “I took mine right before you came home”.

“that’s alright…”, he said before removing his shirt, slinging it over his shoulder. Giving you one last look up and down, Ledger smirked. “I’ll make sure we can take one together later”.

……….

Nearing the end of dinner now with the wine rapidly decreasing, you had merely suggested that Ledger would lose if you two were to compete and see how long you could hold out before giving in. He swiftly responded with laughter to your claim.

“Why are you laughing? I’m serious!” Feeling the familiar tingle of warmth begin to spread across your body, laughter bubbled out of you in response to his reaction. You had been in the middle of your meal and two glasses in when the thought had come to your mind before mentioning it.

Through his chuckling, he questioned, “you really believe that?”

“Yes, I do! Cmon baby, we both know you’ll break first…”. Keenly studying his face now, you teasingly brushed your foot along his calf under the table. “And we both know it won’t take that long…”. With the buzz from the wine gradually traveling down to your core, you tilted your head, analyzing his body language. Staring at you through dilated pupils, he wet his lips.

“You sure about that…?”

An impish smile gradually forming on your face, you nodded, taking another sip of wine. “What… you don’t think so?”

He tilted his head in the same manner, sending you an amused smirk. “You know how you get”

Raising a brow, you crossed your legs, playfully challenging, “enlighten me”.

He grinned, coaxing, “Come here then”. You hesitated, shifting your gaze in between his eyes. “You said you want to be enlightened baby, come here”. Noting your apprehension, he circled a hand around the chair of your leg, scooting you close. He rested his hand on your knee, leaning in to speak against the shell of your ear. “If I’m correct, you started clenching your thighs after one glass right…?”

When his familiar enticing scent wafted in your direction, you took a deep inhale, feeling the coil of anticipation sink into your core. You fought the urge to move as he ran his hand up, stopping mid-thigh to gently massage your flesh. “Can’t stop thinking about it, can you…?”

Caressing his forearm now, you shifted your face back, faintly brushing your nose along his in the process. You softened your tone, quietly voicing, “can’t help it…”. Eyes lingering on his parted lips for a moment, you gently raked your nails up his arm, moving to whisper in his ear. “Neither can you, hm?” Throbbing uncomfortably in his sweat pants once your voice echoed in his mind, he leaned back in his seat, drinking in the expression that settled on your face.

“The rules…?”, he inquired, tilting his head to add, “need to know what the boundaries are first”. Heat creeping up your neck under his penetrating gaze, you stood up, scooting the seat back to place yourself right in front of him. Making space for you to shuffle closer, he grasped the back of your thighs, gradually massaging his way up. Savoring the cozy sensation simmering throughout your body, you pondered for a moment.

Roaming your hands over his shoulders now, you stated, “we’re allowed to touch—”, pausing when he started caressing your ass. Peering down at him with a coy smile, you clarified, “nothing explicit! But whoever initiates a kiss first loses. Sound fair?”.

Ledger had already decided to partake when it was simply a thought you had voiced, but what fun would it be to admit that when he could tease. “Think I need some convincing baby…”

Tracing your thumb along his jaw now, you sweetened your voice, “Please…?” Humming into his ear, “for me…?” You then placed a kiss on his cheek to seal the deal.

“Think I need more than that before I consider playing…”.

You jokingly pushed at his chest, mumbling out, “you’re irritating!”, before preparing to step out of his grasp. Laughter bubbled out of you when he tightened his grip, chuckling at your response.

“Wait I’m kidding! I want to do it, I promise!”

Happy at the sound of that, you smiled, grasping both his arms, “C’mon then”. Urging him to stand up now, you pulled him in the direction of the living room. “We can watch a movie”.

………..

Settling into the couch now, you draped your legs across his lap, holding eye contact while you took your last sip of wine. Once you set the glass down, an idea flashed through your mind, causing you to abruptly announce, “I’ll be right back”. Ledger gave you a questionable look, watching in amusement as you clumsily walked toward the bedroom.

After what felt like several prolonged minutes searching through your dresser, you found what you were looking for. One of your satin, lace trim nightgowns that stopped mid-thigh. You changed out of your pajama pants and tank top, taking a second to admire your appearance in the mirror. A small smile spread across your features as you began analyzing the gown. Eyes focused on the bow in the center of the deep, v-cut, neck line, they dropped down, viewing the last two bows placed intricately above the small slits located at the bottom of the garment, beginning at your hips.

You were about to make your way back to the living room before remembering the second thing you came for. Swiftly shuffling back around, you quickly grabbed your favorite scent, dabbing a bit on your pulse points. From your own observation, Ledger seemed to love your natural scent regardless of what fragrance you wore but this one proved to be the most tempting. Doing one more once over in the mirror, you finally went out to join him again.

Ledger clenched his jaw when his gaze shifted in your direction. Eyes gradually roaming down your figure, he watched as you sauntered over, settling back into your position. Casually turning your attention towards the tv, you tried to ignore the dull ache forming between your legs at the feeling of his hand traveling along your calf. “You’re not playing fair baby…”

At the sound of his voice, you turned your focus on him, “when have I ever done that, hm?” You tilted your head, offering him a small smile after intentionally grazing your leg along his bulge. The subtle movement causing him to twitch, Ledger began breathing heavy, tightening his grip on your leg. Seeing he was close to breaking, you teased, “already giving in…?”

Still in a haze, he reminded himself to stay on task. Sending you a sly grin, he tapped your legs, motioning he was moving. “I’ll be right back”. You saw him retreat into the bed room before emerging after a couple minutes. The sight caused your heart to race. He had taken off his undershirt and sweats, leaving just his boxers riding dangerously low on his hips. Your eyes briefly lingered on his v line, trailing over to his erection and his happy trail before he took his position on the couch again. Thoroughly forgetting about the movie, you continued to brazenly study his body.

Heat pooled in your core as your gaze drifted down his arm. He knew exactly what his tattoo did to you… clearly, he wasn’t playing fair either. You quietly mumbled, “Ledger…”, catching his attention. He hummed, immediately shifting his head to peer down at you laying in the cushion. “I need another hug baby… I’m cold”.

Repositioning himself to lay in between your legs, he was flush against your body now. You wrapped your arms around his back, tenderly raking your nails along his skin while he rested his head on your breasts. Keeping one arm firmly placed underneath you, he grasped your thigh, slinging your leg over his hip to nestle closer. Ledger paused, squeezing your waist as your fragrance traveled to his nose, drawing him in. You continued the soft motions with your hands, releasing a small, content sigh when you realized your techniques worked.

Lifting his head, Ledger peered down at you through hooded eyes. Tempted through the needy look on your face, his gaze fell to your lips. Deciding to forget about the rules, he leaned in, pressing a light kiss on them before resting his forehead on yours. With a new wave of arousal swirling through your body now, you reconnected, whimpering into his mouth as it grew heated. Gown riding up to your stomach, you cinched your legs, drawing a groan from him when his heavy length rubbed against your folds.

He smoothed his hand up your thigh, kneading the soft tissue while every teasing roll of his hips nudged your clit through the thin lace. You moaned, clutching onto him as each grind caused more warmth to settle in your core. Shifting his head, he deepened the kiss swallowing each small moan you emitted. Beginning to feel lightheaded, you reluctantly parted, softly panting against his lips. Gently cupping your jaw now, Ledger slightly tipped your head to the side, murmuring into your ear, “how do you want me to take care of you tonight, hm…? You want me to fuck you right here or spread you out on the bed?”

Whispering out, “right here”, a tremor ran up your spine at the thought of both options. “We can move to the bedroom later”. Smiling at the sound of that, he grazed his thumb along your cheek. Drawing your face back into view now, he leaned back down for a kiss. Bringing your hand around to trail along his abdomen, a moan slipped out as he nipped at your bottom lip. Growing impatient, you fumbled with the seam of his boxers. Ledger abruptly parted to remove your underwear, dragging the fabric off your legs at an agonizing pace. He then stood to pull his down before you grasped his wrist.

Coming into a kneeling position, you began tugging his boxers down. He absentmindedly caressed your cheek, twitching at the sight as you peered up at him through your lashes. Gaze dropping to his dick, you gave him a light stroke, swirling the bead of precum around his tip before bringing your attention to his face. Voice laced with longing, you expressed, “l want to ride”.

Hand shifting down to your throat, Ledger tipped your chin up with his thumb. “What do you say baby…?” You clenched your legs in response, feeling your arousal seep out as you palmed his forearm now.

Shifting uncomfortably on the couch, you mumbled, “please…?” Cracking a satisfied grin at your response, Ledger took a seat, pulling you onto his lap to straddle him. Circling your arms around his neck, you lifted your hips, letting him align with your entrance before gradually lowering. Simultaneously letting out a noise of pleasure, you dropped your head to his shoulder, pausing to take a breath. You were only halfway down when the twinge from being stretched set in.

Ledger tenderly ran his hands up and down your thighs, bringing one arm up to wrap around your waist, holding you steady. Feeling him place a kiss on your shoulder, you heard his muffled voice ring out, “take your time”. You raised your head, seeking out his lips to soothe the stretch while you continued descending. Hand drifting inward, he rubbed gentle circles on your clit, groaning into your mouth once he was completely inside.

You disconnected, a broken moan slipping out when the pleasure fully rooted deep in your core. Immediately drawing his focus to your jaw, he blazed a trail of open mouthed kisses down to your neck. Releasing a shaky breath, you started a slow pace, biting your bottom lip as you found a steady rhythm. He grunted, palming your ass to help guide you up and down. Stuttering out, “f-fuck”, you canted your hips, coating his length with your arousal.

A loud smack resonated throughout the room when he landed a slap on your ass. The lingering sting spreading a buzz straight through your stomach, you clawed at his shoulder. Spurred on now, you increased your pace, chasing that familiar sensation bubbling under the surface. “Just like that”, he praised, striking the other cheek before massaging the flesh. You moaned, hips faltering a bit as your thighs trembled. “Let me see your pretty face baby, look at me”.

Mouth parted, you listened, shifting your face into frame. Hand flying down to his chest, another tremor ran through your body once he came into your line of sight. Eyes hooded beyond belief and lips swollen, he twitched. Taking in your hazy expression, the state of your hair, and the small, visible love bite beginning to form on your neck, Ledger groaned out, “fuck… you were right”, pausing to let the sound of your whimper hit his ear. “I can’t help it…”, voice breaking into a rasp, “not when you look this perfect”.

Brows furrowing, you struggled to keep your gaze focused. Heart racing at the low tone of his voice, the dizzying feeling in your stomach grew intense. Breath hitching, you began to vocalize, “I’m clo—”, before the peak of your orgasm caught you off guard. Ledger grasped your hips, grinding you back and forth to stimulate your clit, prolonging your climax. He tensed, throbbing as you quivered around him in intervals.

Nuzzling in his neck again, you dug your nails into his abdomen, riding out the wave that traveled throughout your body. Willing himself to hold out until he gave you one more, Ledger clutched your hips, bunching the fabric of your nightgown in his hands. After your breathing evened out, you kissed his shoulder, nipping at the skin with your teeth before going over it with your tongue. He clenched his jaw, cautioning, “baby…” as the pit in his stomach twisted.

Purring in his ear, “It’s only fair I give you one too”, you ran your hand up his chest. “I’m ready to go to the bedroom now…”. Ledger stood, holding you in his tight grasp as he ventured off in that direction. Once he reached the foot of the bed, he carefully pulled out, dropping you onto the plush comforter. Maintaining eye contact, you sensually dragged the thin straps off your shoulders before removing your pajamas entirely, throwing the material off somewhere to the side. You never got tired of seeing his face when you were fully exposed, vulnerable, and comfortable in a way that only he could get you.

Kneeling over you now, Ledger grasped your ankles, kissing each one. He trailed his hands up your calf to part your legs a bit more, pausing once he reached your knees. With his gaze following every movement, he paused, fixating on your right thigh. Rubbing tender circles into the skin, he tilted his head, mumbling as he stared, “I love every mark on your body… each one… but this one right here?” Skimming his thumb across the flesh, he sucked in a harsh breath, adding, “this is my favorite…”.

Briefly lowering your eyes to peer at the small birthmark in contrast with his hand, you looked back up. You felt heat rising up your neck as he fixed his view back on your face. Squeezing his wrist out of need, you grabbed his waist, pulling him in. He groaned into the kiss, hiking your legs around his hips. Moaning as his dick glided along your puffy lips, you detached with a string of saliva to utter, “stick it in”.

