"Anirudh, how'd you get so badass at fighting?" Sprawled in the back of Aurora's Audi Q7, Eleanor nestled half in his arms, a hand splayed on his chest, her voice a soft slur.
She'd pounded way too much booze. Fear for Anirudh had jolted her awake for a sec, but with the chaos over, the liquor crashed back, tugging her toward blackout town.
"Grandpa drilled me…" Anirudh kept it real, sneaking a peek at Aurora up front. She'd matched Eleanor shot for shot—how was she still steering like a pro? Even Amy was zonked out.
"The old geezer…" Eleanor let out a long, wistful sigh, head lolling heavier. She mumbled, mind drifting to those wild, free kid days in the sticks.
Before long, the Audi rolled up to Eleanor's villa, parking at the gate.
"Need a hand?" Aurora was tossed out from the driver's seat, catching Anirudh's eye in the rearview.
"Nah, I've got Eleanor—you guys bounce…" Anirudh waved her off. He'd barely sipped; hauling Eleanor was cake.
"Cool, but look after your Eleanor, yeah?" Aurora winked, all sly and suggestive.
Anirudh blanked it, easing Eleanor out and through the villa gate. Aurora tracked his back, while Amy—half in dreamland—snuck a look too, her pretty eyes hiding whatever was cooking in her head.
"Not bad, huh, Amy? Feeling him?" Once Anirudh vanished inside, Aurora piped up.
"Sis, what're you on about?" Amy's cheeks lit up, gaze snapping off, heart doing a jackhammer dance.
"You're not vibing him?" Aurora snickered.
"Met him today—how'd I catch feelings?" Amy shot back, defensive.
"Heh, didn't even say what you'd vibe, and you went straight to him—still playing coy?" Aurora's giggle hit harder.
Amy's face went full tomato, dying to crawl under the seat.
"Sis… quit screwing with me…" Amy whined, throwing her a pouty glare.
"Haha, not screwing—deadass. Good dudes are unicorns now. Spot one, lock it down, or he's snatched up when you blink. Kid's gold—don't sleep on it…" Aurora grinned wide.
"Sis, keep yapping and I'm ghosting you…" Amy'd have stomped if she weren't buckled in.
"Chill, chill, I'm done. But snag a chance to get him over. No boyfriend? Fine—a scrappy little bro's still a win…"
"Sis…" Amy huffed, exasperated.
"Alright, for real this time—zipping it…" Aurora laughed it off, letting it drop. But Amy's chest buzzed like a deer was tap-dancing inside—sis gave the green light? Should she hit him up?
While the sisters hashed it out, Anirudh got Eleanor into the villa. No live-in help—just daytime cleaners. Nights were her solo gig.
Eyeing her, still loopy from the sauce, Anirudh scooped her up. Her warm, soft frame and that faint wine whiff had him buzzing. Shoving it down, he hauled her upstairs to her room and eased her onto the bed…
"Thirsty… so thirsty…" Eleanor's whisper slipped out.
"Hang tight—water's coming…" Anirudh propped her with a pillow, bolted out, and came back with a glass. One hand lifted her, the other tipped the cup to her lips.
Parched as hell, she snatched it and chugged—too fast. She choked, hacking up a storm. The glass slipped, splashing her chest before bouncing to the floor. Carpet caught it, no shatter, but her blouse soaked through, that sky-blue floral number hugging tight, her killer curves teasing the eye.
"Eleanor…" Anirudh skipped the show, freaking out, smacking her back till she breathed right.
But the second he let go, she flopped back, lights out again.
Staring at her, zonked, Anirudh's brow creased. Too smashed to shower or change—shoes off would've cut it, but wet clothes? No way she could crash like that.
Strip her down? Felt… sketchy.
Sketchy my ass—she's family. Shared a bed as kids tons of times. Changing her? She'd be cool with it awake, right?
Mind set, Anirudh's hands hit her collar, popping the first button. Her creamy neck peeked out, and his pulse kicked up a notch, blood simmering.
Swallowing the heat, he undid the second, then the third…
Third button down, and bam—Eleanor's bombshell chest spilled into view. That deep cleavage sucker-punched him, throat going desert-dry—especially with that lacy bra hugging them tight, cranking the heat to eleven…