To his credit, Christopher doesn't follow me to the guest room. I curl on the bed in a ball, face stained beetroot red as the image of Christopher's face in my crotch is engrained on the backs of my eyelids.

I've never been promiscuous; Every notch on my bedpost was carefully dedicated to someone I'd been in a committed relationship with. One night stands or quick fumbles were never an idea that I'd entertained until I met Christopher. The way he holds himself, his impossible good looks, and the confidence he exudes all mix into a delicious cocktail that I can't help but drink. That - together with the fact I haven't gotten laid since I broke up with Ben – must have been what led me to being so goddamn easy.

The sound of the doorbell drifts through the gap under the thick wooden door of the guest room. It's followed by hesitant footsteps from the hall outside, and Christopher's annoyed voice.

"What the-- You can't just fucking barge in," he bellows. Whoever he speaks to completely disregards him, the click-clack of their shoes getting louder as they approach the room.

"She wouldn't have come to the door, so I came in to get her myself," the guest says in return, and it turns my blood cold. I recognise it, I've grown up with it, and the tone it wears is one that is reserved for chastising me. "Is she in here?"

As the door handle turns downward, I panic, looking for somewhere to hide but coming up with nothing. Fostering a steely look and crossing my arms, I prepare myself for an argument. Tobias is here to take me home undoubtedly, having found out about my stupid little stunt; if only he knew just how stupid I've been.

The door swings open to reveal my brother's fury; his eyes sweep the room until they land on me, scrutinising me as though looking for something. With his brow furrowed over icy blue eyes, his long legs take short strides towards me, hand enveloping my upper arm gently but with urgency.

"Let's go. I've got a car waiting downstairs - We can talk about this on the way home," he says, pulling me towards the door as I crane away from him.

"I'm not going anywhere Tobias," I say. "You can't come to Christopher's house uninvited and drag me from it; you're being fucking unreasonable."

"Like hell am I!" He hollers, his gaze flickering between me and Christopher. "So it's Christopher now, is it? On first name basis? How... cozy."

"Oh give it a rest," Christopher says, "she's told you she's not going anywhere so you can leave now."

"What, so you can fucking take advantage of my sister?" Tobias retorts, his face wrinkled with disgust. He drops his hand from my arm, balling it into a fist so tight the knuckles whiten.

"I'm standing right here," I say frustratedly. "If you two could stop speaking like I'm not in the room, that would be great."

"He's your tenant, Ashleigh," Tobias says as he turns his back to Christopher, the hardened stern expression replaced by one of kind sibling concen. "And I understand you're here out of some misplaced feeling of obligation and responsibility, but the company is handling it."

"No, they really aren't. They've told him it'll be a month until reparations are carried out; hence why I'm here. I'm seeing for myself how bad it is, and if I see fit, I'll handle it for myself."

"Then get a damn plumber out, because you shouldn't be sleeping in his guest room Ashleigh! You know nothing about him."

"And you do?" I ask. "Because you must do to be so judgemental towards him. Christopher has been nothing but kind-"

"We went to boarding school together, actually," Tobias says. "I've got a pretty good idea of what he's like. He was one to screw anything with a heartbeat and a pussy."

I wince at his words, at their directness, and the suggestion that sits behind them.

Growing up, Tobias had always been fiercely protective of me to a fault, particularly when it came to the opposite sex. I'd gone to an all girls' catholic school, kept separate from males other than the odd formal with the adjoining boys' school. He'd never had to worry until I'd left sixth form, and in the 8 years since then he's been cock blocking me to the nth degree.

"People change, Tobias," Christopher says nonchalantly. "I don't try to get in just anyone's panties anymore."

Well you've already gotten into mine, I add internally, the thought flushing my cheeks with warmth.

"Yeah, well you'd better stay as far away from my sister as is physically possible in this flat," Tobias warns, fists still clenched. "If I hear you've so much laid a finger on her, I swear to God-"

"Stop it," I implore him. "This big brother act is all cute and shit but I'm a grown woman, and I'm capable of looking after myself."

