This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents portrayed in this book are either the product if the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is coincidental and not intended by the author. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are only used for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.
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What happens when you fall in love with your roommate?
Asher
The emotions that I tried to hide behind the constant bickering are finally out there.
Our never-ending fighting stops. The dinners I make for us have become a routine.
The next thing I know, my roommate is my boyfriend, and everything is falling into place.
Noah
Until everything falls apart. All Asher wants to do is shield me from the hardened world around us, but the one thing he can’t protect me from is myself.
Will Asher and Noah’s love be strong enough to survive life’s twists, or will the imperfections overwhelm the happiness it can bring?
Protect You is the second book in the Beaumont University series, where each book follows a new couple through their journey to an HEA. This book is an MM romance in a college setting with roommates-to-lovers, a size difference, and a virgin MC.
Authors Note
Hello readers!
Many times as readers we read many different stories to escape real life for a little while. And while I would love for you to start this story right away, I understand that some readers have triggers and it can affect them while they're reading a story and I would hate for you to come across something that upsets you without knowing what to expect. I also know that people have
different triggers and what affects one person may not affect the next. On the next page, I have listed the possible triggers for this story. If you do not need to read the content warnings, please skip the next page. If you are a reader who needs it, please make sure you do read the following page. Thank you for taking the time to read Asher and Noah.
-AshleyRayne
Content Warnings
Although handled with the utmost care, this story includes content that may be uncomfortable for some readers. This story includes on page content of
prescription medication abuse/addiction
For those readers who need to know specifics, the prescription medication is Adderall which is most commonly used with ADHD. I took time to make sure I handled this content as careful as I could, but please also remember this is a fiction story. I understand if you need to skip this one, however, I hope you pick up another book of mine in the future.
If you or someone you know struggles with substance abuse please contact your national hotline.
Please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline or at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
1. Chapter One
2. Chapter Two
3. Chapter Three
4. Chapter Four
5. Chapter Five
Table of Contents
6. Chapter Six
7. Chapter Seven
8. Chapter Eight
9. Chapter Nine
10. Chapter Ten
11. Chapter Eleven
12. Chapter Twelve
13. Chapter Thirteen
14. Chapter Fourteen
15. Chapter Fifteen
16. Chapter Sixteen
17. Chapter Seventeen
18. Chapter Eighteen
19. Chapter Nineteen
20. Chapter Twenty
21. Chapter Twenty-One
22. Chapter Twenty-Two
23. Chapter Twenty-Three
24. Chapter Twenty-Four
25. Chapter Twenty-Five
26. Chapter Twenty-Six
27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
29. Epilogue
30. Extended Epilogue
31. Thank You
32. Also By Ashley Rayne
33. About the Author
34. Acknowledgements
35. Stalk Me
Chapter One
Asher
“Fuck, you’re so tight.”
Another loud guttural moan hits my ears and I roll over, yanking my cotton pillow over my head. Ugh. Not again. I love that two of my roommates figured their shit out and got together, but I also really love my sleep. And lately that hasn’t been happening as often with all the porn noises coming from the bedroom down the hall. If only I had the room downstairs. I bet Noah doesn’t have to deal with all this ridiculousness.
Even though I might sound a little salty, I’m genuinely happy for them. Except for times like this, when it’s glaringly obvious that I’ve been stuck in a rut. All the sex noises just remind me of the sex I am not getting. And haven’t been getting in a while.
Grabbing my phone off the side table, I look at the time. 7:45. Might as well get up anyway. Moving quickly, I shower in the bathroom in the main hall and get dressed. As I’m passing Carter’s door, I bang on it loudly and smirk when Carter yelps. Yeah, fuckers, you’re not quiet. We can hear you.
Rushing down the stairs, I reach the kitchen, skidding to a stop when I see Noah at the kitchen counter. He’s sitting on a barstool at
the counter, shirtless, eating a bowl of cereal, a look of concentration on his face. His hair is a mess of brown, untamed curls that I would love to run my hands through. My fingers are always itching to touch him, to pull his body against mine.
