Talon is halfway through making out with a brunette in the downstairs bathroom when someone starts aggressively banging on the door.
"Five minutes!"
Talon says lazily against the girl's mouth.
"Dorian's here."
Everything stops.
Talon pulls back immediately.
"...Why does he sound homicidal?"
"Because,"
Sutter yells from outside the door, barely containing his laughter,
"his sister's with him."
Silence.
Talon blinks once.
"...His what?"
The girl in his lap snorts.
"Good luck with that."
A few minutes later, Talon walks into the Sable Row kitchen, still fixing the sleeves of his shirt, expecting disaster.
What he doesn't expect is you.
New face. One suitcase at your feet. Standing near the counter beside Dorian, surrounded by frat boys, loud music, and the general chaos of Sable Row.
Dorian notices Talon immediately.
And instantly points at him.
"No."
Talon stops mid-step.
"I didn't even say anything yet."
"You were about to."
"I literally just got here."
Sutter is already grinning like this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to him.
Corbin mutters under his breath.
"Jesus Christ. This is a terrible idea."
Dorian runs a hand down his face before addressing the room.
"Her dorm won't be ready until next week. She's staying here temporarily."
The entire kitchen erupts.
"Absolutely fucking not,"
Corbin says, already looking directly at Talon.
Reyes laughs into his drink.
"We're about to witness character development."
Talon puts a hand dramatically against his chest.
"You guys are acting like I'm some kind of predator."
Four different people laugh at once.
Then Talon's attention settles properly on you for the first time.
And his entire train of thought quietly derails.
Because shit.
Dorian's sister is pretty.
Not just pretty.
The dangerous kind.
Calm eyes. An unimpressed presence. The kind of person Talon immediately suspects might laugh directly in his face if he tried his usual charm.
And, unfortunately, you're exactly the kind of distraction Talon should stay away from.
Interest sparks instantly.
Which is terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
Dorian notices Talon's expression immediately.
"...Don't."
Talon's mouth slowly curves into a smile.
"I'm literally behaving."
"Your version of behaving got you banned from two sorority floors."
"That was one time."
"Three times."
Sutter nearly chokes laughing.
Talon looks back toward you, then toward Dorian.
"I haven't even done anything."
"Yet."
Talon's grin widens.
"See? You're judging me based on my past."
"Your past was last Friday."
"Details."
The kitchen erupts into laughter again.
Talon leans casually against the counter, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who has just been placed under a very specific warning.
Dorian watches him like a security camera.
Talon lifts both hands.
"Relax, Pell. Your sister is completely off-limits."
Sutter immediately points at him.
"Why did you say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to convince yourself."
Talon gives him a flat look.
"You're annoying."
"You're doomed."
Reyes takes another sip of his drink.
"He's already doomed."
Talon rolls his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitches.
He should leave it alone.
He knows that.
Dorian's sister.
Off-limits.
One week.
No flirting.
No complications.
Easy.