Page 12 of Loud Hot Roomie (Taboo Streets #4)

Riko

I’m obsessed with this man.

It’s embarrassing, really, but I’m not alone. When not at work, Derek can’t keep his hands off me. Now that we had penetrative sex, he’s like an animal who can’t get enough. The other night, he fucked me in the shower, and I broke the showerhead by hanging onto it while he railed into me.

Luckily, he’s buddies with our landlord and it’s already been fixed.

Each day of bliss blurs into the next. It’s easy to pretend I’m his little house husband who cooks for him and waits with bated breath until he comes home each day. At least, that’s been our happy routine for nearly two weeks.

Next week, though, the honeymoon phase will be over.

I start with my very first client. It’s helping an eighth-grade kid level up his game so he can try out for the high school soccer team next year.

I’m going to be working with him three afternoons out of the week.

To celebrate my first gig, Derek says he’s bringing me home a surprise.

I hope it’s more cookies.

That man is going to make me fat.

When I hear the front door open, I abandon my post by the crockpot where I have a roast cooking, and hightail it to greet Derek.

He’s handsome as ever in his brown uniform.

Like the freak I am, I fling myself at him and inhale his pungent scent.

The man sweats all day in that truck, and might be a little ripe to most people, but I love his musky scent. It makes me want to lick him.

“You just licked me,” Derek says, a grin in his voice as he hugs me tight. “You’re such a weirdo.”

“Not my fault you come in here looking and tasting like a snack.”

He pulls me away so he can look at me. Sometimes the intense way in which he stares at me prods at the deepest places in my heart. It feels dangerous but I can’t stop it. I want him probing away, shining his light in all the dark crevices I’ve always kept hidden.

“I missed you,” he murmurs before crashing his lips to mine.

I kiss him deeply until we’re both hard and grinding against one another. Finally, I pull away and shake my head when his stomach growls.

“You’re hungry. Go shower.”

He grunts, gripping my shirt and tugging me closer. “Hungry for you.”

“You can have me after we fill you belly. My man needs his protein.”

There’s a second or two I worry he’ll ignore his grumbling stomach to blow me—which wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all—but I’m glad when he kisses me before thundering up the stairs.

I hurry to the kitchen to warm up the hoagies and melt the cheese for our French dip sandwiches.

By the time he returns, smelling like my body wash, I’ve plated our meals and am grabbing the beer.

“This looks incredible,” he praises as he sits down across from me. “You are amazing.”

Says the man who’s wearing athletic pants and no shirt. Forget the sandwich. I’d rather suck on his pebbled nipples until he begs me to put my tongue other places.

“You’re drooling,” he teases. “Eat up, hubby. You’ll need your energy for later.”

That’s no lie. For someone twice my age, the man has stamina. I think running packages all over the place keeps him in tip-top shape. I’m certainly not complaining.

As I devour my sandwich, I say around chewing my food, “I notice you forgot my present.”

“I’ll get you more cookies tomorrow to make up for it,” he promises. “I had to make a stop somewhere else on the way home.”

He’s being cryptic and avoids my stare.

Interesting.

What’s he hiding?

“What will we do for dessert?” I ask, imploring him to look my way.

He finally pins his gaze on me. “I know what I’m eating.”

I arch a brow at him. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“A certain good boy’s sexy ass.”

“You watch too much porn,” I say jokingly. “It’s supposed to be for your enjoyment, not a how-to guide.”

He smirks at me. “Two things can be true at the same time.”

“You’re really going to eat my ass.” I chuckle and shake my head. “You truly are something, Dere-Dere.”

“You’ve been teasing me about it and it got me curious. Now that I’ve watched them do it, I’m pretty confident I can do it too.”

“Is this about your ego or…” I grin wickedly at him.

“It’s about you. I want to taste and learn every part of you. I want to make you happy.”

Our teasing always turns so intense. I believe every word out of his mouth. Derek is obsessed with me. I fucking love it but it also scares me. Not the obsession, but my worthiness. What makes me so special? What if one day he wakes up and finds me obnoxious again?

