“Like the dead.” I feigned a stretch like I hadn’t been awake for hours, tossing and turning, thinking about his roommate's annoyingly skillful tongue.
“Oh, yeah?” Jamie’s eyes glued to my too-short shorts as he walked up the steps, dodging the evidence of what Carver had done minutes before. “Any of your plans change for the day?”
“Hmm?” I batted my eyelashes as he closed the distance and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Your plans—you said you had to head on out and that you might not be here when I got back.” He closed the distance between our legs, sealing his body to mine.
“Oh, that.” I lightly slapped his chest and gave him my best clueless face. “Turns out, the movers lost my stuff.” I pouted, plumping my bottom lip. Jamie bent down, inching closer like my mouth was a magnet.
“That’s not good. You need my bed for another night, then?” His voice aimed for husky—one that would melt panties to the floor. If only I hadn’t tossed the pair I had into the trash, hoping Car would be even more pissed at what he’d done. At the pleasure he’d brought me. He said I had to obey him while under his roof?
Well, make me, motherfucker.
“You okay? You look kind of…angry.”
“It’s nothing.” I pushed on his chest and he released his hold on me, his brows creasing in confusion. I wiped under my eye and his whole body softened.
“Is this about the movers? You want me to handle—”
I held up my hand as I finished wiping across a dry cheek. “No, Jamie. I just had a lot of sentimental things in that truck, and if they can’t—” I sniffled and he crowded my space again, covering me in a warm embrace.
“Oh, Lyra.” He breathed deeply against my neck, and my bones had that urge in them again to run. Flee. Go as far away as humanly possible. “Don’t you worry about where you can stay, okay? The hotel in town is shit, you’re better off here until that truck comes with your things.”
“I-I could always go out and buy a few pieces of furniture. I think I can find a decent resale place—”
“Nonsense,” he said into my hair. “I have plenty of room in my bed, which you seemed to have enjoyed a lot last night.”
“Jamie?” I whispered, my voice coming out shaky.
“Yes, Lyra?”
“I should probably tell you, I don’t really have a lot of experience with—” I pulled my head back, making eye contact with him. His grey eyes shifted as he looked me over. “I don’t usually sleep with a guy until the third date, and while you’re being very generous and all, I just don’t know if I can go against my morals. My mama raised me to be a good, homely woman, and the heart of the home must be pure.”
His eyes continued watching every inch of my face as I spoke, and when I was done, he hugged me closer. “Thank you for being honest with me. I like that about you. Your mom must be a proud woman.”
“She would be,” I blurted, giving him the first honest words from my mouth since he stepped foot on the porch. Everything I learned about men and how to use them had been from her, after all. And the look in Jamie’s eyes as he ate up every one of my lies was evidence enough that I’d been a star pupil.
She would certainly be proud.
His hand started making circles on the small of my back. “Did she pass, too? Like your dad, I mean.”
“Yeah.” No. Wherever my mama ran off too, I doubted she was dead. Woman was stronger than teflon and sneakier than a gator in heat.
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” He reared back, resting his hands on my shoulders. I let another soft smile spread over my lying lips—the lips Carver saw right through the first day we met. “My dad passed when I was a baby, so I never really knew him. But my mom is great. She’d love you.” I grinned as he blushed. “I’m sorry, that’s way too soon.” He scratched the back of his head. “I said too much, didn’t I?”
I shook my head. “No, no. I think it’s sweet.” Gag. “Really. I hope I get to meet her one day.” Never happening.
He beamed. “Yeah?” This guy didn’t need to get laid, he needed to be on one of those reality shows where he meets a woman on the day of their wedding, and assuming she’s good looking, they’d fall in love and live happily ever after. His Adam’s apple bobbed, the clearing of his throat bringing him back to Earth. “I mean, yeah. Sure. She loves all my friends, too.”
“Friends—ouch.” My face fell as a gruff voice filled the awkward pause. “What’s for lunch today, roomie?”
Jamie chuckled, then patted his pockets, murmuring something about his phone. While Jamie jogged back to retrieve it, Carver eyed me up as if I were a piece of steak.
I groaned. “Don’t you have someone else you can go eye-fuck?”
“Yeah, I do.” That stupid toothpick came jutting out from between his teeth. Couldn’t find a shirt, yet somehow always had a toothpick.
“Great. I’m sure they’re going to be more eager to please you and whatever fucked-up tastes you’ve developed.” I ended the last word in a rushed whisper as Jamie started to walk back.
