Page 8 of Daring the Defender

Except his tongue darts out to touch the bruise on his bottom lip and my stomach flip flops thinking about the way it felt touching mine.

“Look,” he says, lifting the ice pack up to his mouth and holding it there for a second, “I’m not gonna get bent out of shape about a hot girl kissing me, but you should have told me you were Axel’s sister.”

Hot girl?My skin prickles like it’s on fire and from the smirk lifting his lips, he knows it. “I’m not available for kissing,” I tell him, feeling the reminder of the ring on my finger. “And I didn’t want you to call him or anything, giving me a chance to see him before he heard I was here.”

“So whyareyou here, Axel’s sister. Aren’t you getting married or something?”

“My name is Shelby,” I reply, a little too primly, then add, “He told you that?”

He nods. “He mentioned it after Thanksgiving. He wasn’t too into it.”

“Yeah,” I laugh, “he’s made his views about me being promised to David clear.” Axel has been explicit in thinking that I’m too sheltered—too immature–to be ready for marriage. He thinks I need an education and time to experience life. I think that those are all things I want to do with a partner.

But as we know, no one really cares what I think.

“So, did you break it off with this David guy?” he asks.

“We’re fine,” I assure him. “I just wanted to get away before everything got crazy with the planning. Visit my brother for a while.”

I don’t know why there’s a flicker of annoyance in my chest. Maybe from the fact that his expression makes it obvious he doesn’t believe me.

“Well, whatever reason you’re here, I don’t plan on getting my face busted up again, so try not to climb into my lap again.”

My jaw drops and my hands ball into fists at my side. “I-I,” I sputter, then settle on, “Maybe you should have a little decorum and wear an actual shirt when you answer the door.”

“Maybe.” His tongue darts out. “If you can’t handle it.”

“What? I can handle it.” It being him shirtless, which I won’t lie, is incredibly distracting. Do all men have a thick thatch of hair like that on their chests? Or the thin line below his belly. Is it soft?

“Mmhmm.” His gaze drops and he notes casually, “You’re being pretty bossy for a girl whose nipples are saluting me right now.”

My arms snap up, crossing over my chest. “Don’t look at them!”

He steps toward me, crowding my space. I step back, but just hit the wall. I’ve got nowhere to run when he bends, mouth close to my ear. “Your brother told your mother the truth. We’re a houseful of hockey players who are very focused on the kick-ass season we’re having. But he also lied.” His breath is warm and I can smell the beer he had earlier. “We’re easily distractible. We’re horny.All the time, and will absolutely take advantage of a naive, little, good girl showing up at our door.” He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Standing in the hallway in a thin nightshirt leaving little to the imagination. But here’s the thing, you’re lucky I’m the one that opened the door, that I’m the one standing out here with you right now, baby sister, because I’mthenice guy.” He draws back, our eyes meeting. “I can’t say the same about everyone else on this campus.”

Heart pounding, I couldn’t reply if I wanted. My breath is caught in my throat, my senses overwhelmed by him. His spicy, masculine scent, his massive size, and his warnings. Before I regain control of my senses, the door downstairs slams shut and Axel’s footsteps are at the base of the staircase.

I glance over and when I look back, Reid’s back in his room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Axel’s pushing his hands through his hair when he appears at the top of the staircase. “You’re still up.” His eyebrows furrow. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say. “I’m just eager to hear what Mom said.”

“She’s not happy,” he admits. “Mostly about how this will look to everyone else, but she’s willing to spin this into something that will give you a little time.”

“Spin it how?”

“Apparently, you’ve been sent out here to minister to your wayward brother and talk some sense into me.” His eyes roll and a giggle bubbles out, my chest loosening. “It’s not funny.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

“We’ll talk about it more in the morning, but she’s giving you three weeks. You’ll need to be back before the engagement party.”

“Okay.” I don’t tell him that it feels both like a reprieve and a prison sentence. “Thank you, Ax, I really appreciate it.”

“You know how I feel,” he tells me. “I never wanted this for you in the first place, and ifyoudon’t want it–let me know.”

“I do,” I assure him. “I want it. David. The wedding. I just need some space from Mom and Dad and this deranged planning, you know?” He nods, and it’s obvious how tired he is. “Tomorrow we’ll also talk about where I’m staying. I can’t keep your room for a month.”

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