The Roommate Arrangement

by Vanessa Waltz

  During those late nights when we had too many beers, Henry would talk about his mother. His father. Never Saffie.

  Firelight ripples over her face as she sits in front of a stack of burning logs. Titus lies beside her, roasting marshmallows, cracking a joke that makes her smile. Gentle waves roll in from the beach, the moonlight casting a glow across the water. It's a beautiful night. Humid for California. Thick, warm air rides the tide, playing with Saffie's long hair. She keeps watch over the row of blackening tufts of sugar speared on sticks, handing them out. Choosing one for herself, she peels the charcoaled layer and wraps her lips around the marshmallow, sliding it off.

  Sand kicks across my vision, followed by a pair of hairy legs. I look up. Henry blocks my view of the fire, his hands planted on his hips.

  I sit on my elbows, in awe with his ability to suck the fun out any event. "The hell is your problem?"

  "You. As always, you are the thorn in my ass."

  I smile. The photos must've published. "I'm just sitting here."

  He stares toward my line of sight, sneering. "You're staring at my sister."

  "I like the way she eats marshmallows."

  A growl erupts from the back of his throat. "Fuck you."

  "It's a free country."

  "I know what you're doing." He swipes his thumb across the iPhone, showing me a picture of Saffie and me sitting on the sidelines. I'm tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and she's beaming at me with a smile like a schoolgirl with a crush. Wow, the photo is more damning than I thought it would be. The headline above reads: Grayson and Henry's sister PDA at Grizzlies Practice.

  He snatches the cell away before I can read the comments. "That guest you invited was a paparazzo, but of course you knew that. What the hell are you doing inviting reporters to our practices?"

  "That's my business."

  Henry shoves the phone in his back pocket, outraged at my indifference. "You'll ruin this team's reputation."

  "When Kris' little secret gets leaked, that'll happen anyway."

  The simmering anger evaporates, replaced by wide-eyed fear. Henry runs a hand through his hair. "You found out."

  "She called me months ago. Personally, I'm hoping like hell it's not mine to watch the fallout when the whole world knows you're a bastard."

  "No one will," he growls. "She's on the payroll."

  Disgust roils my stomach. "Do you expect me to thank you?"

  "Christ, Grayson, I hoped you'd act like an adult, or at the very least, like someone who cares about the fate of this team. What is wrong with you?" Orange light flickers over Henry's thin face. "If it's money you want, I'll give it to you."

  "I have all the cash I need, you moron."

  "Then what is it?" he says, his voice carrying to the beach. "Why the fuck can't you let this go? For Christ's sake. You're destroying us over a woman."

  "Maybe I should repeat that to your wife next time I see her." I push myself off the ground and brush past a stunned Henry.

  He won't follow me. Last thing he wants is to make a scene, and there are other things I'd rather do.

  Like Saffie.

  She walks along the ocean, her bare feet sinking into the wet sand. Her gasp hits the air when the tide washes her toes. Fucking California. Everyone thinks the beaches here are warm, but the water is ice year round.

  I grab a rolled up towel from the ground and head toward her. Saffie's long hair blows behind her. I catch it in my fist and let the strands trail my fingers. Saffie turns, her white T-shirt billowing over her red bikini bottom. I take her shoulder without caring if the other guys notice.

  "Want a walk down the beach?"

  The suggestion in my voice burns. I'm not offering a stroll, and she knows it. She glances behind. Titus squirts the small canister of propane into the fire—fucking moron. The others relax on the sand, sipping beer. Henry has disappeared. Good.

  She folds her hand in mine, and we follow the moonlight across the beach. The breeze plays with her hair. "What were you and my brother talking about?"

  "Nothing interesting, just the same old bullshit." Sighing, I give in to her curiosity. "I made a comment about the way you were eating marshmallows. He didn't appreciate it."

  Her nose wrinkles. "What's wrong with how I eat them?"

  "You make me think of filthy things when you have that look on your face."

  She snorts. "Which?"

