My hacker roommate

Kevin brought the confrontation right to my doorstep.

He must’ve tracked down my address. One weekend afternoon, his flashy Porsche was blocking the entrance to my apartment building.

I was just returning from the grocery store when he cut me off.

“Claire, come back with me.” He leaned against his car door, that old arrogance back in full force.

“No.”

“Don’t be difficult.” He frowned, impatience threading his voice. “I admit I was harsh that day, but it was for your own good. You’re a young woman—living with some guy you don’t even know? How dangerous is that?”

I looked at him and suddenly found it all absurd.

He was the one who pushed me away. Now he was the one worried about my safety.

“Your concern is unnecessary, Kevin. My roommate is perfectly fine.”

“Fine?” Kevin sneered. “A deadbeat who holes up at home all day doing who-knows-what—how fine can he be? Claire, don’t lower yourself like this. Come back with me. The Sterlings can give you the best life possible.”

Before his words could settle, a cool, detached voice spoke from behind me.

“My roommate is none of your concern.”

It was Carl.

I hadn’t heard him come down, but there he stood, right behind me. His hand rested naturally on my shoulder with an unmistakable, possessive weight.

I went rigid—then a wild surge of joy overtook me.

His familiar scent of cedar wrapped around me. Through the thin fabric of my shirt, I could feel the warmth of his palm with perfect clarity.

That acute need for his touch was instantly quelled. The relief was so overwhelming a soft sound caught in my throat.

[Oh my god! The first showdown between the real deal and the ex!]

[Carl’s possessiveness! I’m here for it!]

[Look at Kevin’s face—it’s turning green!]

Kevin’s expression was indeed terrible.

He looked Carl up and down, his eyes full of scrutiny and disdain.

“So you’re the roommate?”

Carl ignored him. He simply looked down at me, his voice softening a fraction. “Let’s go home.”

“Mm.” I nodded obediently.

The feeling of being shielded like that was incredible.

Completely ignored, Kevin flushed with rage. “Claire! Stop right there! Do you even know what this man does? What can he possibly give you? Come back with me, I—”

“She’s not going back with you.” Carl finally shot him a look, his gaze icy and sharp enough to cut. “It’s simple: she doesn’t need you.”

With that, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, turned, and walked away, leaving Kevin fuming alone on the sidewalk.

In the elevator, I could sense Carl’s mood was off. The aura around him was terrifyingly cold, and his arm tightened more and more around my shoulders.

[Darkening level at 99%! About to max out!]

[Kevin’s ‘What can he give you?’ line totally triggered him!]

[Oh no, oh no, Carl’s about to lose it! I’m so excited!]

A strange excitement stirred in me too.

Back in the apartment, he slammed the door shut with a bang and pinned me against it.

His eyes were lowered, long lashes casting shadows beneath them, his expression unreadable. All I could feel was the dangerous energy radiating from him.

“Claire.” His voice was hoarse, ragged. “Do you like him?”

“No.” My answer was immediate.

“Then why… keep tangling with him?” His hand came up to cup my face, his calloused thumb stroking my cheek. “Is it because I can’t give you what you want?”

“No!” I denied urgently.

“Then why?” He pressed closer, his nose almost touching mine. “What is it you want?”

I looked into his eyes, so close. They churned with obsession, madness, and a flicker of vulnerability I’d never seen before.

The live comments exploded across the screen.

[Ask her! Ask her what she wants!]

[He’s scared. He’s scared she’ll really leave, scared nothing he has can keep her.]

[My beautiful, strong, tragic hero! Tell him! Tell him you want him!]

My heart felt wrung tight.

So he could be afraid too.

I rose on my toes and kissed his lips.

His body went rigid. Then, an even more frenzied intensity swallowed me whole.

He took over, deepening the kiss with a punishing force, stealing the air from my lungs.

The cold scent of cedar mixed with his own unique essence, drowning me completely.

Just as I was about to suffocate, he finally released me.

His forehead rested against mine, his breathing ragged, the corners of his eyes tinged with a mesmerizing red.

“Claire,” he rasped, each word deliberate. “What… do you want?”

I looked at him and smiled.

“What I want,” I leaned close to his ear, my voice a whisper meant only for us, “is you.”