Dear gods, everything he does it overwhelmingly attractive. I’m in huge trouble. I knew there was no going back last night, but there’s something about having to live with the consequences of my actions that I don’t know how to, well, live with. Broderick is my best friend, and now I know my best friend fucks like a fiend. Now I know that he’s both fierce and playful in turns and absolutely ruthless when it comes to giving pleasure.

How am I supposed to go back? I laugh a little, though the sound feels forced. “Should we get dressed?”

Monroe eyes me. “That depends. How likely do you think one of us is going to be to storm out of here before the end of this necessary conversation?”

That’s a good question. Pretty damn likely, judging from past experiences. I sigh. “At least if everyone is mostly naked, it will take longer to do a dramatic exit.”

“My thoughts exactly.” She grasps my wrist and tugs. “Come cuddle me until he gets back.”

I let her pull me down to spoon me, her chest to my back. She wraps her arms around me and hugs me close, burying her face in the back of my neck. “My shampoo smells good on you.”

“Thanks,” I murmur. Monroe’s been casually touching me since we met, but this feels different. There’s a heaviness to this moment, a weight I’m not sure I’m imagining. “You okay?”

“Sure.” Her laugh even sounds off. “Just having a small crisis of faith. Hold still, and it will pass.”

Yeah, no. I twist, and after the slightest hesitation, she allows me to turn in her arms. “What’s wrong?” She tries to lock down her expression, and I’m startled to realize I know her well enough to recognize that. I cup her jaw. “Talk to me.”

“You’re killing me, love.” She closes her eyes. “It’s nothing for you to be concerned about and nothing you can help with.”

I should let it go. If Monroe doesn’t need my help, it’s selfish in the extreme to push it on her, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s lying to me. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I feather my fingers along her temple. So much has changed for me in the past twelve hours, I’m tempted to project those changing feelings onto Monroe. That would be a mistake. She’s not one to let her emotions get the best of her, and whatever her motivations for seeing Broderick and I finally fuck, I don’t think they’re malicious. Not even she’s that cruel. I don’t think. “Are we friends, Monroe?”

“Friends?” She opens her eyes, and there’s something almost like pain there. “Yes, love, we’re friends.”