The following chapter contains explicit material intended for an 18+ audience ONLY.

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I stare at the $4,000 check in my hands, trying to decide if it was real.

It seemed pretty legit with its routing number and a shorthand signature from Michael Valentino at the bottom. I had applied for a few Graduate Assistant positions, but seeing as how it was the end of the semester, I hadn't heard back yet. I didn't think mentioning that to Mickey would make a difference, but I see now that I was wrong. I don't know whether to be pissed off, offended, or thankful. All I do know is that four grand is almost five months of rent.

What. The. Fuck.

I call him immediately, but he doesn't answer, so I hang up and send him a text.

Me: I don't know how 

much you think my rent 

is but I'm not cashing 

that fucking check

He texts me back immediately.

Mickey: Yes you are.

I am ready to tear it into shreds, but as I stare at it, I can't seem to go through with it. I don't think Mickey would ever ask for anything in return for his money, but I don't want to be put in the position anyway.

Me: No I'm not

Mickey: Yes.

You are.

Ugh! I don't have time to fight with him right now. My last final of the semester starts in one hour. I grab my bag and leave.

-

I have officially passed my last final. I only needed a 23 percent to keep my A in the class, so I wasn't too worried. Now, I am walking in the freezing cold, going to the coffee shop up the street to meet with Jenna and Emma. We were going to celebrate the last five minutes of our semester-locked friendship over coffee and baked goods. Hopefully, it would be their treat.

I walk in to find them sitting together at a little table in the corner, and make my way over.

"Hey, bitch!" Jenna says jokingly when she sees me.

"What's up, girl?" Emma greets me. I give each of them what will undoubtedly be our last hugs of the year. I sit next to them and take off my coat.

"Did you enjoy getting fucked by Jorgenson's test, too?" Emma asks.

Fun metaphor. "What? That test was easy," I tell them. They both roll their eyes.

"Just because you're a genius doesn't mean you can rub it in," Jenna scolds me.

"Are you guys doing anything tonight? We should ... celebrate our freedom," I suggest awkwardly.

"We'd love to, but we have the party tonight at Beta." A frat party? No thanks.

"It's fine. I get it," I smile at her. My phone chimes and I check it, hoping it was Mickey, but it's just a reminder. I debate texting him again.

"Have you seen your stud recently?" Jenna asks.

"A few weeks ago. Why?"

"When are you going to make it official?"

"Make what official?" I ask, very confused.

"You know ..." Jenna smiles at me. I don't know.

"Your relationship," Emma finishes for her.

My heart drops. I start to feel hot, but not in a good way. "Our ...? We're not ..." I'm so flustered I can't form a complete sentence.

I haven't been in a relationship since I was a teenager for a reason. I am my main priority. I don't need to be concerned with anyone else, so I won't even allow myself to try. Emilio ruined me in that way, but it wasn't his fault. He never asked me to love him. He never asked anything of me.

Thinking of him makes me sad, so I change the subject quickly. "Why do you think you have to be in a relationship with every person you have sex with, Em?"

She huffs. "Whatever, Pen. You're smart, pretty, and you snagged an Adonis. Stop bragging."

"Thank you," I laugh. "But I didn't snag him. You know what he does. That doesn't really put us in a committed relationship type of situation." They both look at me incredulously. "We just have a ... beneficial friendship."

"Yeah, okay," Jenna says. I shake my head at them both.

No one should ever be envious of my life. "So are you two going to keep giving me shit or are you going to buy me a muffin?" I ask with a smile.

♡♡♡

I make it home and walk past the stupid check again. I groan in frustration. I lie down on my bed and text him again.

Me: Just because I'm 

not taking your money 

doesn't mean you 

shouldn't talk to me

I stare at my phone, willing him to text me back. When the Skype call comes through, I smile and answer it.

"Hey," I say when I see him.

His hair is so long now, cascading in a Patrick Dempsey kind of way. He lies on his stomach in the bed, shirtless and propped up on his elbows. He runs his fingers into his hair and looks at me from beneath his brows. Damn. "Hey, gorgeous. How are you?"

"Better than before," I say, still drooling over him like a horny idiot.

"Good." He smiles sadly.

"How are you?"

He shrugs. "Worried. Feeling guilty. Hoping you're not regretting being with me."

I frown. "I told you I don't let myself regret things. Even if I knew then what I know now, I'd still happily let you fuck my brains out at work."

"Well, I still feel like shit for everything that happened."

"Don't. Seriously," I insist. "I have everything under control. I was able to delay my tuition payment until the end of January, and I have enough put away to cover my bills for the month. There are a lot of open positions on campus and think I'll be able to snag one, no problem."

"I'm really glad to hear that. But cash the check anyway, okay?"

I chuckle. "I'm not going to do that. That's way more than my rent, and you don't even owe me that."

"Just do it."

"Mickey, no."

He leans up and points at me. "Do it, or I will come up there with a bigger one and take you to the bank myself," he tries to scold, but he can't hide his smile.