  "Like you're about to come." Two patches burn high on Saffie's cheeks. "I've never seen a girl that into food. No judgment."

  "I don't have a fetish, you idiot. I have a sweet tooth. Sue me."

  "You sure? There's chocolate sauce at the camp. I could smear it on my body if you want."

  "And lick it off your chest hair? No thanks." She smiles slyly. "My brother went apeshit over the article this morning."

  "The one of us? Yeah, he gave me crap about that, too."

  "I don't understand him," she says. "For years he's ignored me, and now he gives a shit who I'm dating?"

  "He doesn't care. This is about the drama between Henry and me."

  Her eyes gleam. "Seriously, when are you going to tell me what happened between you two?"

  "Never."

  "Come on. It's killing me not knowing."

  I'm sure she imagines the feud is something trivial like he finished my expensive protein powder. "He's still your baby brother. He can do no wrong."

  "That's so not true."

  But it is. I see the way she looks at him, with hope glazing her eyes. "I will not tell you, Saff. It's not my place."

  She seems like a nice girl. I won't hurt her.

  "Okay," she says bracingly. "I respect that. Where are we going?"

  "I'm taking you to an area I scouted earlier." I release her hand to wrap my arm around her waist. "Where they can't hear us."

  "Wait, you want to—" her voice drops to a hush "—fuck me outside?"

  "Yes."

  "Why? I mean—"

  "I thought fucking in the open air would be a nice, romantic way to kickstart our summer of fun, but if you'd prefer the bathroom, I guess I'd be okay with that."

  She shakes her head. "Jesus. This brings me back to my teenage years."

  They sucked. I remember sneaking girls into my car, always worried some cop would find the fogged windows and bust us, or one of my sisters would burst through the door. This is different, though. "The thrill makes it exciting."

  "Tell me why."

  "I get a kick out of knowing it's wrong, that the world would condemn us if they knew we were fucking. But mostly it's fun because you're a great lay."

  She rakes her hair, looking nervous. "If my brother catches us, I'll die of shame."

  "There are worse things. Having the whole team burst in, for one." I shrug, grinning. "Maybe that's a reach. Doesn't every girl dream of a locker-room gangbang?"

  She shakes her head. "It seems like so much work."

  "Good, because I'm not willing to share." I lead her up the bluff to a spot surrounded by bushes. I spread the blanket on the sand. She sits next to me, a shy smile curving her lips.

  A roar builds in my ears as she lifts the T-shirt from her body, her raven hair spilling over creamy shoulders. My blood pounds, cock already pulsing with need as she crawls onto my lap. Her ruby-red grin matches her bikini. This one doesn't have straps and barely keeps her tits in check. I lie back as this goddess straddles my waist.

  All the filthy things I imagined I'd do to her slam into my head.

  Her mouth hovers over mine. "He said you were trouble."

  "I'm the kind you've been looking for." Fisting her thick hair, I pull her close and crush my lips against hers, tasting marshmallows. I break away, my chest hot. "Kissing you reminds me of how sweet your pussy is."

  Her eyes fracture as she tears the shirt from my neck, attacking me like a sex-starved woman who's never seen a man. I pin her. She splays across the blanket. I rip down her panties. They snag on her hips. "Are you wet for me already?"


  "I am."

  She feels warm. I curve my hand, sliding my middle finger along her clit. It slips in her wetness.

  Her eyes blaze. "Don't drag it out, Grayson. It's been a long time for me."

  "Says the girl who didn't want a quick fuck." My cock's begging me to get on with it, too. I want to be buried inside her.

  I sink, my weight covering her body. "How badly do you want me?"

  "Enough to fuck you on a public beach," she whispers.

  Saffie grabs the base of my cock, her fingers tickling my balls. She squeezes me, draining the blood from my head. My length jumps in her hand. A smirk plays on her smart mouth because she thinks she's won. That I'll fuck her in a frenzy, but I'm a stronger man than that. And I want her wrapped around me.

