Troublesome Roommate

by Chloe Grey

  “I like how you think, babe. Hopefully, you aren’t too sore tomorrow.”

  “Speaking of tomorrow, what should I wear? I’ve never been to a wedding, and judging by what Sam had told me, it’s going to be a big one.”

  “It is going to be big. I never understand what the big deal is with having a big wedding. It’s a huge money sinker and a larger hassle.”

  “Really?” I felt taken aback. I had always dreamed of having an extravagant wedding. “I think it’s worth the money for one of the most memorable days of your life.”

  He shrugged. “And for what you’re going to wear tomorrow... something really sexy. Maybe that sexy black dress you wore on our first date. I want all the guys to look at you and get jealous when they see you’re all mine.”

  “I love the way you use your words. You make me feel so sexy.”

  His hands slid from my back, trailing down my curves and, of course, stopping at my ass. They were a little sore from all the slapping he did, but I didn’t complain even when he squeezed me.

  “I only speak the truth. We make a pretty damn attractive couple. The single people at the wedding will surely be jealous.”

  I couldn’t contain my laughter. “What’s with you and making people jealous?”

  “A little fantasy of mine.”

  That spiked my interest. “What other fantasies do you have?”

  “A lot, and most of them include you.”

  “Do any of those fantasies include shower sex?”

  It was his turn to laugh. “No. Shower sex is horrible. Trust me. But you know... I never took a woman in my office before, and you keep denying that fantasy of mine.”

  I looked at him. “You were serious?”

  “Of course. Who wouldn’t want to take you on their office desk?

  “If you play your cards right, that fantasy may come true.”

  I stepped back when I felt a twitch below, and watched in awe as his cock hardened, curling all the way up to his navel.

  “You see what you can do with your little hot mouth, babe? You have to be careful when using it. It’s a deadly weapon.”

  This confirmed it. Kevin Bond was as taken by me as I was to him. I never knew I could have this much of an effect on a man, much less someone that looked like a sex god.

  “You too,” I admitted. “Sometimes I get really wet just by you feeling me up a little.”

  “I know.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.” Kevin backed me up against the bathroom wall and leaned down to claim my lips. “I do.”

  Chapter 32

  Zane straightened up when he saw me.

  “You look beautiful, cookie. That dress still fits you perfectly.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled at him, looking all handsome in his tuxedo. “You look good too.”

  “I hope so!” He laughed. “Renting this thing cost a pretty penny.”

  Kevin coughed beside me, and we both looked at him.

  “Well?” Kevin said, crossing his muscular arms. “No one’s going to comment how good I look?”

  Kevin was wearing a tuxedo too. His was a custom fit, so it looked extra delicious on him. Zane and I exchanged a look, and then we looked behind, to the side, around—basically anywhere and everywhere but him.

  “Babe?” Kevin grabbed me and spun me around, so I was forced to face him, his lips inches away from mine. “You’re not going to tell me how hot I look?”

  I giggled and tried to pry away from his grasp, but he held me tight. I gave in when he kissed me.

  “You look handsome too, love,” I murmured against his lips, tasting the honey.

  Kevin broke the kiss and nibbled on my earlobe, whispering, “I would fuck you now if Zane wasn’t here.”

  “We had all morning and afternoon to fuck,” I whispered back. “Wasn’t that enough for you?”

  “Never.” His lips moved down to my neck, sucking on my sensitive spot and making me squeal.

  Zane cleared his throat extra loud. “Are we going or what?”

  “I’ll wait in the car,” my boyfriend said, letting me go and crossing the room. He probably thought I needed extra time for makeup, but I was all done.

  Zane looked at my purse. “When are you going to give him the watch?”

  My lips were still tingling, begging for more. “Shit, I forgot. I’ll give him it in the car.”

  My friend nodded. “You ready? Man, I’ve never been to a wedding before. I hope there are hot, single men there, so I can look at them the whole night.”

