Off Limits

Architect Naomi Reyes has one rule that has survived a decade of friendship: never, ever touch Julian Cross. He's her best friend's older brother, eleven years her senior, and completely off the table.

But when Naomi is hired to renovate Julian's lake house before it goes on the market — one week, just the two of them, no crew until Monday — the rule starts to feel less like protection and more like a countdown.

Julian has kept his hands to himself since Naomi was nineteen. He is not sure he can do it for seven more days. Neither is she.

Heat level: Explicit / Steamy (18+)

Tropes: Forbidden romance, best friend's older brother, one-week deadline, strong female lead, slow burn to explicit

Length: Short story / novella, approx. 2,600 words

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