  Saffie shifts her grip to my thighs and slides under me, her head positioned right below my belt. A rush of warmth fills me as she lifts her head and her mouth touches the tip. Wet heat flows over me as she stares into my eyes with that innocent, doe-like gaze.

  She breathes a gust of air on my skin, and then my cock spreads her lips. It's so deep and fast that my arms buckle. I catch myself as she tightens around me. She moves up and down, swirling her tongue on the underside. She takes all of me, deeper than I thought her little body could handle.

  My balls are on fire. They want to squeeze, and I need to fuck her mouth. She tongues the side of my cock, moving her lips all over my shaft and head. She sucks the sensitive skin underneath, flicking me.

  I can't take this.

  Saffie's gasp is choked by my plunging length. I untie the bikini. Then I grope her tits, slowing my thrusts because I do not want to come. Not until I've had her pussy.

  I give her mouth a break, and she falls on the sand, gasping. "That bad, huh?"

  One word tumbles from her shining lips, "Please."

  My patience cleaves in two, and I dive for the condom I pulled out of my pocket, rip the plastic apart, and roll it over my cock. Then I yank those bikini bottoms off her beautiful legs. She wraps them around me, her pussy already flushed. Ready for me.

  I push the broad head against her, feeling a slight resistance before sliding through. Jesus Christ. Her walls grip me tighter than her mouth. It's heaven.

  Saffie bites her lip when I fill her to the hilt. I pull out and thrust, slowly, so she gets used to my girth. Her heels dig into my back. I increase my tempo, lowering myself on her bouncing tits. I catch one and suck, loving her high-pitched gasps. Her nails graze my skin. She anchors over my ass and yanks.

  I nuzzle her neck and bite. "If I go too fast, you'll be sore."

  "Please."

  "You have no goddamn idea how much I ache for you, but I only get you for the summer. We have to pace ourselves."

  She digs in. "I don't care if it hurts. I want it."

  My lips seal against hers as I thrust into her, swallowing her cry. She fucking asked for it, and I'm not made of stone, so I fuck her into the sand. My balls make rhythmic slaps against her pussy as I dive in, yanking her. She mashes her mouth against mine, tilting her hips for me to go deeper. I take her waist and jackhammer her, listening to her shouts ride the wind. They're so loud; I wouldn't be surprised if they carried to the guys.

  Fuck, there are too many parts of her I want. I don't have enough hands to explore, but there'll be all summer to have her every which way.

  I bury my face in her neck, inhaling deep gasps. It's getting closer, and I'm about to blow. Saffie tightens her legs, digging her heels in. I'll probably have bruises on my ass. I move her ankles from my waist to my shoulders. Her mouth rounds as I sink in. She balls her fists in the sand and grits her teeth. Her walls clench around me, and the tightened grip slides down my cock, triggering the explosion. My groan mingles with her cry. I come so hard my vision blackens for a second, and then I drop to my elbows.

  Saffie's heart hammers against my chest. She gazes at me with sleepy eyes, and I'd be content to lie here and fall asleep with nothing but the sound of waves. She kisses me, and the bliss running through my veins makes it feel way too good.

  "Wow."

  A man can't ask for better praise than that. "We need to do this every day."

  Saffie's fingers trail my cheek. "We actually did this," she says in shock. "I don't regret it. You're amazing, Grayson."

  Her smile tugs at my chest. It wasn't long ago another woman said the same about me. I miss that, and I didn't know until now.

  I push myself off, confused. She gives me a puzzled look. "We need to put on clothes before your brother organizes a search party."

  "Yeah," she says. "Good idea."

  I roll the towel as she puts on her bathing suit, tugging the straps into place as I shove my legs into the board shorts.

  A low cry whistles on the wind. "Saffie!"

  She rises to her feet and gazes over the bluff, where Henry stands on the beach with his hands cupped around his mouth.

  "Jesus, what is his problem?" She dusts sand off her thighs.

  "Should we go?"

  "No," she says, crossing her arms. "He's my younger brother. He treats me like I need to be protected."

  Maybe you do.

