*Ben's POV*
After Mal quickly packing a bag and getting some teasing from Evie we were both now walking into my dorm. I knew we both meant it when we said that we both weren't ready for a certain development in our relationship. But at the moment I just wanted Mal to be close; just for now - I knew that we couldn't always be this close.
"Well this is different" she said as she slid her bag onto the floor as I locked my dorm door.
"I have fell asleep in here before but you've always woke me up and taken me back to my dorm" she said turning to look at me.
"Like the perfect gentleman" she teased.
"And I'm not now?" I laughed as I moved and stood in front of her.
"Are you insinuating that I'm now not a 'perfect gentleman' because I have asked whether you want to spend the night cuddling with me?" I teased.
"No, because I know it's only cuddling" she flirted as she stepped away from me and walked towards my bed.
"Yeah well your my cuddle buddy" I teased as I watched her sit down on my bed.
"I like that title" she laughed.
"Good" I said as I walked towards my bed and sat next to her.
"Because you are the only one who will ever have that title" I said as I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Same to you, it wouldn't feel right cuddling anyone else" she teased. I pouted at her and I heard her laugh.
"I'm only kidding Ben, why would I want to cuddle anyone else? When I have my beast" she said as she stroked my chin. She quickly pressed a kiss to my lips before starting to stare into my eyes.
"And I have my dragon" I purred.
"Hmmm" she said as she brushed her nose against mine. I suddenly felt mischievous and knew I was going to end up play fighting with her; but I didn't mind. I liked play fighting with Mal; I always have. I brushed my nose against hers and quickly moved my face and licked her cheek.
"Ben!" she shrieked which made me chuckle.
"One nil" I laughed.
"Really?" She laughed and went to kiss me again but quickly moved her face and licked my cheek.
"More like one one" she stated.
"I love it when you get competitive" I teased.
"So do you" she accused.
"Always" I said as I pulled her close to me and she rested her head against my shoulder.
"Ben" she said against my shoulder after a while of us sitting in silence enjoying each other's company.
"Hmmm" I responded as I started to play with her hair.
"I'm glad things worked out the way it did" she said.
"Me too" I said happily. I watched as she looked up at me and smirked; I smiled back and she rested her face against my cheek and she then licked my cheek.
"Mal" I puffed.
"Two nil" she laughed and she jumped out of my arms.
"Just you wait until I get hold of you" I joked as I watched her retreat backwards up the bed not taking her eyes from me.
"Promises, promises" she teased as I followed her.
After teasing each other for a little bit and a little bit of making out we were now cuddling in bed. Mal had drifted off to sleep a little while ago and I was running my fingers through her hair. God I loved her; I don't know whether it was due to the brief separation but something felt different this time. But a good different; I felt closer to Mal. I knew I loved her before I broke up with her; however right now I felt as if I loved her even more if that was ever possible. We lay like this for what felt like a blissful eternity and I then heard my phone go off. I slowly and carefully moved so I wouldn't wake Mal; I looked at my phone and saw that my mother was ringing me. She probably was worried about me; I said I was only going to pick something up and that was a few hours ago.
"Hi mother" I said as I answered the phone.
"Hi Ben are you ok?" She asked sounding concerned.
"Yes I'm more than ok" I said happily as I looked down at Mal snuggled into my chest.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well me and Mal are back together" I answered with a very large grin.
"Oh Ben I'm so happy for you" she exclaimed down the phone.
"Thank you" I replied.
"You both should come for dinner" she said excitedly.
"No I stated
"No?" She questioned.
"I'm staying in my dorm tonight, with Mal" I advised slowly. I didn't hear my mother say anything for a few seconds I was about to see if she was still there but she answered.
"With Mal?" She repeated slowly.
"Yes" I informed her.
"Benjamin" she said sternly.
"It's not like that mother, I promise. We are only cuddling, I knew that this is probably something you may or may not want to hear but after everything that has happened we just want to be close to each other. Neither of us is ready for anything else at the moment apart from cuddling" I explained trying to defend myself and Mal. I hoped that my mother would value me being honest with her; instead of her hearing it from someone else when people saw me and Mal leaving my dorm together in the morning.
"I see" she replied.
"I can tell that you two have been talking about it" she said. I knew she wasn't entirely happy but she seemed content enough with what I had just said.
"Yes" I said.
"Mother I really thought I had lost her" I said as I stroked Mal's back.
"I know, but I told you things would work themselves out" she answered happily.