Noah was a new roommate at the beginning of this school year. Carter, West and I met him at a pride event before the school year started and as soon as I laid eyes on him, I was smitten. He’s the complete opposite of me in the looks department. Where I’m big and bulky, he’s small and petite. A true twink. He has these gorgeous brown curls and vivid green eyes I could easily get lost in. I’m still staring when Noah looks up and groans, causing me to flinch and quickly close my eyes.
I don’t know when it happened, but for some reason, everything I do sets Noah off. If I’m lucky, he’ll be playful with me, but 99% of the time he treats me like I’m a bug he wants to squash. If I didn’t know any better, I would think it’s some type of foreplay, but Noah has never given any indication that he sees me that way.
“What’s up?” I ask him as I head toward the pantry to see what food we have.
“Nothing really. I start the new job at the coffee shop today. Thanks again for showing it to me. I owe you,” he says before shoveling another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
“Of course, man. It’s no problem.”
I don’t know much about Noah’s home life, but I know his parents don’t have a lot of money. They weren’t able to afford for Noah to go home for the summer, so he was looking for a part-time job to help him with some extra cash. There’s this coffee shop near the university that I favor, and when I saw they were hiring, I let Noah know. Luckily for me, I’m friends with Trish, the manager of Brewz, so I was able to put in a good word for him.
I snatch a granola bar from the pantry and walk over to the counter. Unwrapping the bar, I take a big bite just as West and Carter stroll into the kitchen. I make eye contact with West and raise my eyebrow.
“Thanks for the show,” I joke.
West smirks like the cat that ate the canary, while Carter groans softly.
“Sorry man. I know it’s not something you wanna hear, but also, I’m not sorry, ‘cause damn…” West says, while Carter’s face turns beet red, and he smacks his chest playfully.
“God, you’re incorrigible,” Carter whispers before turning and nuzzling into West’s chest.
Noah drops his spoon in his bowl with a loud ting and pushes it away from him on the counter.
“And on that note, I’m no longer hungry.”
We all laugh as I walk over to the fridge and grab two cold bottles of water. I close the door with my hip and make my way next to Noah. Setting the water bottle down in front of him, I have to hide a smile when he twists open the cap and takes a sip.
“What time are you heading over to Brewz?” I ask.
Noah looks at his phone and then jumps off the stool. “Shit. I have to be there in an hour. I need to start getting ready.” He heads toward the hallway before he pauses and turns around. “Do you guys wanna stop by today?” A smile overtakes my face at the thought of him wanting me to be there.
“Duh. You thought you would have your first day, and we wouldn’t come?”
West seconds what I say. “Of course, we’re coming. You couldn’t keep us away.”
Noah smiles and my heart stops. His grin could end all wars. It’s a huge, bright smile that transforms his entire face. His eyes crinkle in the corners, and it shows off his straight white teeth. If you thought Noah was gorgeous before, it doesn’t hold a candle to when he’s happy.
“Thanks guys,” he says before he leaves the kitchen to get ready.
I’m still staring after him when a throat clears, and I glance to the right. Carter is smiling and West slowly shakes his head. They don’t even have to say anything. I already know I’m so fucked when it comes to Noah. Shrugging, I avert my eyes and change the subject before they can say something.
“When are you guys heading home?” I ask, grabbing my granola bar off the counter and finishing it.
West and Carter are going home for the summer. They only live an hour away from BU, the university we all attend, but it’s still going to be weird having an empty house. Our other roommate, Ronan, left a couple of days ago to head home for the summer too.
Carter walks over and sits on the barstool that Noah just vacated, resting his head on his fist.
“We’re leaving after we check in with Noah. We were planning to leave sooner, but when he told us that today is his first day, we wanted to wait and see him.”
Slowly, I incline my head and take a sip of my water. “Sounds good. What do you guys have planned for the summer? Besides the obvious.” I wink.
West walks over and casually puts his arm around Carter’s shoulders, pulling him closer to him. “Spend some time with our family. Hang out at the beach. Carter’s brother, Seth, wants to go camping for some god-awful reason, so we’re stuck doing that.” Carter relaxes his body into West, while West softly kisses his temple. My heart squeezes at their affection. I want that. Drinking more of my water, I look away.
