“I made what I thought was the best choice. That doesn’t mean I didn’t suffer for it. But some things can’t be stopped once they’re put into motion.”
“You never even tried—.” My voice cracks. Remorse flashes in his eyes before he looks away, and I feel abandoned all over again.
A throat clears, breaking the tension.
“Time’s up, Princess,” Bo calls from the other room.
Fell tenses. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
He walks away without looking back. I watch, unable to speak around the massive knot in my throat.
“That looked unpleasant,” Bo jerks his head toward Fell’s retreating figure.
“Astute observation, Jensen.”
“Don’t shoot the innocent bystander,” Bo lifts his hands. “I’m not fond of you, and I know that feeling is very mutual.”
“I loathe you,” I correct him.
“Hmm. Unfortunately for us, none of that matters.” Bo’s face loses its mirth. “I don’t plan on being miserable for the rest of my life.”
“Neither do I.”
“Good, we agree on something. I won’t ask you to forget about our past, because I won’t.”
I blink, startled by his blunt approach.
“Common ground is the best thing we can do for now. I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not, but I’ll never treat you the way I used to again.” I hear the honesty in Bo’s words.
I blink, surprised by his maturity. I expected to catch hell from him.
“You look shocked,” he lifts an eyebrow and chuckles.
“Because I am.” It’s strange when you see another side of your tormentor. I’m not sure I like viewing him as human.
“Neither of us knows the other really.” He shrugs.
“You’re right.” The admission is painful. I don’t want to be in agreeance with him. I’ve never hated being the bigger person as much as I do right now.
“Keep talking dirty to me like that, and we’ll get along just fine.”
“You would get off on being told you’re right. That’s the Bo Jensen I know.”
He bows. “At your service. You landed a catch, you know?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“And you?” I lean against the counter.
“I got a sexy wolf who’s due to come into a position of power.” He shrugs. “A wolf could do worse.”
“Did you take a walk or have a personality transplant?” I muse aloud.
Bo laughs. “Jensen’s play the long game. We weigh things out and make sure we wind up on top. You belong to me now, so that includes you.”
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
He laughs. “You don’t still believe that, do you?”
My temper flares. I push off the counter and step into his bubble. “I know so.”
“Hate to break up the party, but it’s my turn.” Cadoc’s voice is as smooth as whiskey. His confidence is attractive as hell.
“Saved by the bell, Princess.” Bo winks. “I look forward to finding those commonalities.”
He walks away and I growl.
“Interesting talk?” Cadoc voice holds a teasing note.
“You could say that.” I face him. In some ways, this is more difficult because I once knew him so well in a different role.
“This is an enormous shift for us, huh?” He gives me a rakish, carefree smile and I giggle. “You think?”
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re both consenting adults. I’ve always been protective of you.” He steps closer and tucks some stray hair behind my ear. “It’s just going to be in a different way now.”
I sigh. “This is fucked up, Cadoc.”
“Only if we let it be.” He palms the side of my neck. “We’ll take it as slow as we can, but we both know the sands in the hourglass are running
I nod.
