His head and his arms were full of her, and he didn’t want to let go. He’d hoped what she’d already given him would be enough, but the fact that they’d made love several times only made his desire grow stronger. “You’re sleeping in your own bed tonight?” he asked when she pulled away to leave him.

She hesitated. “Is that an invitation?”

“It is,” he murmured.

She stared at her bare feet for several seconds before looking up at him. “I can’t sleep with you again.”

Disappointment hit him harder than he’d expected it to. “Why not?”

Her chest lifted as she drew a deep breath. “Because I’m falling in love with you,” she replied.

He didn’t know what to say. They’d become what he considered good friends. They’d been there for each other during a difficult time; they’d confided in each other and supported each other. Already, he admired her, cared about her, wanted what was best for her. And there was no question that they were good together in a physical sense. But...

When she gave him a second before walking away, he could tell she was hoping he’d stop her.

He wanted to. He couldn’t. That would be too selfish. He couldn’t risk hurting her. His heart belonged to Shiloh.

It would always belong to Shiloh.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and she cast him a sad smile before going upstairs.

Seth couldn’t sleep that night. He kept listening for footsteps outside his door, hoping Tia would join him despite what she’d said earlier. She’d accepted the terms he’d offered before. But deep down he knew she wouldn’t be able to accept them tonight, and he couldn’t let himself go to her, either.

After a couple of hours spent tossing and turning, he went upstairs and tried to work, but he couldn’t concentrate and soon found himself staring at the picture he’d created of Tia, wanting to be with her all the more.

Finally, he cleaned up and returned to the first floor, where he ordered Expect the Worst on Apple TV and started watching it using headphones so that it wouldn’t wake her.

The movie was quirky and clever. He especially enjoyed the dialogue, but watching her fall in love with the man on the screen felt strange, even though he had no claim on her. And he certainly hadn’t anticipated how the love scenes would affect him.

At one point he got up and started to pace around the room just to blow off some sexual energy. Already, he knew her kiss, her body and how she liked to be touched, and while he didn’t enjoy seeing another man touching her in that way, it reminded him of what he was missing.