The Tenant by Sotia Lazu Page A

wasn’t her main problem, nor was waiting for Mason to be ready to consummate their relationship. It had been her choice, and she’d stuck by it. No, she felt like a loser for having tried so hard to fit what Mason viewed as the perfect woman. She’d changed her hair, her makeup, her clothes, her attitude, all to make him happy. But he hadn’t been happy. Not enough to be faithful to her, at least.
    She reached her room but didn’t want to sleep alone.
    Correction, she didn’t want to sleep at all. She’d done enough of that for the past year. God! How had she fallen for another cheater’s lies? After Parker, she should have seen the signs.
    She needed to let off some steam before she blew up. In the morning, she’d have to deal with the repercussions of her discovery, but for now, she wanted to forget and go crazy.
    She couldn’t handle more alcohol, and raining blows on a dummy at the dojo wasn’t enticing enough.
    There was something else she could do…
    She tiptoed to Derek’s room. The door was only half closed, and she slipped inside and looked at him. He lay face down, arms extended, no apparent care in the world. She wanted to caress the corded muscles in his shoulders. She no longer had a reason to hold back.
    Not giving herself time to reconsider, she shed all her clothes and climbed next to him. Human contact would have to be enough for now. When he woke up, she’d ask for more. She’d ask for all she’d needed and refused herself for so long. And he’d said he’d give it to her.
    Amanda lay there, nose touching Derek’s underarm, inhaling his scent and trying to clear her head, until she could wait no more. She dragged her nails lightly across his back and smiled when he flipped on his back.
    “Fuck!”
    Oh good, he was up. She kept her eyes closed and draped one leg across Derek’s hips. The bulge there indicated all of him was awake. She didn’t know whether to laugh or be offended when he rolled away so fast that he fell off the bed with a loud thud.
    “You’re the lousiest drunk I’ve ever met,” he said. “There’s no way you haven’t slept the alcohol off.”
    “I’m not drunk.” Yes, that made her sound all the more desperate, but she didn’t care. She was desperate. Desperate for a good—no, a great —fuck, and she’d spent hours convincing herself that getting it from someone she severely disliked would mean no complications in the future. “Now, will you come to bed, so we can talk about it like grownups?”
    “Seriously?”
    She couldn’t make his face out clearly in the darkness, but she bet his blue eyes were narrowed in suspicion.
    “Parts of our conversation are blurry in my head, but I remember your invitation,” she said. “If you meant it and can keep your mouth shut about it, I was thinking…” You could fuck me senseless, because I’ll explode if I don’t come soon.
    “Yes?” He drew the word out.
    “What?”
    “You were thinking?” Surprise, surprise, he was enjoying her discomfort.
    “You’re going to make me say it?”
    “You bet, Blondie. And be specific.”
    She considered how much she wanted him to know. “Something happened last night. After you went to bed. Let’s just say Mason is no longer in the picture.”
    “You told him about the kiss?” He sounded incredulous and a little bit happy, but Amanda didn’t care.
    “Don’t want to talk about it, but no.” She’d opened enough to him the previous night. She wouldn’t let him see how vulnerable she felt. “Anyway, I was thinking it’s been a while for both of us, and maybe we could help each other out.”
    Nothing from Derek.
    “Derek?”
    “Why?”
    “Why…? Oh! Why you ? Well, it’s convenient. I mean, we live under the same roof and all. And, you know, you said you find me attractive—unless that was in my dream. Hmmm… Anyway, it’s not like we’ll still be in each other’s lives in a month or so. Plus, we can barely stand one another, so there’s no fear of