Page 25 of Off Limits

I give her a lazy up and down look that I’m quite certain will set her even more on edge, but something about the atmosphere, being closeted away in this normally off-limits room to keep her out of her brother’s way, has me wanting to bait her. “I don’t remember hearing any objections about me tagging along, do you?” I direct that question at Granger, who holds up his free hand to show he’s staying out of it. Can’t blame him. If I weren’t feeling antagonistic, I’d stay out of it too. I don’t miss the expression on Autumn’s face, though, as she glances between Ellie and me. She knows something, and if I were a betting man, I’d bet that it’s that Ellie’s attracted to me. I’ve figured as much for a while, but clearly it’s more than a passing attraction if she’s discussed it with her friend.

Ellie scoffs loudly, crossing her arms over her chest. I don’t think she realizes it, but that just makes her tits even more tantalizing, and the urge to trace the line of her cleavage with my tongue rises up again.

I wanted to do that when Cal and I staked out her date and she wore that top with the cutout over her cleavage.

The reminder of her brother’s tendency to follow her on dates is the wake-up call I apparently need. Because what the fucking hell is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be thinking about licking down Ellie’s cleavage and nuzzling my way under that top until I find her nipple and taste it.

Grunting, I stand. I need to get out of here. I need to get as far away from her as possible. “Sorry,” I say gruffly. “You’re right. You didn’t invite me. What you do is none of my business. Go up to his room. Don’t. It’s your call.” In three long strides, I’m out the door, bombarded by the noise of the party that had been muffled in our little oasis.

I don’t normally drink to get drunk, but I think tonight might be an exception. Just as I’m heading for the kitchen, slim fingers grip my tricep, bringing me to a halt. Turning, I find Ellie looking up at me, concern stamped on her face.

“Simon, I wasn’t trying to make you leave. I’m sorry, I thought—”

“No, it’s not you,” I cut in, feeling like a dick. I shouldn’t have followed her. And walking out like that, like she did something wrong, was obviously a bad choice. And now I’ve put myself in this situation where nothing I do or say will be the right thing. I should’ve left her alone in the first place, reassured her I wouldn’t tell her brother she’s here and let her go on her way with her friend.

But for reasons I can’t define, I’m drawn to this girl. I want to spend time with her and see where our obvious chemistry would take us.

I also don’t want to jeopardize my friendship with her brother. Girls come and go, but Cal’s been my best friend for years. This is our last season together. He’s already having a shit year because of the new coach and losing his starting spot to the new guy. Me dating his sister would push him all the way over the edge.

Sucking in a breath, I look all around, then on impulse I grab her hand and lead her to the end of the hall where we’re less likely to get interrupted and the noise is a few decibels quieter. “Look,” I tell her, releasing her hand as soon as I can make myself, despite the fact that I like the feel of her hand in mine, “this is …” I run one hand through my hair, looking around like the right words might be written on one of these walls. Sadly, they’re only decorated with pictures of previous frat members. Finally, I just decide to lay it out like I’m not potentially going to make an even bigger ass of myself.

“I like you,” I say, holding her gaze, registering the swirls of green in her irises, wishing I didn’t have to practically shout to make sure she can hear me. “And from the way you look at me, I think the feeling is mutual.” Her lips part, and if I’m not mistaken, a pretty blush washes over her cheeks. Everything about her face, her posture, the way she’s staring up at me makes me want nothing more than to cup the back of her head and kiss her. But I can’t do that. Because … “But that’s all this can ever be. You’re my best friend’s little sister. He’s unreasonably protective of you, which you already know. And whether his behavior is justified or not, if anything happened between us, Cal would kill me, and I’m not willing to do that to him.”

Her eyes dart back and forth between mine, shocked and wide and enormous, and I’m worried she might cry, which would be the end of me. I practically flipped tables the last time I saw her near tears, and no one had actually done anything to hurt her then. IfI’mresponsible for her tears? I might have to punch myself in the face.