I laugh. "Did you mean that to sound like a bad thing?"

He huffs. "You're incredibly stubborn, Penny. You're lucky you're so fucking cute," he says, making me giggle. There is a pause before he adds, "You should come visit."

"What?"

"You're done with finals now, right?"

"Yes."

"You could get on a plane tomorrow. Let me fly you out here. Stay with me for a couple weeks. Relax for a bit before school starts back."

I don't know what to say because I don't know what it means. I want to see him again, of course, but is it normal for friends to spend two weeks together out of state? But when I start to think of all the sex we could have in two weeks, my brain stops being rational.

"Is it warm there?" I ask.

He smiles happily. "The warmest."

♡♡♡

I arrive in LAX and bypass the huge crowd at the baggage claim. I love packing light for that reason alone. I walk out and see Mickey standing with a huge smile and holding a piece of paper with my name written on it.

I smile and run over to him. He wraps his arms around my middle and lifts me from my feet as he spins us around. I laugh and bury my head in his neck as I hug him. He sets me back down and immediately pulls me into a kiss.

His delicious lips are gentle but demanding. It feels much more passionate than platonic, as he places his hands at either side of my face. The kiss ends, and I look at him. "Hi."

"Hi," he says happily. He presses his lips against mine briefly once more. "Welcome!"

"Thank you. It's my first time. You'll have to show me what to do," I say cheekily with a grin.

He smiles laughingly. "Well, first of all, you won't be needing this," he says as he takes my coat off my shoulders. I chuckle. "Did you grab your luggage?"

"This is it." I point to my little carry-on, and Mickey looks at it quizzically.

"That's all? Did you bring sunglasses at least?"

"I did!" I dig into my bag and pull them out. I place them on my face and he grins.

"Good. You should leave them on at all times while we're leaving. Just in case."

"What? Why?"

"This is LAX. You'll see." He drapes my coat over his arm and picks up my suitcase. He holds his elbow out to me and I take it.

We walk outside, and sure enough, a couple people snap pictures of him as we walk through. "Mickey! Mickey Vale!" a photographer yells after us. Two more run up and start to snap pictures. I cover my face as Mickey ignores them, leading me across the crosswalk and into the parking garage. We walk up to a black and white BMW sports car that I don't recognize. He unlocks it and opens the passenger side door for me. I climb in.

I stroke my hands over the smooth, new leather, as he places my suitcase in the trunk and then climbs into the driver seat. He grins at me, before starting the car. The center panel lights up, but it makes no sound. "Is this electric?" I ask him.

"Yes. Sexual deviants care about the environment too." I laugh a little too hard.

♡♡♡

Mickey drives with one hand on my leg, occasionally tracing his fingers across my inner thigh.LA traffic is a serious bitch and it takes us forever to get back to his place.  When we finally make it to the high-rise apartment building, I'm beside myself with desire.

We go inside, and his apartment is so cool; white walls, porcelain floors, a single, long couch on a fuzzy white rug. Floor-to-ceiling windows look over a pool and cliffs in the distance. His bedroom is tucked away to the side and is only big enough for a bed a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. The whole apartment is smaller than I expected, only slightly larger than mine.

"Your place is awesome," I tell him, even though I don't care much about it.

"Glad you like it." He looks down at me, and a sexy smile spreads across his face.

I take one look at him, and my breathing shallows. I want him. Now. I drop my purse on the ground and pull his face to mine.

His lips feel amazing against mine. He returns my fervent kisses with his own, teasing my tongue with the tip of his. We move backward towards the bedroom as we tear at each other's clothing.

He sits me on the low bed and takes off his shirt. I unfasten his belt, unzip his fly, and find him already hard. I look up at him questioningly, and he gives me a little nod. I take my cue, sliding him into my mouth. I work him up and down with my mouth, swirling my tongue around the tip as I grip the base tightly. He moans and flexes his hips, and I take him deep, relaxing my throat to sink him as far as I can manage. He runs his fingers into my hair and holds my head still as he begins to thrust gently into my mouth. I look up at him, seeing his face twisted into that gorgeous, tensed expression.

Suddenly, he groans and withdraws. He pulls off my pants and underwear and pushes me onto my back. He leans over and kisses me, running a hand through my folds. He growls. "Why are you so wet already?" he says, sliding his fingers inside me easily.

I moan as he teases my g-spot. "Why do you always make me wait so long?" I smile mischievously.

He removes his fingers, and before placing them in his mouth. I shiver excitedly as he rolls on the condom and takes his place between my legs. He pushes into me slowly and I groan as I stretch around him. He spreads my legs wide as he stays on his feet, pressing both hands against my lower stomach, creating pleasurable pressure as he thrusts into me slowly.

He leans forward slightly, running his hand over my breasts as he maintains his even pace.

He moans, "Fuck, I missed you."

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A/N: Don't forget to vote, comment, and add to your library if you want more!