“You do make me happy.” I reach across the table and he takes my hand. “And if eating ass is going to earn me a dimpled smile, who am I to stop you?”

He flashes me a smile and I’m rewarded with his adorable dimples. I love that I see them multiple times a day now. It’s actual evidence for me that I make him happy too.

“So, I want to give you something,” he says, grip tightening on my hand, “but I’m lowkey worried you’re going to hate it.”

This piques my interest. “I’m a pretty easygoing guy. I don’t hate much.”

“You hate losing on your video game, getting up early, moths, and Miracle Whip.”

Mouth agape, I scoff. “First of all, who gave you permission to know all those things? Everyone hates losing, only freaks enjoy getting up early, moths are terrifying, and I’ll gag just thinking about the last one.”

He laughs and it warms my heart. “Point is, you do hate stuff. You may hate this.”

The nerves return and he averts his gaze. It’s then I realize he’s fidgeting with his other hand in his pocket. Now I’m overly curious. What in the hell does he have in his pocket?

“Previously,” he says, voice gruff, “I was bad with commitment. It wasn’t something I wanted but always gave in for the other person. Looking back, it was shitty to go along with something I wasn’t a hundred-percent feeling.”

“With your ex?”

“Especially with her. It was one of our biggest points of contention. She always wanted more from me and I didn’t have it to give to her. Our relationship felt out of balance.”

Since Derek doesn’t go into much detail about his ex and the baby, I try not to push. This feels like a breakthrough or something. Like we’re leveling up together.

“But with me?” I implore, arching an eyebrow. “It’s different?”

“So different.” His eyes burn into mine as if he’s trying to give me a direct line of vision into his brain. I wish I could see how his mind works.

“Different how?”

“For one, I’m always on fire around you. Burning and burning. I love it. Don’t want it to end.”

“That makes two of us,” I admit with a smile.

“And, since it only intensifies, I know where this will go if we let it.”

“You do?”

“I do, hubby.”

A guy my age should cringe at all this “playing house” we’re doing, but I don’t hate it. Derek fills me up in a way I never realized I was missing. I’m no longer empty and unhappy. He fills me to the brim with him. It’s amazing.

“This is a promise to you,” he says softly, cheeks turning pink. “One day, it’ll be more than a promise. A legal binding. Unbreakable vows.”

He pulls his hand out of his pocket and reveals two rubber wedding bands. They’re both plain and simple and black. But, to me, it feels like the most significant thing that’s happened to me.

“I just want to make us official,” Derek says quickly, misreading my quiet for something else. “I want people to know we’re an item. That we’re together and it’s not something fleeting. I need to know we’re on the same page.”

I still don’t take the offered ring from his hand, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. “And here I thought I was the impulsive one.”

He flinches slightly and starts to pull his hand back. Before he can get too far, I pluck the smaller ring from his palm and inspect it up close. Then, I slide it on my right ring finger.

“It’s supposed to go on the left,” he rumbles.

“Yeah,” I agree, “when actually married. Maybe one day you’ll get to put one there too.”

It’s a challenge. To love me through thick and thin, even when I’m annoying or push his buttons. Or when the newness fades away. I’ll accept this promise and hope that the other hand gets its ring one day too.

Derek nods at my answer. He, too, puts his ring on his right finger. “I’m going to make you so happy you’re going to beg me to take you to the courthouse by Christmas.”

“Confident much?”

“When it comes to you, I’ve never been surer about anything.”

He stands from the table and then pulls me into his arms. I hug his middle, sighing happily. His big hands stroke up and down my back making me purr like a cat.

“I know it’s soon, Riko,” Derek murmurs against my hair, “but I’ve already fallen in love with you. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry I’m so irresistible.”

We both laugh and then I tilt my head up to look at him. My mind is a bit messy right now, feeling at odds with galloping heart. Derek is making promises and they feel genuine, but we’ve barely left our bubble. I’m still worried something will happen to mess it all up.

