Decidedly Off Limits

by Stina Lindenblatt

  He unhooked the button and lowered the zipper. His fingers grasped the waistband and peeled the denim down my legs. Once they were around my ankles, I stepped out of them, leaving me in only my thong.

  His heated gaze traveled down my body, making me feel desirable, confident, ready to jump this man in front of me. Except now he was the one who looked momentarily unsure of what to do with himself.

  After a few seconds, he recovered his composure and stepped closer. “I definitely approve of the thong.” His lips returned to my neck and he gently nipped the skin with his teeth.

  Pleasure shot through me, making direct contact with the growing ache between my legs. I might have moaned, groaned, or gasped—or some combination of all three. There might’ve also been an “Oh, God” thrown in for good luck.

  One hand moved to my hip, then dipped between my legs. His fingers cupped me and my clit screamed, “Take me now.”

  Or maybe that was me.

  Trent’s mouth returned to mine, and he gently tugged my lower lip between his teeth. His fingers moved to the waistband of my thong, and he peeled the fabric off me in the same way he’d removed my jeans.

  “Sit on the edge of the bed,” Trent commanded, his voice low yet firm. The wetness between my legs increased at the sound. I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened from now on, every time he spoke to me that way.

  Like Pavlov’s dog.

  A conditioned response.

  Once I did as he asked, he said, “Spread your legs and let me see your gorgeous pussy.”

  I swallowed, more turned on than I ever thought would be possible. That guy who I was once engaged to (what was his name?) was anti dirty talk.

  I opened my legs wider. A small part of me knew I should feel vulnerable and exposed—but I didn’t. With the way Trent was looking at me, my confidence continued to grow.

  “Now touch yourself, babe.”

  Chewing my lip, I considered his request. I’d never touched myself before. Never even thought about doing it—especially not in front of anyone. But the way he said it—demanding yet encouraging—made me want to push aside that innocence and do as he’d asked.

  To please him. To please myself.

  Without waiting for another word of encouragement, I slipped my fingers between the slick folds and slowly stroked myself, my gaze locked on Trent the entire time. His eyes gleamed dark with approval and awareness. Awareness this had been out of my normal comfort zone—but that I’d been willing to try it. For him. For me. The bulge in his jeans was so pronounced, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it ripped through the fabric Hulk style.

  Trent let this continue for a minute before squatting between my legs. While I continued to touch myself, inching closer to the edge of euphoria, he planted mind-numbing kisses along my inner thigh. Once he was close to the ache between my legs, he positioned his hand on the one getting intimate with my clit and moved my hand to the bed.

  His mouth replaced my fingers, and as good as it had been with them, that was nothing compared to his very skilled tongue.

  “Oh, God, Trent. I’m gonna come.” I threaded my fingers in his hair with the goal of encouraging him to join me in this moment. “I want you inside me.”

  He chuckled against my clit. The sensation solidly shoved me closer to the edge. “My, aren’t you a little impatient?”

  “Please…”

  He laughed again. “I think I like this side of you.”

  “What side?”

  “The side that begs me for sex.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t begging for sex. I was just begging to feel you inside me.”

  “Same thing.”

  “Is not.”

  Trent’s grin grew wicked, but at least he decided to give me what I wanted. He removed his jeans and boxers, grabbed a foil square from the drawer of his night table, ripped it open, and rolled the condom along his thick length. While he was doing this, I scooted onto the bed and laid down. He joined me, his body covering mine, positioned himself, then slowly entered me. I swear he was purposefully tormenting me, keeping me on the edge, making me wait for the moment when I would tumble over.

  He paused, letting my body stretch to accommodate his width. And hello, it was quite the width. He put the other two guys I’d been with to shame. True, size wasn’t everything, but it sure did help. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, the concern in his eyes rivaling that of a chef during a kitchen fire.

  I smirked. “I’ll be even better once you start moving.”

