Page 40 of The Roommate Game

“Yo, hold up there, speedy. I’m fine. We’re down to our last games and?—”

“And that’s why you need me,” he intercepted. “Think of it as an outside consultation or a friendly field trip to the rink with your roommate. Or…my contribution to the roommate game.”

“Oh. Very slick,” I drawled.

He chuckled. “Maybe it won’t make a difference, but it can’t hurt to try something new. And on the off chance it helps, it’s the least I can do to pay you back for buying extra groceries and insisting I eat them so they don’t go bad.”

“Do I do that?” I took the Haverton exit and followed my GPS directions to the new Costco on Filmore Street.

“You do and…brace yourself, because I’m about to give you a real compliment.”

The lot was full, so I parked in the first open spot. We’d have to hike to the entrance, but it was a nice spring day and the company was pleasant.

“A second real compliment? Hang on a sec. I gotta be ready for this.” I turned off the engine, unfastened my seat belt, and gestured animatedly. “Okay, hit me.”

My comedy routine earned me another eye roll, but Rafe’s grin was pure sunshine.

“Here goes…you’re extremely generous and you’re a good person, Gus. A little irritating at times, and yet lately, very thoughtful. I don’t know what’s inspired your recent roommate chivalry, but it’s much appreciated.”

I froze at the sincerity, feeling oddly exposed for a beat. “Uh…thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now it’s your turn.”

“I,uh…I’m supposed to give you a compliment now?”

Rafe pursed his lips in amusement. “Yep. Do your worst.”

This was my cue to say something goofy and hustle us into the store before they sold out of corn dogs. It was all on the tip of my tongue, but butterflies had started churning in my stomach now, and he was aglow with sparkling eyes and a winning smile.

Damn it, confidence looked good on him. I felt dizzy under the weight of his expectant stare. And dazzled.

“You’re really fucking hot in that costume. Like…luminescent or something.”

“Luminescent?”

Oh, fuck. Dial it down, man.

Not possible. My mouth was running again.

“Everything about you just twinkled like stardust and—sorry, I’m being weird. I just…I don’t know if I’m in a sober spiral or if it was that kiss or?—”

“You think I’m…hot?” he interrupted, scrunching his nose as if skeptically testing the integrity of that three-letter word.

I nodded like a puppet on a string. “Yeah. Very…very hot. And very?—”

Rafe lunged across the console and crashed our mouths together. I didn’t overthink it. My dick was so on board with whatever was happening, it wasn’t even funny. Desire zinged throughout my system in a heady rush, urging me to take what was offered.

I put my hand on Rafe’s nape, cradling his head as I tilted my chin and pushed inside. He moaned at the contact and in a flash, he was practically on top of me, ravaging me, stoking a fire with every twist of his talented tongue.

We made out like a couple of rabid horny teens until the windows fogged and the air was muggy with lust and a heavy cloud of pheromones.

Rafe gasped as he flopped into the passenger seat, a hand covering his bee-stung lips. “We’re good at that.”

“Yeah.” My voice was gravelly and hoarse, and my head was spinning. “Wanna get out of here?”

“God, yes.”

CHAPTER 13