Page 45 of Off Limits

He hooks some curls behind my ear. “Nothing. You’re just so beautiful.”

I never know what to say when he says that. Lochlyn is the first boy to compliment me. The firstpersonreally, aside from my parents, but I never really counted that, as parents should build their children up. All I know is that it makes my heart flutter.

“I love you.”

He leans his head back against the couch, eyes still on me. “I love you, too.”

That night, as we lie in bed, I can barely keep my eyes open. I didn’t sleep much the night before in anticipation, and the drive took a lot out of me. Dinner had been so good. I gushed several times over how amazing it is that Lochlyn can cook, thanked him profusely, especially for remembering my favorite toppings.

I’m curled into his chest, his arm flung over my waist drawing tiny circles on my back where he’s lifted my shirt. Any time I feel like I’m about to fall asleep, I force my eyes back open.

“You can go to sleep, baby. I know that drive is tiring.”

“It’s still early. I don’t want to waste any extra time with you on sleep.” My voice is low, and my words are almost slurred together.

“But you’re tired. And I’ll be right here, all night.” My eyelids have already fluttered closed again.

“Mm, okay.”

Sleep overtakes me. But not before I feel Lochlyn kiss my forehead and tell me he loves me.

When I wake up the next morning, I’m alone in bed. The scent of coffee brewing wafts in to greet me. I stretch on the large bed, a smile spreading widely across my face. For the first time in months, I’m not waking up to go to the store or class. I don’t have to be anywhere. And I’m with Lochlyn.Alonewith him, without having to hide.

I pad down the hall, hearing something sizzling from the kitchen.

“Well, good morning, sleepyhead.” He looks up and smiles briefly when he sees me.

“Why are you up so early? Aren’t college students supposed to sleep until, like, one?”

He chuckles. “I’ve always been a bit of an early riser and night owl. I can do a lot on little sleep. Plus, I slept really well.” His eyes meet mine. I’d slept really well too. The comfort he brings me allowed any tension to seep out of my body and to fully relax into the bed.

“So, what are we doing today?”

“Whatever you want. I plan to take you over to campus. But other than that, it’s entirely up to you.”

“Got any good bookstores?”

A laugh erupts from deep in his chest. “Only you would want to find a bookstore and not a party.”

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Walking away from the stove and over to me, he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me against him and sealing his mouth over mine. “It’s averygood thing.” With a tiny kiss on my nose, he walks back into the kitchen.

The apartment isn’t quite what I’d been imagining. For some reason, when I thought about an apartment two college guys shared, I’d expected it to be a disaster. Ratty, dirty. But it’s nothing like that. It’s a nice apartment, kept neat. I can tell it wasn’t just cleaned for my benefit. Though when I really think about it, I expect no less from Lochlyn. He likes things to be neat and orderly. Not overly so, just in a way where things aren’t all over the place. It’s a big reason why Chelsea drives him crazy.

We eat at the counter, sipping coffee and talking about what to do with our day. Lochlyn keeps his hand on my knee the whole time. When we finish, he insists on clearing the plates, though I put up a good fight.

“I’m going to take a shower.” He’s already taking off his shirt as he walks out of the kitchen. “Come with me,” he whispers in my ear as he passes. My body won’t let me say no, and I hop out of my chair and follow him into the bathroom.

I’m up against the tiled wall, steam filling the bathroom with my legs locked around his waist as he supports me under my thighs while he pistons into me. His mouth is latched to my throat as I moan loudly when the curtain rod comes crashing down.

I shriek in terror, which causes him to laugh. Putting me down, he guides me under the stream to rinse, tipping his head into the water over mine, then shaking it out of his eyes before reaching around me to shut it off.

After wrapping a towel around his waist, he holds one out for me. I sit on the toilet seat and observe as he picks the rod up and starts putting it back against the wall. Watching his muscles ripple makes me bite my lip, hard.

“This damn thing falls like once a week,” he grumbles as he twists one side.

“You have girls in your shower once a week?”

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