His New Roommate : Stepbrother Standalone Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  His New Roommate

  A Stepbrother Romance

  Vanessa Kinney

  Contents

  1. Lily

  2. Lily

  3. Nate

  4. Nate

  5. Lily

  6. Lily

  7. Nate

  8. Nate

  9. Lily

  10. Lily

  11. Nate

  12. Nate

  13. Lily

  14. Lily

  15. Lily

  16. Nate

  17. Nate

  18. Lily

  19. Lily

  20. Nate

  21. Nate

  22. Lily

  23. Lily

  24. Nate

  25. Nate

  26. Lily

  27. Nate

  28. Lily

  29. Nate

  Mailing List

  Double Heat

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Mailing List

  1

  Lily

  Chicago’s Finest Joggers

  I paced around my empty apartment one last time and ended up facing the living room wall. I traced my fingers over the textured paint I had used to sketch the words: If you can’t find a way. Make a way. I took one deep breath and tried not to cry.

  “It’s only an apartment Lillian; it’s not that big of a deal. You’ve only lived here for two years. Keep it together.” I scolded myself.

  I stepped back into the doorway and took one last glance into my small studio apartment, taking in all the memories I had. I looked around one last time to make sure I didn’t forget anything and closed the door.

  Time to move in with my stepbrother.

  I got to Chicago an hour earlier than I expected. I had no moving boxes or luggage, which made the move even easier. I still couldn’t believe he had paid for everything. My plane ticket, moving fees and he even gave me a monthly pass for the local trains and buses.

  He’s only doing this because he feels bad about never spending any time with me. I mean for crying out loud, I haven’t seen him in eleven years. I don’t even remember what he looks like.

  My phone buzzed. It was a text from Nate.

  I saw that your flight got here early. Take the Blue Line Train all the way into the city and don’t forget to use the pass I gave you. Make sure you get off at Washington and then just go to this address. -Nate.

  I don’t understand why he writes his name after each text. It’s so weird. Like he’s sending an email to a co-worker. My phone buzzed again, it was a link to his address.

  I texted.

  Thanks.

  I found my way to the Blue Line train and took a seat next to the door. My phone buzzed again.

  It’s about a 45-60 min train ride. I think I’ll be home before then, but if not, I’ll text you. Make sure you don’t talk to strangers. -Nate.

  I responded back.

  No promises.

  I looked back into the messages and all my answers have been short and to the point compared to his long-winded texts. I should be more grateful, but it wasn’t my choice to live with Nate. My mom and Mickey were the ones that suggested I moved in with him after I graduated college. The next thing I knew, Nate was offering his spare room, rent free, no utilities. How could I say no?

  His apartment was only five minutes away from the train station, which was extremely convenient for commuting to interviews or maybe my future job. Thanks to the express train I was early… again, which meant that I still had a few minutes to kill. There was a coffee shop right under his apartment building.

  Coffee sounds good.

  It was late, but I probably wouldn’t be sleeping too much tonight. I had too much unpacking to do. I waited in the surprisingly long line for my coffee. I looked around the coffee shop and noticed that it was filled with a standard palette of dull, dark brown and tan shades. The majority of the men looked like they could blend in with the color theme, except for him.

  He was one short man ahead of me and he was…fine as hell.

  His fitted gray joggers hugged his muscular legs, which left far too little to the imagination. His tight black t-shirt stretched over his sculpted back and arms just right, and his dark hair was fashionably styled, which made sense looking at the rest of this godly figure. I could feel my body overheat with the thought of him taking me. I bit my lip just thinking about all the fun we could have.

  “Are you kidding me? That was our most valuable client!” The short man in front of me whispered while still yelling. “I’m leaving now! Get him on the phone and I’ll fix the damn problem!” I watched the short man storm out of the shop, his bald head turning all shades of red.

  A devilish smile spread across my face while I took one step forward, replacing the short man in the line. I stood just a few inches away from the fine-as-hell man and I couldn’t help but start to undress him with my eyes. I just couldn’t help myself. I should savor this moment. You know for memories. I need to take in Chicago and its finest… joggers. I lied to myself, trying to make myself feel better about what I was going to do.

  I took out my phone and turned on the camera. I triple-checked the flash to make sure it wasn’t on. There is nothing more embarrassing than taking a picture of a stranger’s fine ass and having the flash go off.

  My heart was pounding in my chest. I checked my flash one more time and took the shot. I took a deep breath and went to my gallery. I looked at the photo admiring my sneakiness but mostly admiring this stranger’s ass.