“I figured I’ll head to the gym and then go see Noah.” Shrugging, I add, “Do you guys want to come with me? Or do you need to pack?”
“We’ve already packed,” Carter answers. “I guess we can hit up the gym and then Brewz on the way back home. Let me change my clothes and then we can head out.”
Carter stands up and leaves, while West watches him the whole way, similar to what I had just done with Noah. When he finally looks back at me, I snort.
“Someone is dick whipped.”
West groans. “Fuck, dude, I know. I’m not even subtle about it. But have you seen my boyfriend? He’s hot.”
Laughing, I simply nod my head. Carter is a good-looking guy a tall blonde with blue eyes—but he's not my type at all. I tend to go for the small guys with bratty and sassy attitudes. I've known West and Carter for years. We went to high school together, where we
played on the same baseball team. We usually go to the gym together a few times a week, so once we’re all dressed and ready, we head out to get our sweat on.
Grasping the handle, I pull open the door to Brewz and gesture for Carter and West to go in ahead of me. It’s pretty busy and there’s a line almost to the back door. The scent of coffee beans fills the air, and I breathe in deeply. Moving my head, I look around the space trying to spot Noah, and find him behind the counter next to Trish. He looks like he’s having a great time, laughing and mixing some drinks, while Trish is working the cash register.
We make it to the front of the line where Carter and West order plain coffee and tea—boring—and I end up ordering their monthly special, which is a mint chocolate mocha iced coffee. Apparently, I’m the first person who’s ordered it today, so we get to watch as Trish teaches Noah how to make it. She starts walking him through each of the steps one by one, both of them concentrating on getting the drink made right. Realizing it might take a while, we step over to an empty table on the side, while someone else starts to ring up the people behind us. West and Carter are talking among themselves as I’m scanning the shop taking everything in. I always love coming here, not only because they have great drinks, but because it has such a relaxing atmosphere. There are small tables throughout the room, big comfy chairs in the corner, as well as several plants in the space. Sunlight streams into the entire room from the wall-length windows along one side, encasing the shop in a soft glow.
I’m scanning my way back to the front of the store when Noah walks over and hands us our cups and waits patiently. Assuming he wants to know how his drinks taste, I take a quick sip and am blown away. Moaning, I take another gulp, tasting the chocolate and the mint, but the mint is not overtaking everything. It has a subtle
coolness that hits the back of my tongue. I hum around the straw as I suck some more into my mouth.
“Damn, that’s good.” I wink.
Noah smiles softly, his eyes quickly darting away from me, and his cheeks turn a rosy pink.
“Holy shit dude, this is good,” West cuts in.
“Thanks guys. I still have so much to learn, but I’m glad to be out of the house doing something different. There’s so many damn drinks though, it’s going to take me a while to be able to learn them all.” He chuckles.
“Well, you’re off to a great start. I can’t wait to try some more drinks when we come back in a few weeks. Ronan is going to go crazy when he finds out you can make these insane drinks. He's more obsessed with coffee than this one here.” Carter jerks his thumb in my direction, and I nod my head, agreeing. I like coffee, but nothing like the addiction that Ronan has.
“He’s already texted me, wishing me good luck and to make sure I learn how to make his caramel coffee for when he comes back.” He laughs, then knocks his knuckles on the table. “Thanks again guys, I’m glad you like it, but I should probably head back to work. First day and all.”
Noah walks back to the front counter and starts taking orders again, while we make our way out of the shop into the bright sunlight. I take another sip of my iced coffee and love how refreshing it is. West and Carter let me know that they’re going to head home and get ready to leave. As we part ways at the crosswalk, I continue heading down the road with no destination in mind.
With most of my roommates gone and Noah working at Brewz, I’m worried about what I’m going to do to keep busy this summer. Maybe I need to find a new hobby, something outside of school and the gym. I’m passing by the grocery store when an idea hits me. Snatching my phone from my back pocket, I pull up Google, looking up a quick dinner recipe I can make. Since it’s Noah's first day of work, I’ll do something special and make him dinner. A huge smile crosses my face as I think about him putting his hands on his hips
and declaring that he can make his own dinner. Shaking my head, I start my way inside, trying to find all the different things I’ll need for tonight. He might completely blow me off, or maybe I’ll get lucky and be able to spend the evening with him. A guy can hope.
