Page 68 of Resisting my Roommate

“You have no idea,” I playfully groan. “The man is insufferable.”

He pulls his hand away and lands a hard smack on my ass.

I yelp, then whimper as he rubs the flesh. “I’ll show you how insufferable I can be.” He nips at my neck.

“Is that a threat? Or a promise?”

He spins me around, his lips hovering over mine. “You’ll find out later. I have plans for you.”

I drape my arm over his shoulder, toying with a few tendrils of his hair. “What kind of plans?”

“I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, but they involve me…” He touches a kiss to one corner of my mouth before moving to the other side. “And you.” He pulls back slightly, mischief glinting in his eyes. “And absolutely no clothes.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Me, too.” He covers my mouth, his tongue swiping against mine in a way that makes me want to stay with him forever.

But I can’t.

Reluctantly pushing away, I give him one last heated look before turning from him.

I’m about to disappear into the taproom when the tiny hairs all over my body stand on end, a shiver trickling down my spine.

Glancing behind me, I’m not surprised to find Jude leaning against the doorjamb of his office, his arms crossed over his chest, causing his t-shirt to stretch around his muscular frame. His eyes are trained on me like he’s gone hungry for days and I’m the first source of sustenance he’s encountered. It makes my core clench, desire pooling low in my belly.

If I weren’t already late, I would haul him back into his office. Then again, if there’s one thing Jude’s taught me over the past several weeks, it’s that delayed gratification can make it all worth it.

“Did you get lost?” Lindsey teases when I pass her on my way to the bar. “You were back there for quite a while.”

Slipping behind the counter, I turn on the sink and wash my hands, glancing at my watch. “I’m not that late. My shift only started a few minutes ago.”

“Mmm hmm.” She gives me a knowing grin as she joins me behind the bar, grabbing a glass and placing it beneath a tap. “No wonder boss man’s been less of a hard ass lately. He’s getting laid.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I keep my eyes trained forward, hoping she can’t see the blush creeping up my face.

Or the scratches on my neck from where Jude’s unshaven jawline scraped against my sensitive skin as he thrust inside me.

“I’m not blind,” Lindsey responds. “I see the way he looks at you. We all do. He’s got it bad.”

I fully face her. “It’s not like?—”

“It’s okay. Your secret’s safe with me.”

I part my lips, about to argue it’s not what she thinks. Instead, I blow out a breath. “Are we that obvious?”

“Only a little.” With a wink, she heads back out to the patio to drop off the beer she just poured.

After checking to see that all the prep work has already been done, I grab the clean spray and a towel, wiping down the tables in preparation for the evening rush. I need to do something to distract myself from Jude’s looming presence in my life.

And Lindsey’s statement that he’s got it bad for me.

He wasn’t supposed to have it bad. Either was I. But I’m in deep and I’m not sure how to dig myself out now.

I’m not sure I want to.

“Abbey. Is that you?”

I snap my head up, my expression widening when I see one of my closest friends from my Peace Corps days approaching.

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