Page 19 of Break

Since the day I first met her, but I can’t say that. I don’t think I could ever admit that.

“I’m just as observant as you are,” I snap.

“It’s not the same.” Then his eyes round and brows pinch because it’s dawned on him that it’sexactlythe same. “You’re in love with her.”

I shake my head, stupidly denying it. I can’t lose Kerrington. I loved him first.

I want them both, but what if—

“Okay,” Nicole says, walking out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. “My answer is yes.”

“Yes, to what, exactly?” Kerrington takes the opportunity to escape our problem.

“Yes, I want to be treated like I was before with the two of you.”

Kerrington stalks closer to her. “You’ll submit wholly and completely?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll stay in this room. No running away in the morning.”

“No running away,” she confirms.

“And you want usboth?”

She first looks at him, then at me, and drops her head. “Yes.”

“For how long?” Kerrington tilts her chin, so she’ll look at him again. “How long do we get to have you, Duchess?”

“I… I’m not sure.”

He lets her go and steps back, and I swear there’s disappointment in his gaze. “We do nothing until you give us an end date.”

Her hands ball into fists. “Goddamnit, Kerrington! I don’t know. A week? A month?”

“Which is it?”

“A week,” she huffs impatiently.

Kerrington looks towards me, his brow arched. “Do these conditions work for you, Landon?”

A week is nothing. It’s not good enough. However, desperation urges me to take what I can fucking get. “Yes.”

“Good.” Kerrington points at the sofa and says to Nicole, “Go over there and sit down, Duchess.”

She gracefully and quietly, walks over to the couch and sits.

“Eat the rest of the French fries in that bag,” I say, my pulse racing.

Nicole snatches the bag and grabs a handful, stuffing them in her mouth.

“Slowly,” Kerrington growls. “We don’t want you to choke or make yourself sick, baby.”

She swallows and tries again, only putting two fries in her pretty mouth this time.

“Good girl.” I fall to my knees at her feet. “Do you remember your safe word?”

“Teapot.”

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