Page 112 of Unspoken Rules

“We shouldn’t do this, Bryson, but it seems we are. Because no matter how many times we avoid each other, it keeps coming back to this.”

“Chris… He won’t be okay with this.”

I nod. “I know.”

“I can’t be the reason he hates you.”

I take his hand, interlocking my fingers. He stares down at it in disbelief.

“And I don’t want to be the reason he hates you,” I add.

“So what do we do?” He turns to look at me, his eyes full of fear. I kiss his knuckles.

“We take one day at a time. We be honest with one another. We figure out a plan.”

“What’s the point if—” He stops, turning away from me again.

“If what?”

“We can’t risk our relationships with Chris over fucking.”

I grip his chin and make him look at me. “I want more than that.”

Shit, I said it out loud. There’s no taking it back now.

His eyes widen. “You do?”

I lean forward to kiss him gently. “I do. I shouldn’t, but I do.”

“So—”

“So that’s what we are. We’re more than that. We’re us. You and me. Together.” I roll on top of him, pressing him into the bed. “You’re mine, Bryson Montgomery.” I lean down to kiss him. His body feels perfect beneath mine. “And I’m yours.”

“Really?” he beams. The grin on his face is so big.

I brush my nose along his. “Really.”

Happiness rolls off him. For all of two seconds before he closes his eyes, wincing. I’m about to ask him what the hell just happened, but he speaks, so I don’t have to.

“I ran away because I was upset.”

“Over what?”

“Over that woman being in your office, Cole.” He scoffs.

“But why?”

“Because you fucked her!” He wiggles his body, trying to get out from under me.

“Hey,” I say, rolling over and pulling him on top of me. He straddles my lap, and I keep my hands on his waist. “You don’t have to yell at me. I know this isn’t easy for you, but don’t yell at me. I’m not judging you. I want to figure this out. Want to make sure your worries are eased.”

He frowns, shaking his head. “This is so hard to believe.”

I huff out a laugh. “You’re telling me.”

He smirks and runs his hands up my chest and around my neck. He presses his forehead to mine, taking a moment to breathe.

“There’s a lot of reasons,” he says.

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