  “Come on,” I said, laughing and linking my elbow with his. We kept bumping shoulders as we walked toward our front door.

  “Stop it,” Zane murmured, banging my shoulder as he said it.

  “Stop it,” I said, bumping his shoulder back.

  I CONNECTED MY PHONE with the car’s Bluetooth and started playing Linkin Park. Zane and I sang along while my boyfriend shook his head.

  “What’s the password to the Bluetooth, cookie?” Zane asked when the song finished. “Let me play my songs.”

  I looked back and made a face. “No, I like my playlist. You only have the generic pop songs that they spam on the radio.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” he muttered, leaning forward. “Kevin, what’s the password?”

  He shrugged. “You heard the lady.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him and he stuck his tongue back.

  Twenty minutes later, we reached a place called Rockefeller Plaza. Zane and I exchanged a glance as Kevin smoothed to a stop.

  “Kev,” I started, feeling my body tensing and my heart palpitating. “I have something for you.”

  Kevin chuckled. “Zane should leave then. You’re not giving me head with him in the car.”

  “No,” I laughed, feeling a bit of the tension leaving me. I grabbed my purse, unzipped it, and pulled out the watch box, the Omega branding printed in fancy golden letters on the top.

  “Babe?” Kevin said, looking from the box to me. “What is this?”

  “For you,” I whispered, handing him the box with shaky hands.

  He tentatively reached for it. I loosened my grip, and he took the box, all the while his blue eyes searched mine. Zane was silent in the backseat, watching our exchange.

  Kevin opened the box and sucked in a breath.

  “It’s nothing fancy,” I started. “It’s the quartz version because I didn’t have the budget to—”

  I was cut short as Kevin pulled me and attacked my lips. I moaned into his mouth while he kissed me into bliss.

  Breaking the kiss and blushing, I gestured to the watch. “Take it out. I added a couple of links, and I really hope it fits you. If not, we can go back, and they’ll add some more links for free.”

  He took the timepiece from the box and slipped it on his right hand. It fit perfectly, and he took a few moments to admire the watch.

  “This is amazing, babe. I don’t know what to say but thank you.”

  When Kevin looked back at me, I was teary-eyed, and my breaths were heavy. I said the words I had been meaning to say to him for the past couple of days. The three words that had been in my mind, dying to get out. The three words I was sure was a mistake every time it came out from my lips. The three words I hadn't said to a man in so long, it felt like I had never said it at all.

  “I love you,” I told him.

  Silence. I was met with utter silence. Kevin’s eyes grew wide, and so did Zane’s.

  “Kev?” I asked, feeling so vulnerable after opening my heart to him.

  More silence.

  My voice cracked. “Say something.”

  And he did say something.

  “I—Audrey...” He lapsed into silence.

  “I’ll just leave,” Zane spoke up. Seconds later, he was out of the car, closing the door behind him.

  “Kev?” I repeated.

  He stared at me.

  “Say something, Kev.”

  “Audrey...”

  The feeling was
back. The tearing of my heart. Tears started spilling from my eyes as my heart cracked open.

  I knew it. I fucking knew it.

  I was too scared to know the answer, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. “Do you—do you not love me?”

  “I...” He sighed. “It’s too early for it. I’ve only been with you less than a week, and we’ve known each other not much longer than that. I like you, babe. I really like you, and I am happy you feel this way. But...” He shook his head. “It’s just too early.”

  Why had I said the words? I should have listened to my gut all along. Love was impossible for me. I could love all the men there are in the world, and no one would love me back.

  I wished I wasn’t crying, breaking down in front of him. But I was. And it sucked.

  I wiped through my tears, my voice cracking. “You don’t feel the same?”

  “Babe, like I said, it’s too early. I—”

  “You told me you felt like you had known me for ages.”

  “I did, I—“

  “Then why did you say that?” My voice got shrill, and I knew my makeup was fucked due to all the tears. “Why did you tell me that! People can fall in love quickly, and I thought you feel the same way as I do.”

