“What? Where?” I looked around the room, confused. But he kept his hand in front of me. Jesus, his dick was literally in my face and I would not be having more wine.

“I should do some work, we have the meeting with Julio tomorrow,” I demurred, my hand limp in his. I opened my mouth to politely beg off, but my roommate was apparently not having it, if that stubborn shake of his head was anything to go by.

“No, work is over for the night.”

“Okay, but I still have to—”

“Come up here with me,” he coaxed, pulling me to him. “I’ll get up early and go over things with you, before the call,” he offered with another tug, crumbling the last of my resolve.

“Fine.” I gripped his hand, but he pulled me too fast, which landed me right up against his chest. I let out an “oof” when our bodies crashed together, but he didn’t budge. Not an inch. He stood strong, one arm around my waist and those stormy eyes burning me up. He felt so good. I wanted to bury my nose in the crook of his neck and inhale the faint scent of chlorine always clinging to his skin. But I could not let myself get caught up in this. This pretend house and man who would be gone in a month.

This penthouse and this life were only real for one of us and everything depended on me not forgetting which of us it was.

“What are you doing, Theo?” I forced myself to ask.

“Watching some TV and sitting on the couch?” He had one eye closed and the other open, and it made him look like an oversize puppy, but I was going to have to start resisting his cuteness. This was too serious.

“That’s not what I’m asking...” My voice sounded small and despite myself a little bit of yearning slipped out. Because I could tell myself whatever I wanted, but there was no way to hide how good it felt to be like this with him. If I could not make my own heart get with the program, Theo had to do it for the both of us. He almost looked pained, but then he lifted that big hand and tucked a curl behind my ear.

“I don’t think I have the answer to the question. You do.”

I didn’t know what I’d expected, but him putting things in my court was not it. I almost wished he’d do something I could lash out at. Kiss me or get handsy. Grope me so I could jump off the couch and tell him he was being sleazy. He didn’t do any of it. He just tugged me down to the couch with him until I was snuggled up against him. “I just want to watch some TV with you.”