Off Limits: My One-Night Stepbrother

Chapter six:Off-limits

_Kian’s POV_

She went quiet, but her eyes gave her away.

“Just curious,” she said, too casual. Like she hadn’t been watching me since I walked in.

I let out a low laugh. “Curious. Right.”

I took a step closer, watching her weight shift back half an inch before she caught herself. “You don’t get curious about me, Ariana. Not unless you want something.”

Her chin lifted. “And what if I do?”

“Then you should’ve started with that.” I stopped just outside her space, close enough that she could feel it. “Instead you go straight for my girlfriend. Cute. Jealousy looks better on you when you admit it.”

She scoffed, turning toward the fountain like I was annoying and not the reason her pulse just jumped. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t care who you’re sleeping with.”

“Liar.”

I moved again. One step. Then her back was against the wall, the sound of the water too loud between us.

“Why’d you ask, Ariana?” My voice dropped, low and slow, not giving her room to dodge. “You don’t ask unless it bothers you.”

Her mouth opened, closed. She hated that I was right.

“That night was a mistake,” she said suddenly, voice too sharp. “You’re my stepbrother. You’re off limits.”

I tilted my head, studying her.

“So I’m only off limits because I’m your stepbrother?”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t look away.

I leaned in just enough.

“I’m sure it wouldn’t have been if I wasn’t.”

Her mouth opened. Closed.

She hated that I was right.

I reached out, slow enough that she could’ve moved. She didn’t.

My fingers brushed a strand of hair off her cheek, tucked it behind her ear. My thumb lingered against her jaw a second too long.

Her breath hitched. Eyes snapped shut.

I watched her. The way her hands gripped the stone behind her like she needed an anchor. The way her breathing went shallow the second I touched her.

She reacted to that. Just that.

I leaned in, breath fanning across her cheek. Not touching. Not yet.

She didn’t pull away. She shut her eyes tighter, like pretending not to see me would make this stop.

I wanted to. God, I wanted to drag my thumb down to her mouth and see if she’d make a sound for me.

But I stopped right before. Deep down I knew she was right that I was Off-limits to her.

I pulled back, just enough to catch the frustration on her face when she realized I wasn’t going to finish it.

My smirk was slow.

“No, Ariana,” I murmured. “I don’t do girlfriends.”

Her eyes opened. I was still close enough that she felt it.

“I do girls who can keep up with what I want.”

I stepped back, her breathing still uneven and that stubborn glare she used to hide everything else.

Let her figure out what bothered her more.

I left her there, still breathing like I’d gotten under her skin.

My room was quiet when I shut the door. Too quiet after her.

I tossed my jacket over the chair, grabbed a glass of water, drank it in two gulps. Sat on the edge of the bed and answered the call.

“Okay.”

That was it. That was all they got.

They started explaining something else. I hung up before they finished.

After that I didn’t move.

Laptop open, I’d been on it since afternoon. Emails, tabs, music playing low in the background. I wasn’t really doing anything. Just staring, scrolling, closing things I never read. Time slipped past without me noticing.

Didn’t go down for dinner either. Didn’t feel like it.

Made the business call I was expected to make,another huge contract settled. All that was left was to meet up physically for document signing. But my mind wasn't really there.

It was on her anyway.

Ariana. Asking about my girlfriend like it didn’t matter, then acting like it did.

The way she’d stiffened when I stepped close. The way her eyes shut like that would stop me from noticing how fast her pulse jumped.

Different.

Not loud. Not trying. Just there, and it was worse.

I wondered what she was doing now. Lying there? On her phone maybe? Staring at the ceiling? Still pretending I didn’t get to her.

Then I saw it.

9:47 PM.

Shit.

I shut the laptop.

Club was at 11. Nothing important. Just going out, blowing off the night.

Shower, cold, three minutes. Hair still damp when I pulled on a black silk shirt, two buttons undone. Black trousers, leather belt, boots. Silver chain, watch on. No jacket. Clean. Controlled.

9:59 PM.

I grabbed the keys and headed down.

Halfway down I turned left, pushed her door open an inch.

She was on the bed, phone in hand, staring at the ceiling. I closed it without her noticing before walking away.

I was only half way down the stairs when

her voice hit me.

“My mom called. Said they’re not coming back.”

“I’m aware,” I said without breaking stride.

Didn't stop.

Didn't turn back.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“What do you mean out?”

“It means I’m stepping out, Ariana.” I said it slower this time, like she hadn’t understood the first time.

“No, you’re not.”

I didn’t reply. She didn’t get to tell me what to do.

I reached for the door.

“Noo!!!!! no you are not leaving me all alone in this big mansion and going out!"

Her voice loud in protest

"You’re not alone, there are staff around!"

"I’m coming with you!” more as if her words were final.

Her footsteps were already behind me before she finished speaking.

“No, you’re not.”

“Which car are you using?” Her hand went for the keys.

“What’s your problem?” I caught her wrist before she could snatch them. “Which car are you using?”

Her face was serious. Mouth set. No teasing, no backing down.

I found it amusing. The way she kept her expression locked, like if she looked away I’d win.

I decided to give in.

“You’re not going to a club looking like that,” I said, yanking the keys back.

“Go change. Meet me outside. It’s the red Aston Martin DB12.”

She hesitated. Just for a second. Then she turned and moved upstairs, but not before glancing over her shoulder at me like she thought I’d bolt without her.

I didn’t.

Let her change. Let her keep thinking she could keep up.

----She was taking too long.

I stood by the side of the DB12, keys dangling between my fingers, staring at the front door like it would make her move faster.

Three minutes turned into seven. Seven turned into ten.

“What the hell is wrong with her,” I muttered under my breath.

I was seconds from leaving her ass behind and going alone when the door finally opened.

She stepped out.

Not some over-the-top, red carpet gown. Nothing stiff or serious.

It was a simple black slip dress, silk that clung to her without trying too hard. Thin straps, a slit that went up just high enough to be distracting, and it stopped mid-thigh. No heavy jewelry, no crazy makeup. Hair down in loose waves, lips bare.

And damn, she looked stunning.

I couldn’t look away.

She noticed. She always noticed.

Crossed her arms like that would hide the way my eyes dragged over her. “Too much?”

I smirked, pushing off the car and unlocking it with a click.

“Too little, if you’re trying to keep my eyes off you.”

Her mouth opened, then shut. Annoyed she didn’t have a quick comeback.

I opened the passenger door for her.

“Get in, Ariana. Before I decide I’d rather not share you with the club.”