Chapter 4 Behind the Door

Julian's POV

My back pressed against the door. Every muscle locked tight.

Arthur's voice came through the wood, cold and precise. "Julian. Are you with Eleanor?"

Elle was right there. Less than two feet away. Swaying on her feet in that black sequined dress. Eyes unfocused. Lips swollen from kissing me.

Her jacket was still outside. Black leather. Right in front of my door where anyone could see it.

I needed to answer. Had to say something.

But Elle chose that exact moment to move.

She stumbled forward. Wrapped her arms around my waist from the side. Pressed her face against my ribs.

I went completely rigid. My hand shot up to cover her mouth before she could make a sound.

She made a small noise against my palm. Then—Christ—she bit down. Soft. Playful.

My whole body jerked. Heat shot straight through me like I'd touched a live wire.

I could feel everything. Her breath hot against my hand. The sequins cold through my shirt. Her fingers sliding under my sweater, touching bare skin at my waist.

Arthur knocked again. Harder. "Julian. I know you're in there. Her jacket is right outside your door."

Elle's hands kept moving. One slid up my chest. The other went to my belt.

Focus. Deal with Arthur first.

I grabbed her wrist. Held it still. My breathing was coming too fast.

She looked up at me. Those green eyes completely glazed. She smiled. Slow and lazy.

Then she leaned in and put her mouth right next to my ear.

"Don't stop," she whispered. Her lips brushed my earlobe. "Keep going."

Every coherent thought I had left evaporated.

I forgot Arthur was outside. Forgot where we were. Forgot everything except the feeling of her breath on my neck and her body pressed against mine.

My hand slid into her hair. I tilted her head back.

She made a soft sound. Her lips parted.

I was about to kiss her again when Arthur's voice cut through the fog.

"Julian!" Sharp now. Angry. "Answer me!"

Reality crashed back.

I was standing in my locked room with a girl who had a crush on my brother pressed up against me. She was drunk. She didn't know who I was. And Arthur was ten seconds away from breaking down the door.

I needed to think. Fast.

Elle's hands were still moving. She got my belt undone. Started pulling at my sweater.

"I told you," I said, voice rough. Barely recognizable. "Behave yourself a little."

It came out in a rasp. Not loud enough for Arthur to hear. Just for her.

She didn't respond. Just kept touching me. Her fingers slid under the waistband of my jeans.

I caught her hand again. My grip tight.

She looked at me. Confused. Hurt.

Then she bit her lip. Leaned in. Kissed my jaw. My neck. Her teeth scraped against my collarbone.

"Don't stop," she said again. "I want you."

Shit. Shit.

Arthur pounded on the door. "Julian. I can hear breathing."

That snapped something in me.

Fine. He wanted to know who was in here? I'd tell him.

I let go of Elle's hand. Slid both arms around her waist. Pulled her flush against me.

Then I kissed her.

Hard. Deliberate. Loud enough for him to hear.

Elle gasped against my mouth. Her hands clutched at my shoulders. I deepened the kiss. Made sure every sound—her breathing, my breathing, the rustle of fabric—carried through that thin door.

Let him hear it. Let him wonder.

When I finally pulled back, Elle was panting. Her pupils blown wide. She tried to lean in again but I held her still.

I kept one arm around her waist. Pressed my other hand flat against the door behind me.

Arthur was silent for a long moment.

Then: "Julian! Answer me!"

I leaned my head back against the wood. Closed my eyes.

When I spoke, my voice came out low. Mocking.

"Relax, bro." I paused. Let the silence stretch. "Just a stray cat that wandered into my room. Very clingy.”

I added, "I put Eleanor in the room next to mine; she... should be asleep by now. Don't worry too much about her—once she's out, she sleeps like the dead. Shouldn't you be more concerned about your girlfriend?"

I could feel Elle shift against me. Her hands slid down to my waist again.

"I've got a kitten that needs... attention right now; Arthur, you should leave," I said, letting the word linger. Made it sound exactly like what it was.

Dead silence from the other side of the door.

I waited. Counted my heartbeats. Ten. Twenty.

Then Arthur's voice came back. Colder than I'd ever heard it.

"You better know what you're doing, Julian."

Footsteps. Moving away. Slow and deliberate.

I stayed frozen against the door until the sound faded completely.

Then I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

My legs felt weak. My hands were shaking.

Elle made a soft noise. Her fingers found the hem of my sweater again. Started pulling it up.

"Take it off," she mumbled. "I want to see you."

I caught her wrists. Held them together with one hand.

"Elle." My voice cracked. "Stop."

She looked up at me. Blinked slowly.

"Why?" Her bottom lip stuck out. "Don't you want me?"

Want you? I've wanted you since I was fourteen years old.

But not like this. Not when she couldn't even see me.

"You're drunk," I said. Forced the words out. "You don't know what you're saying."

She shook her head. Hard. Lost her balance. I caught her before she fell.

"I know," she said. Stubborn. "I know what I want."

Then she pushed up on her toes. Kissed me again.

This time I didn't push her away fast enough. She got her hands free. Slid them up under my sweater. Her palms flat against my stomach.

My abs clenched. I sucked in a breath.

She smiled against my mouth. Clearly felt my reaction.

Her hands moved higher. Over my ribs. My chest. Her fingers traced the lines of muscle there. Exploratory. Curious.

I grabbed her wrists again. Pulled them away.

"Elle." Harder now. "No."

She made a frustrated sound. Tried to pull free.

I walked her backward. Toward the bed. She stumbled. I caught her. Kept moving until the backs of her knees hit the mattress.

She sat down hard. Looked up at me.

For a second—just one second—her eyes cleared. She really looked at me.

I held my breath.

Say my name. Please. Just say it.

Her hand came up. Touched my face. Traced along my jaw.

"You're..." She frowned. Trying to remember something. "You're..."

I waited. My heart stopped.