"Yeah" I said happily as I watched Mal yawn in her sleep.
"Well you both need to come for dinner tomorrow" she stated.
"We will" I answered.
"I'll see you both tomorrow" she said.
"See you tomorrow mother" I replied.
"Love you Ben, good night" she said.
"Love you Mother, good night" I answered.
"Say hi to Mal from me and your father" she advised.
"I will do, when she wakes up" I laughed.
"Bye" I heard her say.
"Bye" I said and I ended the call. I went to put my phone back but I felt Mal moving. I looked down at her and noticed that she was stretching.
"Is something wrong?" she muttered as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me.
"No" I said.
"Good" she said and she snuggled back into my chest. I knew she was still tired but I had to speak to Mal; I needed her to clear something up.
"Mal" I said.
"Hmm" she grunted into my chest.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked.
"Of course" she said moving slightly so she could look up at me.
"You know that lad?" I asked her. I watched as her eyes widened slightly before answering.
"Ethan?" she asked.
"Yes" I answered.
"What actually happened between you and him? You don't need to tell me, it's just I was worried about you" I quickly explained.
"I danced with him and-" she said stopping herself.
"And?" I prompted. I felt my stomach start to churn in case she said something happened between them.
"We swapped numbers" she admitted.
"He has your number?" I asked quickly.
"Yes" she advised.
"I panicked" she said quickly as her cheeks struck red.
"But don't worry I've put him straight" she said quickly to defend herself.
"What do you mean?" I asked as the feeling in my stomach started to subside.
"He text me before I came looking for you and I text him back. Don't worry it was nothing" she said as she stroked my chest.
"He text me again when I was talking to you and I put him straight before I came looking for you and Evie in the courtyard" she added.
"What did you say to him?" I asked happily as I now knew there was no chance he was ever going to come any near my Mal.
"I told him that I had got back together with you and I was sorry if I upset him. He text me back saying that I didn't upset him but he would still like to be friends and maybe spend some time together in the future. I don't think that is too much of a problem, however I don't know whether I would actually go and see him" she said as if she was thinking out loud.
"Hmmm only if I go with you" I answered as I pulled her closer to me.
"Really Ben are you jealous?" she laughed.
"Mal I don't think you realise how irresistible you really are" I stated.
"You have all the men chasing after you" I added. I watched as she smiled at me and she quickly kissed my cheek.
"Well they can chase me all they want" she said before she brushed her nose against mine.
"I only want you" she added which made me grin at her.
"Good" I said.
"I love you Ben" she said.
"Hmmm I love you too Mal" I purred and I pulled her towards me and we shared a long and loving kiss.
"We best get ready for bed, we'll have to order some food as well" she said.
"Yeah" I agreed.
"We have a busy day tomorrow" I advised.
"We do?" she asked.
"When you were asleep my mother rang me" I told her.
"Right" she said slowly.
"She knows we are spending the night together" I said quickly.
"Ben!" Mal exclaimed as she sat up.
"She's going to be thinking that we are... You know" she said nervously.
"No she's not" I said trying to reassure her.
"Eh?" she asked sounding confused.
"I've told her that we are only cuddling, I told her that we are both not ready for... You know" I said nervously.
"Oh" she answered.
"I'm sorry if that upsets you" I said as I stroked her side to reassure her.
"I promise my mother won't make it awkward when she next sees you" I quickly added.
"It's ok" she finally answered.
"How does that mean we have a busy day tomorrow?" she asked.
"Well she wants us to have dinner with her and my father tomorrow" I said.
"Right, that shouldn't be a problem" she answered with a smile.
"And I need to do some assignments" I added.
"So you have a busy day not me" she teased.
"Well I thought you could also stay over" I suggested.
"If you're not getting sick of me already" I teased.
"No I'm not" she laughed before she moved close to me and quickly kissed me.
"Hmmm" I said after she pulled away.
"It would be nice to sleep in my other room" she laughed.
"So no sleep over then?" I joked as I pouted.
"Well it depends if you're parents allow it" she said.
"Well you never know" I said.
"Yeah" she said.
"You order food, while I get ready for bed" she said as she moved away from me.
"Ok what do you want?" I asked her.
"Well you know what I usually get from the few takeaways that we use so surprise me" she joked as she jumped off my bed and picked her bag up.
"Ok" I said with a smile. I watched as she walked into my bathroom and closed the door. I stared at the bathroom door before reaching over and picking my phone up. I loved Mal, and I knew that I wasn't going to let her go ever again.