Don't Need You - Lilian Monroe Page 0,16

in his embrace.

But when we get to Robbie’s house, Kit pulls his hand away, and I know the moment is over. It has to be. Kit and I will be roommates. He’s doing Robbie a favor. He probably feels sorry for me. Who wouldn’t?

When we exit the car, he doesn’t meet my eye. His cheeks look pink, but I can’t be sure. I watch him run his fingers through his hair again, the movement making his shirt ride up. A strip of skin is exposed at his waist, and I catch myself staring.

Fire licks my stomach as my veins fill with red embers, and I want more. His taut, hard stomach is begging for my hands. My tongue. My touch. I want to follow the little trail of hair between his navel and his cock, and discover the treasures that lie between his legs.

More.

Shaking my head, I clear my throat. I force a smile at Robbie and try to banish my treacherous thoughts.

It’s just the emotion. My nerves are frayed. I’m on edge. It has nothing to do with Kit’s body, or the way it felt to be in his arms.

We head inside, and I force myself to keep my eyes to myself. Robbie stands close to me. Protective.

But it’s not my brother I want near me—it’s Kit. As I drop my bag near the front door, I steal one more glance at my brother’s friend.

Off-limits. Forbidden. One thousand levels of wrong.

And I’m already hooked.

5

Kit

I let Serena take the spare bedroom as Robbie hands me a stack of sheets to spread over the couch. Once my makeshift bed is made, I put my hands on my hips and let out a shallow sigh.

So much for having a comfortable, stress-free Thanksgiving away from my own messed-up family.

I guess every family has their issues—I just wasn’t expecting a foot chase and a deep well of forbidden desires.

Forbidden.

I need to remember that, especially when Serena walks out of the spare bedroom in nothing but boy shorts and an old T-shirt, her tantalizing legs making my mouth water.

Cursing myself, I turn away. She disappears into the bathroom, and I hear an electric toothbrush start to whirr. Robbie appears in the living room, jerking his chin at the sheet-covered couch.

“Sorry about this.”

“It’s fine. Is your sister okay?”

Robbie takes a deep breath, glancing at the bathroom door. When he swings his eyes back to me, his face is lined with concern. He nods. “She’ll be fine.”

“Who was that guy?”

“Her ex.”

“Oh.”

“He’s been bothering her.”

“I figured.”

“It’s one of the reasons she needs to leave.” Robbie’s face is dark. His eyes are hard and his voice is low. “He’s been bothering her for a long time.”

I gulp, trying to keep my face steady. “Should I be worried?”

Robbie snorts, shaking his head. “Coward’s afraid of flying. She’ll be fine on the other side of the country.”

“Is that why the rest of the family doesn’t know where she’s going?”

“They don’t see the problem with her ex. It’s like they don’t believe her. They just want her to settle down, like the rest of our sisters. We’re worried if everyone knows, someone will tell Serena’s ex where she is.” He lets out a dry snort, shaking his head. “You know, not once has anyone talked to me about settling down. We’re only eight minutes apart in age, but they treat Serena completely differently.”

Before I can answer, the bathroom door opens. Serena glances at Robbie, then swings her eyes to me. Fire roars through my veins, and I do everything I can to conceal the effect she has on me.

Right now, it’s not even lust. Sure, I’d love to feel her skin beneath my palms. I’d kill to drag my tongue between her legs. How could I not?

But what I really want is to wrap my arms around her and keep her safe. I felt the way she trembled against me. The strength in her thin arms when she clung onto my body in her kitchen. I felt her terror, and I want to take it away.

It’s a strange feeling. One I’m not used to. The only thing I’ve ever felt that comes anywhere close to this is the protective instinct I have for my little sister, Esme. She was sick for a long time, and I had to be her champion.

But this? What I feel for Serena?

It’s more intense. It comes from somewhere deeper. More primal. It’s laced with lust and tinged with desire. It’s protectiveness with a side of I want