Tobias opens his mouth to speak before thinking better and closing it in a firm line. He reaches out to take my hand with a small sigh, watching me with a brotherly affection that crawls into my chest and wraps vice-like around my heart.

"The second you realise I'm right and that this is a stupid idea, call me. I'll come pick you up," he says quietly, bowing down to lay a gentle kiss upon my forehead. "If he tries anything, let me know. I'll break every bone in his body."

"I've got this, I promise," I say, leading him towards the front door hand-in-hand.

To my surprise, he leaves with little protest. When he'd barged in uninvited, determined to drag me out if need be, I'd thought for sure that he wouldn't leave without me too. He wasn't a forceful man, or even an unreasonable one under normal circumstances, but this was too much for him. And I can see why; it feels a little too much for me too.

The air between me and Christopher is charged with tension and unspoken words as I close the door behind Tobias. Silence settles like a thick blanket of dust. It's cripplingly uncomfortable – the sort of awkward quiet you share with a stranger typically, but with the added discomfort of knowing I came on his face.

"Why did you run away?" He asks, lowering himself into an armchair as he watches me closely.

"I've already told you," I say, something inside me taking flight as our eyes connect. His arms are folded hard against his chest, the deep contours of every muscle calling my name. A pearly smile plays across his face as he sees my gaze drift, illuminating his green eyes and tightening the skin on his chiseled jaw.

"Blurring the lines. Yeah, I remember," he says, his expression hardening as I nod to affirm. "I wouldn't take it back, y'know? Even if I could. I don't want you to feel badly about what happened between us, but fuck-- Seeing you feeling so much pleasure was something else. I'd do it again and again if I could."

"Christopher," I say, my voice a breathy sigh. I'm not sure what I want from him; whether I'm calling his name to get him to stop, to show him I'm serious in my intent, or to beckon him forward so he can show me once more how good he makes my body feel.

Like he senses I'm unsure and seeks to give me some clarity, he gets up and closes the space between us. One hand touches on my waist softly enough that it's almost imperceptible, whilst the other strokes along the curve of my jaw.

"You can't deny the animalistic chemistry between us, Ashleigh," he whispers, his lips moving gently against the shell of my ear. "Next time, I won't stop until we're both screaming each others' names."

I gulp – a visible, audible gulp – as Christopher continues to trace the contours of my jawline, lips and cheekbones. His eyes stays fixed on my lips as he edges ever closer, just a hair's breadth away. Sweet, minty breath fans my face, warm and humid against my cheeks as I struggle desperately to find my own breath.

Christopher closes the last of the space between us, placing his soft lips against my own as our shaky, shallow breaths combine.

Unable to contain myself much more, I take his face in my hands, hooking my fingers round to weave in his dark hair. He turns his head slightly, igniting the kiss into one that's fiery and passionate and all-consuming, as his hands explore every curve of my body.

Pulling away just enough to end the kiss, Christopher continues to caress the nape of my neck with a large, strong hand. His lips are dark pink, swollen from our embrace and curled into a wry grin.

"Why don't we go out for lunch or something?" He suggests, his words bringing me back to a  reality where I shouldn't be fooling around with my tenant.

"I'm sorry, I've already got plans with girlfriends," I say, although I'd much prefer to cancel the plans and spend the afternoon doing everything with him. "I'll be back here for dinner tonight if you want to eat me-- err, I mean- eat with me. If you want to eat with me."

"Can't wait," he says, licking his lips lasciviously before placing a light kisses along my jawline. "I'd love to eat you. Again."

Author's Note:

Hey!

I'm still keeping the chapters short because it fits the story better this way. I may treat you with a double length one next Friday, though. There's going to be a LOT to write about ;) ;) It's going to be one hell of a read.

10 days into this book and it's going strong. Thank you all for reading, I appreciate it so much. I hope you're loving the story. I'd love to get some feedback from you guys; doesn't have to be comments, even a little encouragement via voting would be great.

'Til next Friday,

Hayles <3