Page 149 of Off Limits Mogul

“I’m okay.”No. I’m a dead man.

Noah drops his fork on his plate.

RIP, Rhys Hartford.

His gaze slides to meet his sister’s. “What did you just say?” His calm voice sends a shiver of worry down my spine.

The dragon awakes.

“I’m a grown woman and I can see whoever I want.” Keira holds her brother’s furious gaze. “Rhys and I are together, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it, Noah.” She places a possessive hand on my forearm to drive her point home.

I’m surprised she doesn’t sit on my lap and start French kissing me to hammer the nail in my coffin.

My best friend growls.

He fucking growls.

My mouthy girlfriend lifts her chin in defiance, daring her brother.

Stop poking the bear, dimples.

Keira’s impetuous nature characterizes her. Spontaneousand unbridled thinking prompt her to take life by the horns. In bed, it’s fucking sexy as hell. But in this instance, it’s like sending a condemned man—me—to the guillotine. Being headlong with a pissed-off Noah Weatherly is plain stupid and dangerous.

This is my Eddard Stark moment.

There’s no glory in dying too soon in a series.

In real life, dying too young is a shame. A crying shame.

“What the fuck is she talking about?” Noah says, and I swear the walls rumble.

“Rhys was going to tell you, but I figured, might as well bite the bullet.” Keira soldiers on.

She has no fear.

“I’ve waited my whole life for him to see me as more than your untouchable little sister. I don’t want to not be able to kiss him, or hug him, or touch him, just because you decided to drop by unannounced. I don’t want to pretend just because you think I should live in a bubble and remain a virgin until I’m forty. Out of respect, I’ll sleep in my bedroom while you’re here instead of sleeping in Rhys’s bed.”

For fuck’s sake, woman.

It’s as if she punched me. A solid blow right to the gut, followed by an uppercut to the chin.

If you look up,‘Best ways to infuriate an enraged grizzly bear’, that little speech was it.

“First, I’m not talking to you, Keira,” Noah says through clenched teeth. “I’m talking to him.” He points a finger at me, his eyes flashing with anger. “You’re sleeping with my sister, Hartford?”

I stare at him, struck dumb, struggling to find the words that would appease him.

“I asked you a fucking question, Rhys.”

I clear my throat. “I’m not sleeping with your sister?—”

“Rhys, how could you?—”

“That’s what she said?—”

“Shut up!” I interrupt Noah. “Stop talking. Both of you.”

There’s a three-way standoff that lasts a few long seconds as we all glare at each other.