Off Limits

12 - No Strings Attached

Josephine

The car ride is quiet, tension hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. I slump against the seat, arms crossed, refusing to meet Hero's eyes as he drives. The soft hum of the engine does nothing to calm my nerves—or my embarrassment.

"You didn't have to embarrass me." I mutter, staring out the window at the blur of city lights.

"You didn't leave me much choice." he replies, his voice low and steady.

I roll my eyes, but the memory of his arms around me, his strength, makes my stomach flutter. "You're impossible."

"And you're stubborn."

The tension in the car is suffocating, the air is full of frustration, adrenaline and something else, something electric. Hero's hands grip the steering wheel tightly as he drives in silence, his jaw set, his focus straight ahead. I can feel his anger radiating off him.

He hasn't said anything in the last minutes, so I decide to cut the silence.

"So, were are we going?" I ask with a sharper voice than I wanted.

"My place." He replies shortly.

"Your place? Why you aren't taking to my place?"

"Because you are drunk and I don't trust you to stay put. At least, at my place, I'll have my eyes on you."

I scoff, crossing my arms. "You are unbelievable!"

He doesn't respond, and I settle into the simmering silence. The streets blur outside the window, the city lights flickering like they are mocking the mess of emotions inside me.

When we pull outside his apartment building, Hero parks the car and he steps out without saying anything. I remove the seatbelt and I try to open the door, but he is faster and he opens the door for me, giving me his hand as support. I'm not maintain my balance too well, so he has to put his arm around my waist, while leading me to the entrance.

We get inside the elevator and the silence inside it is killing me. I feel the heat of his body next to me, his scent - woody and clean. I lean back against the mirrored wall, with my arms crossed while I watch him.

"You didn't have to drag me out like that." I say, my voice quieter now.

"You were out of control." he snaps, turning to face me. "Flirting with random guys, drinking like you had something to prove—what the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking..." I bite back. "That I don't need a babysitter, Hero."

His eyes darken, and for a moment, I think he's going to explode. But instead, he steps closer, his voice low and controlled. "You drive me crazy, Josephine. Do you know that?"

The elevator dings, and the doors slide open. Of course he stays in a penthouse in the middle of Chicago. Hero steps out, leaving me stunned in place before I follow him into his apartment.

It's immaculate, of course. Sleek furniture, muted tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The place screams Hero—controlled, calculated, perfect.

"You can crash here." he says, walking to the kitchen. "I'll grab you some water."

I stand in the middle of the living room, my frustration boiling over. "Why do you care so much, Hero? Why do you act like it's your job to save me?" I say as I take off my high heels and I sit on the couch.

He pauses, the glass of water halfway to the counter. Slowly, he turns to face me, his expression unreadable.

"Because I can't stand the thought of something happening to you." he says, his voice quieter now. "I can't stand seeing you with someone else, pretending like I don't feel the way I do."