He rose, grabbing a pillow next to you as he instructed, “lift your hips”. You listened, raising them so he could place it underneath the small of your back before guiding his length up and down your folds. Slipping in after slapping it on your clit a few times, Ledger shuddered, grasping the underside of your thighs while he watched. “Look how well you take me baby”. You were blissed out at this point, mouth parted just staring at him. The way his biceps flared… how his abdomen flexed with each languid thrust… his focused expression.

Eyes eventually wandering down to where you were joined, you Involuntarily clenched down hard at the sight. The base of his dick was visibly covered with your fluid, beginning to form a creamy ring. Biting your lip to stifle a loud moan, you braced yourself, balling the sheets in your hands. “Don’t get all quiet on me now”. Bending your thighs up a bit more, he muttered, “let me hear how good I make you feel”. The new angle causing him to penetrate deeper, your stomach tensed.

“Oh f-fuck!” A shaky moan passing your lips, another sharp pang of pleasure spiraled up your core. Feeling himself throb underneath your flutters, Ledger increased the speed of his strokes. The obscene wet squelching noise accumulating from each plunge against your walls echoed throughout the room. He watched the way your breast bounced in sync before dropping his gaze again. Your juices had started dribbling onto his skin, creating lingering threads on his abdomen with every slap of his skin.

Twitching at the view, he squeezed the soft flesh of your thighs. “Can’t help but make a mess, can you baby?” Moaning when the raw pitch of his voice rung out, you shook your head. Seeing your eyes begin to drift shut, he cupped your jaw, brushing his thumb across your bottom lip to focus your attention. “Feel so fucking good”. Desperately clinging onto his forearm while your other hand twisted in the sheets, the coil in your stomach tightened. Breath stuttering, your vision blurred.

Quickly losing any thread of restraint he had, Ledger groaned. Swiping his thumb along your jaw, he gripped your wrist, pinning your hand in the sheets. Leaning down to be flush against your body, he fisted his other hand above your head before interlocking your fingers. Immediately embracing him, you clung to his back. Mumbling into your ear, “where do you want me?”, his lips ghosted your cheek.

Locking your legs around him, you whimpered, “inside”. Brows furrowing when you felt his veins become more pronounced, a hushed, breathy, “fuck”, escaped you. Knowing how to send him over the edge, you started sweet talking. “Love feeling you cum… hearing that strain in your voice—”, partially losing your train of thought when he twitched again and his thrusts grew shallow. Eyes snapping shut now, you quivered, “w-when you’re close”. The low, throaty groan he released on instinct caused your orgasm to spark, sending an entire ripple through your body. Following you, his hips stuttered before ropes of cum spilled out.

Writhing underneath him, you dug your fingers into his hand. He slowed his movements, breathing heavily as continued pulsating around his dick. After settling enough to open your eyes, a smile spread on your face when he placed a kiss on your cheek. Once you gave him the signal tap that you were good, he started, “so…”. Coming into your frame of view now, he finished, “this means we can take a shower together now, right…?”

You looked at him for a few seconds before laughing. Nodding at his request, you confirmed, “yes”. Thought coming to mind last minute, you added, “however, on one condition”. Nodding, he waited to hear it. “Admit you lost”, you said, finishing with a smile.

He immediately chuckled, “I’m not a liar baby!” Ledger shook his head, clarifying, “you gave in as soon as you went to go change so technically… you lost!”

Laughing upon hearing that, you corrected, “that’s not the rules! You know you gave in first Ledger!”

“You made up ‘the rules’ on the spot!” Pausing when he pointed that out, you let out a playful, dramatic sigh.

“Ok, fine. How about we both agree we lost??”

Shaking his head in agreement, there was a shred of mischief in his eyes when he went in to press a kiss on your lips to seal the deal. As soon as he parted, he gave you a few seconds to register his words, grinning ear to ear while uttering, “sounds like something a sore loser would say”, before he abruptly started tickling you.

Masterlist

The rover shudders as Bellamy cuts the engine, the sudden quiet almost deafening after the low mechanical growl of the ride. Snow dusts the windshield in soft, lazy flakes, already sticking where the heat from the engine had been moments ago.

“Well,” Bellamy says, glancing out at the wall of trees ahead, “this is as close as we’re getting.”

You unclip your harness a little harder than necessary. Of course he’d say it like that. Like the whole thing was obvious and you were the idiot for expecting anything else.

“Great,” you mutter. “Love a hike through a frozen forest. Really adds to the charm of possibly dying.”

He snorts, opening his door. “You complain like this on every mission, or am I just special?”

You shoot him a look as you follow him out, boots crunching immediately into packed snow. The cold slaps you in the face, sharp and unkind, seeping into every gap in your gear. You pull your jacket tighter around yourself, jaw already tense.

“Trust me,” you say, slinging your pack higher on your shoulder, “you’re not special. You’re just… loud about being annoying.”

Bellamy pauses, turning slowly, one eyebrow lifting. That stupid, infuriating expression he always wore when he thought he was winning something.

“Wow,” he says.

You brush past him.

The bunker entrance is half-buried, concrete jutting out from the snow like a scar in the earth. From a distance, it looks promising— intact door, no obvious structural damage, no signs of collapse. The kind of place that makes command optimistic and sends you out with someone you can’t stand.

You can feel Bellamy’s eyes on your back as you approach, and the awareness sets your nerves on edge. You hate that he watches. Hate that he always seems to notice things. Hate that despite being a prick, he’s competent— worse, reliable.

“Tracks,” he says, crouching near the entrance. “Old. Probably scavengers. Maybe months ago.”

You force yourself to focus, kneeling beside him and inspecting the markings. He’s right. That annoys you too.

“So the place isn’t untouched,” you say.

“Never said it was.” He straightens, looking up at the sky. The clouds are thickening, heavy and low, pressing down on the world. Snow is falling faster now. “But it’s not recently hit either. Still worth checking.”

You follow his gaze, a tight knot forming in your stomach. The light is already dimmer than it should be for this time of day.

“We’re going to get snowed in,” you say flatly.

Bellamy looks back at you. “We’ve got a couple hours.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No,” he agrees, calm as ever, “but sitting around arguing about it won’t make it better.”

You bite back a retort, pushing past him toward the door. The metal is cold beneath your gloves as you work the latch, the hinges groaning but holding.

Inside, the bunker smells stale— old air, dust, something metallic. Your flashlight beam cuts through the darkness, illuminating rows of shelves, most of them stripped bare. But not all.

“Holy shit,” you breathe, spotting sealed crates stacked against the far wall.

Bellamy’s already moving, inspecting labels. “Medical supplies. Rations. Some tech.”

You hate how impressed he sounds. Hate how a small, traitorous spark of relief flares in your chest.

“This could actually help,” you say quietly.

“Yeah,” he replies, softer now. “It could.”

The wind howls suddenly, loud enough that you both freeze. Snow slams against the bunker door, rattling it in its frame.

Your stomach drops.

“That’s not good,” you whisper.

Bellamy strides back to the entrance, trying the door. It resists— not fully blocked yet, but heavier than before.

“We finish fast,” he says. “Load what we can.”

Another gust hits, stronger this time, and the lights flicker as your flashlight beam shakes in your hand.

And then the door slams shut.

The sound echoes through the bunker, final and absolute.

You stare at it, heart pounding. “Tell me that didn’t just—”

Bellamy’s already moving, bracing his shoulder against the door and pushing. It doesn’t budge.

“Okay,” he says carefully. Too carefully. “That’s not ideal.”

Your breath comes out in a shaky laugh. “You said we had a couple hours.”

He shoots you a look. “You said we’d get snowed in. Congratulations.”

You sink down onto one of the crates, rubbing your face with your gloved hands. This is your nightmare. Trapped. Cold. And stuck with Bellamy Blake, of all people.

“This is my worst day,” you mutter.

Bellamy exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. For the first time, he doesn’t look smug. He looks… tired.

You swallow, staring at him longer than you mean to. For someone you dislike so much, he’s maddeningly steady in moments like this.

You hate that too.

He’s the first one to move.

“Radio,” he says, already shrugging his pack off and digging through it. “If we’re stuck, they need to know where.”

You push yourself up from the crate, numb fingers protesting as you fumble for your own walkie. “Assuming it works.”

“Doesn’t hurt to try.”

You flick the switch, the familiar hiss of static filling the bunker. It’s loud in the quiet space, sharp and uneven, like the air itself is tearing.

“Arkadia, this is—” You pause, correcting yourself. “—this is Unit Two. Do you copy?”

Static answers you.

Bellamy steps closer, leaning in like proximity alone might help. “Arkadia, come in. Supply run team at Grid Seven-Four. We’re at the bunker.”

The radio crackles, spitting noise back at you. You exchange a look— equal parts frustration and dread.

You try again. “We’re snowed in. Hatch is blocked. Repeat, snowed in.”

For a long moment, there’s nothing but the storm screaming through the walls.

Then— faintly— something cuts through.

“…—Two… do you—”

You stiffen. “I hear them.”

Bellamy grabs the radio, thumb pressing the button harder than necessary. “Arkadia, repeat last. You’re breaking up.”

The response comes in broken fragments, words swallowed by static and interference.

“…blizzard… heavy… visibility—”

You strain to listen, heart hammering. Bellamy glances at you, brows knit tight.

“…should… clear… morning—”

The signal dissolves into noise again.

You let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. “Did you hear that?”

“Yeah,” he says, voice low. “I heard it.”

You raise the radio again. “Arkadia, confirm—did you say morning?”

Nothing.

The walkie emits one final burst of static before going dead.

You stare at it, then at Bellamy. “That’s it?”

“That’s all we’re getting,” he says. “Storm’s messing with the signal.”

You want to argue. Want more certainty than probably and should. But the reality is already pressing in from all sides.

“So we wait,” you say, flat.

Bellamy nods. “We wait the night. Check again at first light.”

The words the night settle heavily in your chest.

Silence settles between you, thick and heavy, broken only by the wind screaming outside and the quiet realization sinking in.

You’re snowed in.

Together.

You glance around the bunker again, really seeing it now through the lens of time instead of task. The concrete walls. The single room. The lack of insulation. The cold creeping in slowly, methodically, like it knows it has all the time in the world.

“Great,” you mutter. “Sleepover from hell.”

Bellamy ignores that, already moving toward the shelves again. “We need to conserve heat.”

As if on cue, you shiver.

The temperature is dropping fast now that the adrenaline has worn off. Your breath fogs faintly in front of your face. You rub your hands together, trying to generate some warmth, and immediately regret not bringing thicker gloves.

You start pulling down blankets, stacking them in a pile near the center of the bunker. Bellamy does the same, his movements efficient but quieter now.

“Candles,” he says, spotting a small crate near the back. He pries it open, relief flickering across his face. “Not much, but it’ll help.”

You watch as he lights one, the small flame flaring to life. The bunker shifts instantly— shadows dancing along the walls, the space feeling less abandoned, less hostile. You light a few more, spacing them out carefully.

The warmth is minimal, but it’s something.

You wrap a blanket around your shoulders, sinking down against the wall. The cold seeps through anyway, settling deep in your bones.

Bellamy sits across the room, his own blanket draped over his shoulders, candlelight carving sharp lines across his face. He looks different like this— less abrasive, more human and you hate that your brain notices.

Outside, the storm rages on, relentless and merciless.

The bunker goes quiet in a way that feels deliberate.

Not the storm— because the storm is still there, roaring above you, shaking the walls in low, distant rumbles— but the space between you and Bellamy. No movement. No talking. Just the occasional flicker of candlelight and the slow creep of cold seeping through concrete and bone alike.

You curl tighter into yourself in the far corner, knees drawn up, blanket wrapped around your shoulders like it might actually do something. It doesn’t. The cold finds you anyway, sneaking into the spaces between your ribs, settling deep in your joints.

You tell yourself you’re fine.

You tell yourself you’ve been colder. That this is nothing. That you’re not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing you fold.

Your breath comes out in what feels like it should show up in small clouds. Your fingers ache. You shove them under your arms, jaw clenched.

Across the bunker, Bellamy shifts.

You don’t look at him. You don’t want to know if he’s watching. You don’t want to give him anything.

“This is stupid,” he says finally.

You stiffen. "What are you talking about?”

“I’m serious.” He sounds irritated now, like he’s been holding it in. “You’re freezing.”

“I’m fine.”

He lets out a sharp breath. “You’re not fine. Stop being so damn proud and come over here. We share body heat. That’s how this works.”

