Page 12 of Screwed By My Roommate

“Fuck,” he mumbles, scrubbing his face. He takes a deep breath and picks up his fork and begins eating.

I stare at him more confused than ever. He looks tormented and for whatever reason, I think I’m the cause.

“You still know how to cook. This lasagna is fucking amazing. So was the grilled cheese, by the way,” he says.

He keeps his focus on the food as my eyes bounce around his face. I figure I’m just going to see where he’s going with all this.

“Well, I was the only one out of my roommates who could cook, so I haven’t exactly had a chance to lose my kickass skills,” I say, smiling.

He looks at me and I see a softness in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. It relaxes me. “You’ve lived an entire life and I know nothing about it.” He finishes off his dinner, gets up to grab the bottle of wine, and sits down, pouring us each more. “Tell me.”

I laugh looking at him. “Tell you what?”

“Everything, Penny. Tell me everything.”

Six

Jace

“Have a good weekend, Mr. Riggs,” one of the secretaries calls to me.

I nod and keep walking. She is one of the many who flirt endlessly with me. To any other man, it would be a compliment, but for me, it’s nothing but a painful reminder.

Last week when Penny made dinner for me, I went from wanting to fuck her on the table to feeling pain I’ve never felt before.

When she told me she was afraid of how I would react to her, it crushed me. Having her hate me is one thing, having her fear me is something else completely. I was trying to drive a wedge between us, keep her at arm’s length soIdidn’t cross any lines. The anger was something that just came along with it. Not because I was pissed at her but pissed at myself for treating her that way.

I knew I caused her pain, but I never wanted her to feel anxious, nervous, or fearful of me. It makes me sound like a fucking monster. I can handle being an asshole, but I can’t handle being a monster.

So, since that night we’ve been hanging out. We have dinner every night. She excitedly talks about her new job, and I listen. She picks the movie and I watch it. She sits too close, and I fucking allow it.

I’m falling into something I shouldn’t and now I don’t know if I can stop myself. I used to feel like I couldn’t breathe around her and now I feel like she makes breathing easier. I even left work early today, just to be able to spend as much time as possible close to her. I promised Henry I’d take care of his sister and the things I imagine are not what he meant. It’s what’s holding me back from pulling her into my bed and worshipping her.

When I walk into the apartment it’s quiet. I drop my keys, loosening my tie as I walk into the living room. “Penny?”

When there’s no answer, I head toward my room to change. As I do I realize she’s in the shower. I close my eyes trying to block out the thought of her wet, naked body. I quickly change into jeans and a shirt, needing to grab a drink.

I pour myself a whisky and lean against the counter, slowly drinking it. It’s getting harder for me to fight this. The lines are blurring, and my body is begging me to do it.

The bathroom door opens, and I toss back the rest of my drink. I walk out of the kitchen and stop short.

“Jace!” Penny screams, trying to cover herself.

She's naked. Wet and naked. My cock is so hard I’m afraid to move. I can’t look away and she’s not fucking moving.

“Why the fuck are you naked?” I whisper, forcing my eyes to hers.

“I folded the laundry and forgot to put the towels back in the bathroom. Shit, turn around,” she yells, rushing off to her room.

I don’t turn around. I see every smooth, dripping wet, inch of her. She’s even more incredible than I imagined. I close my eyes trying to gain control of my emotions, but it’s impossible. I saw her. I saw every fucking part of her sexy body and now I’m ruined.

The woman who's lived in every fantasy I’ve ever had has dangled herself in front of me. It’s a test and I think I’m about to fucking fail.

I’m still standing in the same place when she comes out of her room, fully clothed this time.

“Well, that was fucking embarrassing,” she says, covering her face. “Why the hell are you home so early anyway?”

“I got off early. You always walk around naked when I’m not around?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.

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