But then her mouth firms, and she drops her gaze to my chest. She nods once. “That’s fine,” she says. “I figured. I mean …” She lifts a hand and gestures in the direction of the party. “I’m not trying to get with you.” She darts a look at my face, but stays focused on my chest, like looking at my face is too difficult. “I wouldn’t do that for all the reasons you already said. I was actually here to find a distraction.”

A low growl rumbles in my chest at the thought of her with another guy. Here specifically to find a guy. A guy to distract her fromme. It’s completely involuntary, and completely stupid and hypocritical because half the reason I’m here is to find a distraction from her. I stop as soon as I hear myself. But from the way her eyes widen and fly to mine, she heard it too. Her face takes on that pinched look she gets when she’s annoyed, her arms crossing and one hip cocked to the side, and the feisty spitfire is back. I’m a complete goner. “Please. Youjustgot done telling me that there can’t be anything between us. I agreed. You don’t get to growl because I want to find someone else.”

I step closer to her, caging her in against the wall. This is maybe a miscalculation on my part, because now the fruity scent of her shampoo fills my nose, and my restraint frays with every passing second. It takes all my control not to pin her against the wall and kiss her, and the thought of her wrapping her legs around me as I hitch her high enough to line us up has all my blood rushing south. I suck in a deep breath, trying to ignore the way she smells, the way I imagine she’d feel and taste. “I just want to be clear about one thing. You’re looking for someone to distract you from … me?”

She stares up at me, unflinching, her throat working as she swallows. I want to kiss her right there, right where her pulse pounds in her neck, feel the heat of her skin on my lips. “Yes.” I can barely hear her, but I see her lips form the word.

Another rumbling groan fills my chest, and I punch the wall behind her softly, my eyes never leaving her lips. “Dammit, Ellie. You can’t tell me shit like that.”

She pokes me in the chest. “You started it. You showed up, you bumped into me, you followed me, and you started this conversation.”

I cock my head to one side, my eyes running all over her face and snagging on her lips again. I should probably stop staring at her mouth, but I really can’t help it. “That’s not entirely true. You followed me out here.”

She drops her arms, letting out an aggrieved sigh. “Well, yeah, I thought you were upset because I was being snotty. You were so worried I hated you after you ruined my date, so I wanted to make sure you didn’t think I was still holding onto some kind of grudge over that. I didn’t come after you hoping you’d push me against the wall and kiss me.”

God, how I want to do just that. Lifting a hand, I move her hair away from her ear—it’s even softer than I imagined, and as much as I’d like to run my fingers through it, I force myself to drop my hand back to the wall. I bend, so my mouth is right next to her ear. “And what would you do if I did?” I ask softly.

She sucks in a sharp breath and holds it, turning her head to meet my eyes again. Our faces are so close, only an inch or two separating our mouths. It would be so easy—so, so, so easy—to close that distance. But I want her to answer the question first.

“Ellie? Everything o—Oh!” The voice of Ellie’s roommate is like a bucket of cold water, and it’s just the reminder I need of where we are—and who we are, dammit. I push away from the wall, putting as much distance between us as possible. Ellie’s still plastered to the wall, her eyes never leaving mine, but she doesn’t say anything.

My breath comes in ragged gulps, the part of me that hates being denied asking a million unhelpful questions on a loop.What would it hurt if I kissed her? She obviously wants me to. Cal would never have to know. Just a taste. Just a kiss. It wouldn’t mean anything, right?

But I ignore it, because I know I don’t want it to be just a kiss, just a taste,justanything, and continue backing away. With one last nod, I turn and head into the party, intent on finding alcohol again, so I can forget any of that happened and look Cal in the eye without wincing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ellie

“Um, yeah, so, I’m gonna go,” I tell Autumn, still holding up the wall.

Brad appears in the doorway. “I’ll walk you both home,” he offers.

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