Chapter Two
Noah
It’s been about a month since I started working at Brewz and while I love the place, I already know I'm going to have to start looking for something else once school starts. Not only will I not be able to work during the day, but the pay isn’t as good as what I’m needing. But I honestly love working there, learning to make different types of drinks, and I’ve made some new friends as well. It’s been good to get out of the house and have a break from all things school.
I’m walking into the house after another day at work, when the smell of garlic and onions permeates the air. I inhale deeply and smile as I take off my shoes and set them by the door, right next to Asher’s. I never used to take my shoes off at home, but once I moved in with the guys, Ronan was on our case about it, until eventually, it became muscle memory to all of us. He even bought a special shoe shelf that sits next to the door, so we won’t forget. Slowly, I make my way down the hall to the kitchen and peek around the corner where I’m out of sight. Asher is gliding around the kitchen stirring different pots, with different foods spread around him, and dancing to some music he has playing through a speaker. I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a giggle. Asher is 100% my
type. He’s muscular and tall—way taller than me—about six foot four, to my five-foot five. He has short brown hair he usually has covered in a backward cap and a scruffy beard I want to feel rub against my cheeks. And he has these sexy tattoos covering one of his bulky arms that turns me on every time I see them. He could break me in half, and I would welcome it with open arms.
Closing my eyes, I sigh.
Sadly, he sees me as some little kid who needs to be taken care of, and I hate it. No matter what I do, he always acts like an older brother, and it grates on my nerves. Always checking in on me, trying to force my decisions when he doesn’t agree with it, trying to make sure I’m eating and sleeping. If he didn’t treat me like such a kid, I would probably love it. Actually, I know I would love it, being taken care of. But I want someone to take care of me romantically, not platonically.
I walk into the kitchen and sit on the stool at the counter, admiring the view, before he notices I’m there. Sitting there, it only takes ten seconds before Asher is facing me with a grin overtaking his face.
“Hey, how was work?” He asks before turning back to the stove.
“It was good. Today was busy as hell, so I’m dead on my feet. The food smells amazing, by the way. What are you making this time?” I ask while trying to peer over his shoulder to see what’s in the pans. Asher was never much of a cook before, but lately, he’s been trying his hand at making new types of meals. As soon as summer started, he decided he was eager to learn to cook, and he’s been trying new recipes a couple of times a week. He’s surprisingly an incredible cook, and I love being his guinea pig when he decides to try something new. On days like today, when I’m ready to take a quick shower and crash in my bed, I appreciate his cooking even more. I also love that it’s a time for us to hang out without bickering with one another.
“We’re having this Cajun skillet chicken I found on Pinterest. I’ve never had it before, but the picture looked delicious, so I wanted to try it.” He grabs his phone off the counter and shows me said picture. My mouth waters, and my stomach rumbles instantly. He’s right, it looks spectacular, and I can’t wait to try it.
“Can I just say I love how much you’ve been cooking lately? My favorite so far is the steak you made with garlic butter. I still remember how it melted in my mouth. But this one smells heavenly, so I can’t wait to try it. Plus, all the food you’ve been making beats the hell out of ordering something out or eating ramen noodles.” I shudder. Even though I despise them, I’ve grown accustomed to eating ramen noodles because of how cheap they are.
“I’ve been enjoying it. It started as more of a whim, but finding recipes and creating different flavors has been a new experience. And I’m grateful you’re so open to trying new things.” Asher walks over to the fridge and grabs a couple of things before making his way back over to the counter. He sets down a bowl of grapes and some water, so I pop a couple of grapes into my mouth before opening up the bottle and taking a swig.
“It won’t be ready for another fifteen minutes if you want to go take a shower and change into something more comfortable,” Asher says as he grabs a grape and bites it.
