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It seems, all roads – especially the filthy ones – lead back to Lycus. The way he looked at me earlier, the way his eyes roamed over my body...I shake my head, trying to clear those thoughts. This is not the time nor the place for those kinds of feelings.
As time ticks by, I find myself getting more and more restless. The bed feels too big, too empty without Lycus’ warm body next to mine – which is crazy. That isnota line I want to cross. I can’t stop thinking about him though, and the more I try to push those thoughts away, the more they creep back into my mind.
I sit up, rubbing my temples. This is ridiculous. I need to get a grip.
But then I hear the sound of the door opening, and I freeze. Lycus is back. Already. Either that was really quick or I lost more time fantasising about him than I thought.
He’s holding a bag of takeout food and a couple of cans of pop, and the sight of him sends my heart racing. He looks even better than he did in my daydreams, his hair still damp from the shower, his clothes clinging to his muscular frame.
“Hey,” he says, offering me a smile. “I hope you don’t mind but I wasn’t really dressed for the restaurant downstairs and everywhere is mobbed. I grabbed takeout from across the road. I wasn’t sure if you’d ordered room service, so I got enough for you too. If you’re hungry?”
I nod, unable to speak. He sets the bag down on the bedside table and opens it, revealing a feast of amazing smelling Indian dishes – including a paneer curry that makes me salivate.
When he mentions that it’s mine, I stare at him in shock. He got my favourite dish for me? How did he know? It’s not like it’s something I’ve ever brought into work.
I can’t resist the smell of it, and before I know it, I’m digging in. We eat in silence for a while, the only sounds are the rustling of the paper bags as we dive in for more.
I’m sitting on the bed, being careful not to drip sauce on the covers, but Lycus has taken the chair across from me, respecting my earlier wish to have the bed to myself. It’s silly; he keeps having to get up to grab more food, but I can’t force my mouth to form the words to invite him to sit beside me.
He sets down his food and turns to face me, breaking the silence. “Listen,” he says, his voice low and serious. “I know things have been weird between us, but this doesn’t have to be.”
I laugh. “This doesn’t have to be weird? Sharing a room with only one bed? Did you know there’s a whole romance trope built around that?” My eyes widen. Why the fuck did I say that? Now he’s going to think I’m some rabid porn-reading nutcase who’s going to jump him in the night. Fuck.
“Well, weirder than that,” he replies with a smirk, getting to his feet and coming closer to the bed. God, he’s so handsome. Did I really never notice it before, or have I just been in denial about my feelings for him?
The way he moves is intoxicating. It reminds me of a predator prowling towards its prey. Leisurely, because it knows it’s top of the food chain and incapable of losing.
But that would make me the prey.
I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. “Lycus, we can’t do this. We’re roommates, that’s all.”
He looks at me for a long moment, his jade eyes searching mine. When did he get so close? He’s climbed onto the bed and feels as close as a lover would be. “Is that really all it is?Justroommates?”
I swallow hard, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “Yes,” I say firmly, but my voice betrays me, coming out as a whisper.
He leans in closer, hands on the mattress and his breath hot on my neck. “You know, I don’t believe you,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear, making me shiver. “I think there’s something between us, something we’ve both been trying to ignore.”
I close my eyes, feeling his words resonate through me and swallow. He’s right. I’ve been trying to ignore it, but I can’t any longer. Without thinking, I turn to him, our faces inches apart.
“Colleagues. Roommates. Maybe…” I whisper.
“Yes?” he asks, leaning in until the gap between us is almost nonexistent. His eyes are glued to mine, but I can’t hold his stare. My gaze drops to his lips and I find myself unconsciously licking my own, desperate for another taste of him.
“Maybe…friends?”
He groans and flops back against the mattress, throwing an arm up to cover his eyes.
“Angelica, you’re killing me.”
I laugh at his reaction, the tension between us dissipating for a moment. But then he sits up, his expression serious again.
“Look, I know we work together and that complicates things. But I can’t ignore how I feel about you anymore. I want you, Angelica. I’ve wanted you for a long time. Since way before I broke into your apartment last week.”
My heart races as I look into his eyes, the desire burning hot between us. The temptation to give in and close the gap between us is overwhelming, but I resist.
You’re not resisting, Angelica, you’re running.
“I’m really tired,” I force out. “I’m going to turn in for the night.”