  “Demanding aren’t you?” The extra order of huskiness in his voice inched me closer to the edge I was toeing again.

  “You better believe it.”

  Trent finally decided he had tormented me enough. He started pumping inside me, taking us both over at the same time. He grunted an animal-like sound that was more on the erotic side of things.

  And I cried out in pure ecstasy.

  25

  Kelsey

  You remember the old Viagra commercial? The one where the man danced on his way to work to the song “Good Morning”? Well, that was how I felt this morning. And if I could have gotten away with dancing as I entered my office, I would have done that too.

  I hadn’t stopped grinning since last night, after my body and mind returned from the stratosphere, where they had visited each time I had sex with Trent.

  That’s right. We didn’t just have sex the one time. The second time occurred after we’d cuddled for a bit in bed.

  And then again this morning around four thirty, when Trent woke up incredibly horny—and who was I to say no to him?

  Best alarm clock. Ever.

  So even though I was tired, it was a happy tired.

  I sat on my office chair and powered up my computer.

  My cell phone pinged with a text.

  Erin: Why didn’t you tell me you have a boyfriend????

  I cringed. I’d known it would eventually come out, but I had been so busy since blurting to Caleb that I was seeing someone, I’d kind of forgotten about it.

  For the most part.

  All right, I had hoped Holly had forgotten and Erin would never find out.

  So much for plan A.

  I stared at the computer screen, hoping a Plan B would magically materialize. When that failed to happen, I typed, We just started dating. Didn’t want to jinx anything.

  Erin: When do I get to meet him?

  Never, given he didn’t exist. Once I’m ready to introduce you to him.

  And by then fictitious Chris Hemsworth and I would’ve broken up.

  Erin: So what unlucky woman is my brother currently “dating”?

  Me: Why would I know? And who told you that he’s dating?

  Erin: Holly. She figures you know but you’re keeping it a secret.

  Me: Why would she think I’m keeping it a secret?

  Erin: She thinks it might be you.

  I groaned. I guess I had been asking too much for Holly not to put one and one together and arrive at the correct answer. She’s crazy. Trent is definitely NOT my boyfriend.

  I peered warily at the ceiling, but since I hadn’t technically been lying, lightning didn’t strike me.

  Erin: That’s what I said. You know better than to date him. Plus it would just be icky if my best friend dates my brother.

  Me: LOL It’s not like it would be incest.

  God, did she really think that it would be?

  Erin: Close enough. Besides what would happen if you guys broke up? Liam and I would be caught in the middle. This is why there’s that rule about how best friends should never date the other one’s sibling.

  Me: Since when was it a rule?

  Erin: Since forever. So do you know who he’s dating?

  Oh, God, how did I get myself sucked into this conversation? Right. Because when I attempted to divert Holly from her goal of dating Trent, I’d been forced to lie.

  Erin wasn’t the only one in the mood to
text me.

  Trent: Why is Holly looking at me like she’s planning to throw me a surprise birthday party?

  Me to Trent: Remember how I told you that Holly thinks you have a girlfriend…and I have a boyfriend?

  Trent: Yes.

  Me: Well, now Erin knows, but Holly thinks I’m the girlfriend.

  Me to Erin: I don’t know her name, if that’s what you’re asking. And no I haven’t met her, but I’m sure she’s really nice.

  I couldn’t resist the last part.

  Erin: That’s too bad.

  Me: What’s too bad?

  Erin: That he’s seeing someone. Holly would have been good for him.

  Me: So you want Holly to date your brother?

  Erin: They’re very much alike. If anyone could get him to fall in love and settle down, it would be Holly.

  Ouch.

  Me: Maybe he’ll fall in love with his new girlfriend instead.

  I tried to convince myself that him falling in love with Holly (or any other woman) would never happen, especially after what he’d told me last night about his ex-girlfriends. Despite what Erin was hoping for, Trent wasn’t looking to settle down.

