Millie lay on the bed, her arms under the pillow, wondering when everything had changed.

Truth be told, the moment she'd realized why Davyn had brought her to his new studio, she'd been sacred. Terrified, really. It subsided when he didn't push. It disappeared completely the moment he dropped her on the bed and let her take the lead and touch him.

Even with her lack of experience, it had all felt so natural. How he took the lead, how he taught her there was a lot more to sex than just getting it done. How even when it came to that point, he'd let her set the pace. And once she decided to go all in, it was his turn.

She abandoned herself completely to him, just enjoying the feeling of belonging, of love and passion and so much pleasure. She hadn't ever considered her body could feel that way, not even when fantasizing about him. About them. Reality had trumped her fantasies and Davyn was so much more than she could've possibly imagined.

The light of morning painted landscapes on the hardwood floor. She could hear him moving in the kitchen, could smell food, but she couldn't get out of that bed. A part of her was scared that if she did, her happiness would dissolve.

Davyn came towards the bed, holding a plate in his hand. He sat next to her, holding it in front of her. There were pancakes there with syrup and strawberries on top.

"Hungry?" he asked.

She turned to look at him, embarrassment twisting her stomach. "You made these?"

"Especially for you."

The embarrassment turned into butterflies, but she wasn't quick enough to react because he placed them on her nightstand.

"Whenever you're ready."

"Thank you." She rolled to her back, clutching the cover to her chest and watched him move to the other side of the bed and lay on it, hands under his head, elbows spread out. He was only wearing his jeans and he looked incredible.

So much had happened and yet here they were, on the same bed, laying in silence. She couldn't stand the silence, but there was so much going on inside her, she couldn't know where to begin. As easy as it had been to give in to her desires, it was a lot harder to come to terms with what she had done.

Yes, she'd loved it. But what did it say about her? About them?

"I..."

"Yes?" There was a lazy smile on his face and his eyes were closed.

"You were..."

"Incredible? Yes, you mentioned that last night. You even shouted it a few times."

Heat crept to her cheeks, but there was nothing to say to that. He was right and she remembered mentioning it. She also remembered what he'd said in return.

"Did you mean it? That you've never been with someone like me before?"

He turned to his side and leaned over her, so close that their noses touched. "I do mean it. You're something else. I feel like you're truly mine, made especially for me. And trust me, that trumps everything."

Her happiness was so complete, she didn't know what to do with it. "That's amazing because I was afraid that I'd be a bumbling newbie."

He traced his fingers down her cheek and her entire body shuddered. "Oh, no. Far from that. Didn't I mention you might just have a special talent for this?"

Yes, he had, and even if it first scared her, made her feel a little dirty, now she was beyond happy about it. "Well, good. Because I wanted to return at least a fraction of the favor."

"Oh, you did, and then some." He kissed her ear, then her neck. "There's still so much to learn, to explore. And I'm very much looking forward to it."

So was she. She turned towards him, kissing him, pressing her body against his. He slid his arms under the covers, pushing them away so that they could be skin on skin. It was the most amazing feeling and she wanted nothing more than to spend the day there, in bed with him. But they couldn't.

She groaned and pulled back. "Why must we go to school?"

"Well, it's not like we have to. But you should before Max or your roommates panic." He looked around the place with a pensive expression. "Plus, I should really get some furniture."

She giggled, though she didn't care. As long as the bed was there, it was enough for her. And she couldn't believe that thought had come from her. He'd been right when he'd warned her. Being his girlfriend had plunged her into something much deeper than she could have anticipated.

"Want to come back here after school?" he asked, his tone casual.

Of course, but she still couldn't admit it like that. "Do you have plans to teach me more things?"

"Oh, yes. Definitely. Much to learn. Much to practice." He studied her up and down. "Yes, things could get interesting."

She didn't think she could take more interesting, but seeing as she didn't think she could take this much either, she suspected he'd prove her wrong. So instead of bantering with him, she behaved like a good girl, took a shower, and got back into her dirty clothes. As she braided her hair, she noticed Davyn analyzing her. He'd put on his t-shirt as well, and looked ready to go.

"What?" she asked, twisting her hair out of reflex.

"Next time you'll need to take a shower, I'd love to wash your hair."

"Wash my hair? But you'd get wet."

The smoldering look he gave her made her realize she'd missed some hidden meaning behind his words. He was quick to set the record straight.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll already be wet since I'd be in the shower with you."

