CHAPTER 95: PLEASE DON’T STOP LOOKING AT ME THAT WAY

Dominic had fallen asleep, finally after completely wrecking me in every possible way.

His breathing was calm, one arm flung over his forehead, the other resting over my waist, like he forgot how to let go of me even in sleep.

I didn’t sleep.

I couldn’t.

I didn’t want to move either. Didn’t want to wake him.

I just... lay there, watching him.

I’d never really looked at someone like this before. Not just watched them, but seen them. Seen the way his lashes curled over his cheek, how the corners of his mouth twitched slightly like he was dreaming about something. How he looked so beautiful.

God.

He gave me the best feeling of my life.

My fingers twitched, wanting to reach up and brush his hair back. I just studied him, memorizing the tiny details. The way his soft lips looked swollen, still a little red from kissing me every minute.

The faint scar above his brow I’d never noticed until now. The sound he made when he exhaled, like even in his sleep, he was relaxed, peaceful. Nothing like the seductive guy who’d just made me see stars an hour ago.

I reached up, letting my fingertips move over the curve of his jaw. He scratched where I touched him and I just chuckled.

I could still feel him everywhere. The heat between my thighs, the softness of his tongue on my dick.

He made me feel wanted.

That’s what scared me most.

Because what if he didn’t feel it the same way tomorrow?

What if this version of us didn’t survive outside the warmth of this bed?

What if this was just sex to him?

I rolled onto my side, resting my head gently against his chest, listening to the slow, steady beat of his heart.

It calmed something in me.

How soft he’d been with me. How he never pushed me. How he kissed my trembling thighs and swallowed my cum. How he wiped me clean after. Carried me to the bathroom. Tucked me into bed like I was his boyfriend.

And maybe that was okay.

I closed my eyes, and whispered.

"Please don’t stop looking at me the way you did tonight. I love you."

I didn’t expect him to wake up. I didn’t say it for that.

I just... needed to say it. Needed to get it out of my chest.

He didn’t move. Just exhaled gently, like he’d heard me in a dream.

I let my eyes close, slowly, letting our skin press together.

I loved him. And I wasn’t scared of admitting it anymore.

The Next Morning

I woke up first, blinking at the light seeping through the blinds.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

I yawned, then rubbed my eyes and squinted at the screen: 9:02AM

Shit, I’d overslept.

There was a new email.

From: Blackwell Admin

Subject: Final Hearing Decision

My whole chest stuttered.

I sat up in bed slowly, careful not to wake Dominic. My fingers hovered over the screen.

I wasn’t ready. I just stared at the subject line.

I was too scared to hope.

What if it was a no? What if they took away the scholarship after everything?

But I tapped it open anyway.

Congratulations, Ash Rivera.

You passed your hearing.

You are to resume classes on Monday. Your scholarship has been fully reinstated. Welcome back to Blackwell Academy.

For a second, I didn’t move. I just stared at it.

Then I squealed, slapping a hand over my mouth before I could wake the entire world.

But it was too late.

Dominic groaned beside me, rubbing his eyes. His hair stuck up in five different directions, and he blinked at me like I’d just woken him up.

"...Someone looks happy," he mumbled, his voice was raspy. "Good morning, Rivera."

I turned to him, bouncing a little beside him.

"Guess what?"

He groaned, stretching. "You won a lottery."

"No, dickhead," I laughed, shoving his shoulder. "I got my scholarship back."

That made him blink faster. "Wait! Really?"

"Really." I held up the phone. "Just got the email. I can go back to school tomorrow. Everything’s back."

His smile lit up instantly. That warm, proud, sleepy kind of smile. "Yayyy," he yawned, reaching out to ruffle my hair. "Told you you’d get it. They’d have been dumb not to. You’re too smart, Rivera. And you’re pretty. It’s unfair."

I couldn’t stop grinning.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For helping me... for believing in me. I don’t think I could’ve done any of it without you."

He opened his eyes more fully this time, then leaned over and kissed my cheek. "That’s what I’m here for," he whispered. "To remind you how brilliant you are."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my smile.

"You’re so pretty when you’re happy," he whispered. "I love it."

"You’re just horny," I smirked, pointing to his hard on.

"Also true," he grinned. "It’s my morning reaction sleeping next to you."

I laughed, then rested my forehead against his.

He grinned lazily. "You sure you don’t wanna celebrate by letting me...." He sat up straighter, tugging me down onto the bed again

"Dom! Noo."

He scoffed and folded his arms. "Fine. What time is it anyway?"

I checked my phone again. "9:15."

"Shit."

He bolted up, pushing the blanket off. "I gotta go. I have hockey practice with Ian and the twins at ten, and I haven’t even showered. I missed the whole damn week.

He was already moving, grabbing his jeans from the floor, tossing on his hoodie, searching for his socks like his life depended on it.

"So you’re leaving me to wake up all alone, huh?"

"No baby. You’re so dramatic," he said, chuckling as he buttoned his pants. "And spoiled."

Then, before I could say anything, he bent down and kissed me. "You better rest today. You deserve it."

He paused, pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, then looked back at me.

"Check your account."

My phone buzzed.

I opened it.

$500.00 received – Dominic Vale

"Just sent you 500. Get something for Alia.

And get real food this time, not just cold cereal. Okay?"

I stared at him, still curled up in the blanket. "Thank you. You spoil me."

"Shhh. I’m your sugar daddy," he walked over, ruffled my hair. "Let me spoil you. I like it."

He grabbed his jacket off the floor, slung it on. Then he turned back toward the bed to hug me.

"I love you," i said quietly, like it still caught me by surprise.

His eyes widened, as he pulled away from the hug.

"I love you too." He smiled.

I followed him downstairs in just a hoodie, barefoot on the steps. He opened the front door, tossed his phone and charger into the passenger seat of his car.

He turned, smiled. "Text me if you need anything. And tell Alia not to kick anyone this week."

I laughed. "I’d try."

He leaned over the car door. "I’ll see you later, baby."

"Go before I change my mind and drag you back upstairs," I rolled my eyes.

He laughed, then slid into the car and pulled the door shut.

"Drive safe."

He started the engine, and drove off.

I stood on the porch for a while, watching his car pull away.

"I love you so much, Dominic Vale."