Looking down at my black jeans and polo shirt I nod, agreeing I would feel more comfortable getting out of these clothes and no longer smelling like coffee beans. I make my way to my bedroom and undress, tossing my clothes into the laundry basket before making my way to the bathroom. When I first moved into the house, the other guys offered me the master bedroom downstairs with its own bathroom. Even though I kept trying to decline it, they wouldn’t budge, so I caved. I’m thankful they gave me this space, even though I would have been fine with a room upstairs. I accepted it that one time because I knew they saw me as the baby, but just this once I’ll take it.
Reaching into the shower, I twist the knob to turn on the hot water, then walk over to the mirror to look at myself. I used to always hate being on the smaller side. Short in height, thin and wiry with barely any muscles. Back in high school, I was made fun of almost daily. If I wasn’t being picked on for my size, I was being picked on for being gay. It took me a long time and watching a lot of porn before I realized that many men would be attracted to my small size. I run my hand through my curls, once again debating whether
or not I should keep them. Occasionally, I wonder if they make me look too much like a kid and think about if I would look older without them. Huffing, I shake my head and drop my hand. I don’t need to decide this right now.
Stepping into the shower, I let the water cascade down my body. There’s no better way to get rid of the day’s grime than to use scalding hot water and cucumber melon soap. Reaching over, I grab my shampoo off the ledge and massage a dime sized amount into my hair. I make sure to gently massage my scalp before rinsing off all the suds under the spray. Grabbing the conditioner next, I make sure to only apply it to my ends. I read somewhere you weren’t supposed to put conditioner on your scalp. Who knows whether it’s true or not, but my curls have been bouncier and brighter than ever since I started doing this.
After rinsing my hair, I grab the body wash and start lathering it all. I work the soap around my chest and then make my way lower. When I reach for my dick, I can’t stop myself from giving it a pull. I moan softly and do it again. My mind drifts to Asher in the kitchen making dinner for us, and my cock jerks, thinking of him doing something so nice for me. I picture the way he moves around the kitchen so easily, which quickly turns into the way he looks shirtless and the way he runs his hands through his hair and then flips his cap back onto his head. Tossing my head back, I groan and work my dick faster. Images of Asher flash through my mind at record speed. The way he smiles softly or chuckles when he finds something funny. The way his eyes gleam when he’s excited about trying a new recipe. I feel my balls tighten, and I know I’m close. Closing my hand around my shaft tighter, I imagine Asher kneeling in front of me, staring up at me with his whiskey brown eyes. A shiver runs down my spine and I unleash all over the floor, my cum swirling down the drain. Bending over, I heave a lungful of air into my chest before quickly rinsing, then turning off the water and stepping out of the shower.
I can’t believe I just jerked off to Asher. Again.
He is starring in all my fantasies lately. He can’t do anything without turning me on. Using the towel, I dry myself off, then walk to my dresser and grab a pair of briefs and sweatpants. I slide them on quickly and run my towel through my hair to dry it. Grabbing a shirt out of my dresser, I wrangle with the thought of whether or not to put it on before deciding to leave it off. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and Asher will ogle my body.
I snort.
Yeah, right.
Walking back to the kitchen, I stop short, inhaling the aromas once again. The house never smells this good when all the guys are home. Hopefully, Asher keeps up with his cooking once everyone is back. The guys would love this just as much as I do. When I reach the counter, Asher is already sitting on a stool with two plates in front of him.
“About time you joined me.”
I roll my eyes and slide onto the stool next to him. “Were you or were you not the one who told me to go and take a shower?”
“I did. But I also didn’t think you would be gone for almost half an hour.”
Thinking about why I took so long in the shower, my face heats up. Not wanting to draw attention to my red cheeks, I flip my hand around in the air. “I like taking long showers. Sue me.”
I grab my fork and knife and cut off a small piece of chicken before sliding the fork into my mouth.
Holy shit.
“This chicken is fucking amazing, Asher. There’s so many different flavors exploding on my tongue.” I swirl some pasta onto my fork and pop it into my mouth before moaning. “Seriously, this is so good. Please make sure you make this again.” Turning, I look at Asher, who’s staring at me before he gently clears his throat and speaks.
“I’m shocked at how well this came out. I was worried it wouldn’t be good.”
“It’s better than good. It’s an orgasm in my mouth.”
