Roomies by Lynn Stevens

Author:Lynn Stevens [Stevens, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

When I woke the next morning, Josh’s gentle snores lifted my hair. I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. His arms tightened around me, pressing my body closer against his.

“What’re you laughing at?” he whispered.

“You’re snoring.” I pursed my lips to hold in another giggle.

“I don’t snore.”

He kissed my hair and slid his hand along my stomach, his pinky finger grazing the bare skin between my shirt and my shorts. My breath hitched in my throat. Josh’s lips moved to my ear, then down along my neck to my shoulder. Each kiss quaked deeper inside me and I rolled onto my back. His lips devoured mine as his hand slipped under the thin fabric, kneading at the edge of my ribs. Bile rose in my stomach. He couldn’t know. He wouldn’t want to touch me like this if he knew.

I turned away from him, kicking a small hard object off the bed. It took me a minute to realize what it was. When I did, I sat up, covering my mouth with my hands. I couldn’t do this with him. Not until that ring was out of my possession. Not until Sam was out of my life. As long as I had that ring, it wasn’t truly over. But then what? Once Josh knew who I really was, he’d be done with me. I dropped my head, digging my fingers into my scalp. Either way, I’d lose what little happiness I had. Sam ruined me for anyone else.

Josh reached for me, his fingers gliding along my arm. “It’s okay, Val.”

It’ll never be okay, I wanted to say. If my face betrayed the horror, the terror, Josh didn’t flinch. He sat up, tugging my hands free from my mouth.

His fingers wove through mine. “I’m here, and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

I stared into his eyes. He had plenty of ways out. I was a guest in his apartment. I was basically freeloading off his generosity. He never asked me for a penny for rent, food, or any utilities. There wasn’t anything in his expression but concern and, dare I say, hope.

“Why’re you so good to me?” I cocked my head, searching for anything that might give me an answer.

Josh smiled and waves of desire I’d never known pulsed through my body. His smile melted the ice walls that protected me. It terrified me in a way I’d never experienced.

“It’s easy,” he whispered. He leaned closer until there was only breath between us. “You’re the sweetest, kindest woman I’ve ever met. You spend your days worrying about others. You don’t care about materialistic bullshit but about things that matter.” He pulled our hands up and pressed them into his chest. “Val, I’ve never cared about someone like this before, and it’s happening so fast that I’m drowning in you. And I don’t want to be saved.”

Tears skimmed along my eyes.

“Don’t cry.” He tugged me toward him, letting go of our hands before drawing me onto his lap. “This isn’t something to cry over.

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