Page 28 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

“I heard the cost of rent just as clearly as you did, and I saw the way your shoulders tightened when she dropped that bomb. You can’t afford this place on your own.”

Unlike my father who was content to keep me under his thumb by paying for my apartment, Holland’s father was of the mindset that she was the one who needed to make her way through life on her own. Sure, she had a place at his company, but she was expected to climb the ladder just like everyone else. She didn’t have any handouts, and she certainly didn’t have a trust fund waiting for her like I do.

Did.

She can’t afford this place on her own, and if I have any hopes of maintaining my current lifestyle, neither can I. She’s going to need a roommate to make it work, and I can tell she really wants to do just that. I saw the way her eyes practically glazed over when she saw the waterfall showerhead in the en suite, and I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that her brotheris in the same building. She’s living in a brand-new town; she’ll want him close by.

She traps her bottom lip between her teeth, and I have the strangest urge to reach over and pluck it free.

To soothe away her bite with a kiss.

To see if she still tastes like cherries.

“It is a little more expensive than I was expecting,” she says, drawing my attention back to her eyes. “I was hoping they’d have a one-bedroom unit available.”

“See? You need me.”

Her lips curl into a sneer, and I know instantly that was the wrong choice of words.

“I don’t need anyone, Sutton, least of allyou.”

I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sting.

“You might not need me, but you’re wrong about the other part. You do need someone—a roommate. I can be that roommate for you.”

“Have you lost your damn mind?” she practically screams. “There is absolutely no way in hell I would ever live with you.”

“Come on, Holland, be an adult about this. I—”

“Stop telling me to be an adult about things!” she explodes. “Youwere the one who wasn’t an adult four years ago when you left me half naked in a coat closet and then never spoke to me again without so much as a ‘Thanks for the orgasm.’”

With as cold and distant as she’s been, a part of me wondered if she’d forgotten about all our time spent together tucked away in those closets.

I sure haven’t.

Sometimes, I swear I can still taste that damn cherry lip balm she wears.

“Is that why you won’t accept my very generous offer of providing you with the roommate you desperately need—because you’re too afraid you’re unable to resist me?”

“Please.” She huffs. “That issonot it.”

“No? Then what is it?”

I close the small gap between us. We’re so close she has to tip her head back to look up at me.

But no matter how intimidating my height is, she doesn’t back down. It’s something I’ve always appreciated about her. She never backs down from any challenge, not even in high school when all the mean, preppy bitches she hung out with would try to embarrass her in front of everyone by asking about her days of being poor. She would always hold her chin high and meet them pound for pound.

According to my sources, that’s what landed her here—sticking up for herself.

I wish I had the guts to stand up to my father the way she stood up to hers. Instead, I just made a big mess of things.

“I think we both know how much you struggle to resist me, Holland.”

Her nostrils flare, eyes sparking. I bet if I were to look down right now, I’d see her nipples straining against that damn cotton sundress.

A memory of her head thrown back with pleasure as I sucked her nipple into my mouth flits through my mind.

I quickly push it away, trying not to let myself get distracted so I can retain the upper hand.

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