Page 32 of Chilled and Thrilled

“Good?” Bram asks quietly as I sink back against his chest, our toes brushing beneath the water.

Good is an understatement. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this content, this whole. Even with the inevitable issues heading our way… Holy hell, I love him so much. “You’re kind of amazing, you know that?”

Bram snorts, reaching past me to turn the water off. “I’m glad you think so, but I have a long history of emotionally dissatisfied romantic partners who would argue that point.”

Water sloshes quietly as he winds his arm around my middle. “That makes two of us, then,” I admit, brushing my fingers absently over the back of his hand.

“Were you going to go out with Holden?”

The question surprises me, and I turn to kiss Bram’s shoulder, fighting a smile. “Maybe,” I admit. “He’s nice to me.”

Judging by the sudden tension, this isn’t the answer he was looking for. “Because he wants to fuck you.”

“There are rumors about the two of you. At E&V,” I inform him mildly. In any office environment, people talk, but there seems to be an exceptional amount of gossip about the two attractive, single business partners who own the company. I never put much stock in it, but Bram’s possessiveness where Holden is concerned has me curious.

“Rumors?”

I hum, running my fingers over the surprisingly soft, dark hair dusting his arm. “People say you shared a girlfriend—girlfriends, actually.”

Silence. Only the soft sloshing of water against the side of the tub. Then, “Girlfriends is a bit of a stretch. There were times we shared lovers.”

Oh. Wow.

My mind immediately produces a situation in which I am that woman. Unfortunately, just as fast, it shoves that off to the side in favor of highlighting a situation in which I’m not. My stomach twists. Is more than one partner what Bram needs? Could I handle that?

No, is the honest answer.

There are successful non-monogamous couples, obviously, but?—

“Sophie.” Bram’s hand comes out, guiding my chin around to meet his eyes. “Don’t even think about it. The thought of sharing you is repugnant to me.”

He’s getting all growly because he thinks I want to have a threesome. Good grief, if this man gets any more swoony, I’m just going to dissolve into the bath water, never to be seen again.

“Does that mean I don’t have to share you?” I ask, already certain I know the answer.

Sure enough, Bram glowers at me. “I went on one date inthe year and a half you’ve worked at E&V. I was relieved when you threw up on my shoes so I’d have an excuse to go home early and jack off to fantasies of you sitting on my desk naked and begging for my dick. It’s fairly safe to say I’m gone for you, woman. So no, you do not have to share me.”

My heart is impossibly full as I settle back against his chest, losing the battle with my smile.

12

BRAM

After our bath, I wrapped Sophie in one of my robes and carried her back to bed. Despite her insistence that she wasn’t tired, she was snoring quietly within minutes, curled beneath my duvet, damp hair spread over my pillow.

It takes a lot for me to pull myself away, and even then, I stand at the edge of the bed gazing down at her, my heart in my throat. Against all odds, I got the girl. Now, I just need to figure out how to keep her. She doesn’t have the same certainty about this that I do, but I’m determined to get us on more solid ground before this storm is over.

We’re making progress, though the phone call I got this morning certainly created a few pitfalls. Starting off our relationship with any kind of subterfuge seems like a recipe for disaster. Right now, Sophie is looking for any reason to run for the hills, and while I don’t want to keep things from her, this wasn’t my secret to tell.

Padding downstairs, my stomach twists uncomfortably as I lift my phone from my pocket and hit Honor’s contact. I told her I would call her soon, but knowing I have to hidesomething from Sophie, again, has my anxiety level rising with each ring.

By the time Honor picks up with a subdued, “Hey, Dad,” it’s difficult to breathe beneath the weight pressing on my ribcage.

“Hey, kid.” I stare out at the falling snow, one finger drumming on the edge of the phone. “Just wanted to check in.”

Honor is silent for a moment, and when she responds, her voice is weary. “I’m okay.”

I sigh. “That doesn’t sound okay. Have you talked to Riley?”

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