The Roommate

By Jason Lenov

When John moves in with a new roommate he's smitten by her stunning looks and cheerful personality.
Lisa's everything he could ever hope for in a woman.
He doesn't object when she has a "friend with benefits" over for a hookup.
But overhearing Lisa and her lover in the next room evokes a strange reaction. His jealousy at not being the one to share her bed is laced with a potent arousal.
Lisa's always up for a romp and when she discovers John doesn't have a girlfriend she offers to give him a hand.
As their attraction heats up John starts to pine for having Lisa to himself.
Will Lisa abandon her love of quick hook-ups and one night stands? Or will John be forever forced to watch?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thirteenth Line Publications
• Release date: Nov 20, 2019

Jason Lenov

I am Jason. I write stories about humans and how they love together. Sometimes the stories get crazy because I am chained to my muse. I live in the hills and love to walk. Please enjoy yourselves.

Book preview

The Roommate

by

Jason Lenov

Copyright 2019 Jason Lenov

Thirteenth Line Publications

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, companies, organizations, products and events in this book, other than those that are clearly in the public domain, are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, companies, organizations, events, or products, is purely coincidental.

All characters depicted in this story are 18 years or older.

Cover characters are models. Image(s) is/are licensed from:

depositphotos.com/Prochkailo94

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Chapter One

I met Lisa in my fourth year of college. I’d been going through for technical theatre, lights, rigging, backstage stuff, when I realized that it wasn’t the passion I’d thought it had been when I started. Seeing the pretty grim job outlook I had decided to pivot into a business administration degree.

I first laid eyes on her in the student counsellor’s office waiting room.

She was an all-American blonde haired blue-eyed beauty with a killer body that was difficult to ignore. I’d been in a few relationships, mostly with mild-mannered mid-western girls, but none of them had worked out.

Lisa wasn’t the type of girl I’d normally approach. She had that sparkling Disney princess look that, while attractive on the surface, seemed like it wouldn’t really run very deep. I liked a girl I could talk to about something other than makeup and the weather.

But I thought I caught her stealing glances at me from the corner seat she was in. I don’t know of many guys my age that wouldn’t be at least a little bit intrigued by a girl like that checking them out. I flashed her a smile. To my surprise she got up, walked across the room and sat in the chair right next to me.

Hey, she said, offering a hand in greeting.

Hey, I replied, smiling and giving her hand a shake.

She flashed another toothy smile. I’m sorry but are you John? she asked.

I am, I replied, wondering how she knew.

I thought so. My friend Kim told me about you. Her description was spot on.

Kim was one of my friends from lighting class. I remembered her telling me she’d mentioned my name to someone looking for a roommate. It seemed strange that she hadn’t mentioned to me that that someone had been a woman. My male mind dropped into overdrive of course, thinking of all sorts of ways this could end. Oh yeah. She told me about you, too. Just didn’t mention you were…

Lisa smiled against as I paused in mid-sentence. A girl? she asked, her smile going a little sly.

I chuckled at the way I’d stepped right into that one. Yeah, I said with a sigh.

Don’t worry, Lisa said, touching my arm. I won’t bite.

I was immediately drawn in by her friendly, unassuming demeanour. In my experience women who looked as good as she did could be a little guarded around men. Rightfully so. Most guys were perverts with one thing on their mind. I chuckled again. That’s good to hear. So you’re looking for a roommate? I asked.

Yeah, Lisa replied. My friend just dropped out and I’m the only one on the lease but the place is way more than I can afford, she explained. I’ve never roomed with a guy before but Kim wouldn’t stop gushing about what a sweetheart you are.

My cheeks went a little red at the compliment. Kim’s great, I muttered, trying to deflect my embarrassment.

Are you guys, like, a thing? Lisa asked.

What me and Kim? No. No, no. I mean not that I wouldn’t it’s just… My face heated up again at having painted myself into another verbal corner. I took a deep breath and sighed. Okay. Me have trouble make talk today.

Lisa threw her head back in an uproarious laugh that made the receptionist scowl at us over her dark-rimmed glasses. You’re adorable! she said, covering her mouth and offering the receptionist a contrite smile by way of apology.

Her words warmed my insides. Not wasn't just that she’d called me adorable, though. It was the way she’d said it. She exuded a warmth and easy confidence that simultaneously terrified and intrigued me.