  I shove the guilt away and slink an arm around her waist. "There's still time for round two."

  Saffie traces my chest. "Tempting, but I don't want to risk him walking in on us."

  She follows a higher path from the beach and through the surrounding cliffs. I'm content to follow behind and watch her ass flex as she climbs. I slap her cheek, and the sound cracks through the air.

  Scandalized, she shoves me. "What the hell?"

  I take her palm and guide it to my shorts, rolling her hand over my hard cock. "You might be finished, but I'm not done with you."

  8

  Saffie

  Three.

  That’s the number of times Grayson made me come before we dragged our exhausted bodies to the campfire. The man lasts all night long. He was incredible. I’m ready to forget the job search and give the footballer’s-wife strategy a serious effort.

  For the rest of the evening, we didn’t communicate except through smiles and winks. This morning I woke in a happy glow until I opened my laptop and read the flood of rejection emails.

  Finding a job in my field is like searching for the cup of glory. It’s pointless.

  I snap the lid shut and gnaw my thumb. Lawyers aren’t in high demand these days, and my classmates are in the same boat. After I graduated, Dad offered me a place at Pardini & Associates, one of San Francisco’s most prestigious law firms. The job was entry-level. I would’ve started in the mailroom, but I could’ve clawed my way to associate after a few years.

  I turned it down. It didn’t feel right. He only gave me the position out of respect for my mother’s memory. After she died, he kept me at arm’s length, like a dog he was obligated to keep but longed to get rid of. He paid for my housing so I wouldn’t have to come home over the summer. Out of sight, out of mind.

  It was the worst thing he could’ve done. A thousand hateful voicemails would’ve been better than being ignored by my father. Invitations to family events gradually stopped. My brother was the only reason I’d return for Christmas, but the years apart distanced us, and Dad drove that wedge harder until there was no communication at all.

  Never mind. Family drama’s the least of my problems.

  I push the laptop away, clutching my head. It’s only been two weeks, but the end of August seems a lot closer than it did at the start of June, and I still can’t find a job.

  My stomach clenches with a soft knock. "Can I come in?"

  What the hell does Henry want? "Yeah."

  The door swings open, and my brother steps through in a pair of black shorts and a light-pink polo. He takes the empty chair by the desk, gazing at my room. "What are you up to?"

  His eyes laser through me. Henry hasn’t asked a single question about me the entire two weeks I’ve been here. He wants something.

  I play along anyway. "Job hun
ting. It’s going a little slower than I hoped."

  "Good, good," he says.

  "What’s up?"

  "You were out with Gray late last night."

  I freeze. "We took a long walk. The weather was nice."

  "I looked for you." His voice lowers. "You weren’t anywhere on that beach. Saffie, I don’t know what you’re doing with him, and frankly, I don’t want to, but you need to tell me what he said." Henry clasps his hands together, a grave expression darkening his face.

  "I'm not following."

  "About me."

  My mouth gapes open. "We never talk about you."

  "I find that really hard to believe considering he’s doing everything he can to piss me off."

  Once again, I’m seized with curiosity. "What the hell happened between you? It has to be bad if you’re this worked up."

  "I fucked up. That’s all you need to understand."

  "Henry, I’m not going to blab—"

  "I don’t know you," he says in a rough voice. "It’s serious enough that my lawyer advised me to make you leave."

  Pressure builds behind my eyes. "You’re kicking me out?"

  "No." He irons his forehead with his hands. "Saffie, I need your support. Sooner or later, I will face the consequences of what I did."

  "I-I don’t understand how I can help."

  "With a series of short interviews. How I was good to you growing up. I’ve been supportive, you know, that sort of thing."

  I laugh, and he flinches against the noise. "So you want me to lie."

  The suggestion hangs in the air until Henry speaks. "Yes, and I’ll pay you."

  Self-disgust rises in my chest for considering his offer. "No."

  For a second, he looks shocked. "But you need it."

  "I will not tell the world how you gave me handouts. You shoved me out the moment Mom died."

  "That was Dad."