Page 35 of Off Limits

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Isn’t it past your time to turn back into a pumpkin?”

“The carriage turns into a pumpkin, not the princess.”

“Whatever. Same thing.”

“Not at all. And yes, I’m exhausted.” Putting her hand on my arm, she turns her attention to me. Her eyes are glassy, but I’m not sure if she’s drunk. “I hope you had a good party.”

“I did! I really did. Thank you.” I don’t need to tell her the only reason it was good is because Lochlyn’s here.

“Oh, perfect. Okay, I’m going to bed. Good night, my loves!”

“Good night,” we call after her in unison. Lochlyn’s jaw is clenched as he watches Brendan follow her upstairs.

When they’re out of sight, his eyes still trained on the stairs, he starts grumbling to himself. I only catch bits and pieces, but definitely get the gist of it being about Brendan and Chelsea. My intention is to let him work it out himself, but when he starts toward the stairs, I stop him.

“Lochlyn.” My voice is low and gentle. I seem to catch him out of whatever trance he’s in, and he softens as he looks at me.

Within two strides, he’s in front of me, losing a hand in my hair as his lips close on mine and he pulls me flush against him. Dropping the cup in my hand, I wrap my hands around his neck.

“We give them five minutes and then we go upstairs.” His voice is gravelly.

I nod, unable to make words. He pulls away and goes back to cleaning up.

As we finish clearing off the table, he flicks out his watch. “Five minutes are up. Let’s go.” Before I can answer, he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the stairs. We walk quietly and he peers around the corner before stepping onto the landing to make sure they’re in Chelsea’s room.

His hands are in my back pockets, lips on mine, before his door’s even clicked shut. We move together, with me going backward, until my legs hit the bed and he slowly lays me down, lowering himself over me to rest on his forearms.

With his fingertips, he swipes some hair off my forehead and looks at me intently. “I’d love nothing more than to touch you and taste you right now, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea with Chelsea right down the hall.”

“I can be quiet,” I plead. I need to feel him.

He quirks up an eyebrow, asking an unvoiced question.

My whole body deflates. “Okay, no, I can’t. But you should take that as a compliment.”

“Oh, I do, trust me.” The smirk that pulls at his mouth makes wetness pool between my thighs, increasing my need for him.

His lips meet mine again, tenderly at first, then turning hungrier. His hand starts to slide up the inside of my shirt, his touch scorching like fire against my skin.

“Did I tell you I really like this shirt?” he murmurs against my mouth.

“No.”

“I do. I just wish you didn’t wear anything under it.” Maybe Chelsea was right after all.

He slips his tongue into my mouth again as his fingers rub against my nipple.

Just as things are ramping up between us, we hear a loud moan from down the hall. Lochlyn freezes. Turning his head from me, he groans into the pillow.

Before I realize what’s happening, he’s pushing himself off the bed. “Fuck this,” he mutters under his breath.

I reach up and scramble to grab at his arm. “Loch, no.”

Easily, he pulls out of my grasp.

I’m worried he’s about to throw the door open and go bursting into Chelsea’s room. Instead, he locks the door and turns on some music. Seether blasts for a second before he flips the dial down.

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