Moving to a new city usually wasn't easy. Especially with one as demanding and thriving as NYC, you had to be doing something extra to survive. And if I hadn't been cut out of my father's will, perhaps I would have been able to afford one of those classy apartments that tiktokers like Ana and Lexi Learmann live in these days.
Alas, we don't get what we want now, do we? With my line of a side hustle, most people might label me disgusting. It didn't matter, I was never one to care about opinions anyway.
After five weeks of moving from different motels, I finally found an apartment. And since I had spent most of my money on the motels and securing the house, I became broke. Plus, in those five weeks of changing motels, I wasn't stable enough to go online and entertain my subscriber.
Yes, you heard that right. I was a voyeur. Cam girl. Libertine. Whatever name they called it. I orgasmed in front of lonely strangers for money and I was good at my job.
So good that I was in the top 15% standing on Boudoir.
I got a cab to take me to Walter Avenue where the apartment was located. On getting there I saw a middle aged man arguing with a woman much older than I was, say in her late twenties. They spoke in hushed tones and it wasn't ulptil the man turned to look at me that I realized who he was.
"Mr. Gareth." He quickly dismissed the woman and plastered a fake smile on his face when he saw me.
"Miss Montgomery. Glad to have you joining us." He said and beckoned on me to follow him while he gave me a tour.
"Well, all I need is a place to stay until I finish up my last semester here."
"Yes, about that." He said, folding his fingers together and putting on a somber expression. "Someone else paid in full before you did and I decided to let her have the space. She said she would be staying for a few weeks."
"What? So where the hell am I supposed to go to now?"
"Don't worry, I have everything sorted out. One of the tenants has agreed to temporarily take you in. A fellow college student like yourself so I'm sure you both will get on fine."
"But-"
"Here you are. Oliver left the spare key with me in case he wasn't here and you came home to the door locked."
"Oliver? I'm going to be rooming with a boy?"
"It's just for a few weeks, honey. Don't be so prude." He said rolling his eyes
"My name isn't honey." I said, anger lacing my words and I snatched the keys from him.
Stepping into the space, I felt some of my tranquility return.
Oliver had a few plants in the loft that gave a homey and aesthetic feel. He kept the colours of the apartment neutral- white and nude. It looked elegant yet simple and I immediately knew we were going to get along with how neatly his things were arranged in the apartment.
In the living room, there was a large smart Tv and a long cream couch that sat facing it. The fridge was stocked with different foods and the kitchen was tidy. As if no one lived here.
I got to a little hallway separating two rooms and opened the door on my right. A king-sized bed sat in the middle of it, different awards and certificates were displayed on a shelf beside the door. A picture of a little girl was on the desk by the window and streaks of paint stained the floor.
I walked to the other door and found out that the room had already been cleaned and prepared for my arrival. And the view from the window held the promise of a new life for me.
°°°
A noise from the keyhole woke me. I'd taken a shower and prepared something to eat when along the line, I became bored and decided to sleep. And now, four hours later, I'm woken up by a noise. Where the afternoon sun shone bright rays was now pitch black. It was just a few minutes past nine o'clock and apparently Oliver's curfew time.
I grabbed a pan from the kitchen in case it wasn't Oliver but someone else. When the door finally opened and I flicked the lights on, we both groaned.
"This wasn't exactly how I planned on meeting my new roommate." He said in a deep and raspy voice like he was the one who'd just woken up from sleep.
"Me neither." I said squinting. I couldn't exactly see his features clearly so I brought out my hand for a shake to not make it any more awkward. "I'm Kairo. Thank you for having me." I said genuinely.
"Oliver. And yeah, it's nothing."
"Are you-" I spoke, the same time he said,
"I hope-"
"Sorry, you go first." He said.
"I'm sorry, I've never had to room with anyone before, and it feels like I'm walking on eggshells around you." I confessed.
"Well, we could go over some house rules tomorrow if you want. That way we'll both know what each of us like. Because right now, I really could use some sleep."
"Uhm, yeah. Me too. Tomorrow then." I said, feeling dismissed and not liking it. I was usually a more dominant person and the confidence I got from making people lose their shit in front of me gave me a complex.
He didn't even wait around till I finished my statement, he just walked straight to his room and closed the door, leaving me alone in the living room.
°°°
I woke up to the smell of delicious food. The soft morning sun shone lightly on my face and I almost forgot that I'd gotten a new space when I woke up because the bleak walls were very unfamiliar and not my style.
I made a mental note to buy some paint and room decor later. After I had breakfast.
As I pushed open the door to the kitchen, the soft light spilled in, illuminating the space in a warm glow. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted Oliver hunched over the counter, his back to me.
He was wearing those fitted sweatpants that hugged him just right, and the way his muscles flexed as he reached for something on the counter made my breath catch in my throat.
The sunlight danced across his skin, highlighting the contours of his back, and I couldn't help but admire the way he moved with such ease and confidence. There was something undeniably sexy about the way he was focused on whatever he was doing, completely unaware of my presence. I stood there for a moment, just taking it all in, feeling a mix of admiration and a flutter of excitement in my stomach.
He had a surfer build, with his tan skin and lean muscular structure. The only thing missing was blonde hair, where his was brown and curly.
"Hey, Oliver," I finally managed to say, breaking the spell. He turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder. He looked at me with such intensity, and in that instant, the kitchen felt like it was filled with an electric tension.
"Kairo, hi,"he replied, his voice warm, inviting and nervous at the same time. He straightened up, turning to face me fully, and I felt a rush of heat creep up my cheeks. "Uhm, I made breakfast. Would you like some?"
