Page 35 of Fractured Frets

The color drained from Slip’s face. “Yeah? What about?”

“Your time together.” I smacked him on the ass, hard.

“Hmmm. Spank me later, baby. But whatever she said, the past is the past.” He swiped his thumb down the side of my cheek, then kissed my lips. “I’m with the woman I want for the rest of my days. You’re it, Mads. Got it?”

“Yeah. Love you.” But my heart twisted. Slip hadn’t been honest about Harper. And that had hurt. But I hadn’t been entirely honest about Noah either. Shit.

“Happy for now, right?” Mischief flashed in Harper’s vivid green eyes.

“Stay the fuck out of this, Harper.” Slip stabbed a finger toward her face. “You promised.”

“I did. I won’t interfere.” She held up her hands, but then she pinned me with a challenging gaze. “Seems like your wife can’t handle a bit of shit stirring.”

I could. But she hadn’t been. Had she? No.

“Mads doesn’t know you or your games, Harps.” Slip ripped his fingers through his hair and held it back off his face. “So be nice. I don’t want Mads to get upset. So no more. Got it?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Harper flicked her tongue ring at him. She veered into the bathroom, bumping hard into my arm as she passed.

Oh, the nerve of the women.

Fire licked through my veins. I burned Slip with my gaze. “This isn’t over. Can we talk? Somewhere private?”

He slouched his shoulders and sighed. “Do we have to?”

“Yes.”

He winced, then nodded. “Okay.”

“Good. Let’s go. Outside. Now.

Chapter 11

MADDY

Hand in hand, I dragged Slip back through the games room, across the dining area, and stepped outside. I drew him to a halt by the pool. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you hooked up with Harper all the time?”

“Because it was never anything serious.” He tucked his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and rounded his shoulders. “I’ve always been honest and told you we’d been together. I’m sorry I didn’t give you explicit details.”

My chest cinched around my heart. “I don’t like being made a fool. She’s got her eyes set on you. You know that?”

“She may, but tough.” He shrugged. “I’ve talked to her about us. I’ve drawn the line. She may have old feelings for me, but they’re not reciprocated.”

I wrapped my arms around myself. “She’s gorgeous. I’m terrified you’ll fall back into her bed.”

“I won’t,” he snapped. “You’re more beautiful than she is, inside and out. I’m not a fucking cheater, Maddy. So please, just...trust me.” He turned to head inside, but I caught his arm.

“Please don’t walk away. If you want us to work, you can’t brush off my concerns. We need to talk them out. No matter how uncomfortable or unpleasant or hurtful they are.”

He stared at the sky, closed his eyes, and let out a long, measured breath. “Okay.” He nodded. “I’m sorry. But she’s not an issue.”

“She is for me.” I splayed my hand over my heart. “When Noah ran off with Jocelyn, it broke me. He lied about his feelings for her. I worry you’re going to do the same thing with Harper.”

He took a small step toward me. Fire flared in his dark eyes. “I’m not lying to you about Harper.”

“Why did you fuck her all the time?”

“Why do you need to know this stuff?”

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