  I let out a little chuckle and put my phone back into my pocket. When I looked back up, I was staring straight into the piercing green eyes of the finest jogger in Chicago as he looked over his shoulder and gave me the smirk of a thousand troublemakers.

  My body sunk to the ground and my stomach twisted in a ball of shame. The heat in my body bottled up and I was afraid I would explode with embarrassment.

  Could someone die from embarrassment? Did he see the picture of his ass on my phone? He is a foot taller than me, it would be so easy for him to hover like a giant and see what I was doing. If he had been shorter he wouldn�
�t have even been able to look at my phone! Goddammit-

  “Hi, I’m Nathaniel. I couldn’t help but notice your phone.”

  I was busted.

  Fuck! Why couldn’t you be shorter! If you were shorter, your fine ass wouldn’t be so all up in my face! Omg, stop thinking about his height! His height is NOT the problem it's you, you horny pervert!

  “I’m a huge phone nerd and I haven’t seen that phone in years. Is that the third generation?” He tilted his head to the side.

  “What?” I blinked, feigning confusion. “O-oh yeah, it’s the 3G.” I blankly looked at him blankly, trying to read his face.

  What just happened? Maybe he didn’t see the photo… OMG! He didn’t see the image!

  I relaxed out of my stiff, military-like stance and inhaled deeply.

  “Nice,” he nodded, “I, uh, didn’t catch your name…”

  “Elisa. I’m Elisa.” I extended my hand towards him.

  His large hand wrapped around mine as he shook it firmly. He made me feel so dainty and delicate. I know I probably shouldn't have lied to him about my name, but what did it matter? It’s not as though I’ll ever see him again. Plus, he was way out of my league.

  “Hmm…” he furrowed his brow. “You don’t look like an Elisa.”

  I chuckled nervously while swirling my hair around my finger. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

  He walked up to the counter and ordered: “the usual” and something else that I couldn’t pick up. One of the workers in the back handed him his coffee before he had even finished paying. The fine stranger took a sip of his coffee and checked me out, up and down. He didn’t even try to hide it.

  “It was nice meeting you. Elisa,” His eyes landed on mine, and then he winked and headed for the door.

  “You too,” I whispered, feeling my face burn up. I watched him walk out of the coffee shop. Towering over everyone like he was a king amongst his people.

  God, he’s so hot. But he was also a little odd. Then again, this is coming from a girl who took a picture of a stranger’s ass and then lied to him about her name. Yeah, I think I win the weirdo contest.

  “Caramel mocha with whip cream for Elisa.” The barista called out.

  The cashier looked at me, “Ma’am.” Then darted her eyes toward the drink. I inched toward the counter.

  “I didn’t order anything yet,” I said shyly.

  She arched her eyebrow, “Nathaniel paid for it and said it’s for you.”

  I picked up the drink and saw the name Elisa written on it.

  “Nathaniel...?”

  “The guy that was in front of you.” She looked past me to the next customer. “Next.”

  I grabbed my drink and moved aside. I guess I was going to have a caramel mocha. I didn’t remember hearing his name. Hmm. He doesn’t look like a Nathaniel.

  My phone buzzed.

  I just got home. -Nate.

  I got into the elevator with my fancy coffee and double-checked to make sure I was going to the right floor.

  Make sure you take the second elevator, not the main one. It’s closer to my apartment. 11th floor, suite 15. -Nate.

  I sipped my mocha as Nathaniel popped into my mind. His dimples and his piercing light green eyes that complimented his olive skin tone. His deep harsh voice echoing through my head while he talked dirty to me. And his body. Ohh. His body. What I wouldn’t do to that body. I took a deep sip of my coffee. I felt a little woozy. I pulled out my phone to look at the photo again. I couldn’t help but smile at my little victory.

  BING!

  The elevator loudly alerted me that I had arrived.

  What the fuck!

  I read a sign that said “Right: Suites 1-12. Left: Suites 13-15.” I took a left and walked all the way to the end of the hall.

  I checked the suite number again to make sure I wasn’t going to knock on a stranger’s door. Before I could even raise my fist to knock, the door flew open. It was him. The man from the coffee shop. Standing in the doorway.

  “Come on in. I heard the elevator and figured it was you.”

  “I’m sorry… I must have the wrong-” My voice wavered uncertainly as I stared at him blankly.

  The elevator’s BING rang inside my head.

