Chapter 16 Crazy Roommates
NIKOLAI'S POV
"The coast is clear."
Shelby whispered it like she was running a covert operation. I crawled out from under her bed like a man who'd lost every last ounce of pride. My knees cracked, and dust stuck to my shirt, but all I could think about was how she tasted. It hadn't even been that long, and already I wanted to drag her back onto the sheets and bury my mouth between her legs again.
She spun around, wide-eyed. "Okay, you need to leave. Like now. My roommates are in the kitchen, and if they see you here they will interrogate the hell out of me."
"I still think this is ridiculous," I said as quietly as I could. "We're grown adults. I shouldn't have to crawl around like a fugitive just because you live with two nosy gremlins."
"You want them to know that you just ate my box?" she hissed, glaring.
"I don't mind actually."
She pointed at the window. "You're going out that way."
"First you made me hide under the bed, now you're making me leave out the window? This is unbelievable."
"Are you really crying like a bitch?"
"No," I said, brushing dust bunnies off my jeans. "But I'd love nothing more than to walk out the damn door like a normal human being."
Even though I wasn't a normal human being.
"Well, until you magically learn teleportation, the window is your only option!" she hissed, pointing at the glass like it was the portal to freedom.
"That's a long drop," I muttered. I knew it would be easy for me, but she didn't know that.
"You're a man! Land on your feet!"
"I'm not a damn cat!"
"There's a fire escape," she said, rolling her eyes. "I wouldn't let you leave through there if it wasn't safe."
We glared at each other in silence.
She stepped closer, her lips pink and swollen from me kissing them raw earlier. "Please, Niko."
The way she whispered my name... my body reacted immediately. My mouth actually watered.
I exhaled slowly. "Fine. I'll go through the window... but you're telling me who Omar is."
Her eyes widened. "Are you serious right now?"
"Very," I said, folding my arms. "If I'm risking a broken spine, I want answers."
"He's an ex," she said. "But he had an ego bigger than his personality. We kissed a few times, but it never went any further."
"That's it?" I asked.
"Yes. That's it."
I nodded once. "Good."
She crossed her arms. "Are you done interrogating me, or do you want my social security number too?"
"I want to know about the Creatures of the Night band," I said.
She blinked at me. "What about them?"
"You really aren't into them?"
"No. I mean, I hear their music everywhere, see the posters, hear my roommates scream when their songs come on. But I've never stopped and paid attention, you know."
"I see... So if you met one of the members, you wouldn't recognize them?"
"I guess not. Unless it's the one with the purple hair, they'd be really hard to miss."
"That's Ripley."
"Right. The only girl."
"Yes."
"I guess you're a fan then," she said.
"Not really. Let's just say... just like your friends force you to listen to them, I'm kinda forced to as well."
"So you have roommates who are crazily obsessed with this band too?"
"Yes," I said dryly.
"Well, maybe you can bring them over to meet mine sometime."
"Alright. I'll ask them."
"Great."
I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice. "One more thing. If you're going tonight, tell your friend, the one obsessed with Lorenzo to just be herself and wear something comfortable. He doesn't like loud girls or girls who come on too strong."
"Larna's the sweetest, quietest person alive," she said. "So she'll be fine. What about me? What do you think I should wear?"
"First, let's see which one will be available for you. Well... since Larna is into Lorenzo... What about Alecia?"
"This is just for fun, I know those metal heads would never go for any of us," she rolled her eyes "But Ally probably is into the lead singer, I think."
"Oh."
"Wait! I think she's into the purple-haired girl's brother. I forgot his name."
"Ryder," I quickly say. "Well, he likes them weird and very highly sexual."
Shelby blinked. "Interesting. In an alternate universe he and Ally would be a perfect match, cause that's pretty much her personality."
I chuckled. "So that leaves the lead singer and Ripley, and I take it you're not into girls."
"No, I'm not. But I'm not into rock stars either."
"Well, just in case, wear something green. Not only would it complement your eyes, but it will make your red hair pop. Nikolai loves green. It's his favorite color."
"Nikolai," she whispered my name, narrowing her eyes. "And how do you know all of this?"
"I have crazy roommates who are fans, remember?"
"Right..."
We stood there for a beat, staring at each other.
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked in a soft voice.
"Yes," I said, unable to stop my grin.
She held out her phone. "Give me your number. In case you... you know..."
"In case you miss me?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes, blushing. "Just give me your phone, Niko."
We exchanged phones, our fingers typed in our numbers into each other's phones. She then handed mine back to me and I handed hers back to her.
I saved her number under the name Wildfire.
I climbed onto the windowsill, muttering, "I swear, if I die, I'll haunt you."
"Oh please, you'll be fine," she whispered, nudging me.
I flung one foot through the window, but something had been digging into my skull since her friend mentioned Omar's name. I turned back to her.
"One last thing," I said, my voice low. "Are you going to the concert tonight... as Omar's date?"
Her eyes flashed. She marched up to me, grabbed me by the collar, yanked me down, and whispered hot against my lips. "It depends on how hard you kiss me."
My breath caught.
Then we smashed our lips against each other. She clawed at my shoulders, I gripped her waist and dragged her closer, tasting her, losing myself again.
If her roommates walked past, I didn't care. If the world ended, I didn't care either.
Her kiss was fire.
And I wanted more. In fact, I wanted it all, but I knew if I didn't stop myself now, I wouldn't be able to leave her tonight.
I pulled away. "I've gotta go, Wildfire, but I promise, I will call you."
And then I was gone, dropping out her window like the world's most-graceful ninja. I just needed this evening to end so I could see her again tonight.
My wolf chuckled inside me. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she realizes that I am Nikolai, the lead singer of the Creatures of the Night band.