  Maybe I could get that reminder tattooed on my arm.

  26

  Trent

  It’s funny how you can stare at a computer screen for five minutes and not really see it. The numbers are there, but are nothing but a blur.

  What I did see (not so shockingly) was the image in my head of Kelsey touching herself last night after I’d told her to—and fuck, that had been hotter than all hell.

  And because of that—and because of the hot sex we’d experienced twice last night and then again this morning—I was having a shitty time focusing on my work.

  I entered the numbers into my calculator, pressed the equal sign, and groaned.

  69.696969

  Yes, the financial gods were conspiring against me.

  My cell phone pinged and I rushed to check if it was from Kelsey.

  But it wasn’t from her. It was from Erin. So is it true?

  Is what true?

  That you have a girlfriend?

  Good question. I had no idea what to call this thing between Kelsey and me, but since we were keeping it a secret, it didn’t matter what we were calling it.

  What did matter though was that Holly believed I had one.

  Me: Yes.

  Erin: Who is she?

  Me: You don’t know her.

  Erin: So when do I get to meet her?

  Me: When the time is right. And you constantly bugging me about it won’t speed things up.

  My phone pinged again. Liam. Fuck.

  Guilt kicked me in the nuts for thinking that. This was the first time in the past few weeks that my best friend had been able to contact me, and it wasn’t as if he knew what was going on between his sister and me.

  The tension that had been knotted in my muscles since he’d last contacted me slightly loosened its hold. It would only fully go away once Liam was safely back in the States.

  Liam: Still alive. How’s my sister?

  Me: She’s fine and keeping out of trouble. Unless he considered her screwing his best friend trouble, then she was getting into tons of that.

  And while I should’ve felt guilty, I didn’t. But it didn’t mean I was ready to send him a text, telling him how I felt about his sister. The guy had contacts back home. Contacts who were equally skilled at killing with the snap of a finger.

  I wasn’t sure who was scarier. Them or my sister—if she found out the truth.

  “Need any help?”

  At the sound of Holly’s voice, my head jerked up. I hadn’t seen much of her this morning—and now she was smiling like she had a secret she was excited about.

  “No, I’m fine. What’s up?” I returned my phone to the desk.

  She stepped into my office and closed the door behind her. “You mean other than it’s confirmed, I got the job?” Before I had a chance to congratulate her, she pressed her finger against her lips. “Shhh. You can’t say anything until Ted makes the official announcement.”

  “When will that be?”

  “Next week. Right before Richard’s retirement party.”

  “Well, congratulations ahead of time.”

  “Thanks. I thought maybe you, me, Josh, and Kelsey can go out for drinks tonight to celebrate.”

  “Sure. Let me check with Josh.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll ask Kelsey.” She left my office and I sent Josh a text, asking him if he wanted to join us for drinks. He responded forty minutes later with a “hell yes”.

  I squeezed my way through the surprisingly crowded space and spotted the girls at the bar. Josh wasn’t here yet. Kelsey was wearing slim jeans and a thin light pink knit top that hugged her curves. She looked both innocent and hot, and I knew from experience both adjectives fit her well.

  As I approached them, a guy a few inches shorter than me, with way less muscle mass, and who looked vaguely familiar sidled up to them. Unlike most guys, he didn’t notice Holly standing there. He just smiled at Kelsey.

  The smile on her face was best described as awkward, and I stalked over to them, ready to tell him that she wasn’t interested.

  “Holly, this is Owen. My ex-fiancé.”

  His gaze was eating her up, as it slid over her gorgeous face and fuckable body, questioning why he’d let her go to begin with. But it hadn’t been his choice to make. She had dumped him.

  “I made partner,” he said, beaming.

  “Congratulations.” Kelsey hugged him, then she spotted me and a bright smile slipped onto her face. “And Owen, you remember Trent, right?” We might have met once or twice at an occasional family gathering. But usually Kelsey had come to them alone because the dumbass was busy at work.

