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Chapter Nineteen

The movie is fine. It's typical in the most commercial way, but that's what sells these days.

They have to make it palatable for everyone so it can be successful.

I'm practically looking at my own future since I'm doing the same thing.

Changing what I'd normally write to be more commercial and successful.

"So your roommates are gone?" says Sasha, casually eating popcorn as we stretch out on her sofa.

"Yeah, they left two days ago." I don't know why Sasha cares.

"Check it out, the asshole hero is helping our heroine recover from a cold even though they're rivals. We've reached the shift in feelings moment," she points out. "How long are they gone for?"

"Uh, a week, I think, but they didn't really share their plans with me." I try not to sound too bitter. "We're not that close." Apparently .

"Overall, the structure of this rivalry is quite well done," says Sasha, switching topics seamlessly again and nearly giving me mental whiplash. "The author is setting clear boundaries for her characters to push while also propping up the entire story."

"I like the banter." I snag a handful of popcorn.

"We're supposed to be analyzing the breakdown of the story points," says Sasha, giving me a look.

"Banter can help support a storyline by displaying their rivalry and how well they can break down each other's barriers by pushing the right buttons.

" But really, I just enjoy it. The story is cute and fun, and I've been rooting for the characters to get together from the beginning.

Not that I had any doubt they wouldn't, since this is a romance and a happy ending for the main characters is required.

"Are they dating anyone?"

"No, she used that guy at the beginning to make the hero jealous because she wasn't dating anyone, remember?"

"I'm not talking about the movie," clarifies Sasha. "I mean your roommates. Are any of them dating anyone?"

Is she asking because she wants me to hook up with my roommates? Have my very own little romance story where I fall for one of them? Because that's not happening. I have a very solid working arrangement with them, nothing more. But there's no way I can tell her about this.

"Why do you ask?" I say slowly. I'm not sure where this conversation is headed.

"They never bring any girls home?" asks Sasha, still not looking at me.

"They don't actually leave the house very often so they'd have a hard time bringing a girl home." And also that would be against our agreement. I think. I'm really not sure, but now I'm definitely going to ask.

Sasha doesn't say anything else, just keeps slowly eating popcorn and watching the movie.

I'm not paying any attention to the screen now, though.

She's not interested in my roommates, is she?

She's never even seen them before, let alone met them.

No, it's much more likely that she's working up some scheme to hook me up with one of them.

If she only knew.

There's a sudden flutter in my pussy, and I nearly jump off the sofa. What the fuck was that?

Then there's another. Two little separate flutters, and finally I remember that stupid egg Helix gifted me. I'd completely forgotten it's still inside me. If I'd known the egg would vibrate all of a sudden, I wouldn't have left the house wearing it. What the hell could have set it off?

It buzzes again, and I freeze, realization dawning.

They wouldn't. No, my roommates wouldn't have remotes for this toy. And even if they did, it wouldn't work across such long distances. The idea is ridiculous.

Still, as discretely as possible so as not to draw Sasha's attention, I slip my phone out of my purse and text the group chat.

What type of toy did you say this egg was again?

Helix responds instantly. Is the toy inside you right now?

Yes! And it did something. Could it be broken? How concerned should I be?

Like this? texts Lionel. The message is immediately followed by another quick buzz that has me drawing up my legs so I don't react too much. I can't believe Sasha isn't noticing any of this.

What the hell are you doing? I text. I'm out at my friend's house right now. She's sitting right next to me.

Lol. That's not a good place for you to be right now . Helix is laughing at me. I can practically picture his expression, and I want to reach through the phone and smack him. This is not funny.

There's more buzzing, and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out.

I can't leave in the middle of a movie .

Sure you can . Lionel again. You stand up and walk out the door to head home .

No .

Suit yourself , texts Helix. And this time the buzzing is so intense I do cry out. I try to stifle it with a cough, but Sasha finally looks over, frowning.

"Are you okay?" she asks. "Why are you on your phone? We're supposed to be analyzing the story points in this movie."

"Actually, something came up. A family thing." I hold up my phone as if it's my excuse but am careful not to show her the screen. Just in case. "We can do a full analyzing session next time, but I really have to go now."

