Page 67 of Falling for the Enemy

“I haven’t slept with anyone but you in over a year.”

“So? You’re still hedging your bets and setting up dates with all your little East Coast heiresses⁠—”

“Is that what you want then? Some promise of monogamy?”

“It would be a start.”

“Fine.” He sat back and flung out his hands in surrender. “Consider it done. No more seeing other women. What else?”

She gaped at him. “Give me a break.”

“I’m serious. Name it, and it’s yours. I want to try this my way for a change.”

“By prowling around my house at night and slipping in the back door like a stray?”

“No, that’s your way, Joce. That’s what you’ve forced me to do since you’ve been the one setting the rules.”

“Oh, please.”

“You know I’m right. You’ve had control this whole time, Jocelyn, deciding when we see each other and when we don’t.”

“I don’t even have your phone number!”

He snatched her phone off the table. “What’s your password?”

“Soren Hawthorne’s a little bitch.” She snatched it back. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Maybe I have. Yesterday, I would have thought something like this was insane. But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s the right move.”

“You’re delusional.”

“No, I’m finally thinking clearly. Last night, I saw red when I saw my brother’s hands on you. Why would I respond that way if I didn’t have any real feelings?”

“Because men are cavemen and think the world belongs to them.”

“Tell me what you felt when you saw Olivia.”

Bitter cold settled in her chest as her shoulders tightened. She was silent, unwilling to name the emotion, even to herself.

“Tell me how it felt, Joce, here.” He pressed a hand to her chest, no doubt feeling the way her heart raced. “What did you feel when you saw her holding my arm? When she walked up to us yesterday? When she kissed me goodbye⁠—”

“All right!” she snapped. “I didn’t like it.”

He grinned victoriously. “Good. Now, we’re getting somewhere.” He pulled his hand away and gave her a minute to cool off. “I’m sorry she confronted you. I don’t know why she would do that.”

“Because she wants you, Soren.”

“But I’ve done nothing to imply that we’re involved in anything more than a few casual dates.”

Jocelyn laughed without humor. “Do you think men are really the only territorial half of the species? Women can be vicious when they want to.”

“Oh, I know.”

She shot him a narrow glare, and he laughed.

“Think about it, Joce. If you can’t keep your hands off me when we’re fighting, imagine how hard it will be once we start being nice to each other.”

That was the part she dreaded most. If he was mean to her, she could keep a safe emotional distance. It was the thoughtfulness that muddled the waters.