I stepped further into the kitchen, my nerves tingling with the closeness between us. "Oh, really? What did you make?" I asked, trying to sound casual while my mind raced with thoughts that were anything but.
As I moved beside him, I could smell the faint scent of his cologne mixed with something sweet from the pastries he had laid out on the counter. We worked together, our shoulders brushing occasionally, sending little sparks of electricity through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something exciting in our new apartment, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Just some basic stuff," he said, his cheeks turning a little pink as he gestured to the spread. "Pancakes, bacon, and a few pastries I picked up on the way home. Figured it would be a good way to start the day."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his shy demeanor. "Well, you've definitely outdone yourself," I said, my eyes lingering on the way the sunlight caught the sheen of sweat on his forehead. "I'm impressed. You're a natural in the kitchen."
He fidgeted with his apron, a small smile playing on his lips. "I wouldn't say that," he spoke. "But I do enjoy cooking. Especially when I have someone to share it with." He glanced up, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment, before quickly looking away.
The air crackled with a sweet, unspoken tension as we stood there, the aroma of coffee and bacon filling the kitchen. I knew this was just the beginning of a delicious, and potentially very messy, new chapter in our lives.
I took a bite of the pancake, and as soon as it hit my tongue, I couldn't help but let out a soft moan. "Oh wow, these are amazing!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening in delight. The fluffy texture and rich flavor were just perfect.
I savored every bite, a playful smile spreading across my face. "These taste so good." I licked a bit of syrup from my lips, enjoying the moment and the taste and watched as Oliver's eyes followed the movement of my lips and linger.
I leaned in closer, a teasing grin on my face, Iif this is what you whip up in the kitchen, I can only imagine what else you're capable of." The atmosphere felt electric, filled with laughter and a hint of flirtation, as I reveled in the delicious pancakes and the connection we were sharing.
He cleared his throat and raked his fingers through his brown hair.
"I wanted to formally apologize if I seemed off yesterday. I was tired and I just got back from Potomac. It didn't turn out to be the ideal getaway." He said, his mind drifting elsewhere.
"It's fine. I already forgave you the minute those pancakes melted in my mouth. And thank you for letting me stay. I'd complain about the arrangement but I didn't pay completely for the original spot and I have nowhere else to go."
"I'm just happy to help. And don't worry, you won't be seeing much of me in case that'll make you feel better. I'm rounding up with college soon and will be moving out soon after."
"That makes me feel a lot worse. When you leave, who's gonna make all these delicious creations for me?" I said, sounding devastated, much to his amusement.
"I'll teach you how. That way you can survive without me." He spoke.
"Not helpful." I said, rolling my eyes.
He stood up to clear our plates and I joined him. "Let me take care of that." I said.
"Don't worry, I got it." He said and began to tidy everything up.
"I want to go out to get some paint for my room."
"Don't bother, I can get someone to do it for you."
"Oh. Really? That would be great."
"Yeah. You could forward the design and inspo to me and I'll make sure the decorator gets it done."
"Wow. Thank you."
"You have to stop saying that. It's nothing." He said, brushing it off like it was nothing. I stood up from where I sat and went over to give him a peck on his cheeks.
They reddened in an instant and he turned around to finish the rest of the coffee. "What else do you plan on doing today?"
"So you can do it for me?" I said with a smile. "I had originally planned on skipping school today because of the visit to the paint store but now I don't have to, unless you have a guy who can attend my classes for me, write the exams and still pass."
"Sorry, I don't have a guy for that yet." He joked back. "What are you studying?"
"Anthropology. What about you?" I asked.
"Software Engineering."
"You're smart and cook too? I feel like I've found a unicorn." He let out a small laugh.
I moved towards my room door to shower and felt his gaze on my back. Sure enough, when I looked back, his eyes were on my ass. I didn't blame him, they definitely weren't small by any means and the nightwear I had on hugged me in the best way.
A random guy once told me I looked good enough to eat when he saw me bend over to pick up my dumbbells in the gym. I didn't go back there afterwards.
When Oliver realized he was caught staring, his face reddened and he looked away.
"You know I had my fair share of staring when I saw you in those sweatpants, Oliver, and I'm much terribly unashamed that I imagined you in many different ways than one before I had breakfast." I said with a wink and shut the door before he could say anything back.
When I came out from the shower and got dressed, I opened the door and realized that Olly left the apartment.
Maybe I was too forward. But I couldn't help the minx in me when she decided to come out. I needed to be exorcised because that was the only logical solution left. I grabbed my phone and a bag with all my books in it and left the house.
As I stepped out of the apartment,, the cool breeze hit my face, bringing me back to reality. I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and a bit of reluctance to head back to college.
The campus was buzzing with students, and I made my way toward the lecture hall, my thoughts still lingering on the amazing pancakes.
As I approached the door, I overheard a group of boys chatting animatedly just outside. "Did you guys notice that Pandora hasn't posted any recent streams?" one of them said, sounding a bit frustrated.
"Yeah, I saw that! She hasn't posted anything in weeks. I wonder what happened," another replied, his voice filled with curiosity.
I paused for a moment, intrigued by their conversation. It was fascinating how invested they were in someone they'd never met. "I hope Pandora comes back soon; her streams were the best," the first boy added,
"Agreed. And Boudoir isn't the same with just Kitty Fox and the other rookies. Kitty's moans are so fake and she always has to use lube because it's like the Sahara up in there." I couldn't help but smirk a little as I continued walking. It was a strange world out there, but I had my own classes to focus on.
With a shake of my head, I pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to dive back into my studies.