Like maybe if we leave our comfortable space, reality will set in and Derek will change his mind. I can’t be all in with that uncertainty hanging over me. He hasn’t even told his friends about me yet.

Derek distracts me with a kiss and then things heat up. He fumbles between us to palm my dick over my shorts. I’m about to tell him to suck it when he curses. Then, he grabs my arms and physically moves me away from the window.

“What the hell, man?” I grunt when he accidentally bumps me into the corner of the countertop. “You’re manhandling me.”

“Fuck,” he hisses, as he tugs me into the living room. “I…fuck.”

He’s clearly panicked because he keeps jerking his head over his shoulder like the boogeyman is about to pop out and grab his dick.

“Derek?”

His hand scrubs over his face and he shoots me a guilty look. It makes dinner curdle in my gut.

“Derek.” His name comes out sharply this time. “What happened?”

He squeezes his eye shut and then he sighs. “They almost saw us.”

“Who almost saw us? Topher and Eloise?” Now I’m confused as hell.

“No,” he grumbles. “My ex.”

“Is your ex stalking us?” My eyebrows fly to my hairline.

“What? No.” He huffs. “She lives across the pond and goes walking with her family or best friend a lot of evenings.”

I’ve seen people walking around the pond, but didn’t pay much attention to them.

Apparently, I should have. His words are a punch to my chest. Come to think of it, he’s pulled me away from the window multiple times now, but it was usually more casually.

Today it was rough and frantic. It’s because he’s hiding me from her?

And she’s been living here this whole time?

“You forgot to mention your ex is one of our neighbors,” I say icily. “Literally of all the conversations we’ve had, it never came up once?”

Derek features turn stony, and he stiffens. “I didn’t think it was important.”

“For fucking real, Derek? I think it’s important.

I told you all the embarrassing shit about my exes.

Hell, I even told you which prison one of them is at.

But you couldn’t tell me the woman you almost had a baby with lives right fucking there.

” I jab in the direction of the kitchen. “I feel lied to.”

He shakes his head and takes a step toward me. “I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad.”

I hold up a hand. “I’m not mad. I’m disappointed.” Great. Now I sound like my damn dad.

“How do I make it right?”

“You lied by omission. I need a minute.”

Of course Derek can’t let me go and follows me up the stairs. When I sit on my bed, he drops down beside me, one of his thick thighs rubbing against mine.

“I’m sorry,” he says again. “I thought maybe it would freak you out.”

I turn to look at him, hating how my stomach twists into a knot and tears threaten. “It does freak me out. I feel blindsided. Now it’s awkward. I’ll never be able to go in the backyard or walk around the pond.”

“No,” he rushes out, taking my hand in his. “I want you to feel good about living here. I’ll introduce you to her one day. She’s not a bad person.”

“If she’s not a bad person then why did you drag me out of the kitchen? Do you still have feelings for her?”

“What? No, Riko. No.”

I shudder at the oily feelings sliding through my veins. “Are you ashamed of me?”

Silence.

Pain lances through my chest.

“I’m not ashamed,” he mumbles, though it sounds like a lie. “I just don’t know how to reveal this part of myself to her and the world.”

“So we’re tiptoeing around everyone else’s feelings?” I choke out. “Got it. I’ll keep a lid on mine then since they’re unimportant.”

“Riko,” Derek hisses, trying to hold onto my hand as I stand.

“I get it,” I blurt. “I’m your dirty little secret. I think I’ll shower now. You should clean up the kitchen.”

He clutches his chest as if my words physically hurt him. Well, his hurt me too. I guess we’re even.

“Please…”

I stop him with a shake of my head. “I said I’m showering. Go, Derek.” Then, because I’m feeling bitter, I say, “Don’t worry. I’ll hide away up here so no one finds out you’re fucking your roommate.”

Even though I’m pissed and about to fucking cry like a little kid, I keep the ring on. I sure hope he was telling the truth about his promise. To love me even when shit gets rough.

That time is now.

It’s time to put his money where his mouth is.