Page 28 of Tapped By My Roommate
Would I?I had to admit CuriousLizard hadmecurious. He was awkward, maybe a little insecure, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be a great guy. Despite lacking some social graces, Ethan was intelligent and funny and passionate about life. There was no reason this lizard guy couldn’t be the same.
And I really, really needed to think about a guy who wasn’t Ethan.
It was just one hookup. What harm could it do?
EasyLay:I’ll do it. But first, I need to know what you want from me. Judging by your name and profile, you’re not experienced with men.
CuriousLizard:Easy! I just need you to kiss me. And maybe get naked so I can look at your body, and uh…maybe let me touch you?
Jesus.My pulse leapt at the thought of stripping and letting some bicurious guy study and touch me like a subject he needed to master. That was so much hotter than it should be.
And if I imagined the guy with Ethan’s face; well, so much more reason to do the hookup. I had to forget my roommate’s taste. I had to forget how he fit in my arms when I pulled him against me.
A sexy hookup with a curious geek could be just what the doctor ordered.
I sent one last message:I’m free tomorrow night. Tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.
9
ETHAN
Ipaced the motel room I’d rented, nervous and restless. I hadn’t wanted to invite a hookup to the apartment in case Rhett was there. Things were awkward enough without explaining some random guy showing up to have sex with me. There’d be no avoiding Rhett’s questions—or his potentially embarrassing conclusion that his kiss had blown my mind.
The motel room was a better choice—even if I’d had to spend a hundred bucks on it, which left me feeling oddly skeevy, as if I were paying for sex rather than just a room. I ventured back to the mirror, brushing fingers over my hair that had been gelled to hell and back.
I’d debated long and hard, but I’d finally put on a button-down and bowtie. Rhett had been complimentary about the style. I couldn’t be sure he’d meant what he said. We’d both been drunk, and he’d wanted to make me feel better after Tess’s awful treatment. But if EasyLay hadn’t figured out I was a geek from our message exchange, then he wasn’t very bright.
He seemed easy-going. Out of all the guys I’d sent match requests to, he was the only one who’d made me comfortable. To my surprise, all but one had accepted my request, and most of them had replied to my initial message as well. They were too eager, though. They fired questions at me about which sexual acts I wanted, which made me nervous, because I still didn’t know.
EasyLay had asked too, but he’d eased into it enough that it had felt more reassuring than intimidating. As if he wanted to make sure I was comfortable and got what I needed. He’d seemed genuinely concerned with what was best for me, not just his own pleasure.
Whether that would hold true in person, though, who could say? I broke out in a cold sweat. What if he took one look at me and laughed his ass off? I tugged at my bowtie uncertainly. What if he didn’t laugh? What if he stayed? That was just as scary.
When the knock came at the door, I jumped and pressed a hand over my racing heart.
Relax, Ethan. He’s just a guy. A stranger. It doesn’t matter what he thinks of you.
Another knock.
I drew a breath and opened the door—and nearly aspirated on my own saliva.
“Rhett?” I choked.
“Ethan?” His eyes went wide. “Oh shit, itisyou.”
“What? Of course I’m me. Did you follow me or something?”
He shook his head. “No, of course I didn’t follow you. I’m here to meet CuriousLizard.”
Oh no. No, no, no.This couldn’t be happening.
“EasyLay? That’s what you call yourself?Seriously?” I hissed, shocked and embarrassed and suddenly angry.
Why did the one guy I selected have to be Rhett? And why did Rhett have to be running around hooking up with every guy who messaged him anyway?
“Oh, it’s my name that’s the problem?” Rhett pushed his way inside, closing the door behind him. “That’s what you want to talk about? What the hell are youdoing,Ethan?”
“Wh-what do you mean?” My anger gave way to uncertainty as Rhett stepped close into my space, his eyes hot—and not in a sexy way. He was furious with me. I just didn’t understand why. I was the one embarrassed here. There would be no denying the effect his kiss had on me now.