You laugh softly, humorless. “I’d rather freeze.”

“That can be arranged,” he mutters.

You pull the blanket tighter and turn your face toward the wall, pretending the cold isn’t making your teeth ache, pretending your hands aren’t starting to tremble.

You hear him shift again. The scrape of fabric. The low sigh of frustration.

Then— betrayal.

Your teeth chatter, the sound sharp and unmistakable in the quiet space.

There’s a pause.

From across the room, Bellamy sucks his teeth.

“Unbelievable,” he mutters.

You hear him stand. You stay rigid, heart pounding, irritation flaring because you knew this would happen. You knew he wouldn’t let it go.

Footsteps approach. Close. Too close.

“Don’t,” you say, low and warning.

He ignores you.

Bellamy drops down beside you, close enough that your shoulder bumps his. Before you can react, he slides himself in your blanket and swings one side of his other blanket over you, draping another around your back and shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Your bodies are fully pressed together now— side to side, hip to thigh, shoulder to shoulder.

The warmth hits you immediately.

It’s impossible not to notice. It’s even harder to resist curling into it, but somehow you do.

Bellamy radiates heat, solid and steady, cutting through the cold in a way the blankets never could. Your muscles loosen before you can stop them, a soft, traitorous sigh slipping from your lips.

You huff instead, irritated at yourself. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did,” he says simply.

You don’t thank him. You refuse to acknowledge how much better this feels. You keep your gaze fixed ahead, jaw tight.

For a while, neither of you speaks.

The silence returns, but it’s different now— crowded, charged, filled with the awareness of him. Every rise and fall of his chest. Every shift of his weight against you. The steady warmth at your side.

You hate how comforting it is.

You exhale sharply, staring at the concrete floor. “Why do you even care?”

Bellamy tilts his head slightly, glancing down at you. “Because you’re part of my team.”

You scoff. “Could’ve fooled me.”

That earns you a quiet huff of amusement. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

You tense. “That’s never a good sign.”

He looks ahead again, voice thoughtful. “Why did you agree to this mission if you hate me so much?”

The question lands heavier than you expect.

You don’t answer right away.

The storm howls above you. The candle flame flickers.

“I don’t hate you,” you say finally.

He turns toward you, clearly surprised. “Could’ve sworn.”

You glare at the wall. “I said I don’t hate you. I just… really don’t like you.”

He lets out a quiet laugh. “That’s comforting.”

“I’m serious.” You shift slightly, still careful not to pull away. “Everyone in Arkadia could use those supplies. Medical kits, blankets, food— especially in winter. That’s why I came. Not for you.”

He nods slowly, absorbing that. “Okay. Then why don’t you like me?”

You go still.

He watches you now, openly curious. Not defensive. Not mocking.

“I mean it,” he adds. “I’ve tried to figure it out. Never could.”

The warmth at your side feels suddenly heavier, more noticeable.

You swallow.

“Cause you're an arrogant, egotistical, control freak.”

He jerks his head back just a little bit in surprise at your words, “What? How?”

“I said what I said.” You sat unmoving, with a noncommittal shrug.

“No, you can't just say that and not give an explanation. Believe it or not, I’m actually trying to figure out why you think this and if I can fix it.”

You sit back, taking in his words.

For a moment, you consider brushing it off. Giving him something vague. Something easy. But the bunker is quiet, the storm relentless, and his warmth is still pressed into your side like a steady reminder that there’s nowhere to retreat to— not physically, not now.

So you tell the truth.

“It started when we first landed,” you say quietly.

Bellamy doesn’t interrupt. He doesn’t move. He just listens.

“When everything was chaos. When no one knew what the hell we were doing, and everyone was scared out of their minds.” You stare straight ahead, candlelight blurring slightly as memories surface whether you want them to or not. “You stepped up fast. Took control. And everyone just… followed.”

You let out a slow breath. “At first, I thought it was impressive.”

He shifts beside you, almost imperceptibly.

“But then,” you continue, “I started seeing the rest of it.”

You glance at him briefly, then away again.

“The way you acted like nothing touched you. Like the ground couldn’t break you. Like consequences were optional.” Your jaw tightens. “You slept with half the camp. Girls throwing themselves at you like it was some kind of badge of honor. Like proximity to you meant safety, or power, or— hell, I don’t know— importance.”

Bellamy exhales softly through his nose, but he still doesn’t cut in.

“I never understood it,” you say. “I never wanted to.”

Your fingers curl into the blanket. “You looked selfish. Arrogant. Like you thought you were untouchable.”

His voice is low when he finally speaks. “That’s what you saw?”

“Yes,” you say immediately. “That’s what you showed.”

Silence stretches again, thicker now. You realized it felt nice to get this out.

You push on before you can second-guess yourself.

“Obviously you’re attractive,” you add. “Anyone with eyes could see that. But— It wasn’t just your looks—it was the way you carried yourself. Like you always had a plan. Like things bent around you instead of the other way around.” You huff quietly. “People gravitate toward that. Especially when they’re scared.”

Bellamy’s shoulder presses a fraction closer, though he still doesn’t touch you with his hands.

“But I didn’t,” you say. “That was probably the last thing I wanted.”

Your throat tightens, unexpected.

“And somehow,” you add, quieter now, “I was always near you anyway.”

He turns his head slightly. “Inner circle.”

“Yeah,” you say. “Command. Clarke. You. Me. Octavia.” You shake your head faintly. “Being close didn’t mean I liked you. It just meant I saw more.” You hesitate, then admit, “You watched me a lot.”

Bellamy stiffens.

“I noticed,” you say, unable to stop yourself now. “I never knew why. I figured maybe it was because I didn’t fall in line. Because I didn’t laugh at your jokes or look at you like you were untouchable.” You finally glance at him, meeting his eyes. “Maybe it bothered you that I stood up to you. That I didn’t take your shit, or let you into my pants because you’re cute.”

A beat.

The candle flickers.

Bellamy looks down at his hands, then back up at the wall ahead of you both. When he speaks, there’s no defensiveness in his voice. Just something raw, unsettled.

“So you thought I was an arrogant guy with an ego.”

You shrug slightly. “Yeah.”

“And you still think that?” he asks.

You hesitate. “I think you were.”

That makes him let out a breath—not quite a laugh, not quite a sigh.

“And now?”

You lean your head back against the wall, eyes closing briefly. “Now I think you’re still an ass. Just… a more complicated one.”

That earns a quiet, surprised huff from him.

“Fair,” he says.

The air is still between you two for a couple silent moments.

“Can I say what I think now?” He breaks the silence and you raise an eyebrow at him.

You open your eyes and turn your head just enough to look at him, one eyebrow lifting despite yourself. “Since when has that ever stopped you?”

A corner of his mouth twitches, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t think that’s all it is.”

“What?” you ask, genuinely confused, irritation already curling low in your stomach.

“That you don’t like me because I was arrogant.” He shakes his head once, decisive. “That’s the excuse.”

Your spine straightens instantly, tension snapping through you like a pulled wire. The warmth you’d been reluctantly accepting suddenly feels intrusive.

“You don’t get to tell me how I feel,” you say sharply.

“No,” he agrees easily. “But I get to tell you what I see.”

You scoff, short and biting. “Oh, this should be good.”

Bellamy shifts, turning his body so his torso faces you fully now. The movement brings him closer, knees angled toward yours, shoulders squared. He leans forward just slightly, voice low but steady.

“You use disliking me as cover,” he says. “Because it’s easier than admitting you might feel something else.”

Your head jerks back as if he’s physically struck you. “That’s not—”

He cuts you off without raising his voice. “You didn’t just happen to notice every time I slept with someone.” His eyes stay locked on yours, unflinching. “You didn’t just happen to be watching.”

Heat flares in your chest— anger, embarrassment, something dangerously close to panic.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” you snap, jaw tight, hands curling into fists beneath the blanket.

He doesn’t back off. If anything, he leans in closer, closing the already narrow space between you. “Then look me in the eyes,” he says quietly, “and tell me you don’t want me.”

The challenge lands heavy.

Your heart slams against your ribs. You turn fully toward him now, faces barely a foot apart. Candlelight flickers across his features, catching in his eyes, making them look darker than they should.

“I don’t want you,” you say, each word clipped, your face burning with barely contained rage and frustration.

Something sharp and unreadable flashes across his expression.

“Prove it,” he says.

That’s it.

Something in you snaps— clean and sudden. Before your brain can catch up, before you can stop yourself, you surge forward and kiss him.

It’s brief. Sharp. All teeth and heat and impulse.

Just a few seconds— just long enough to make your point.

Bellamy freezes for a split second, stunned, breath hitching against your lips. And then he’s kissing you back.

Not gentle. Not hesitant.

The contact is electric, a jolt that runs straight through you, lighting up every nerve. His mouth moves against yours with a familiarity that shouldn’t exist, like he’s been waiting for this, like he knows exactly how to fit against you.

You pull away abruptly, breath already unsteady. “There,” you say, voice a little breathless despite yourself. “Happy?”

You watch his eyes darken instantly. His jaw tightens. His tongue flicks out to wet his lips, slow and deliberate, and the sight makes your stomach flip traitorously.

The bunker is silent except for the storm and the sound of both of you breathing a little too hard.

Then Bellamy moves.

He surges forward and kisses you again, harder this time, all pent-up tension and heat and years of unspoken friction crashing together at once. You gasp softly against his mouth, hands instinctively coming up to brace against his chest— and instead of pushing him away, you kiss him back.

Fully. Fiercely.

For a few dizzying moments, there’s nothing but him—his warmth, his mouth, the solid press of his body against yours. The cold vanishes entirely, replaced by a spreading heat that curls low in your stomach and steals your breath.

And then your mind catches up.

You shove at his chest, breaking the kiss, pulling back with a sharp inhale. “Stop—”

Bellamy freezes instantly, hands lifting away from you, eyes searching your face.

Your chest heaves as you stare at each other, confusion and want mirrored in his gaze. The air between you feels charged, alive, humming with something dangerous and undeniable.

For a heartbeat, neither of you moves.

Then— because apparently you have learned absolutely nothing— you grab his jacket and pull him back in.

This kiss is just as heated as the last, a mess of clashing teeth and tongues, like you’re both testing something you already know is going to burn you. The candlelight flickers wildly against the walls as you lean into him, the chill of the bunker completely forgotten, replaced by heat and breath and the pounding of your heart.

You know you shouldn’t be doing this.

The thought flashes through your mind, sharp and insistent, even as your mouth stays pressed to his. Even as you lean into him like your body has already decided something your brain hasn’t caught up with yet. You had just laid it all out— every reason, every irritation, every carefully built wall you’d stacked between you and Bellamy Blake over the years.

And now here you are, kissing him like you’re starving.

It makes no sense. It shouldn’t feel like this.

His lips are warm and insistent, moving against yours with a familiarity that makes your stomach twist. There’s something dangerously addictive about the way he kisses you— like he’s not rushing, but he’s not hesitating either. Like he knows exactly how close to push without you pulling away.

You tell yourself to stop.

Instead, you chase the taste of him, chasing that soft, intoxicating pull that sinks deeper every second you stay here. His lips taste faintly sweet, like something you weren’t meant to have but took anyway, and now you can’t remember how to want anything else.

His hands find your waist.

The contact makes you suck in a breath, your fingers tightening briefly in the fabric of his jacket. His grip is firm but not rough, thumbs pressing into your sides like he’s grounding himself—or you. Slowly, deliberately, his hands move, sliding along your torso, down over your hips, then back up again, like he’s mapping you out, memorizing.

It sends heat racing through you, sharp and sudden.

You break the kiss just long enough to breathe. “This—” Your voice comes out unsteady, betraying you immediately. “This doesn’t mean anything.”

Bellamy doesn’t even let you finish.

He kisses you again, deeper this time, silencing the words before they can turn into something real. His mouth is relentless now, coaxing, persuading, like he knows exactly how fragile your resolve is in this moment.

“Bellamy—” you try, but it dissolves into a quiet sound when his hand shifts, when his body presses closer.

You feel him move, feel his knee nudge between yours, and then he’s guiding you without asking— encouraging your leg up, his grip steady and sure. There’s barely time to think before you comply, before your leg hooks over his, and then the other follows.

You’re straddling him.

The realization hits you all at once, a rush of heat and disbelief. You settle into his lap, instinctively adjusting, your hands bracing against his shoulders as the closeness becomes overwhelming. His warmth surrounds you, solid and undeniable, and the last remnants of the cold bunker fade into nothing.

