Page 72 of Off Limits

“You’re late.” There’s a deep set scowl on his face as he opens the door.

“Oh stop, it’s fine. We’re here. Yes, the drive was fine, thanks for asking,” Chelsea says as she breezes past him into the apartment, Brendan on her heels.

Our eyes lock as I brush past him, making sure to slide my chest against his as though there isn’t any room for me to pass. He responds by grabbing my ass. It’s going to be a long weekend of secret flirting.

“Where can we put our stuff?” Chelsea already seems bored as she stops and glances around the room.

“Wes said you and Brendan can have his room.” Lochlyn points down the hall.

“Oh, that’s nice of him. What about Shay?”

“She’ll be in my room.”

“And you’ll be on the couch?”

“Actually, no, Wes is going to be here.”

Her face hardens and her mouth presses into a line. “So, what, you’ll both be in there?”

“Yes.”

“Chels, it’s not a big deal. They’re both adults.” Brendan is trying to reason with her, putting a hand on her arm that she quickly shrugs off. Silly boy.

“I don’t like it.” She shakes her head once like that’s all she needs to do to get everybody to jump at her command.

“Well, Chels, it’s either she sleeps in my room or she sleeps on the couch with Wes. Take your pick.” Utter irritation rips through Lochlyn’s words and I’m sure if I turned around, it’d be written all over his face. As it is, he’s still standing behind me, close enough that his sandalwood scent swirls in my nose and his warmth radiates against my back.

She chews her cheek for a minute before Lochlyn speaks up again. “Oh my God, are you actually thinking about it? She’s sleeping in my room. That’s the decision.”

Before she can argue more, I interject, “Chels, it’s fine. I’ve known Lochlyn forever.”

“I’m not comfortable with it.” It’s so matter of fact and like it’s all she needs to say to get us to change things. Part of me wants to yell at her, but this weekend doesn’t need to be any more tense or complicated.

“Well, you’re not the one who’s going to be sleeping in there. I am. And I’m fine with it. I’m not sure what you’re so worried about, but I highly doubt he’ll try anything with you being just down the hall. Not to mention, I doubt he sees me that way.” Lying has become so easy; it slides off my tongue like butter and barely requires any thought. As somebody who had never lied in the past, it’s a little unnerving at how readily I picked up the habit.

She looks between us quickly. My body is thrumming, knowing he’s only a few inches away and hope she can’t see it. “Fine. Guess I don’t have a choice.” She points her finger at Lochlyn. “I swear you better not touch her.”

“Chels, come on. You’re going to be right there and Wes will be on the couch. I’m not sure what sort of thing you’re worried about, but it needs to stop.” Lochlyn puts a lot of emphasis on “stop.”

I see the conversation going around in circles for the foreseeable future. While I usually let them battle it out, I decide to speak up. “Chelsea, calm down. I have no problem telling him off if I need to. But he’s always been respectful when we’ve needed to share a room. You forget, I just slept in his room a few weeks ago. He was very kind and respectful. He didn’t try anything.” That I didn’t want, that is.

“Whatever, I said it’s fine. Which one is Wes’s room?”

“Down to the right.” Lochlyn points as though he’s giving detailed directions, but the apartment isn’t that big.

“We’re going to drop this stuff in there, get ready for dinner. I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

“Sure thing.”

The second they’re out of sight, his mouth crashes on mine, arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me against him as his hand slides to the back of my head. I hold my bag as he walks me backward to his room, pushing me against the wall once we’re inside.

I stifle a moan as he kisses across my jaw and down my neck.

“I missed you,” he murmurs against my collarbone.

His lips are on mine again, and I feel like he’s trying to devour me. At this very moment, I’m furious with Chelsea for crashing my weekend. All too soon, he ends the kiss, both of us breathless, as he rests his forehead against mine.

“I’m stealing every possible tiny second I can with you this weekend.” His voice is quiet and strained.

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