  Is this one of Nate’s friends?

  I coughed, trying to clear my thoughts. “I’m looking for Nate Atom. My stepbrother.”

  He took a sip from his coffee and gave me a wicked grin.

  “That’s me.”

  2

  Lily

  Lieutenant Buzz

  “Here’s the kitchen, dining room, and living room.” Nate pointed to each room as he named it. “My room and my office is to the right and your room is to the left. And we each have our own bathroom.” His voice was light and matter-of-fact.

  My eyes followed his finger to each location without registering what they were.

  “Any questions?”

  My face was blank. I was still trying to figure out what had happened in the last few minutes.

  “Your boxes arrived earlier this morning. So, if anything is missing, let me know and I’ll get it figured out.” Nate chuckled wryly. “I mean you only have like two boxes, so hopefully nothing is missing.”

  I knew that he was enjoying my reaction, but I couldn’t snap out of my shock.

  “Come on, Elisa. Follow me.” A smile curled his lips as he teased me.

  And just like that, I snapped out of it.

  I was so focused on my last memory of him: an overweight 18-year-old boy playing video games, that I completely forgot about the fake name I had given my… stepbrother. My mom told me he didn’t look the same, but this was a complete 360-degree transformation. I would have never imagined that Nate could look like this. I understand that I haven’t seen in in eleven years, but my god he has changed. He was hot.

  Wait. What am I saying? He’s my stepbrother!

  Before I knew it, I was fixated on him as if he was my prey.

  “Take another picture, it’ll last longer,” he chuckled as he gave me the same smirk he had given me downstairs.

  My heart dropped. He did see the picture.

  “Oh. Fuck!” I said while covering my face with my hands. “Being busted is so much worse than taking a picture with the flash on,” I muttered into my hands.

  His hearty laugh filled my ears.

  “You can keep the picture for memories, But I think you might get sick of seeing my ass all the time,” he puffed out his chest as he placed a large hand on my shoulder.

  I felt aroused and ashamed with his touch.

  “Holy shit.” I looked up at him with puppy eyes and as he gave me an understanding smile. “I just-.” My lifeless arms dropped to my side.

  I looked down at my phone and went to my gallery to find the shameful picture. I can’t believe I was so proud of this image only a few minutes ago. Now, all I wanted to do was to hide under a rock.

  “At least the picture does my ass some justice,” Nate’s laugh filled the apartment again.

  “I’m so sorry.” I immediately pressed the delete button, but as soon as I confirmed the deletion, I was overwhelmed with regret.

  There was still a side of me that wanted to keep the image, but I knew it wasn’t right.

  “I... thought you were just some hot guy, if I knew who you were I would have NEVER taken that picture. I promise. As for the name. It’s… It’s something I do to keep strangers away. I’m so sorry. You… just don’t look the same as you did the last time I saw you. I just... sorry.”

  I stammered through my explanation, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

  “I’m just teasing you. It’s been 11 years since you’ve seen me. Of course, I’ve changed. It was an honest mistake,” his smile was warm, but mischief twinkled in his green eyes.

  “But I should have at least put the names together.” I scolded myself.

  Nate doesn't have any photos of himself online, but I should have at least got a feeling that I knew him. He
had only lived in our house for a few months before he went off to college, but I should have gotten a feeling that I knew him.

  “Probably. But you were a little distracted.” He playfully teased me.

  I guess the brotherly teasing was already starting.

  “I mean you don’t look the same-”

  “I was eleven when you last saw me. I HOPE I don’t look the same,” I was fuming now.

  He let out one laugh. “Well, I was talking about the holiday picture you, mom and dad sent me five years ago. When you were... 17? Anyway, I kind of like the fake name idea. It’s smart. But you really don’t look like an Elisa.”

  “Well, you did tell me not to talk to strangers.” I giggled anxiously. His hand was still on my shoulder.

  I felt like I had to apologize again for the whole misunderstanding.

  “I have to say it again. I’m sorry. I mean you’re my brother. I’m so sorry. What I did is NOT okay. I mean, what if mom found out?” I sighed, letting out all of my all my frustration and confusion.

  He took a sip of his coffee, and removed his large hand from my shoulder and shrugged.

  “We aren’t really related. But your mom would probably freak out a little.”

  “I guess as of right now we are in the 'stranger' area. I mean, I didn’t even know what you looked like. We have a long way until we can call each other broth-stepbrother and sister.” I corrected myself.