Her heart jumped into her throat as her imagination played that scenario inside her head. The thought of water running down his body had her mouth running dry. Then the foam, slipping her hands over him...

"Don't look at me like that, darling, or we're doing it right now. And you do need to get to school or Max might hurt himself trying to defend your honor."

"You don't need to worry about Max. He doesn't butt into my business."

"Oh, I'm not worried about him." He leaned over her, that evil twinkle in his eyes. "I'm not worried about anyone. Because if you want this, no one can stop us."

She did want this. More than she cared to admit. She didn't regret giving herself to him for one single second. But he was right. They needed to get to school unless they wanted to spend the entire day wrapped around each other in bed. And even if she wanted that, she still had enough sense to know it was not what she was supposed to do.

♣️

Millie stayed on Davyn's mind for most of the day, and he wondered why it had taken him so long to get this far with her. Not like he'd ever had to court anyone before. But neither had it ever mattered so much before, so maybe courtship did have its advantages.

All his patience and missed opportunities had given him something special. Someone who was just what he was looking for. There was no longer any doubt about it. He didn't regret telling her that he loved her, because, in his own way, he did.

He placed his books in his locker, scheming, wondering how to go about it that night, what teasing game to play with her before getting it on. That was the best part, really. That once Millie was no longer afraid, there was so much more they could do, so much they could try. And she seemed so open to everything. The fire inside her was blazing. And his throwaway shower comment had drilled a mental image into his head that he wanted to make a reality.

"Seriously? Her?"

Davyn jumped as Maddie leaned her shoulder against the locker next to his. Her reddish hair was caught in a high ponytail and she wore her cheerleader uniform.

"Oh, hi Maddie." He'd sounded bored, but he was and he saw no point to hide it.

"Out of all the other girls-- decent girls-- in this school, you had to go for the dirty art nerd?"

Her words, as silly and as juvenile as they sounded, sparked an instant anger inside him. He slammed his locker shut, and she jumped back.

"You know what makes the dirty art nerd a lot more interesting than you? The fact that you know nothing about her and you actually have to get to know her."

Maddie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Give me a break. I've asked around. She's boring as fuck!"

He really didn't have the time or the patience for this. "No, she's not. Unlike you, she's not a walking cliché."

"I can't believe you're defending her!"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation," he retorted, imitating her much-too-dramatic tone. "What do you care anyway?"

"Is she your girlfriend?" Maddie insisted.

Davyn was a second away from telling her to mind her own business, but this was a test. And not a test in which he had to prove something to the head cheerleader, but one in which he had to prove something to himself and to Millie.

"Yes, she is."

Maddie huffed again, though there was a definite shadow on her face which proved she didn't like the news. "I can't believe you!"

"Why do you care anyway? We never dated. We just slept together a bunch of times."

Maddie's eyes filled with tears but she held them back. "You're such an idiot!"

No, he wasn't. He knew what she meant. He just didn't care. "No, I'm not. I never promised you anything. You knew my reputation. If anyone's the idiot here, it's you."

"Does she know your reputation?"

He shrugged. "I don't know and I don't care."

"Maybe someone should warn her against you."

"Maybe everyone should mind their own fucking business." The warning came out a little too harsh and there was a flicker of fear on Maddie's face. With the message sent, he needed to tone it down a little, so he shrugged and opened the locker again. "You're graduating in two weeks. What do you care?"

Her shoulders sagged and the tears slid down her face. "Dav, seriously now."

"Seriously what, Maddie?" He raised his eyebrows.

"How can you be so cold?"

"I'm being honest. You're being dramatic."

She opened her mouth but no words came out. Then she let out a frustrated shriek and stomped away, punching a random locker on her way out. He shook his head, glad he wouldn't have to see her again. All the other girls he'd been with had gotten the message loud and clear. It was obviously her problem.

"Was that Maddie Silverman?"

Davyn cursed inside his head. Out of all the times Millie could decide to be around, why did it have to be now? But she closed in on him, arms filled with books.

With a heavy sigh, he closed his locker again. "Yes, it was."

Millie seemed fascinated, her gaze drifting over her shoulder even if Maddie was long gone. "What did she want?"

He considered what to answer for a moment, but if he wanted this thing with her to go somewhere serious, he needed to be honest. "To bitch about you, really."

"Me?" Millie's full attention was now on him. "Why?"

"Remember when I kissed you in front of everyone? Well, apparently now that's coming back to bite me in the ass seeing as exams are over."