  “Audrey, I do feel the same.”

  “Then say it. Say the words.”

  “It’s too—“

  “It’s not too early! All the things we did together, everything you said to me...” I looked away. “I really thought you felt the same. I guess I’m just that unlovable, huh?”

  “What? No. Babe, you’re being irrational about this.” He reached for me, but I pulled away.

  “Don't touch me.”

  He touched my cheeks but I slapped his hand away.

  “I said don’t fucking touch me!”

  “Babe, don’t—“

  “And don’t fucking call me that.” I struggled with the door until I pried it open. Without a second glance back, I exited the car, slamming the door shut as hard as I could.

  Zane walked to me. “Are you okay?”

  “Let’s just go.” I walked toward the building, my shoulders slumped and my makeup and hair a mess. I felt like the most undesirable woman on the planet.

  “Are you sure? I can call Jason to pick us up. We can go back home.”

  “Let’s just—” I couldn’t say more. The dam broke, and more tears streamed down my cheeks. I covered my face, and Zane hugged me. I couldn’t return the hug. I was so pathetic, and I didn’t want anyone to see me at that moment. I pushed my best friend away and walked straight to the building.

  I didn't need him. I didn’t need Kevin. I didn’t need anybody. All I needed now was one thing, and I was heading right to it.

  Chapter 33

  Sam shot me a worried glance. “Audrey, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She laughed, but it was forced. “If you’re drinking like that, at this rate there won’t be any wine left for the rest of us.”

  I looked straight ahead, through the windows, and toward the view of the city. The view was insane with dozens of different colored glittering bright lights, but I paid no attention.

  I should have complimented Sam on her looks because she had gasped when she saw my dress, and she looked devastatingly beautiful in a bright yellow strapless dress. But I didn’t care about that right now. I didn’t care about anything but the wine glass in my hands.

  Zane moved beside me. “He’s coming, cookie.”

  I didn't need Zane to warn me. I could feel him. The hairs on my skin stood up, and I could feel a chill running down my spine.

  His pineapple scent was right behind me. “Babe.”

  “Mr. H?” Sam gasped, her hand flying to cover her opened mouth. “What are you—what are you doing here?”

  “Babe,” he said again, ignoring her, his breaths hot on the side of my neck. “Can we talk?”

  He grabbed my wrist, and I stood up, whirling around to him. “Don’t touch me!”

  Several people looked in our direction, but I didn’t care. “Let me go!”

  He released his grip on me. I could see hurt flashing through his blue eyes, but compared to how much he had hurt me, that was nothing.

  “Please,” he said, his voice so low and so damn sexy. I ignored my body reacting to his voice and glared at him instead. “Let’s go somewhere. You can hear me out.”

  Zane stood up too. “Kevin, Audrey wants to be left alone. You should at least give her that.”

  “It’s alright,” I said flatly, crossing my arms. “Lead the way. I’ll give you one minute.”

  I followed Kevin into the men’s bathroom and watched him as he checked to see that all the stalls were empty before crossing the room and locking the door.

  He came back to me but stopped a foot away. “Babe, I—”

  “Call me that one more time and I’m leaving.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Can you see how stupid this is? We’re going to lose everything, everything we had because I’m not in love with you yet?”

  Tears rimmed my eyes, threatening to fall. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “You said you would be serious with me. Everything we did... I really thought you loved me.”

  “God, Bab—Audrey, why are you so impatient? I’m falling in love with you! I’m just not there yet. Why does that bother you so much?” He sighed and placed a hand on my right cheek, and his watch jingled. I didn’t slap his arm away this time. I let him talk.

  “Give me some time. I’ll say the three words then, okay?” He continued when I didn’t say anything. “I don’t want to lie to you and say it. When I say it, you’ll know I mean it with all my heart.” He smiled. “Let’s go back outside. We’ll have fun.”

