Page 82 of Off Limits

When he pulls away, he’s stolen all of my oxygen, but he still doesn’t say anything as he gets out of the car.

Lochlyn opens my door and waits for me to step out, linking his fingers with mine as soon as I stand next to him. The grip he has on my hand tells me not to argue, not to point out that it isn’t afriends onlything. It also doesn’t scream relationship. The kiss he gives me before we walk through the back gate does, though.

I sigh as he smirks. He likes to do that, skate the thin line. Slipping his hand from mine, he opens the gate, pinching my ass as I walk through. Spinning around, I point a finger at him, a warning.

The party is in full swing, a huge crowd having gathered, including a lot of people Lochlyn, Heath, and Jay had gone to high school with. Most assuredly some girls that have either been with Lochlyn, or want to be. Taking a look around, we see Chelsea isn’t here yet.

“So where’s the line here, Shay? Chelsea’s not here. How much can I get away with?” His mouth against my ear sends shivers down my spine. A low chuckle rumbles from his chest and straight through me as he notes my reaction.

Before I can respond, his hand is on my lower back, pinky dipping below my waistband. Hand on my back, not so crazy for friends. Finger dipping into my pants, not such a friends thing.

I shoot him a warning look but don’t move away. Growing up with Chelsea and Lochlyn, I know Heath and Jay pretty well. They’re Lochlyn’s two best friends since the age of eight. Even going to college in different states, they still get together over breaks and spend a good chunk of the summer together. Until the past year, at least, when Lochlyn decided he’d rather spend his time in hiding with me. We have to lie to them too, since they’d be all too quick to let Chelsea know, even if by accident.

As we move farther into the throng of people, eyes start turning to Lochlyn. I’m used to it; he’s always attracted attention. But it’s harder being his girlfriend, hissecretgirlfriend, and around people we know. Before, I was just another set of eyes turning to him. Now, I feel a need to defend against them, but can’t.

Lochlyn’s so good at being secretive, it’s a little scary. I hadn’t really noticed before. He gently pushes me forward until we’re so close to the music he has no choice but to lean down to talk against my ear, standing strategically behind me where his hand rubbing gently against my lower back won’t be noticed.

“I’m going to get a drink. Why don’t you go sit on that couch and I’ll join you in a few minutes.” He points to one of the patio couches on the opposite side of the pool, away from the music, in full sight of the bar.

I nod as he starts to walk away, sliding to my other side while trailing his hand along my back. He’s toying with me, and it’s working, as my body temperature rises and desire races through me.

Making my way over to the couch, I keep my eye on him, each of us stopping to say hi to a few people along the way. Not being with him and not seeing him was hard. But being in the same place as him and not being able to touch him is almost impossible. My body aches for his nearness, my fingers twitch with the need to touch him. We’ve spent the better part of the past five weeks together, even if just chatting while he helps at the store again.

Two hands suddenly wrap around my biceps, making me gasp. Turning, I take in Jay’s smiling face.

“Oh, sorry, Jay. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” I’d almost walked straight into him.

“It’s okay. How are you, Shay?” I can’t help but notice as his eyes scan up and down my body, taking their time at my hips and breasts.

“I’m pretty good. How about you? How’s Penn State?”

“It’s good. Lonely.” His shoulders tip up briefly.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, nobody to keep me company.” I take a step back as he reaches out to grab a curl. My gaze flashes over to Lochlyn, who tenses and downs the amber liquid in his glass, tapping the bar for a refill, eyes locked on me and filled with fire.

I try to smile. “Yeah, I bet it can be. But you’ve been there a while. I bet you have some good friends.”

“Not quite the company I was referring to.” A smirk spreads across his face and I’m sure he thinks he’s being coy instead of creepy.

“I’m sure there are plenty of pretty girls at school.”

“Not any I’ve had my eye on.” He’s starting to make me uncomfortable. In this moment, I’d love for Lochlyn to just say fuck it all and come wrap his arm around my waist. Maybe punch Jay in the face, something I know he wants to do right now, childhood friend or not.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate. It’s too bad my boyfriend can’t be here today. I was hoping he could meet some of my friends.”

His face drops, and he takes a step backward, giving me some breathing room. “Yo-you have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, for a few months now. We’re really happy. He has to work tonight.” It has gotten way too easy for me to lie, weaving them from nothing. What’s worse is I don’t feel bad about it anymore. And not that I’ve ever heard of Jay being opposed to cheating, but I do know he prefers to be the center of attention. And because I have a boyfriend, he clearly wouldn’t be.

“Well, that sounds nice. I, uh, hope to meet him this summer. See ya around, Shay.”

Once Jay’s out of sight, I let go of the breath I’ve been holding since he stepped in front of me. Looking over at Lochlyn, I can see he isnothappy.

Once I get to the sitting area, I notice that the atmosphere is much quieter on this side of the year, and flop down onto the couch. I’m sure it’s strategic, a place for people to be able to sit and talk. Though Heath always wants "action" at his parties, as he likes to call it, so maybe he wants it quieter for people to hook up. Heath has a strange sense of what a party should be.

I take in Lochlyn’s tall frame as he sits at the bar, legs sideways as he leans one elbow on the wood, the other arm thrown over the back of his seat. There’s a toothpick hanging out of his mouth as he chews on it absentmindedly, glancing over at me every few minutes. He’s already downed another drink, more of the amber liquid, and is slowly nursing the third as he waits for a refill. The bartender is busy at the other end with a group of girls in bikinis. It could be a while.

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