“Jesus,” he mutters under his breath, forehead briefly resting against yours.

You pull back just enough to look at him, heart racing. “I still don’t like you,” you insist, like saying it out loud might make it true again.

His lips curve, not quite a smile. “Sure,” he says softly, amused. “That’s why you’re sitting on me.”

You scowl and kiss him again, hard, biting and frustrated. “This doesn’t mean anything,” you repeat between kisses, like a mantra.

He huffs out a quiet laugh against your mouth. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true,” you snap, breathless.

“Right,” he says, voice low, hands tightening briefly at your waist. “You hate me so much you can’t keep your mouth off mine.”

“Fuck you,” you say without thinking, the words tumbling out heated and raw.

Something dark and amused flashes in his eyes.

“Careful what you wish for,” Bellamy murmurs before going to attack your neck with hips lips.

The words send a shiver straight through you and you gasp as he tightly squeezes your ass with both hands. He sucks the tender spot under your ear and you find yourself rolling your hips, grinding down on his hardening, clothed cock. He groans at the movement.

Your hands find their way to his curls, weaving them through and clinging on as you repeat the motion with your hips again. 

He lets out a strangled groan, this time louder and with a bite to your neck. You yelp out at the sting and he freezes, hands clamping down on your waist, halting your movement. 

“Shit,” he breathes, “Stop doing that.”

You look down at him with a quirked eyebrow, “Why? Can’t handle it?”

His dark eyes don’t even meet yours for an explanation, instead he just yanks your body, switching positions so he’s hovering over you, your back now to the floor. You let out a small squeak at the abrupt movement. When you look up to his eyes above you, suddenly you don’t feel as confident anymore.

His eyes are dark and his tongue darts out to wet his swollen lips, his hair slightly hanging down. The sight was something you never thought you’d see first hand— you always hoped you never would— but something about the way he looked down at you had your lower abdomen swirling with heated desire and your hands moving to tug his shirt up from the bottom. 

Quickly he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside before rearranging the blankets across you both. But you didn’t feel the need for the blankets anymore, you were definitely not cold anymore, in fact, you were increasingly warm and you felt yourself wanting to take off your shirt with his.

Seemingly, Bellamy had the same idea as he tugged your shirt off as well, leaving you bare under him, your chest rising and falling with every quick breath you took.

He stared down at you with a look of hunger you had never seen on his face and it almost scared you. 

“Fuck,” he mutters.

You swallowed, unsure of how you felt being under his gaze this way. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

His eyes tore themselves from your chest and met your own with a glint of challenge in his gaze. He bends his neck down and you watch as he licks a stripe on the expanse of your sternum, his tongue leaving a glossy trail on your skin in its wake. 

“Forgot my camera.” He murmurs and you feel his hand dip into the front waistband of your pants and into your damp underwear. You draw in a breath as his fingers trail over your core, not yet touching yet. “You always get this wet for guys you don’t want?” His voice questions low.

Defiantly, you tilt your chin up, not wanting to answer his snide question.

“Come on, answer,” he speaks again, lowering his head once again, this time to take one of your hard nipples into his mouth. Your mouth drops open and you find yourself shaking your head. He sees your motion of admission and lets go of your nipple with a pop, “So this is all for me then.”

You wished he would stop all this talking and just get on with it.

“Blake,” you warn and he just smirks. 

Out of nowhere, you feel two of his large fingers enter your sopping core and you moan.

“So fucking wet,” he mutters, dragging them in and out in a lazily slow rhythm.

“Shit!” Moans tumble from your mouth before you can stop them and he increases his pace, adding a thumb to your clit, the sensation dizzying.

You feel the coil in your lower abdomen tightening faster than you care to admit to anyone. When he adds a curling motion to his fingers thrusts, you see stars. It only takes a few more strokes for you to come apart on his fingers. 

Now, you were grateful to be alone in this bunker with him with how loud you were being. You gathered your bearings quickly when he withdrew his hand from your underwear, but he began tugging off your pants shortly after and you gulped as your hands fumble for the button at the front of his pants.

He gets your pants tugged down your legs and moves on to help you pull his own pants down, leaving him in nothing but his tattered, old boxers. His erection was obvious. Hard and obvious.

The space between you is still for a moment, and you reach your hand down tentatively, slipping your hand into the fabric and grabbing hold of his length. His shuddering breath is instant.

You move to stroke him. Once. Twice. His arm shoots out to grab your wrist, halting your movement with a shaky groan. A few beats pass and he slowly pulls your hand from himself, seemingly gathering his own bearings. Your arms move again, this time to tug off the boxers. He lets you.

The fabric moved out of the way easily, his cock springing free— thick and rigid, the tip already glistening with pre-cum.

The bunker’s interior felt even smaller now, the faint storm raging outside mirroring the chaos building between you. Your breath hitched as he shifted closer, his knees bracketing your hips, the heat of his body pressing against your bare skin.

He grips your thigh, hitching your leg around his waist, and aligns himself with your entrance. The head of his cock nudging your slick folds, parting them roughly before he thrust forward in one brutal stroke, burying himself to the hilt inside your pussy. You yelp, the sudden fullness stretching you wide, walls clenching around his length as he fills you completely. No teasing, no slow build— just raw need driving him to pound into you hard and fast.

Screams came from both of your mouths, the noise melding together in a mess of tangled breath and moans.

Bellamy's fingers dig into your asscheeks, pulling you onto him with each savage thrust, his balls slapping against your skin. 

“Fuck,” he grunts, his mouth crashing back to yours in a messy, teeth-clashing kiss, swallowing your moans as he fucks you deeper, the angle hitting that spot inside that made stars burst behind your eyelids. Sweat slicked your bodies, the shared warmth turning feverish, every slide of his cock dragging friction along your inner walls.

You claw at his back, nails raking red lines down his shoulders, urging him on as the pressure coils tight in your core. He breaks the kiss to bury his face in your neck, biting down on your collarbone while his pace turns frantic, hips snapping erratically. Your pussy flutters around him, the roughness threatening to push you over the edge.

“Shit! I’m gonna— fuck!” You cry out between rough thrusts and you feel the impending wave of pleasure crash over you with bruising force.

 Your orgasm rips through you in a shuddering wave, your cry echoing in the confined space as you come hard, juices soaking his shaft.

Bellamy follows seconds later, his cock throbbing as he drives in one last time, spilling hot cum deep inside you with a guttural roar. His body tensed, muscles locking as he emptied himself, pulse after pulse flooding your pussy until he collapsed against you, both of you spent and panting.

For a long moment, neither of you moves, the aftershocks fading into heavy breaths amid the howling wind just beyond the bunkers hatch. Bewilderment settled in like the chill that threatened to seep beyond the walls—what the hell had just happened?

It’s silent between the two of you, both of your minds obviously running wild with thoughts and questions.

“We'll... figure this out in the morning,” Bellamy murmurs, voice rough with fatigue, his arm draping over your waist. You nod faintly, eyes drifting shut, and sleep claims you both there on the cold floor, the storm a distant rumble.

Choosing to study in Cameron’s room this time rather than the library was proving to be impossible. With him being fortunate enough to have his own single, you two got comfortable on his bed. Crossing your legs, you sat at the head of his bed. He rested his back against the wall, facing the door. You weren’t even twenty minutes in yet before he started begging you to come to his football game. Specifically, for you to come sit in the family and friends section again. In his own words: “this one is important for real”.

“For me at least?!”

“No”.

“Please?”

“No!”

“Pl-”

Fully looking up from your notebook now, you glared at him before he could utter the word. “Cam, no. I already told you I’m not doing that shit again! The regular bleachers will do just fine”. You already planned to go, however you had been adamant on not sitting in the same section. Assuming that meant you weren’t going at all, Cameron made sure to lay it on thick. He learned early on in your friendship that there was an 85% success rate if he annoyed you enough to the point you’d give in.

He laughed, swatting your ankle. “C’Monnn, I promise this time will be different”. Pausing as the moment replayed in his head, he let out another snicker. “I swear on everything I’ll make sure you don’t get hit with the ball”.

You kicked at his shin, trying to conceal your laughter. “It’s not funny! The bruise is just now starting to fade”. The first-and last-time you sat front row in the family & friends section, the ball ended up striking you just above your hip.

Wrapping his hand around your calf, he gave it a squeeze. Sporting a soft smile while rubbing your skin, he voiced, “I’m sorry”. Shifting to a serious tone now, his grip trailed up, stopping below your knee. “Please come… I need you there tomorrow”.

Gnawing on your bottom lip, you contemplated, taking in his expression. He was talented in that way, able to make you crack with one pleading look and that soft drop in his voice. Begrudgingly, you mumbled, “fine. But I am NOT sitting in the front row, I don’t care”.

A wide grin spread across his features before he pounced, pulling you onto his lap to trap you in a bear hug. “Thank you”. Making a small noise of surprise, you immediately slid your hands up his back. Folding your knees beside his hips for comfort, you straddled him. He lingered, absentmindedly rubbing along your hips and savoring the scent of your fragrance.

With your cheek pressed against his chest, a faint smile ghosted your lips. Wincing when his thumb accidentally swiped across your bruise, you shifted in his lap. Bringing your hands to his abdomen, you gave him a gentle nudge. “Cam”.

Quickly uttering, “sorry”, he repositioned his hands on your thighs. He leaned back, peering in the direction of your bruise before lifting his gaze. “You good?” You nodded, eyes falling to his lips for a split second. Suddenly, aware of the compromising position, you began to move off his lap. Once you slipped out of his grasp, his gaze followed while you situated yourself at the head of his bed. Glancing down, he swallowed hard, using a pillow to cover himself so you wouldn’t notice the tent growing in his sweats.

You two had been dancing around the tension for years. Never placing a name on it or giving the feelings that began to simmer over time any attention. Nothing ever happened but you both shared the same thought. It wasn’t worth losing each other if things went wrong. The friendship was too important. Plus, in your mind, if there was something on his end, it was just lust. And the thought of that alone hurt more than discovering whether or not he truly felt the same so you remained comfortable in the unknown.

“You owe me by the way”.

He was waiting for that to come. Lips curling into a smile, he asked, “What do you want?”

Continuing to write, you kept your attention focused on the page in front of you, not sparing him a glance while responding. “That’s for you to figure out, I’m sure you’ll come up with something!” Pausing your movements to raise your head, you caution, “you’ll still owe me if I’m not satisfied though so choose wisely”. You finished with a curt smile before resuming your writing.

Uttering in a hushed tone, “you’re something else for real”, he shook his head in amusement.

Ears perking up a bit, you hummed, “what was that?”

Throwing his hands up in defense, he quickly voiced, “Nothing! Didn’t say anything”.

………………

Any chance he could, Cameron would glance over towards the family and friends section, anticipating your arrival. You’d leave him on his toes a lot, but this was the one thing he could never predict with you. He started to note you’d either come fairly early or exactly when the game started but you’d never be late. Not even five minutes. Despite knowing this, he couldn’t help the pit that formed in his stomach until he saw your face.

Completely unaware of how much weight he had placed on you showing up, you would simply show up whenever you happened to finish getting ready. Avoiding coming in late was the only somewhat strict guideline you held yourself to. No matter how many times you’d watch him play, it never became repetitive. If anything, each game was different. Cameron was consistently sharp as a player, seemingly excelling with every play.

Football has always been the focal point of his life. To any bystander, they would see him and think he was great. To you, all you saw was his drive to become perfect. He’s never stopped. And he’d never allow himself to. Any broken bones or concussions were just a bump in the road. Cameron remained in his place as the most persistent person you’ve ever met.

A part of you was always on edge, terrified even that something would happen to him on the field one day. However, you couldn’t bring yourself to stop watching. Not when he slipped into that state of raw, unbridled focus. To say he’s grown since you were kids would be an understatement.

Just as warm up was winding down, Cameron watched you saunter into the stands. Spotting someone you knew, you took a seat next to them, sparking up conversation. Recognizing the crew neck you wore was the one with #5 embroidered on the wrists, he smiled at the sight. The sheer amount of merch you had accumulated continued to grow and was getting a bit ridiculous at this point, but you weren’t complaining. The quality was unmatched. Each item he’d give you would either fall in pajama territory or your closet depending on the style.

As predicted, the game ended with Cameron as the MVP, bringing in another win for the team. Making your way out of the stadium, you and your classmate paused for a moment to catch up before you left.

“Sooo what’s up with you and Cam?! How long you been on that?”

