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.”

“Every conversation is important with you.”

I don’t know if I can look into that comment even a little, so I ignore it. “You have been my friend since we met. You are important to me. I don’t regret anything that’s happened between us, but you are my friend first, and I don’t want to do anything to endanger that. I can’t stand the thought of losing you.” Now it’s my turn to hesitate. “But last night was pretty damn perfect. If you’re on the same page, if you’re willing to try for more, I would really like to.”

“Oh, Broderick.” She feathers her fingers through my hair. “What about Monroe?”

“What about Monroe?” The question feels wrong, as if I’m doing her a disservice. Monroe and I have been working together beautifully since we decided to seduce Shiloh together, but that’s only a small percentage of the time she’s been my Bride. We haven’t talked about the future, haven’t talked about anything but Shiloh, and plans to keep Monroe alive.

“I don’t know if we work without her.”