Terrified because, well, I wasn’t the greatest with women. Not, like, falling all over myself whenever I talked to one bad. Just not…suave, I guess. I hated the dating game. I hated the tension that formed when two people of the opposite sex got talking. That will-they-or-won’t-they buzz made me uneasy. It also tended to make me say stupid things.

So? Lisa asked, flashing another warm smile. What do you think? Interested in at least checking the place out?

Uh…sure, I said, smiling with one half of my mouth.

Lisa tilted her head lower to look at me from under her brow. "You don’t have to, she said. I’m not into forcing anyone to do anything they’re not comfortable with."

No no! I objected, immediately realizing how apprehensive I must have sounded. I’d love to. Sorry. I just didn’t expect to be having this conversation and I’ve got this counsellor’s meeting I was kind of stressed about…

Lisa held up a hand. "Hey I totally get it," she said.

The truth was I wasn’t so much distracted by my upcoming appointment as I was by Lisa’s cheerleader good looks and her larger than life, but somehow still approachable, personality. Can I text you when I finish up here? Do you have time later today? I asked.

Absolutely! Lisa said, pulling her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. What’s your number?

I gave her my number and she tapped it into her phone. A moment later mine dinged. I pulled it out of my bag and saw a friendly Hey it’s Lisa! followed by a winking emoji.

John Heatherington? a woman’s voice said.

I turned to see the counsellor standing at the door of her office and staring out into the waiting room. I’ll shoot you a text as soon as I’m done, okay? I said to Lisa.

Awesome! she said, looking like I’d just made her day.

Our brief encounter stayed with me throughout my meeting. So much so that I could barely concentrate on what the counsellor was saying. I managed to get through it, though. As soon as I emerged from the building I snatched my phone out of my bag and tapped out a message to Lisa.

All done. You still want to meet up?

As the seconds ticked by after I hit SEND, an old, familiar friend paid me a visit. One I hadn’t met up with in a long time. He crawled out of a dark corner of my mind, cackling at me as he casually tossed out reasons for why Lisa hadn’t yet replied.

Maybe she changed her mind?

Maybe she realized what a dork you were and decided she needed a man sleeping in the room next to her and not a boy?

Or maybe she just forgot about you because, hey, you’re eminently forgettable. Remember?

I had some confidence issues. Always had. It was partly what had gotten in the way of me dating. Whenever I met a woman I liked I would get a little tongue-tied, start looking the other way a lot and not ask any of the questions I knew women liked to hear.

The pleasant ping my phone made at receiving a message brought a flood of relief. It also sent my evil twin back into the dark corners, grumbling at having been foiled in his attempt to shame me about my failures.

I swiped the phone open and tapped the envelope icon to open the message.

20 Hill St. Just past the parkette. Come any time I’m home all afternoon. I’m so excited this might happen! Can’t wait to see you.

Followed by another winking emoji.

Can’t wait.

Those two words twisted around my throat, spun lower, constricting my chest, then finally burrowed down between my legs and filled that space with heat.

I kind of hated this about myself as well. Maybe I was just a dumb guy who didn’t know any better. But I felt like I could never ever get a read on what women were implying. I know, I know. Me and every other guy on the planet.

But Lisa was being so friendly I couldn’t keep my mind from tilting toward the possibility that this might end as something other than us just being roommates. It’s not like I wanted to make everything about sex. I was twenty-two. That just sort of happened on it’s own.

I broke into a light jog and made my way across campus, toward Hill street and the parkette I knew very well. Number twenty was, in fact, just past there.

It was a stately two-storey brownstone and seemed a little extravagant for a couple of college kids. I wondered what the rent on the place might be. I rang the buzzer and waited for the door to open.

When it did, Lisa was standing on the other side, her brilliant smile lighting up the entrance. I’m so glad you’re here! she said. Stepping out, she put an arm around my neck and pressed her cheek against mine in greeting.

My face immediately heated up.

Lisa noticed as soon as she pulled away from the friendly embrace. She put a hand over her mouth and her eyes went wide. Oh my gosh I’m so sorry! she said, seeming genuinely apologetic. "I am always doing that to guys. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable," she said, shaking her head.

I forced a smile, trying to play it cool. I felt about as cool as a blast furnace, though. Yeesh. I started having second thoughts as soon as I stepped inside. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Lisa. She was gorgeous and I couldn’t help thinking that living with a girl that good-looking was only going to end in me falling for her and my heart breaking when I found out she wasn’t into me.

One half of my mind, the animal part, was grunting stay, while the pursed-lipped voice of reason was looking down it’s nose at me and saying "run. As fast as