Hollywood Roommates

26

“Exactly.” He practically throws the unused fruit back in the fridge and then slams the door. “And then Nadia had the nerve to say it was my fault she cheated on me. That she didn’t think we were serious because she didn’t know I actually cared about her.”

“Wow.” I hesitate. “That’s a really shitty thing she did and I am not excusing her at all. But you are kind of hard to read sometimes.”

His eyes meet mine and he frowns. “I’m starting to get that, yeah.”

“I mean...the other night. And then now.” I fumble for words. “It’s hard to know where we stand.”

He sighs and leans back against the counter, raking a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry about the other night. I’d just heard from the producers that the network is threatening to cancel the show. Then I walked in your room and you were watching that scene with me and her and I couldn’t take it.”

My eyes widen. “They’re threatening to cancel the show? But it’s such a good show and I swear I’m not just saying that because we’re roommates.”

“Thanks. Nadia is talking about leaving the show. I’d be fine with it, but the viewers want romance.”

I perk up, hit with a sudden idea. “What about with the hacker girl? Jenna?”

He blinks. “What do you mean?”

“When I was watching the show the other night I was actually rooting for Talon and her to get together. Maybe because she’s the geeky, awkward one with glasses and I relate to her a lot more than sleek, sophisticated Diana.” I shrug. “I bet there are other fans who feel the same.”

He rubs his stubbled jaw as he considers. “That might work. I can talk to the producers about it and see what they think.”

I jokingly poke him in the chest. “Just don’t get involved with the actress who plays Jenna, or you might have the same problem again.”

A sudden laugh rumbles out of him and the sound is so delicious it makes my toes curl. “No need to worry about that. Hannah and I are just friends.”

I tilt my head and give him a playful smile. “So I don’t need to be jealous then?”

“Of Hannah?” He shakes his head. “Nope. She’s only into women.”

“Oh. Good.”

He moves closer, making me draw in a breath. “And even if she wasn’t, you’d have nothing to worry about.”

My face flushes and I look away. “There’s no reason for me to be jealous anyway. It’s not like you belong to me or anything.”

His fingers lightly brush against my cheek. “But I could.”

My heart skips a beat. “Do you want that?”

“I stopped you from going on that date for a reason. The same reason I kissed you.” His hands land on either side of the counter behind me, caging me in with his hard body. “I want you to be mine.”

His mouth finds mine, coaxing my lips to open for him before he slowly slides his tongue inside. The angry passion from the other night is gone and he takes his time as he kisses me. My arms slide up around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting even more of him. He groans and lifts me up onto the counter, moving between my legs. It puts me at the exact right height to kiss him without either of us straining and places his hips flush against mine. I can feel his hard length through his slacks and my hands slide down his back to his ass, pulling him closer against me.

“I want to do more than kiss you,” he says, as his fingers slip under the hem of my shirt.

I moan into his mouth as his hands roam across my skin. He finds my large breasts, which are heavy with lust for him, and runs his fingers over my already hard n*****s through my bra. Red hot desire floods me, making my panties wet for him. I want to do more with him too, so much more, but that means opening the door to so many potential problems. Brooke’s warning about falling for the guys runs through my head. I fell for Parker too quickly, and look how that turned out. I don’t want to rush into anything now, especially when the situation is even more complicated.

I run my hands along his jaw as I kiss him one last time. “I want more too. But we can’t.”

His fingers continue rubbing against my n*****s in lazy strokes. “You’re worried about the other guys.”

“Yes.”

He sighs and slowly removes his hands from my shirt. “I should never have made the roommate contract.”

“Why did you?”

“To protect you. You’re my sister’s best friend. You’d just gotten out of a long-term relationship. I could see the other guys wanted you and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Could it also be you wanted to protect yourself?”

“Maybe,” he admits.

I rest my hand on his hard chest, aching to touch him some more. “You didn’t want to want me. And you didn’t want to have to fight the other guys for me. I understand.”

“The second you walked through our door, I knew you’d be trouble. I thought the roommate contract would help, but I was a fool. In the end, I was the one who couldn’t resist.”

He tugs me back to him, wrapping my legs around his waist as he lifts me off the counter, fitting our bodies together as he kisses me desperately. I was right. Unlike Keith, I definitely wouldn’t crush Shane. He holds me easily with nothing but his strong arms and hard body as his kiss sends sparks through me.