Broderick (Sabine Valley 2)

I honestly hadn’t considered the war when I objected. “The world would be a dimmer place without you in it.” I’m kicking myself before I finish the sentence, but there’s no taking it back now.

She blinks those big green eyes at me. “Um, okay.”

Shiloh takes pity on me and cuts in. “Broderick’s not wrong. With how crowded it can get in Old Town during peak hours, it would be simple to slip a knife between your ribs and be gone before we had a chance to react. It’s what I would do in their position.”

“How murderous of you.” Monroe waves that away. “I’ll be with you and Broderick. Between the three of us, I’m safe enough.”

Shiloh and I exchange a look. She smiles a little. “I’ll ask Cohen for a few people to tag along. I’m sure Iris could use some shopping after dealing with that Mystic so much lately.”

That Mystic being Matteo, the son of the ruler of the Mystics. I haven’t interacted with him much, but Finnegan seems to like him just fine as a Bride. Or at least the sounds coming from their room the other night seem to indicate he does. I wonder what Iris thinks about that. She’s always been something of a closed book. She and Shiloh are close enough, but if she’s bothered by her boyfriend fucking his Bride, she hasn’t shown any indication of it. She’s been sleeping in Finnegan’s room, after all.

“Good. Since we’re on the same page for the time being, we might as well prove to the public that I’m a docile little Bride.”

I snort. “No one would ever use the word docile’ to describe you.”

“You’re right.” She snaps her fingers. “Guess we’ll have to convince them you gave me such a good dicking down that I’ve temporarily lost my mind.”

Heat flashes through my body, and I have to concentrate not to respond physically at the memories that surge forth. “No one is going to believe that, either.”

“Give me a little credit.” She grins. “They’ll believe it enough to get our respective leaders off our backs. That’s all that matters—negating the current threat.”

Shiloh gets a strange look on her face but nods. “That’s the wisest course of action.”

“It is.” Monroe gives a little wiggle, and I lose my battle to keep my attention on her eyes. She’s not even flaunting her nakedness right now; she’s just that comfortable in her own skin. She laughs. “Also, we’re going to have some fun.”

“Fun.” I raise my brows. “I don’t know how much more fun I can take from you two.”

“Lies.” She turns and starts for the bathroom. “I’m sure you’ll rise to the occasion should we find the opportunity.” She disappears through the door and, a few moments later, the shower starts.

I look at Shiloh. “Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’m always okay.” She shoves the coffee mug onto the nightstand and stands.

I don’t mean to react. My body just does it on its own, my hand snapping out and closing around her wrist as she goes to move past me. “Shiloh.” I tow her closer slowly, keeping my grip light enough that she could break free easily. Since I’m sitting on the bed, our positions put her breasts right at eye level, but I hold her gaze intentionally. “Talk to me. Is this about what happened last night?”

For a moment, I think she’ll push me away, both physically and emotionally, but she sighs. “I know the overprotective thing is part of who you are, and I am making my peace with the fact that it’s Monroe as well, but I could really do without you egging each other on to go to battle over something that happened a very long time ago.” Her gaze goes shuttered.

It takes me a beat to understand. She’s not upset about the sex. She’s feeling off because her past was brought up and how we reacted. Relief makes me a little light-headed. I don’t know what the fuck I would do if she regretted things.

I tug on her wrist again, and she slides down to straddle me as if we’ve been this comfortable with each other for years instead of a single night. My cock gives a twinge, but I ignore it. “I thought you wanted us to get along.”

“I do, but I didn’t intend have you gang up on me.”

I carefully coast my hands up her arms and across her shoulders, stopping just short of cupping her jaw the way I want to. She might be focusing on one part of things, but I have to know the truth. “Do you regret what happened last night?”

Shiloh hesitates but finally sighs. “No. I wouldn’t be sitting here naked in your lap if I regretted it.”

“I could do without the reminder.” I give her a look when she laughs. Some of the heaviness she seemed to be carrying dissipates with that happy sound. “This conversation is too important to get distracted in the middle.”