“To seduce Shiloh, yes.” I answer too quickly, maybe, but I don’t know how to deal with this newfound peace between us. It feels strange and fragile and I kind of want to smash it with a hammer so at least I know when to expect it to explode in my face.

He snorts. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Monroe. I meant what I said last night—you’re in danger if we can’t get our shit ironed out.”

Ah. That.

I sit up, letting the sheet fall to my waist, and can’t help the shiver of pleasure that goes through me when his attention drops to my breasts…and stays there. It would be the simplest thing in the world to provoke him, to seduce him, to stop this conversation in its tracks.

I am stronger than that weak impulse. I have to be.

I also can’t afford to ignore Broderick reaching out a hand, no matter how reluctantly.

With a sigh, I drag the sheet back up to cover myself and am saint enough to ignore the way his skin goes red in response. Still, I can’t help poking at him, just a little. “One would think you’d be grateful someone else was willing to get rid of me. It’d take care of your little problem so you don’t have to.”

“I don’t want you dead.” The words are so soft, I almost convince myself I imagined them.

“Why not?” Maybe I’m not that smart, after all. This conversation stings in ways I’m not prepared to examine, but I can’t stop prodding the wound. “I’m a pain in your ass. When you’re around me, you constantly act in ways you claim aren’t normal for you, and you hate that. I seduced the woman you’re in love with right under your nose and then flaunted it in your face.”

He clenches his jaw like he’s biting down on a bunch of words that would send us spiraling. Finally, he grinds out. “I don’t like you overmuch, but it took two of us to get to this place. I’m not blameless and you don’t deserve to die just because you’re a pain in my ass.”

Of course he doesn’t like me. I don’t like him overmuch, either. No reason for that to worm beneath my skin and eat away at me. I clear my throat. “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s your plan?”

“We spend some time together.” He catches my look. “We don’t have to keep sleeping together, but—”

“Broderick.”

“Yeah?”

I smother the strange fluttering in my throat. “I like fucking you. I don’t think I’m overstating things saying that you like fucking me, too.”

He stares at me, hard. “No, you’re not overstating things.”