"Oh." She stood in silence for a minute. "But why would she care in the first place." Her eyes widened in sudden understanding and he hated that she couldn't just stay ignorant about this. "Did you and her...?"

Shit. But she'd made her choice when she'd made him her boyfriend. "I think we already established that I don't date. Or at least didn't until you. And no girlfriends." She did not look appeased so he added, "If you want to know if I had sex with her, the answer is yes."

Millie flinched and looked away. He placed a hand on her shoulder to test the waters, and when she didn't pull back, he took it as a good sign, and wrapped her in his arms.

"I told you this," he mumbled. "I warned you about it."

"You warned me about something vague and scary," she said into his shoulder.

"And what category does this fall into? I warned you about how I see relationships. You want me? You get me, brutal honesty included. If you'd rather not know things, don't ask. I won't bring up things that could hurt you. But I won't lie to you either."

She raised her face and there was hope in her eyes. "You don't want to hurt me?"

There was a very unpleasant tightening in his chest. "Your bar is very low, darling. I'm not sure if I shouldn't be offended. Of course I don't want to hurt you, and that's definitely something that should come with the territory, not something you should be swooning about."

She gave a light shrug. "Yes, maybe, but you just sent the future prom queen away crying. Allow me to enjoy that it was to my benefit."

He narrowed his eyes. "I didn't know you had this mean, spiteful side to you."

She just gave a sort of half-shrug. "I've been pushed around by people like her for years. It's good to see they don't always win."

"Yeah, that's true. They don't." But the thought was strangely bitter.

"I sort of wanted to talk to you about something, though," she said.

The meekness in his voice had him snapping out of his contemplative state. His first thought was that she would no longer come over that night which already fueled the light anger Maddie had awoken.

"What's wrong?"

"Well..." She glanced at the books she was holding. "I've been thinking and it's... There's just not enough time!"

This was new. "What do you mean?"

"We only have two weeks of school left." Her words became faster and faster, like an avalanche making its way down the side of a mountain, gathering speed. " There's what now? Your last game, the prom, graduation and then..."

"Summer break. Yes, that's how a school year usually works."

"I'll have to go home," she said, raising her eyes to him. "And heaven only knows what you decide to do. You won't be here next year. You won't..." Her voice faded.

And he finally got it. He'd never thought about it because it was silly, but now that she mentioned it, he could totally see how it was an earth-shattering problem for her.

"I'll still be here. My studio is ten minutes away. Why do you think I got one so close to school?"

Hope filled her eyes and his heart seemed to grow in size as he witnessed how he drove her fears away.

"We still have the two weeks. After that, yes, you'll have to pop home, but we'll figure something out." He placed a hand on her cheek and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm not letting you go. You signed up for this, my obsessions included."

"I don't want to let you go either," she whispered. "I was just so scared to lose you now that I've just found you."

"You won't." He planted a quick kiss on her lips. "Now tell me, why mention prom at all? Are you hoping for an invite?"

Her cheeks turned crimson and he loved that look on her. "I've never been to prom, but that doesn't mean that I want to go. But if you do go to senior prom and you'd like to have me along..."

"I'd rather have you in an entirely different way than a prop at a party neither of us cares about."

She grinned and it meant a lot that they were on the same page with this, even if he couldn't tell why. It was such a small thing.

"So... Are we still up for tonight?"

Her attempt to keep her voice breezy almost made him laugh. "Of course. I'll pick you up at 9. Will there be any problems with your roommates?"

Millie shook her head. "No. They're actually being quite supportive."

He squinted at her. "Did you tell them?" Not that he minded, but he hadn't expected her to come clean about something like that to other people. He could still detect a bit of embarrassment abojt the whole thing from her part.

"Well, no, but it was very easy for them to guess and I just didn't deny it. Anyway, Diana had some ideas and--" She cut herself off.

"Did she now?" As far as he remembered, Diana was the one with the dress and the heels so her ideas might not be so bad, especially if they would include more dresses. And heels.

"Yeah, well... I'd rather it be a surprise." And she gave him a sheepish smile.

"Okay, fine. I like surprises."

"Good." She raised on the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on his lips. "See you tonight."

That he would. And he really looked forward to it.

♣️

I was lying last time. You do get a little bit more bliss. They get to go deeper into their relationship and actually make plans for the future. And imagine that. Millie isn't freaking out.

Time for something interesting to happen, right? Let's see how that will go.

Thanks so much for your support and don't forget to vote and comment.