Brows furrowing in confusion now, your mood shifted as soon as the words left her mouth. Smile dwindling a bit, you questioned, “what do you mean…?” You knew what she meant but there was a reason you never outwardly spoke about him unless prompted. Majority of people who were privy of your friendship automatically assumed it was more than that. Nor would they believe it when you two clarified you’re just friends.

“How long have y’all been fucking? Or are y’all actually together?!”

“Neither actually. We’re just friends, it’s not like that”. Maintaining your composure, you were waiting for her to voice the real reason for asking.

Her expression immediately lighting up, she asked, “would you mind hooking me up then?? He looks too good around campus, I can’t believe you haven’t fucked at all!”

Forcing out a short laugh, you nodded. “You cool with me giving him your number?” Trying to ignore the twinge of discomfort settling in your stomach, you kept a tight lipped smile.

Nodding, she hummed, “Mhm, that works!”, rolling her eyes afterwards. “My brother refuses to set me up with him, I’ve stopped asking him that shit”.

Finding yourself growing increasingly uncomfortable, you let out another laugh. “No problem. I’ll see later, I have to go!” Right on cue, your phone started ringing as you began to walk back to your car.

“Hey”

“Hey, you still here?!”

“About to leave, why?”

“Give me ten minutes! Don’t leave yet”.

“I’m giving you eight, hurry up”. Hearing his laughter ring out through the phone before you hung up, a small smile came to your face. Occasionally, he would take up the opportunity to ride back to campus with you if he chose to ride with one of his teammates to the field instead of driving.

Knowing you always parked as close as possible, Cameron made a beeline for your car. Distance closing in, he saw you clearly, distracted on your phone. Taking this as a chance to scare you, he ducked down, gradually getting closer until he ran up to your window, slapping his hands on the glass. Jumping at the sudden noise, you clutched your heart, turning to see him bubbling with laughter. You glared at him, shaking your head in amusement before cracking the window. “Yea, have fun walking back to your dorm. I’m not giving you a ride!”

He swiftly rounded the car, pulling on the handle to see you had already locked it. “Wait chill, unlock the door!” Deciding to partake in the antics, you kept your finger on the button, unlocking it for a split second before locking it again. You did it one more time, laughing as he attempted to open it again before finally letting him in. He climbed in, throwing his travel bag in the back before shifting the seat as far as it could go for leg room.

The scent of his body wash immediately striking your senses, you involuntarily clench your legs. You took in his appearance, baggy gray sweats riding low on his hips with a plain white wife beater on. Gaze trailing down his bicep towards the prominent veins displayed on his forearm, you questioned, “it’s hardly 55 degrees right now, you’re not cold?”

He shook his head, expressing, “nope”, as his eyes scanned over your outfit. Lips turning up into a smile, he reached over the console, grabbing your wrist to get a clear view. This was the first time he’d ever seen you wear any of the merch he gave you with his personal number on it. Heart speeding up, he was silent for a moment. “You wore this one for me?”

Unbeknownst to him, you always wore the engraved items of clothing in private. Briefly glancing in the direction he was looking, you peered back up, almost able to see the gears turning in his head. “No, I wore it because it’s cold out. Plus, it’s comfortable”. After he chuckled at your response, you playfully pushed at his knee, rolling your eyes. “Duh I wore it for you. Didn’t you say this one was important?”

Laughing again, he nodded. “There were several scouts watching today”. You knew there was always a range of them at every game, but he wouldn’t have mentioned it unless some were from his top choices.

Many from other teams have come to scout him except for the ones he anticipated the most up until this point. “Wait… which ones from your lineup?”

A slow grin forming, he responded, “first and second”.

Unable to contain your excitement, you urged, “get out, I need to give you a hug!”, before promptly opening your door to step out. Cameron met you halfway, immediately wrapping his arms around your lower back to pull you flush against him. Bringing your hands up to reach his broad shoulders, you embraced him. Reveling in your hold, he nuzzled into your shoulder, lowering his grip to your hips.

Noticing he was reluctant to part, you ran one of your hands down his arm, caressing his bicep while mumbling, “I’m happy for you”.

Feeling him smile against you, his voice was muffled. “Knew you would be”. After another second, he lifted his head. Peering down at the sincere expression that had settled over your features, his mind was quiet. Through all the chaos that accompanied the sport, you were at the center of it, grounding him back in reality.

It was moments like these where confusion would strike you a bit. Cameron was an open book. You were well acquainted with all his cues at this stage in your friendship, yet you could never decipher what he was thinking when his eyes glazed over like this. Giving his arms a gentle squeeze, you asked, “ready to leave now?”

Nodding in response, he chimed, “I could drive if you want”.

“Yea, absolutely not Cam. You drive crazy!”

He scoffed, “Me?! I’m probably the safest driver you know”.

Amused, you raised a brow at his quip, shaking your head in disagreement against his chest. “Not even by a long shot”. Aware of him still keeping you in his grasp, you remarked, “so… you plan to let me go or…?” After he begrudgingly parted you two shared a small laugh, getting back in the car to leave.

Once you returned back to campus, a thought sprung to your mind. Shutting the car off, you casually mentioned, “oh by the way I have a number for you”.

“The girl you were sitting with…?” You nod, unlocking your phone to find it. Before you could even start the search, he quickly voiced, “I don’t want it”. At the sound of this you peered over to see his face fell flat.

Confused and slightly intrigued, you confirmed, “you sure?”

“Positive”. Jaw clenching now, he added, “I’m not getting involved with Brian’s sister. I don’t want her”. He studied your features in acknowledgement, biting his tongue.

Assuming it was nothing more than a boundary thing with his teammate, you shrugged, leaving it off with an “ok”.

Both proceeding to walk in the direction of the dorms now, Cameron asked, “can I come up tonight?”

You nodded, sending a quick message to your roommate. While Cameron was lucky enough to be alone, you were lucky enough to share an apartment with your best friend. It had just become a courtesy at this point to give a heads up even though she’d never care, occupied in her own bedroom or the living room.

Upon entering the space, Cameron made himself comfortable on the bed while you searched your dresser for pajamas. “What about the movies?” Humming in confusion, you turned to face him. “Going to the theatre, is that acceptable for you? I know you’ve been wanting to see the movie that just came out”.

Ears perking up in interest, you questioned, “when?”

“This Friday work? We can go after my practice, get food afterwards?”

A genuine smile finding its way to your face, you shook your head in approval, “Yea, I’m satisfied with that”, before venturing off towards the bathroom to change. When you left his view, Cameron’s grin widened. Nothing granted him more pleasure than making you happy.

After a few moments, you returned, wearing a loose fitting top with sweatpants, ready for sleep. Dimming the lights now, you cozy up under the covers next to him. Both mindlessly discussing how your day went while scrolling on your phones, you began drifting off. Cameron followed suit, having it in mind that he was going to rest his eyes for a bit before heading out. You two ended up falling into a deep slumber, periodically shifting your bodies throughout the night to get comfortable.

At some point, he turned to his side, slinging his arm around your mid-section. Loosely grasping his forearm, you gravitated towards his body, shuffling back against him. You stayed in that position for a few hours, unconsciously moving your body again to flip around, nuzzling into his side. He kept his arm wrapped around you, pulling you as close as possible.

Once morning came, Cameron woke up first. His eyes gradually opened, adjusting to the light peeking through your curtains until they dropped to your figure. Curled next to him, you had your face pressed onto his chest, arm resting along his abdomen. Staying quiet and still, he admired the view, feeling his heart swell. Sure, there had been other instances in the past where you two happened to fall asleep in the same bed but none like this. He’d stay like this all day, just watching the soft rise and fall of your body for comfort.

Your alarm beginning to ring out now, his thoughts were cut short. Eyes still shut, you groggily shifted, reaching to turn the sound off before bringing your arm back to its position. Slowly becoming aware, your brows furrowed in confusion. You repeatedly pat his stomach, feeling the hard planes of his abdomen underneath your fingertips. Quickly coming to the realization after a few seconds, you blinked, pushing yourself up into a seated position.

Giving him a playful shove, you turned your attention to him. Mumbling out, “How come you didn’t say anything? I didn’t know I was all over you like that”, you saw a small grin on his face.

Bypassing the twinge of emptiness, he felt when you pulled away, he casually shrugged, “I didn’t mind”. He watched as you checked the time on your phone, setting it back down with a tired groan. “What time is your class?”

“12:30 today. You?”

“Eleven”.

“Cam that’s in an hour…”

“So?”

Voicing, “What do you mean so?!”, you shoved him again, laughing at his sense of urgency. “You need to leave right now to get ready. I refuse to be the reason you’re late!”

“Damn you’re kicking me out already?! Bedside service sucks here”.

More laughter bubbling out, you urged, “yes, it does, now get up! There’s extra toothbrushes in the bathroom”. He chuckled, finally moving to head to the bathroom. Before he left, you told him to just text you the details for the movie later.

………………

Friday

Cameron now found himself in a predicament. His teammates had drilled into his head the best way to celebrate several of their top picks showing up was an impromptu party. Tonight. He didn’t want to reschedule, nor did he want to cancel on you but in that moment at practice he thought: what better way to celebrate that…?

“Ik this is last minute, but you mind if we go on Sunday? I’m exhausted rn, I’m just going to sleep in tn.”

“No, that’s fine. I understand”.

“I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you I swearr”.

“Cam it’s fine, get ur rest. I’ll talk to you tmr”.

“You’re not mad, are you??”

“No, just take care of yourself pls. Hope you get some good sleep!”.

The guilt was quick to set in and stayed throughout the evening. As soon as he sent the first message, he felt the pit simmering in his stomach, increasing by the hour. After practice was over, he sat on his bed, contemplating whether it was the right move to actually go to the party. Damage had already been done the moment he rescheduled so in his mind, things couldn’t possibly get worse if he showed his face for an hour or two. He never lied to you, let alone left you as an afterthought so what was different now? Why did it feel so heavy?

On the opposing end, you felt a pang of disappointment when the notification popped up but brushed it off. Tried too at least. Placing your focus back on the show you were watching with your roommate, your mind drifted. It felt like there was something else he was omitting but he would’ve told you. Gnawing on your lip as anxiety began to creep in, you were quiet, thinking about what else it could be. He’ll probably tell me later.

Poorly hiding your concern, your best friend peered over, taking in the worry painted on your features. Momentarily dragged out of your thoughts, you felt a nudge on your shoulder. You Glanced over at her, releasing a small hum. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing”.

“Girl…”

“Nothing, seriously. I just… I don’t know”. You passed her your phone, showing the messages. “Am I tripping for feeling like something’s a little bit off?! Be honest”. She took a moment to read the thread, and you watched as her neutral expression morphed into one of discontent.

Shaking her head, she handed it back to you. “He’s hiding something, guarantee it”. Your face fell at her words. Despite seeing that coming, a part of you was hoping she’d lie. At least then you could really convince yourself not to overthink. Attempting to cushion her words, she encouraged, “fuck him though, don’t even give it a second thought! Come out with me tonight!” Seeing your apprehension, she grasped your hand, continuing, “pleaseee, I’ll make sure you have fun! It’ll take your mind off it!”

A smile ghosting your lips at her insistence, you caved. “Ok, fine! Where are we going?”

Gleefully squeezing your hand now, she grinned.

“Some party happening near the hub I think?? I don’t know who’s hosting but my friend said it should be a good turnout. We’ll see for ourselves though!” Checking the time on her phone, she mumbled, “oh shit…”, before launching off the couch. “Start getting ready now, we’re going to pregame!” Turning on her heels to head toward her room, she yelled out, “wear something slutty!”

Loudly laughing at her excitement, you sprung off the couch, shouting back “I will”, through your laughter.

………….

You were three shots in by the time you two arrived at the party and sure enough, the place was packed. Though you were a bit tipsy, you could’ve sworn that you’d been here before. The house looked way too familiar but not enough for you to spare more than a second thought. Immediately upon walking in, the aroma of smoke filled your nostrils accompanying the heavy bass leaking from the speakers as the music blasted.

With your arms linked, you two shuffled deeper into the house, stopping for a moment to converse with a few mutual friends. After a couple more interactions, both of you managed to navigate through the sea of people, finding the kitchen. Giggling at your best friends reaction once she spotted her drink of choice, you lost your footing for a second. Bumping into somebody hard, you turned your head a bit, muttering out, “oops, sorry about that!”

After hearing your name called, you fully swiveled, searching around to figure out who said it before looking up directly in front of you. “Brian, hey! What are you doing here?!” Pulling him in for a brief hug, he chuckled. “I’m hosting! Glad you could come”.

