Page 68 of Roommate
Propping his head in his hand, he studies me. His gaze is warm, but I still feel uncomfortable. Just because I want Roderick, doesn’t mean I want to be closely observed.
“Look,” he says. “I never meant to break all my own rules tonight, but the truth is I like you way too much. So even though it’s a bad idea to jump on your roommate, I’m happier right now than I’ve been in a long time.”
All I can do is sort of stare at him for a long beat. Nobody has ever said anything like that to me before. I made Roderick happy, with rough kisses and clumsy hands.
It’s more miraculous than my chicken with garlic and herbs, that’s for damn sure.
“Say something,” he says suddenly. “Or at least smile, damn it. Did I just overstep? Did I freak you out?”
“Fuck no,” I say, but it comes out like a growl. “I’m smiling on the inside.”
He blinks. And then he tilts his head back and laughs so loudly that it bounces off the tiled bathroom walls.
“What?” I grumble. “I’m serious.”
“I know.” He reins in his laughter and smiles at me. “That’s why it’s funny. I never met anyone like you. I have zero filter, and you’re made of filter. It’s like armor. You never take it off.”
That’s probably true, but it’s also irrelevant. “Where do we go from here, though? What happens next?”
“Well, pizza,” he says, splashing some water onto his face and then shaking his head like a happy dog. “I went outside in my underwear and rescued it from your truck. I’ll pop it into the oven in a minute.”
“I meant after pizza.” Roderick is this bright, shiny thing in my life, and I need to know whether or not to feel hope.
“Oh. Well, that depends on you. Bend your knees?”
“What?” It takes me a beat to keep up, but then I do. His legs slide off mine when I lift my knees. And now I’m literally open and vulnerable in this ridiculous position.
But not for long. Roderick gathers up his smaller body and then moves forward into the space between my legs. “We need to eat that pizza,” he says, propping his hands on the tub rim on either side of me. “But then we could watch more of our show. Maybe in your bed?”
“Okay,” I say quickly as his blue eyes come closer.
“And here I thought tonight was a disaster,” he says, leaning down to kiss me.
If this is a disaster, I’ll take it all night long.
Roderick
I think I may have blown Kieran’s mind, along with his cock. When I carry a tray into his bedroom after our bath, he’s standing by his dresser, looking a little stunned.
“Grab your laptop?” I ask. “It’s under my arm.”
“Sure.” He unsticks himself and grabs it, dropping his towel in his haste.
“Thanks,” I say, giving his naked body an appreciative glance. God, the view.
I don’t know what I was thinking when I’d decided we couldn’t fool around. And I’m still not super sure why he’s even interested. Kieran should have a guy whose life isn’t a dumpster fire. A guy whose car isn’t dead, and who can afford to buy groceries.
“Come and eat this while it’s warm.” I sit down, settling the tray on my lap.
“Whoa.” He walks over to take a plate and looks at the pizza like he’s never seen it before. “It looks better than it usually does. Maybe this place is upping their game.”
“Well… I put some diced red peppers, minced garlic, and pecorino cheese on top before I broiled it. I hope you don’t, uh, hate peppers.” I really should have asked.
“I don’t hate anything,” he says, sitting down on the opposite side of the bed.
“Well that’s a relief. I’m trying to eat more vegetables and not as many carbs. It’s hazardous to be around bread all day.”
He takes a bite and chews. He keeps sneaking glances at me, like there’s something he can’t figure out.
