Jameson walked around the empty room, looking up at the light and ceiling fan before heading to the closets. “Why’d he leave? You a nightmare to live with?”
A nightmare? My mouth fell open. But when Jameson glanced over his shoulder, I caught a slight curl to his lip.
“I’m a delight to live with, I'll have you know.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m clean, I’m quiet, and I cook.”
Jameson slid the closet door shut and turned to me. “Are you selling me on you or the apartment?”
I thought about that for a second. “Both, since I come with the apartment.”
Jameson said nothing, and it took everything I had not to fidget. What was he thinking? Was I wasting my time even showing him the place? Then those dark eyes flicked back up to mine. “This is a good-size room.”
Really? That was it? “Yeah, it’s weird seeing it all empty, but a king-size bed would fit in here with no problem. So if that’s what you’ve got…”
“Good to know.”
Was it? I wasn’t so sure, because now all I could think about was Jameson stretched out in a bed big enough that the two of us could roll around in it.
“Well, that’s it in here, so let’s go and check out the rest of the place.”
I walked out of the bedroom and made my way into the kitchen, where I switched on the pendant lights. They gleamed off the marble countertop, and Jameson trailed his fingers over the cool surface.
“Marble countertops?”
“Yes. A gas stove and all new appliances as well. Anything you need should be here.” Jameson’s lips twitched again, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Is something funny?”
“No, GQ. Everything is exactly as I expected it to be.”
That was an odd thing to say, but then again, Jameson was an odd kind of guy.
“The bathroom is just over here. There’s only one, which isn’t ideal, I know, but it’s a good size.”
I moved to the shut door and twisted the knob, then pushed it open as Jameson stopped beside me, shut his eyes, and inhaled.
Damn, he had one of the sexiest faces I’d ever seen. His features were bold and striking, and even now, with his eyes shut, his cheekbones were harsh, prominent reminders that Jameson was all jagged edges. The complete opposite to anyone who was usually in my orbit.
“It smells like you.”
A shiver raced down my spine, his words from the fire station rushing back in: You smell good enough to fucking eat.
“Oh, I showered just before you got here.” I licked at my suddenly dry lips. That same fire I’d seen flashes of here and there was back in his eyes, sending a rush of heat along my skin, and my cock throbbed.
“Where’s your bed?”
“My bed?”
“Yeah.” Jameson blinked and banked those flames as quickly as they were lit, then he turned back to face the living room. “I’ve seen everything but where you sleep.”
Right, I knew that. I shut the bathroom door and then gestured to the hall between the bathroom and kitchen. “It’s just down there to the left.”
“You’re not going to show me?”
“My bedroom?” My heart began to hammer as Jameson looked past my shoulder. “Sure, it’s this way.” I led him down the hall and stopped by my door. “This is where I sleep.”
Jameson walked inside, and I held my breath. Something about him being so close to where I slept and got naked—and had totally gotten off to him several times this week—made every part of me go on high alert.
But when he walked back out and said, “This isn’t going to work,” I quickly snapped out of it.
Jameson was the perfect roommate. He was a firefighter, so I knew he was good people—despite his less-than-charming disposition. He was handy in a bind—I knew that firsthand—and if that wasn’t enough, the guy was used to sharing space with people. He bunked down at the station on shift, so that must mean he was able to deal with roommates.
I wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass me by. Even as Jameson literally passed by me.
“Wait? What do you mean it isn’t going to work?” I followed after him and grabbed his arm, turning him to face me. “Do you prefer my room? Because I need a roommate, and if that’s what will make this work…”
Jameson shook his head and pulled his arm free. “Nothing will make this work.”
What the actual— “I don’t understand. Everything seemed fine until—”
“I saw where you sleep.”
I blinked, utterly confused.
“Come on, GQ. We both know that’s where I’ll end up if I move in here.”
Well, damn. I mean, of course I’d thought about it. The second I opened my door and saw him standing there, I’d thought it. But to hear him say it was as shocking as it was hot.
“You don’t know that.”
“Don’t I?” Jameson took a step toward me, but instead of backing up this time, I held my ground.
“No, you don’t. I need a roommate—”
“You have another person coming to look at the place after me.”
“But I want you,” I said, finally locating my backbone. I wouldn’t let him dictate this situation. He’d been in control the night of the pub and again down at the station. But this was my place, and I wouldn’t let my best opportunity walk out the door.
Jameson’s eyes traveled down to my lips, which I licked.
“I won’t end up in your bed.”
“Good, because I don’t plan on inviting you,” I said.
He smiled, and I knew he didn’t believe me, but if that was what it took to get him to stay, I’d hold up my end of the bargain.
“Don’t you need references?”
“You’re a fireman. That’s upstanding enough for me.”
“And you said you needed someone ASAP?”
“That’s right. You can move in whenever you like.”
“This weekend?”
Holy shit. That was quick. “Sure. Were you thinking Saturday or Sunday?”
“I could start Saturday afternoon? Finish Sunday?”
“That works.”
Jameson did a final walk-around of the living room then nodded. “Okay, I’ll take it.”
Thank God his back was to me, because I couldn’t have stopped my smile even for him. I’d managed to contain it by the time he turned back to me, though, and I held out my hand to him.
Unlike that first night, he slipped his hand into mine, and I wrapped my fingers around his. “If you’ll text me your email, I’ll get the contract written up and sent over,” I said.
“Sounds good. Do you want the deposit now?”
“Saturday will be fine.”
“Okay.” He let go of my hand and made his way toward the front door. “I meant what I said—I won’t end up in your bed.”
“Good, I meant it too.”
He gave a final clipped nod and headed off down the hall, and I couldn’t help my smile, because that promise we’d made was ridiculous. It only ruled out my bed—there were plenty of other places in the apartment he’d said nothing about.