“Oh! I didn’t know you were having a party tonight”. It took a second for you to make the connection, but it slowly dawned on you as he continued.

“What do you mean? Cam didn’t tell you?? He said you couldn’t come!”

Keeping a smile plastered on your face, you dismissed the anger bubbling inside upon realizing he lied, twice. Shaking your head, you voiced “nope! He’s here?”

“Yea, he’s on the couch!” Eyeing you up and down, he added, “you look good by the way” ignoring him uttering “really good” under his breath, you simply nodded.

“Thanks”. Looking around to see where your friend was, you stopped in your tracks after his voice rung out again.

“You know Cam said you were off limits, but you mind if I get your number really quick…?”

“Sorry, he said what?!”

“He told us you were off limits but shit, he’ll just have to understand”.

Sobering up by the second you confirmed, “He told all of you I’m off limits?!” Once he nodded, he asked for your number again and you decided in that moment, why not? Promptly making your way out of the kitchen now, you went off to figure out where your friend might have wandered. Your mind was racing now, trying to decipher what could’ve possibly motivated Cameron to act like this.

Crossing another pathway throughout the house, your heart sunk as you caught a clear glimpse of the couch. Even at a distance you could make out Cameron’s figure. The couch had several other people occupying it and one of those happened to be Brian’s sister. Music deafening out and the people surrounding the area suddenly going out of focus, you stood there, blinking at the scene unfolding. With both her arms curled around his, she shuffled her body close, leaning against his side to murmur something in his ear. He looked disinterested, not particularly focused on her or anything going on around him and you could tell by her mannerisms that she was drunk, yet you had no time to form a thought.

“There you are, I lost you girl! Having fun yet?!”

The sound of her voice was barely enough to pull you out of the trance you were in. For a split moment, he locked eyes with you during a scan of the room. Unsure if he was seeing correctly, he squinted, eyes widening once he realized. Heart lurching, the familiar lump began forming in your throat. Quickly looking away, your vision started to blur, tears threatening to spill. Frantically looking around to find the closest exit, you urgently muttered, “I need air, I need to leave”.

Before you broke your gaze, she followed your line of sight, smile dropping and mouth parting once she saw. Immediately understanding, she linked your arms again, keeping a solid grip while she wordlessly started leading you through the crowd, out the back door. You couldn’t wipe the droplets beginning to roll down your cheeks fast enough.

………………

Unable to shake the gnawing feeling of guilt, he regretted coming to the party as soon as he crossed the threshold. He was about to walk back but was stopped by one of his homeboy’s sparking a conversation. The atmosphere was no help, only proving to be more irritating than anything. Passed up going to the movies for this shit…

Deciding to take refuge on the couch, he was quiet, only contributing to the conversations here and there. But to really top things off, it was impossible for him to stop thinking about you. About how much he’d rather be celebrating with you, alone. Consistently checking his phone to see if you might’ve messaged him again, his knee started bouncing with nerves. Wonder what she’s doing right now…

He wasn’t allowed more than fifteen minutes of peace before Brian’s sister attempted to saunter over sensually, plopping down into the little space available next to him. Any thin thread of patience he had left the moment she touched him. Brows furrowing in disgust, he was about to brush her off, standing fully to leave the party but then his eyes found you. Dawning on him how bad this shit looked, he swiftly stood up, abruptly pushing her off to barrel through the crowd.

Disappearing as quickly as he saw you, he no longer saw which direction you went. Fuck, please pick up... Heart racing now, Cameron rushed through, getting outside to call you. No answer. Call again, no answer. Sprinting to his car, he sped back to campus.

“I’m sorry”.

“Where are you??!”

“I’m coming to find you”.

“Please talk to me, let me explain”.

After several calls and messages, you put your phone on dnd, disregarding them. Fortunate enough to catch a ride back with your roommate and her current fling, she asked if you were good to walk to the apartment alone. Ensuring you were, she stayed behind while you stepped out, making your way toward that path. Frankly being completely alone right now sounded nice. You needed to clear your thoughts.

Despite being upset that he lied, the one thing that stood out to you was the “off limits” statement. There was no questioning whether or not that was true because after a bit of reflection, you realized just how obvious it was. You weren’t around all of his teammates much but the few that would circulate around him always averted their gaze, keeping interactions short and to the point. In this moment you wanted nothing to do with Cameron. At All. But the only thing you wanted right now was an explanation. Some semblance of truth that might explain his behavior.

Settling into the comfort of your room now, you sighed. Taking a seat on your bed, you finally let the tears flow freely, actively trying to wipe them as they came. It was ridiculous to even cry about something so trivial, but you couldn’t shake the image of him with Brian’s sister. The steeping knot that set in your stomach seeing him comfortable with another woman. Maybe he lied about that too…

Hearing a faint knock on the door, you grabbed a tissue, patting your eyes before stepping out of your room. Assuming it was your roommate coming up to grab something, you swung open the door, only to be met with Cameron. His heart twisted when you came into view. Spotting your tear stained cheeks, he fought the urge to reach out and swipe them away. Face growing rigid at the sight of him, you quickly motioned to shut the door. He placed his hand on it, halting the movement.

“Please, I’m not here to upset you. I just want to apologize”. Taking a few steps back from the door, you moved into the kitchen, leaning against the counter for balance. Stepping into the apartment now, he rounded the other side, leaving a gap between you two. He knew better than to crowd your space when you were angry with him, having learned that lesson the last time.

“I’m giving you five minutes. Hurry up”.

“My intention wasn’t to hurt you I didn’t— I wasn’t thinking when I accepted that invite, I’m sorry. I fucked up, I know that, but I promise—-”

Your frustration was rising with each word. Sharply cutting him off, you interjected, “what was it then hm? To lie for the sake of lying?!”

“No, that was a mistake. I should’ve told you the truth”.

“But you didn’t… for whatever fucking reason. I could promise you I wouldn’t have cared if you said off rip you didn’t want to go tonight anymore. Matter fact, let’s see…” You held out your hand, using your fingers to begin counting how many times he lied. “Instead of flat out telling me you’d rather go to an impromptu party, you told me you were going to sleep in. Hell, who knows if you were actually exhausted so lie number two?? Told your friend I couldn’t come, lie number three-”

His solemn expression morphed into confusion as you continued. Heart rate speeding up, he grew deeply concerned about what else Brian possibly told you. “But my favorite one— “, you paused to laugh, using air quotes now. “‘I’m not getting involved with Brian’s sister. I don’t want her’”. Brows furrowing now after listing them, you gazed at him, utterly puzzled.

He shook his head, rounding the counter to level with you. “That last statement was not a lie, I don’t. I know how it looked but I promise you she was drunk, I pushed her off me. You know I don’t want her”. You glanced down, fighting back the urge to cry as he continued. Cautiously stepping closer, he earnestly pleaded, “please believe that. The other two were lies and I apologize for even putting you in this position but please—”. He reached for your hand, soothing the back of it with his thumb.

For a brief moment you softened into his touch, resolve slipping until the words “off limit” rung in your mind. Anger spiking, you shoved him away, pushing him at his chest. “Don’t touch me!” Tears fell as your mind raced. Stepping out of his proximity, you headed into the living room, creating as much distance as possible.

He turned, watching you pace. Taken back by your demeanor, he was trying to understand what you were thinking. Anything to rationalize why you were so upset. Facing him now, you stopped, mumbling in a hushed tone, “why would you—”, pausing to clutch your stomach. “Why did you tell your teammates I’m off limits…?”

Mind going blank, Cameron felt his heart drop to his stomach. “It’s not like that— it’s not what you think, I swear”. He met you in the living room, pain flashing in his eyes when you took a step back. “I don’t want them to hurt you, that’s all—”.

“But it’s ok when you do it…?” Words sending a direct pang of guilt up his spine, Cameron shook his head. “Is that why you lied…?” He was frozen. Throat burning now, a hard lump formed.

You urged yourself to continue, trying to dismiss how excruciating the knot had grown with every thought. Voice cracking, you managed to stutter out, “how— how long have you been waiting for an opportunity…? Is that how you see me…? This…?”, motioning between the two of you. “A quick fuck??”

The silence was loud. Cameron couldn’t conjure up any thought. Struggling to breathe now, he felt like someone had punched him in his chest, winding him of air. Scrambling to stop that notion from going any farther in your brain, he frantically emphasized, “no… no, no, listen that’s not what this is to me, I’m not— “. He couldn’t help himself from coming closer, reaching out to soothe you.

It was too late. That idea had already been fully adopted, seeping into your conscious and jumbling with your own feelings for him. You were becoming increasingly distressed, throat constricting before another wave of fresh tears streamed down your face. Shaking your head in disbelief, you took another small step backwards, muttering, “stop”.

Obliging for fear of upsetting you further, Cameron stopped, dropping his extended arm. “You know how much you mean to me…? Our connection…? How could you think— when have I given you the impression that’s how I view our friendship?! I would never see you like that…”. Hearing his voice break, you were almost on the verge of pulling him in for a hug. It was clear you wouldn’t be able to rationalize your thoughts and feelings with him around you. “I don’t see you like that”.

“Please leave…”

Standing there in shock, Cameron couldn’t remember the last time he felt this gut wrenched. Reluctantly walking a few steps back, he clenched his jaw, turning to leave out. The closer he came to his dorm, the worse he felt. Once he reached his room, an uncomfortable, stinging ache took root in his chest. Vision blurring, he ran a hand down his face, rubbing his eyes to prevent any tears from coming. He didn’t care how damaged things felt right now, determined to repair it no matter what.

Eventually you calmed down enough to think without tears welling in your eyes. You laid in bed, chronologically replaying the day in your head. Confused even more now, his demeanor throughout the conversation continued flashing. And while you were Initially unsure about whether he was being honest, you weighed that single factor. The one thing he could never mask was his hurt. Not with you. He never tried to.

The following morning, Cameron had to force himself not to call or text you, wanting to respect your space. Deciding to continue with his routine, he buried the growing concern steeping into his mind as each day passed without a word from you. There was only one other time in your friendship where you weren’t speaking to each other. That instance was in middle school and ended up lasting for one week.

This, however, was becoming uncharted territory, having reached the seven day mark. Now, beginning to stay up longer than normal, Cameron’s sleep gradually deteriorated. It took everything in him just to wait for a call. A text. Anything from you indicating you were ready to talk but it never came. The anxiety from simply missing your presence peaked on day twelve at his next home game.

Since that night, you went into overdrive, making yourself busy to avoid that feeling. The lingering craving of wanting him around, needing him next to you, combined with the disappointment you felt. Knowing exactly what you felt when looking at him went far beyond the platonic realm, you refused to indulge. Not if there was any shred of him that only viewed you in a sexual manner, completely disregarding the essence of your connection. Unable to bring yourself to go to his game, you stayed in, choosing those hours to study. To make matters worse, you received a message from an unknown number, grimacing when you realized who it was. You rolled your eyes at the tacky line, fully regretting giving him your information in the heat of the moment. At least that decision to block him came quickly with zero contemplation.

First down came and went and you still weren’t here. Cameron had come to terms with the fact that you weren’t coming. But he didn’t anticipate that throwing him off to the degree it did. One mistake was rare and barely tolerable depending on the severity. Three was a major fuck up in his eyes. He couldn’t reconcile with misalignment in his life. Not with you, not with football, and certainly not at the same time. They still won the game but that didn’t matter to him. Knowing that wasn’t his best was enough to send him down a spiral.

His homeboys noticed his mood shift and suggested going to another party as a remedy. Cameron knew that wouldn’t do anything to take his mind off of the game… nor make the ache that had twisted into a wrench in his chest disappear. But at least it’d keep him busy. Being around other people and thinking about you felt more productive than doing that while he was alone. It was unavoidable though.

Smoking outside with two of his teammates, Cameron only started listening when one of them mentioned Brian.

“He will not shut the fuck up about her”

“At all. It’s starting to piss me off, for real!”

Chiming in, Cameron asked, “who?”

“Some girl he met at his party a couple weeks ago. He trying to be mysterious and shit, talking about she’s cool with his sister”.

Settled into a low buzz now, Cameron completely tuned out everything else they started saying. Falling quiet again, he felt a twinge of jealousy spark, quickly rolling into a steady buildup of anger. It was easy putting two and two together that you were the girl they spoke of. Going back into the party to confront him, he kept it in the back of his mind not to take it past a simple conversation. Despite this, his temper increased the longer it took to find him. Hardly gentle as he glided past people, he stopped upon hearing a random voice yell his name. “Yoooo Cam! Man, what’s up with you?!”