  He nodded at me and went back to talking to Kelsey as if Holly and I didn’t exist. “I’m meeting someone, but maybe we can meet up for coffee soon.”

  “Sounds good,” she said.

  As he walked away, Josh made his way over to us. “Who’s the jackass?” He jerked his chin in Owen’s direction.

  “I used to be engaged to him,” Kelsey explained.

  “Used to? So why was he feeling you up like that?” Josh asked.

  “Dude, if you call that feeling her up,” I said, chuckling, “then you’re more hard up for sex than I realized.”

  Laughing, Josh slapped me on the back. “Never gonna happen.” His gaze jumped to Kelsey. “If you’re still in love with that dude, then you should get Trent to make him jealous.”

  Every guy has that one friend—you know who he is—the one who some days just won’t shut the fuck up. Josh was that friend and this was one of those days. Not that I had the right to be pissed at him. He had no idea about my feelings for Kelsey.

  “Not necessary,” she said without a hint of uncertainty. “What Owen and I had has been over for a long time. I’ve moved on and so has he.”

  Relieved to hear that, I rested my hand on Kelsey’s lower back. Until now, I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed her.

  Holly shot my hand a puzzled look, and I instantly realized my mistake. I casually dropped my hand away from Kelsey, trying not to look obvious about it, trying not to look like I was doing anything wrong.

  Shit, this was tough.

  Since Kelsey and Holly already had drinks, Josh and I went to the bar to order our beer. After he and I returned, the four of us spent the next hour chatting and sharing amusing anecdotes about our jobs. At one point, while Holly was answering Josh’s question about Australia, I asked Kelsey about her day.

  “It was good, especially after Liam sent me the text to let me know he’s still alive.” Her face beamed as she talked. “Oh, I forgot,” she added, then pushed her lower lip out slightly in the way she did whenever she was bummed about something. “The power’s back on at my place.” The storm from the other day had done more damage than originally realized, and Kelsey’s house had been without power for
two days.

  Disappointment punched me in the gut at her news. I pushed it aside and checked to make sure Holly and Josh were still preoccupied. Then I leaned in and brushed my lips against the shell of Kelsey’s ear.

  “Stay with me tonight,” I whispered, voice two-parts husky and one-part beer.

  27

  Kelsey

  Trent brushed his lips against the shell of my ear and my entire body went berserk with need. “Stay with me tonight,” he whispered.

  At the sound of his I-want-to-have-sex-with-you-now voice, a tropical heat wave—complete with luau, Mai Tais, and leis—rushed to my core.

  He wasn’t playing fair and he knew it.

  “I can’t,” I said, voice low even though Holly and Josh weren’t paying attention to us. “I’ve got tons to do before my photography class next week.”

  Trent’s mouth transformed into the smile I was more than familiar with. It was the smile that claimed he would have me changing my mind faster than I could say pussy.

  That, I didn’t doubt.

  “Then maybe we should go now so you can get in more studying.” He might have said that, but the teasing in his tone confirmed what his smile had said. Along with an underlying, “Good luck with that goal.”

  Because we had both driven to the bar, I followed him back to his condo in my car. On the way, my body listed the benefits of having sex with him before I returned home.

  And the list was lengthy.

  My brain even threw in a few suggestions, trying to be a good sport for once.

  True to Trent’s word (or smile), the moment we stepped onto the elevator, his fingertips skimmed the back of my neck, sending heated tremors down my spine.

  With his free hand, he pulled me against his hard body, letting me feel exactly how much he wanted me.

  As if there had been any doubt.

  He had already proved it to me several times last night. And because of this, my sexual confidence was at an all-time high.

  I was ready…ready to be adventurous and wild in bed—just like the heroines in my favorite romances.

  As I leaned in to taste his lips, the elevator door pinged open. And yes, I might have cursed at it in my head a few times.