Page 58 of Bad Pucking Roommate

Justus finally relaxes into a contented smile, which lasts all of about five seconds before he sits ramrod straight and gapes at me. “Did you call me babe?”

“I, uh…”Did I?

“Ohmigosh you did.” His voice is barely a whisper.

“I plead the fifth.”

“Nope. Nuh uh.” Justus shakes his head, fighting an expectant grin. “You can’t take it back.”

“I’m not taking anything back, I’m pleading the fifth.”

“Mm hmm.”

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

“I never said it did.” He smirks like he’s won some imaginary argument.

“I don’t even remember what I said so I can’t admit to anything.” I drum my fingers on the steering wheel.

“Okay.”

“Seriously. I don’t know why you’re looking so smug.” I let my hand fall to the armrest. “I probably said bro, not babe.”

“Hmm, I must needto get my ears checked.”

“Exactly.”

“Luca?” I look at Justus as he links our fingers together, my heart melting a bit as he gives me a sad yet sincere smile. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Anytime, babe. Anytime.”

***

It’s only nine, but after the chaos of the funeral and then hours of travel, it feels much later. Too late for the way I plan to end the evening. I’m betting Justus won’t mind though, since I’m fairly certain he’s as anxious as I am to end the charade we’ve been living for the past few weeks.

“Am I staying here tonight?” Justus asks as I pull into my driveway.

“I’d like you to.” I drive into the garage and park the car, though I make no move to get out. Not yet. Not until his warm brown eyes meet mine with a subtle nod.

I grab our bags with one hand and take Justus’s hand with the other, leading us straight to my bedroom. Once we cross the threshold, the bags hit the floor with a heavy thud as I spin toward the man whose presence I seem to need as much as I need air, cradling his face between my palms.

His hopeful gaze finds mine, and the desire I see there has me leaning forward until my mouth is pressed softly against his, exactly the way I’ve wanted to do since the night I watched him collapse and panicked over a future without him in it despite knowing it could lead to my downfall. And his.

We linger like that, connected though just barely, savoring the touch I know we’ve been craving and fighting for weeks.

It’s everything I imagined, and yet, so much more.

Tender lips, warm breath mingling together, a hint of stubble catching on my fingertips as I caress his jaw. And my heart, beating far too fast for this sweet moment, causes my body to vibrate like it does when I’m on the ice.

A faint moan rumbles from deep inside my throat as my lips learn the shape and feel of Justus’s. They’re surprisingly soft, more supple than I would’ve expected given how hard the rest of his body is. But firm too, in the sense that there’s no hesitation in his kiss. He’s leaning into it, sighing as his mouth parts slightly, and I seize the opening.

Justus gasps as my tongue licks over his plush bottom lip, giving me room to push into his mouth. But he doesn’t let me plunder. He swipes his tongue along mine, pushing into my mouth like he wants to devour me, and now it’s my turn to fight for dominance.

Back and forth, we wrestle for and relinquish control, moaning and groaning and groping at each other like two men on the verge of death, trying to make the most of every last moment. Hell, for all I know we are, professionally speaking, if word of this gets out.

When I’m so breathless I’m panting and my lips feel bruised, I pull back, just enough to rest my forehead against Justus’s as I try to regain some semblance of control.

“I wanted to put my arm around you today.” I break the silence with a whisper.

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