Growing tense, he clenched his jaw, hardening his facial expression as the person approached, walking up to his side. “Haven’t seen you fumble that bad in second quarter before-”. Cameron heard the ringing in his ears become increasingly loud, blocking out the music and conversations around him. He began to move again, ignoring the voice before he reached his tipping point. “Is it the bitch you hang with all the time? What’s her name? She stop giving you pussy or somethi—“, and that final statement was enough to drive him there.

Swinging around to piece him in his jaw, Cameron delivered two more strikes, knocking him off balance. The guy stumbled, landing on the floor before another hit connected. Still moving in to punch him again, Camerons teammates stopped him. Forced to back off now, he jolted out of their grasp, moving to leave the party. He couldn’t bring himself to care about the inevitable consequences of his actions nor about the people standing around murmuring in a hushed tone at the commotion. Not with you flooding his mind.

Traveling back to campus as quickly as possible, he went directly to your apartment. He was contemplating for a minute, standing at the door wondering if he should just leave instead. But before he could talk himself out of it, he knocked. Ears perking up from the couch, you glanced over in the direction. Heading over to open it now, your breath hitched as Cameron came into view. You took in his appearance, worry falling onto your features at the sight of his red eyes sending a quiet plea. “Can we talk? Please…?”

Silently, you nodded, giving him space to come in. He shut the door, beginning to follow as you led him to your room. Sitting on the bed now, you crossed your legs, waiting for him to sit down too. Cameron tentatively walked over, placing himself right in front of you. Quietly asking, “what happened…?”, you were concerned looking at him.

From the side view of his face, you couldn’t fully decipher what was going on, he just seemed off. Gaze scaling down his arm, you reached out, grasping his forearm to look at his knuckle. Heart clenching, you dragged his hand into your lap, gently running your thumb along the light bruise forming. “You got into a fight?”

Cameron finally turned to look at you, his voice catching in his throat when he did. He was fixated on your soft expression and the warmth from your touch before he urged himself to speak. “A small one but that’s not why I came here”. You peered at him intently, almost forgetting why you were initially upset in the first place. Bringing your other hand over to faintly trace the skin on his wrist out of reflex, you signaled you were listening.

“I came to apologize again and tell you the truth…” He gripped your hand, squeezing before voicing, “no matter what though… promise me we’ll still be ok”. His face growing serious now, you became nervous to hear what he had to say.

Mumbling, “I promise”, your heart beat sped up.

“I went about things the wrong way. I’m sorry for how that night went… for making you cry”. A pang of guilt hit his stomach when the image flashed in his head. Tilting your head, you analyzed his expression. You quietly reached the understanding that all of his apologies were genuine, the pain in his eyes unmistakably reflected with his words.

Offering him a small smile, “I forgive you”, dropped from your lips.

“You haven’t heard the truth yet though”

Laughing at his response, you doubled down. “And? I still accept your apology. But continue, I might revoke that depending on how bad it is”. You saw him crack his first smile, visibly relaxing once you lightened the mood. He then gazed in your lap, memorizing how the pads of your fingertips felt along his skin in case things went south again. Feeling an onset of anxiety creep in, he tensed up.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

You were weary now. Cameron was hardly ever this serious. This was your first time seeing him so nervous to tell you something.

Bringing his gaze back to your face, he started, “I meant everything I said when we spoke. The only reason I told them you’re off limits is because I don’t think they’d give you the love you deserve. I don’t ever want you thinking I’m just waiting for an opportunity. That’s not how I feel about you… or what I’m thinking when I look at you”.

Upon seeing his eyes gloss over, you gave him a reassuring squeeze. “What are you thinking about right now…?”

“How much I missed you… how receptive you’d be if I tell you how I really feel”

“Don’t make me guess…” you were curious, rubbing his arm as you urged, “tell me”.

“I need you… Whether I’m with you or simply hearing your voice, that’s all I need”. Cameron felt his heart sink. Maybe it wasn’t too late to say he was joking but he had already gotten this far. “I’m in love with you”.

Looking at him in a state of shock, your smile faded. “Cam…” He grasped your other hand before you could pull away.

Panicked at your reaction, he declared “nothing has to change, we can forget about this conversation, I promise”. Fixing your gaze on his arms, you were quiet. “I just wanted you to know how I really feel about you…” A surge of emotions coming on now, you felt your heart skip a beat. Certain that he made things worse, Cameron started pleading. “Fuck, I’m sorry”. Feeling his throat tighten, he quietly begged, “please, don’t shut me out again, I’m sorry”.

Disconnecting from him, you moved off the bed. Cameron prepared to leave until you walked in between his legs, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. Easing into your body, he circled your waist, pulling you close. Still too far apart for his liking, he brought his hands down to your thighs, hauling you up onto his lap. Both lingering in the soothing embrace, you ran your nails along his upper back. Voice muffled, you filled the silence. “What if I feel the same way?” He smiled into your skin, dragging a hand up your spine in response.

Lifting his head to peer at you, he questioned “do you?”

“What do you think…?” You cupped his jaw, turning his head to plant a kiss on his cheek. “I need you just as bad”. Heat creeped up Cameron’s neck from the gesture. He returned it, moving his hands down to squeeze your hips. Stopping yourself from grinding against him, you changed the subject. “Are you staying tonight?”

“You should know better than to ask that. I’m not going anywhere”. Starting to pepper your neck with pecks, he couldn’t hold back his smile. “You don’t know you’re stuck with me now? I got to show you?”

His pecks growing ticklish, a small laugh escaped you. “Nooo, I already was! Is it too late to take it back?!” He paused, staring at you with a blank expression before his smile widened. Clutching your waist for a single moment, he started tickling one side, drawing out more laughter. You squirmed in his lap, but he reinforced his hold, keeping one arm wrapped around your lower back.

He ignored your attempt at pushing his hand away, continuing his movements. A chuckle falling past his lips, he teased, “say that again?!” You started shifting uncontrollably, gripping his arm.

Bubbling out, “s-stop!”, your head fell to his shoulder. Before you could catch your breath, he swiftly switched sides, clutching you closer as his opposite hand began moving.

“Nah say that shit again, I didn’t hear you!” Squeezing your eyes shut as his chuckling rang out, you started patting his arm.

Stuttering out, “p-please”, you involuntarily cinched your knees beside him. Shortly after that, he stopped, reveling as you tried catching your breath. You playfully pushed at his chest, warning, “wait until later. Trust, I’m not forgetting this!”

Nipping at your neck, he goaded, “counting on that”. Emitting a faint moan, your hands dropped to his abdomen. Cameron clenched his jaw, rubbing the flesh on your thighs. He had to wait. Needed to wait until you initiated. Then he’d allow himself to indulge but until then he was grateful taking any instance of closeness from you.

“Go take a shower first, I’m not letting you sleep in my bed with outside clothes”.

“Yes ma’am”.

You had already been ready for bed by the time Cameron showed up at the door. A loose fitting shirt emulating his jersey with a pair of black shorts and fuzzy socks. Finding amusement in the fact he hadn’t made a single comment on it yet, you patiently waited, knowing it was coming at some point. While he was in the shower, you went ahead and grabbed an ice pack and a pair of his sweats from the stash of clothes he kept here.

Hearing footsteps now, you peered in that direction, subtly clenching your thighs when he appeared. With just a towel hanging low on his hips, your eyes focused on his happy trail then down to the imprint curved into the material. Silently exchanging a look, you handed him the pants, turning your body to the side while he got dressed. After a substantial amount of time, you asked, “are you done?” Instead of giving a response, Cameron launched on you, hovering above your back. “This is your second strike by the way”. Shifting under his full weight, you felt the fabric rub along your skin, brushing against his dick in the process. You twisted your hands in the sheets, a swirl of arousal pooling in your stomach. “Move”, slipped out breathier than you’d like.

Staying impossibly still, he leaned in towards your ear. “Say please”.

Biting back a moan, you stated, “No”. Your breath caught in your throat when his length twitched against your ass.

He might’ve just been high on emotions, but Cameron could’ve sworn you moulded perfectly against him. “I’m not moving then”.

Savoring how heavy he felt pressed into your body, you tried crossing your legs to alleviate the pressure building between them. You knew the desire would be bad when it came down to it, but you couldn’t have prepared for this at all. Already feeling your head spin, you plead, “Cam…”

Cameron finally took heed when he saw how flustered you were becoming. Gliding off to sit next to you now, he watched as you sat up, reaching for the ice pack on your nightstand. You wordlessly straddle his lap, pulling his arm in between the space to study his knuckle. “What happened…?” Gazing up after placing the ice over the swelling, you included, “and don’t be vague either”. For as long as you’ve known him, he had always been mild-mannered, not easy to enrage. And if he ever did have those moments, they had been few and far between on the field.

Resting his other hand on your thigh, he began kneading the skin for comfort. “random person ended up approaching me at a party talking about my performance in the game then mentioned you, that’s it”

You were curious but you wouldn’t even bother asking Cameron what the guy said. He wouldn’t budge if it was something disrespectful. Seeing his mood shift, he averted his gaze and went quiet. To prevent him from falling into the same pattern of overthinking, you attempted to nudge him. Softening your voice to ask, “is it the game…?”, you started wondering if you could’ve been the cause. “Or me…?”

At the sound of your tone, Cameron raised his head, spotting a glint of worry behind your eyes. Shaking his head, he encompassed your waist. “It’s not you I just— I should’ve done better… the amount of mistakes I made…”. His mind veered off, replaying each one in full detail.

Drifting your hand to his abdomen, you soothingly rubbed along the planes on his stomach. “How many?”

“Three…” he looked down at his hand, avoiding your gaze again.

You shook your head at his answer. “You push yourself way too hard”. Cupping his jaw to tip his face up, you rubbed circles into his skin, continuing to speak. “Making a few mistakes in one game doesn’t reflect on your value as a player. I’d be a tad concerned if you never made any mistakes at all”.

Staring at you with a smitten gaze, he cracked a smile. “How do you do that hm?”

Spotting the playful glimmer in his eyes, you raised a brow. “Do what?”

“Always saying the right stuff. No matter the situation, you always do that… how?”

You shrug, “I have my moments, I don’t know”, ending your response with a smile.

Cameron laughed, shifting the ice pack off his hand to wrap both his arms around you. Pulling you in for a hug, he muttered into your neck, “thank you”.

Flush against him now, your arms circled his neck. “You’re welcome”.

His hands trailed up your spine, running along the fabric of your shirt. This one had his number engraved on both sides. “I like the pajamas by the way, you look good”. He couldn’t see the vindicated smile that had formed on your face, but he felt the vibration from your laugh.

“Thank you, I like them too”.

Cameron realized out of all the evenings he spent with you, not once has he seen you wear it for sleep. “Had no idea you wore the merch to bed. I bet you do this shit a lot don’t you?”

“Don’t get cocky!” You both laughed after you spoke. After a small pause, you reluctantly admitted, “but yes... maybe”. Knowing there was a minuscule chance you’d regret telling him the reason, you did so anyway. “Makes me feel close to you… and it really is just comfortable honestly”.

Warmth filling his chest now, Cameron leaned back to get a look at you with a heavy glaze of affection in his eyes. Wetting his lips, he asked, “you missed me…?”

Holding back tears at the expression he wore, you swallowed the lump in your throat, nodding. Adjusting your place in his lap to get even closer, you whispered, “Talking to you, watching you play, all of it…”. Cameron pressed a kiss to your cheek, moving his hands down to massage your thighs. You did the same, peppering kisses across his jaw before placing a light one on his mouth. As soon as you pulled back, he followed, reconnecting your lips.

Feeling his hands drift up to your ass, you moaned when his length grazed the fabric of your shorts. Pulsing around nothing, a dull ache set in your core. You deepened the kiss, bringing one hand over to rest on his cheek. Cameron groaned, twitching underneath you as a sharp pang of thirst hit his stomach. Spurred on now, you rolled your hips, grounding against his dick at a gradual pace. Parting for air, you continued your movements, watching his reaction with every motion.

The sight was enough to send your mind reeling. Eyes hanging low and mouth parted, Cameron guided you back and forth. Slipping your hand down to his neck, you tip his jaw up slightly, tracing your thumb across the skin. The two of you exchanging soft breaths while staring, a whimper spilled out of you when one particular circle caused him to nudge your clit. Despite the boundaries of the fabric being thin, it was still too much.

