Page 15 of Tapped By My Roommate
I grinned. “Definitely.”
Ethan dragged his polo over his head, and I swallowed hard. I hadn’t expected him to change in front of me. Not that he was stripping naked. It was just his chest and stomach. No big deal to see a guy without a shirt. But the narrow trail of hair leading into his jeans, well, that was my personal weak spot. I loved to run my tongue through that fuzz, trace my way right down to paradise.
I dragged my gaze away while he got dressed. No need to perv on him. I was drunk, a little horny, and feeling a weird pull between us—the aftermath of feeling protective over him earlier. It was nothing to worry about, but I had to keep my head. Ethan was straight.
“Ta-da! What do you think?”
Despite being drunk, his voice held a note of uncertainty. I fixed a smile on my face, ready to reassure him. But damn. I didn’tneedto give him some empty encouragement. Ethan rocked this look. Yes, it was geeky. But it was him. I nodded, taking in his off-white T-shirt sporting a reptile print, maybe an iguana, with the wordsMy lizard is bigger than yours.Green suspenders rose from his belt loops, on either side of his chest, and disappeared over his shoulders.
It was surprising how different he looked after adding one set of suspenders to his usual jeans and T-shirt. But he’d tucked in the shirt, and the suspenders emphasized the flatness of his stomach and the breadth of his chest, framing it and adding a pop of color.
I tilted my head. “Where’s the bowtie?”
“Well, I have to wear a collared shirt for that, so hold that thought.” He pushed the suspenders off his shoulders and dragged the shirt over his head. I let out a breath, unable to look away this time as he turned to his closet, exposing a set of shoulders that were broader than I’d expected. Usually I saw him bent over a computer, shoulders hunched, rather than reaching and flexing.
I wet my dry lips, trying to regain my composure before Ethan turned around. I had to get this weird reaction to him under control—and fast. I didn’t want him to see something in my expression and feel uncomfortable.
I stood and walked over to his bookshelf, pretending to study his Godzilla figures closely while he slipped on a shirt and bowtie. “Okay, what do you think?”
I glanced over my shoulder, taking in the purple-checked button-down that hugged his upper body and the bowtie, a perfectly cute accent. True, he’d never pass for a frat boy or a jock, but it suited him.
Ethan crinkled his nose adorably. “It’s bad, right?” He fingered the bowtie at his throat, drawing my gaze to his Adam’s apple as it bobbed when he swallowed nervously. “I started wearing these after my grandpa died.”
“It’s not bad.”
He turned to examine himself in a closet door. “No? I guess…I like it. I thought I did, anyway.” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“It’s cute.”
He turned, a dubious look on his face. “Cute…”
“Yeah. It’s so you.”
“I’m cute?”
He looked so honestly baffled by this notion that I burst out laughing. Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the high emotions of the day, but my tongue was loose, and the words flowed right out.
“Ethan, you’re unbearably cute right now. It’s a perfect look for you. Haven’t you ever seenCriminal Minds? You’re rocking a serious Spencer Reid vibe, and if you take one look at the Internet, you’ll see that a lot of people really like it.”
He pulled a face. “Spencer Reid is played by a gorgeous celebrity. I’m just me.”
I shook my head. Ethan had no idea how appealing he was right then. “I’ve never seen you dress like this, but as soon as you put it on, I could see it was you. It’s perfectly Ethan.”
A smile spread across his face, only making himmorefreaking cute. He bounced over to me, still silly and drunk, grinning like a loon. “Really? You’re not just saying that to be nice? Because you’re always so nice, Rhett. Seriously the nicest guy.”
“I’m not that nice.”
His gaze slipped down to my chest.
“You are,” he said shyly, before peeking up at me through his lashes.
Goddamn, he was killing me tonight. I’d never felt attracted to Ethan before, but suddenly, I couldn’t stop noticing him.Still straight, Rhett. Still off-limits.
I cleared my throat and backed up a step, dropping onto the bed. “Yeah, well, if I’m so nice, then I wouldn’t lie, right? Trust the gay man when he tells you that you’re cute.”
He tilted his head in thought. “Do I want to be cute, though? That’s like puppies and kittens. I mean, who wants someonecute?I’m not twelve. I’m twenty-two. I want to be sexy.” He joined me on the bed. “Since you’re honest and you’re gay, tell me. Am I sexy?”
I hesitated. “You’re drunk is what you are.”
