Off Limits: My Brother's Best Friend

　　The summer I turned eighteen, Damien Vale ruined me for anyone else.

　　I didn't know it then, of course. I was just the quiet, awkward little sister who spent most family vacations hiding behind books and oversized hoodies. But that particular July, something shifted.

　　Marcus had invited his best friend to our family beach house for two whole weeks. Damien had just turned twenty-one, fresh out of college and already carrying himself like a man who knew the world owed him something. Tall, dark-haired, with sharp cheekbones and eyes the color of storm clouds, he moved like he owned every room he walked into.

　　I hated how my stomach flipped every time he entered one.

　　"Elena, stop staring and pass the sunscreen," Marcus grumbled from his lounger, not even looking up from his phone.

　　My cheeks burned. I snatched the bottle and tossed it toward my brother a little too hard. It landed on his stomach with a slap.

　　Damien, stretched out on the chair beside him, let out a low chuckle. That sound slid down my spine like warm honey.

　　"Easy there, little Ellis," he drawled, using the nickname he'd given me years ago. His gaze flicked to me, lazy and far too knowing. "You trying to murder your brother before lunch?"

　　I couldn't meet his eyes. Instead, I focused on the way the sunlight caught the faint stubble along his jaw and the way his black swim trunks sat low on his hips. My fingers tightened around the edge of my towel.

　　"I'm not little anymore," I muttered, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

　　But Damien heard.

　　He tilted his head, studying me with that intense, unreadable stare that always made my knees feel unsteady. For a second, the air between us felt thicker than the humid coastal heat.

　　"Yeah?" His voice dropped, quiet enough that Marcus didn't catch it. "I've noticed."

　　My heart slammed against my ribs. I quickly looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the waves crashing against the shore. But I could still feel his eyes on me, heavy and curious, like he was seeing something new for the first time.

　　Marcus stood up, stretching. "I'm grabbing more beers from the house. Damien, you want one?"

　　"Nah, I'm good," Damien replied, never taking his gaze off me.

　　The moment Marcus disappeared up the wooden steps, the silence stretched. I could hear my own breathing, too loud, too shallow.

　　Damien sat up slowly, resting his forearms on his thighs. Sand clung to his skin in a way that shouldn't have been so distracting.

　　"You've been avoiding me all week, Elena," he said, his tone deceptively casual. "Any particular reason?"

　　I swallowed hard. "I'm not avoiding you."

　　"Liar." The corner of his mouth twitched. "You used to follow me around like a shadow when you were ten. Now you can't even look at me."

　　"Because I'm not ten anymore," I shot back, surprising myself with the sharpness in my voice.

　　His smile faded into something darker, more dangerous. He leaned forward just slightly.

　　"No," he murmured. "You definitely aren't."

　　The way he said it, low, rough, almost reluctant, sent heat rushing through my entire body. I felt exposed, even though I was wearing a modest one-piece swimsuit and a cover-up.

　　I stood up too quickly, clutching my book to my chest like a shield. "I should go help Mom with lunch."

　　Damien didn't stop me. But as I walked past him, his fingers brushed lightly against my wrist, just for a second, barely there.

　　It was the lightest touch imaginable.

　　Yet it burned.

　　I didn't look back. I couldn't. Because if I did, I was terrified he'd see exactly how much I wanted the one man I was never allowed to have.

　　My brother's best friend.

　　And the boy who had quietly owned my heart since I was old enough to understand what wanting felt like.