  “Am I such a bad lover? Do I not satisfy you? Is that why you can’t say it?”

  “Audrey, you’re everything to me. Like I said, I need time, okay? I’ll say it when I really mean it. It took sixteen months before I told Emma I loved her. She could wait, why can’t you?”

  I seethed at the mention of her name. “Now you’re comparing her to me? If you like her better, why don’t you get back together?”

  “This is stupid.” He stroked my cheeks, wiping away a single tear that fell from my eye. “Let’s go back outside.”

  I backed off, and his hand fell from my cheek. “Why are we in a relationship if you won’t fall in love with me? Do you know how much I love you, Kevin? Do you know how committed I am to you? I used money I didn’t have to buy you that. I spent every second of my free time with you. I told you all my secrets. I let you fuck me in the ass. I gave you everything. My heart, my soul, everything. And yet, you don’t even have feelings for me. You’re still keeping secrets from me. How is that fair?”

  He sighed and stepped forward, but I held out a hand. “Why do you hide things from me? What is there to hide? What whore was Marcus talking about?”

  “Audrey.”

  I shook my head. He wasn’t going to tell me. He didn’t trust me enough to spill his heart out. I should have seen it sooner. “I’m done with this.”

  I ignored Kevin calling my name as I passed him and walked away, unlocking the bathroom door and making the trek back to my seat.

  Sam and Zane asked if I was okay. I told them I was even though my heart was in a million pieces. I didn’t bother putting up a fake, smiling front. What was the point? I was sure I looked like a mess with my puffy eyes and ruined make-up.

  Two and a half bottles of wine later, the bride and the groom were socializing with everyone. Almost everyone was standing up and socializing or dancing in the middle of the large hall. We were one of the only tables who weren’t.

  I drank.

  And drank.

  “Cookie...” Zane said over the buzz of conversations and pop songs playing. He nudged me, and I almost snapped at him for touching me, but I bit my tongue at the last second. “Look.”

  I looked over at where he pointed. Kevin was smiling
and chatting with the bride as if nothing had happened. They were close—really close—and the bride, Jessica, laughed loudly at something he said. The groom was standing beside his wife, and I could see his smile was strained as he looked at Kevin.

  They chatted for a full five minutes. Kevin walked away but not before pecking Jessica on her right cheek and giving her left hand a squeeze. He gave a curt nod to the groom and sauntered away to another fucking woman, closing the distance between them and kissing her right cheek.

  It didn’t take long for other women to surround him. Well, there were men too, sprinkled in the loose crowd surrounding him, but it was at least nine to one. A bolder woman wearing a low cut dress that only covered half of her boobs smiled at him and ran a hand down his front as they talked. Kevin frowned, grabbed her hand away, and said something to her. She left the crowd in a huff.

  “Let’s go,” I choked out the words to Zane. I was on the verge of tears again, and I didn’t want to give Kevin the satisfaction of seeing me breaking down. “I can’t watch any longer.”

  “COOKIE,” ZANE SAID. “Maybe you should stop drinking. Even for you, this is too much”

  I waved for the bartender to refill my shot glass. “Don’t tell me what to do, Zane.”

  “I’m worried about you. He waved at all the empty bottles and glasses in front of me. “How are you going to pay for all of this? I can chip in, but....”

  “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

  “Let’s go home. Please.”

  “I don’t have a home.”

  “What are you—”

  “I’m not going back there. Not until he moves out. I’ll find a hotel room to hole up in until he does.”

  Zane was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was a whisper. “Cookie, I’m always on your side. Always. But maybe you overreacted a little?”

  I glared at my friend. “What are you talking about? He doesn’t love me. No one ever did. How the fuck am I overreacting?”

  “You just committed to a relationship with him. It takes time for people to fall in love, cookie.”

  I shook my head. “It didn’t take long for me, did it?” I took the refilled shot glass in hand and gulped it, loving the self-inflicting burn in my throat. “I’m such an idiot.”