Chapter 1: Move-In Day Temptation
The hallway smelled like stale pizza and the ghost of a thousand farts. Jack stood outside Room 214, duffel bag slung over one shoulder, keycard already swiped twice without success. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered like they were running on fumes and spite. Somewhere down the corridor, a vending machine hummed and coughed, then spat out something that thudded against the metal tray.
He tried the card again. Red light. He swore under his breath.
"Come on, you piece of—"
The door swung open before he could finish.
Jack's brain short-circuited. Stood there in the doorway was a girl. No, not a girl—a woman. Long legs poured into jeans so tight they looked painted on, curves that caught the light just right, and a face that belonged on a magazine cover. Dark hair fell past her shoulders in loose waves, and her lips curved into a smirk that suggested she already knew every thought running through his head.
She was struggling with a massive gaming monitor, arms wrapped around the box like she was hugging it for dear life.
"You gonna stand there gawking or you gonna help?" she asked, voice teasing.
Jack snapped into action. Alpha mode. He dropped his duffel and stepped forward, hands already reaching for the box. "Here, let me get that."
She didn't argue. Just let him take the weight, which was substantial—at least thirty pounds of curved screen and packaging. He hoisted it easily, flexing a little without meaning to, and carried it into the room.
The dorm was standard issue. Two beds, two desks, one window with blinds that didn't quite close all the way. Boxes everywhere. The other side of the room was already half-unpacked, gaming chair assembled, RGB keyboard glowing in rainbow waves.
"Where do you want it?" Jack asked.
"By the desk. Careful with it, Daddy."
The word hit him like a punch to the gut. He nearly dropped the monitor.
"What did you just call me?"
She turned, and there it was again—that smirk. She stepped closer, close enough that he could smell something sweet and floral, and leaned in like she was about to tell him a secret. Her breath tickled his ear.
"I said thanks, Daddy."
She pulled back and winked.
Jack's dick twitched. He felt it happen. Couldn't stop it. The word echoed in his skull, and his body reacted before his brain could catch up. He set the monitor down on the desk, maybe a little too fast, and turned away to hide the situation developing in his shorts.
"So, uh—" He cleared his throat. "You're my roommate?"
"Looks like it." She flopped onto the bed, stretching her arms overhead in a way that pulled her shirt tight across her chest. "Alexis. Nice to meet you."
"Jack."
"I know. Your name's on the door."
Right. Of course. Jack rubbed the back of his neck, trying to recalibrate. This was a girl. His roommate was a girl. Since when did they put guys and girls in the same dorm room? He'd specifically requested a male roommate after the disaster of last year—some guy who never showered and cried during anime marathons.
"You're a girl," he said.
Alexis laughed. Bright and genuine, like wind chimes. "Last time I checked."
"But—" Jack gestured vaguely at the room, at her, at the entire situation. "This is a guys' dorm."
"Administrative error, apparently. They said they'd move me, but until then..." She shrugged, and the motion did interesting things to her shoulders. "Looks like we're stuck with each other."
Jack's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, grateful for the distraction.
Tanya: hey babe. still on for dinner tonight?
He stared at the screen. Dinner. Right. He'd promised her dinner. They hadn't had a real date in weeks—not since the last one ended with her pushing him away after round two, saying she needed a break. His appetite had always been a problem. Not the food kind.
Jack: yeah.
Tanya: can we talk? like actually talk?
He didn't like the sound of that. The last time she'd wanted to "talk," they'd spent an hour discussing his "unrealistic expectations" and her "need for space." He'd nodded along, agreed to try harder, then spent the rest of the night jerking off in the shower because she'd gone to bed early with a headache.
Jack: sure. see you then
He pocketed the phone and looked up.
Alexis had moved to the desk, bending over to plug in her monitor. The jeans hugged every curve of her ass like they'd been sewn on. Jack tried not to look. Failed. Miserably.
She caught him in the reflection of the monitor screen. Grinned.
"Like the view?"
"Just, uh—" Jack grabbed his duffel off the floor. "I should unpack."
"Sure you should."
He busied himself with his own side of the room, moving boxes, hanging clothes, pretending his heart wasn't hammering against his ribs. Behind him, Alexis hummed something tuneless and tapped away at her keyboard.
What the hell was happening? He was Jack Morrison. Star athlete. Guy who got what he wanted. Women threw themselves at him, and he took what they offered without apology. He'd never been rattled by a pretty face before.
But something about the way she'd said Daddy—
His phone buzzed again.
Tanya: pls don't be weird tonight. i miss you.
He typed back without thinking.
Jack: miss you too
Lies came easy. That was the problem.
From across the room, Alexis stretched again, arching her back like a cat. Her shirt rode up, revealing a sliver of smooth skin above her hip. Jack's mouth went dry.
"Hey, roomie," she called. "You play anything? Tekken? Street Fighter? I need someone to destroy."
Jack turned. "I don't game much."
"We'll fix that." She patted the gaming chair beside her. "Come here. I'll teach you."
Everything in his body screamed yes. Every rational thought in his brain screamed run.
He stayed where he was.
"Rain check," he said. "Got somewhere to be."
"Suit yourself." Alexis swiveled back to her screen. "I'll be here when you get back. Door's always open."
Jack grabbed his keys and headed for the door. His hand was on the handle when she spoke again.
"Hey, Jack?"
He turned.
She looked over her shoulder, eyes half-lidded, smile razor-sharp. "Tanya's lucky. You seem like the devoted type."
The way she said it made his stomach flip. Like she knew something he didn't. Like she could see right through him.
Jack left without answering.
The door clicked shut behind him, and he stood in the hallway, breathing like he'd just run a mile. The vending machine hummed. The lights flickered. From behind the door, he heard Alexis laugh at something on her screen—bright and teasing, a sound that seemed to promise trouble.
His phone buzzed.
Tanya: see you soon ❤️
Jack stared at the heart emoji for a long time.
Then he walked away, telling himself everything was fine. Everything was normal. He had a girlfriend. He had a plan. He had control.
He just needed to keep it.