Momentarily disconnecting from him to pull your shirt off, Cameron’s breath hitched. Eyes dropping to your breast, he squeezed your hips, mumbling in a hushed tone, “so beautiful”. You circled his shoulders again, leaning in flush against him now. He lapped at the sensitive spot below your ear, sucking and nipping to form a love bite. Mouth falling open to let a moan out, your movement faltered. Your nails raked along his skin as he traveled up to your jaw, inching towards your lips.

Cameron trailed his hands back down to your ass, finding a steady flow grinding you back and forth. The friction paired with the glide of his tongue began to cause your arousal to seep through the material. Dropping one of your arms to grasp his bicep, you clung to him as the pressure grew. He briefly parted to teasingly bite your bottom lip before reattaching. Starting to knead your flesh again, he brought out another moan from you.

Knowing he was close to the edge, Cameron halted your movements, attempting to prolong it until he no longer could. Breathing heavy, he checked, “you want to continue...?”

You nodded, responding “yes”, before involuntarily cinching your legs beside him.

“Can I taste you then…?” He already looked halfway intoxicated taking in your features. Rubbing smooth circles into the skin on your waist, his voice came out in a quiet tone. “Want to make you feel good…”.

You thumb at his bottom lip, the image of his face stuffed between your legs sending a tingle through your stomach. Nodding again, you moved out of his lap to lay down. He settled on top of you in between your legs, planting lingering kisses on your neck. Grasping his arms, your mouth parted when he sucked on your breast. Cameron flicked his tongue over your nipple, gently swirling the bud in between his teeth before drawing his attention to next, giving it the same love. Treading lower now, he showered your stomach with pecks until reaching the waistband of your shorts. His eyes were glued as he slowly dragged them off your legs.

Wetting his lips at the sight, he parted your thighs. Lying on the bed now, he drew his gaze up your body, leaving open mouthed kisses on each leg. Rubbing his forearms circled around your flesh, you met his eyes with a soft smile. Any sort of constraint he had flew out the window when he tasted you. Licking a long stripe from your entrance to clit, he rolls his tongue around it. You drop one hand in the sheets, bracing yourself after seeing the switch behind his pupils.

Dipping back down to stuff you, Cameron’s nose nudged your clit with every curl of his tongue. Setting a steady rhythm, his groan reverberated through your body. Chest rising and falling, you squeezed his arm, breathing out a quiet, “fuck”. He watched your reactions closely, noting the involuntary twitch in your thighs when he lapped at your bud. The way your bottom lip quivered before you bit it.

Your head lolled back into the pillows when he tightened his hold, pushing your thighs flush against him. Alternating between slow and fast movements, he gathered your arousal with every stroke. Back arching now, you twisted your hand in the sheets, attempting to roll your hips in tandem. The pressure in your stomach growing immensely, you released a shaky moan, shutting your eyes. Cameron flattened his tongue on your clit, motioning his head side to side before increasing the pace.

Relentless in his pursuit to make you orgasm, he latched onto your bud, rapidly flicking his tongue around it. Reaching a hand up to simultaneously massage your breast, he rolled each nipple between his thumb and index finger before palming one. Bringing your hand out of the sheets, you clung to him, digging your nails into his arm. Brows furrowing, you plead, “d- don’t stop”. Cameron was aching, desperate for relief as he twitched in his sweats. The friction from the covers only made it worse.

With another stimulating flick of his tongue triggering your orgasm, your thighs trembled around his head. Emitting a loud moan, you writhed under him while he continued. He smothered himself, delving in between your folds to catch all of your juices. Through the aftershocks of pleasure, the vibration from his groan caused you to peer down. The sight made your stomach tense again, sending a tremor up your spine. Mouth moving slowly now, his eyes were closed to fully savor everything you gave him. Squeezing his arms, you uttered, “Cam- “.

Cameron opened his eyes, the sound of your voice catching his attention. He massaged each breast again before grabbing your hip. Reluctantly detaching, he lifted himself up from his position. Palming your thighs, his voice held a rasp. “Too much?” Still in a dazed state, you were silent for a second as you looked at him. Everything about him was enough to send a spiral through your core but seeing him look so sated with half his face covered in your slick was an entirely different experience.

Needy for more, you shook your head no, reaching out for him. Eager to close the distance, he settled on top of you, melding your lips together. Tasting yourself on his tongue sent another whirl of heat through your stomach. Trailing your nails along his back, you parted to breathe out, “lay down”. He listened, rolling off to lay next to you. Cameron watched you kneel next to him, dipping your finger in the waistband of his sweats. “Can I…?” Immediately nodding in response, his heart raced at the thought.

You had already assumed he must’ve been well endowed from a few glimpses of his print, yet you still weren’t prepared when you tugged on his pants. Cameron saw the gears turning in your head. Your thighs shifted for relief when he came into view. Lengthy with a slight curve, good girth, and a few prominent veins throbbing when he twitched. Throwing your leg over his waist to straddle him now, you sat on his lap, placing your hands on his chest. He grasped your hips, letting out a harsh breath as you glide his dick in between your folds. After taking a minute to admire how he looked, you sealed your lips over his, continuing the back and forth motion.

Breathing out against his lips, “you want to feel what you do to me?”, Cameron twitched, feeling a bead of precum dribble out onto his abdomen.

Begging with his eyes, he murmured a low, “please”.

Running your hand up his neck to cup his jaw, you tilted his head, pressing a line of kisses on his cheek. Once you reached his ear you sweetened your tone. “Please what…?” You released a quiet moan when he unintentionally caused his tip to graze your clit from a desperate jerk of his hips.

Applying more pressure to your waist, it took everything in him not to buck his hips in sync. “Please let me feel you…”. He tilted his head in your direction, nudging your cheek with his nose. “Please…”.

Turning your head to connect your lips, the kiss quickly deepened. Lifting your hips to leave enough space, you nipped at his bottom lip, voicing, “go ahead”. Cameron took your cue, reaching underneath your thigh to line himself up with your entrance. Beginning to gradually descend, you kept your gaze focused on his face to distract yourself from the increasing stretch. Lips parted in awe with his eyes zoned in on yours, he was officially gone. You blinked a few times, clenching around his dick after he fully bottomed out. Though the pressure was there, your arousal had soothed the feeling. Doing an experimental roll to test the pain, all you were met with was pleasure coiling tight in your stomach.

Unable to hold in a throaty groan, his hands wandered down to your ass then your thighs, gripping on for some sort of stability. Eyes threatening to roll back, he shut them. It was too much. The warmth and wetness coming from your walls… how perfect you looked in this position… then you started to move. Raising till just his tip was left inside, you came back down in one motion. Feeling you trail your hand over towards his cheek, Cameron heard you moan out, “look at me”. He listened, grunting when you repeated the action.

Both of your hands gravitating down to his chest, you start a steady rocking motion. Fluttering around his length, you moan, “Keep them just like that”. His eyes appearing even more hooded at this angle, he maintained heavy eye contact, watching you gyrate on him. “Can u do something for me baby?” Your voice was breathless, trying to contain how close you were already.

Cameron nodded, “anything”.

“Tell me when you’re close”. You did one last roll of your hips, planting your hands towards his shoulders. Digging your knees firmly into the bed, you repeatedly bounced up and down, gaining extra traction with his guidance. Watching as he struggled keeping his eyes open now, your lips quivered when he skimmed your g-spot. His breath was staggered, each slip back down sending a ripple of arousal traveling through his body. Pulsating at the feeling, you whimper, “F-fuck, Cam”. The vulgar wet noise increasing with every impale only spurred you on.

His gaze drifted lower, zoning in on your arousal pooling at the base of his dick. Hoarsely stuttering, “I-I’m close baby”, Cameron pulled you in flush against him. Firmly curling one arm around your waist, he gripped the back of your thigh with his free hand. Your head dropped to his shoulder, a high pitched moan tumbling out at the skin to skin contact. Continuing to guide your hips in a rocking motion, he kept your body locked in place, beginning to thrust upward, meeting you each time you sunk back down.

Chiming against his ear, “hold it”, your stomach thrummed as the knot tightened, threatening to come undone with every angled thrust. Vision slipping and the noises becoming uncontrollable now, you clawed down his abdomen. He flexed under your touch, speeding up the pace.

Everything felt too good. Your breasts swaying on his chest… your uneven pants for air flowing out directly into his ear drum… the rhythmic pattern of your pulses… everything. Through the influx of sensation, Cameron twitched, mumbling something incoherent in response. Sounding like a mixture of a groan and a plea, he repeated himself. “I can’t—”, exhaling with a grunt.

Voice trembling with your unsteady breath, you moan, “You said you’d do anything…”

Upon hearing your tone, Cameron quickly jumbled off, “I will, f-fuck I will, you know that”.

Whimpering, “show me”, that was all Cameron needed. He caught you off guard, snapping his hips up at an alarming speed now. Desperately grasping onto his arm, your body shook. Before your impending orgasm completely took over, you managed to stutter, “you can—, o-oh fuck, you can cum Cam! You can cum baby!”

As his entire body tensed, he was able to murmur a quiet, “thank you”, finishing with a hoarse groan. The sudden feeling of your palm resting on his cheek paired with one more drag of your hips made him swell. Nothing measured up to the way you felt wrapped around him. You clamped down hard, warmth oozing from your core and treading throughout your body, you closed your eyes. Shuddering, he coated your walls, prolonging your orgasm. You two came back down after several moments of listening to the quick thrum of your heartbeats. Starting to rub soft circles onto your skin, he kissed your shoulder. “How do you feel?”

Emitting a sigh of content, you hum, “like I could run ten laps. Of course, not physically right now but internally? Yeah”. Snickering when his laugh vibrated against your body, you lifted your head. “What about you hm?”

“Feel the exact same”. You leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss on his lips before resting your head back on his shoulder.

After cleaning up and getting comfortable under the covers now, you draped your leg over his hip. You focused on his chest, eyes absentmindedly following the movement of your finger trailing side to side. With his head slightly tilted down to see you clearly, Cameron was staring. He held onto your thigh, pondering over the proper way to make things official. Assuming that was already clear and asking outright at the moment both seemed too casual for options but he needed you to know he was serious. Breaking the silence, he blurted, “Can I take you out on a date today?” Heart rate speeding up when you lifted your eyes to meet his gaze, he cleared his throat, adding “in the evening I mean. For dinner if you’re free…?”

Lips curling into a smile, you noticed the thread of nervousness in his voice. Refraining from making a joke, you simply nodded, “and where will we be going?”

“I have a new place in mind. I promise you’ll like it though”.

“Oh, I see…”, you squinted, humming in response. “You must be trying to surprise me if that’s all the info I get”.

“I am”. He chuckled, “don’t expect me to tell you, it’s not going to work!”

You were well versed in pulling information out of him. “I won’t pry, I swear!” Despite his words, it would be extremely easy to get it out of him if you persisted. Deciding against doing so, you’d let him have this one and simmer in your curiosity until later. Your face subtly began to morph into concern when you spotted his eye bags. Making sure you were seeing properly, you tipped his chin downward, getting a closer look. “Have you been sleeping…?”

He hesitated before voicing, “Yeah”.

“Cam…”

His eyes briefly glanced away. “I have… not well but I have”. Seeing a small frown develop now, he tried to offset the mood with a laugh. “What? How bad do they look?!”

“It’s not that they look bad, I just— “, you paused, moving your hand back down to his chest. “I didn’t think you’d be losing sleep”.

“Shit I already knew when I left that night. Was gonna call you out of reflex so many times but I was really trying to give you space”. Breaking into a fit of laughter, you leaned against him, hiding your face. He began laughing with you, confused at your reaction. “What?”

After your laugh died down, you moved back, admitting, “I was too. I almost caved on like the third day, but I figured you wouldn’t feel like talking and I didn’t know what to say…”

“So, we went two weeks…” Briefly exchanging a similar look when the realization set in that the misery was mutual, you both immediately broke into a fit of laughter. “That can never happen again. Everything felt off during that time”.

Cameron chuckled when you extended your pinky. “Promise me right now that if we ever find ourselves no contact again, one of us will break the ice if it reaches three days”.

“I’m never letting that happen again but— “, he connected your pinkies, “I promise”. You leaned in, pressing a kiss on them to seal the deal. He did the same, muttering, “just for good measure”, before giving your lips a peck. Smiling against his mouth, you gave him another. Then one more until he caressed your cheek, pulling you closer.

Thank you for reading, feedback is always appreciated!