"Fine," says Sasha, sitting back. "At your place, though."

"Sure, not a problem, bye." I don't even care what I'm agreeing to. That's a problem for later. Right now, I need to get out of this apartment before my legs refuse to move and I completely embarrass myself.

The now nonstop vibrations in my pussy are so intense I need to hold on to the railing in the elevator. Thank god there's no one else in there.

I'm leaving now , I text. I'll let you know when I'm home .

Hopefully they stop with the egg in the meantime, because I'm not sure how I'll hold myself up enough to walk to the train station if they don't. I could take it out, but I'm not quite desperate enough to yank down my jeans and stick my fingers inside myself in public.

While some people here in the city do that, I definitely don't.

Thankfully this ridiculous egg stopped vibrating long enough for me to get home, but I was on edge the entire train ride, waiting for it to start up again at the most inconvenient time.

Are you home yet? texts Miles just as I'm dropping my purse on my desk.

Just got upstairs , I text back.

Ender wants you in his room tonight , Helix types.

I freeze. Do I pretend I don't know who he's talking about?

My roommates have called each other by their gamer names a few times in my presence and I've never really asked them about it before so maybe it would be weird to do so now.

But I also don't want to give myself away that I've been watching their live streams.

Where is Ender? texts Quintin. Why is he not here?

The phone starts ringing with an incoming video call before there's a response. I answer it, and everyone but Ethan looks out at me from my phone screen.

"He was being dodgy earlier when I talked to him," says Helix, picking up the conversation right where it left off. "All he'd say was that if Clarissa was going to start sleeping in our beds, then he wanted her in his tonight."

"Wait, we get to have Clarissa in our beds now?" asks Lionel. "When did we decide this?"

"We didn't. Clarissa did," says Helix.

"You never told me this," Miles complains. "What happened?"

Helix grins. "Clarissa was missing me yesterday so she climbed into my bed and asked me to help her with her needs."

"Juke! I call juke," says Quintin.

"No, seriously. It happened. She looked sexy as fuck naked on my sheets," Helix announces, still grinning ear to ear.

"Do you need me here for this conversation?" I roll my eyes as I move from my bedroom to Ethan's. They're so caught up in their fight they won't even notice that I know who Ender is. Besides, even if they do, he's the only one of our group who isn't here so it's fairly obvious.

"Of course we do," says Lionel, surprised. "Since you're moving beds now. Which day can I get you in mine?"

Miles taps a finger against his chin. "We can create a rotating schedule when we get back."

"Fine, but I'm holding you to that," Lionel retorts.

"Right now, we have a better plan than making a schedule," says Miles, smirking.

"That's very true," says Quintin. "Let me get comfortable here."

I notice that they're all in or on their beds as they adjust pillows and blankets. I slide into Ethan's bed. Like Helix's, it's super comfy. They definitely sprang for the good mattresses. Lucky me, now I get to reap the enjoyment.

"Okay, what's happening exactly?" I ask once I'm situated.

There's another flutter of the egg in my pussy and I can't help but arch my back a little.

"That's what's happening," says Helix, wearing the same wolfish grin that he had on last night when he realized where I was sleeping.

"We figured you'd be lonely without us, and we know how much you love your vibrator," says Quintin.

"But this way we get to be part of it." Miles smiles as his hand slips beneath his blankets. "Right there with you."

"So you're controlling this?" I cross my legs, twisting under the covers as the flutters change rhythm.

"Not just me," says Miles. "We're taking turns."

"Tell us what you usually like when you touch yourself," says Helix, laying on top of his blankets as his hand snakes out of view below the camera.

I'm not sure how to fully describe what I enjoy.

When I'm alone, I usually focus on direct continual stimulation to my clit until I come, but I suspect that's not going to be exciting enough for them.

I try to think of other things I can say.

I've loved everything my roommates have done when they've touched me.

And I love watching them touch themselves.

Maybe I can use some of that to spin a sexy enough story for them.

"We never really did get to see much during our deal," Quintin points out.

"Although we're not complaining about what happened," says Lionel. "Just to be clear."

"That whole evening was bomba," agrees Quintin.

"Take off your shirt, Clarissa," Miles says. "We want to see all of your pleasure."