Page 97 of On Ice

“Bullshit.”

He lifts one shoulder. “I’ve known Austin a long time. Is it a problem that I wanted to catch up with him?” His gaze drops to my bare legs. There’s heat in his eyes, but he doesn’t address the fact that I’m half dressed.

“I don’t care that you talked to him. But I want to know what the rules are. We never discussed things like if we could sleep with other people or not.”

“No, we didn’t.”

He doesn’t say anything more, which annoys me. “Do you plan on having sex with Austin?”

He shrugs. “Would you care if I did?”

Jealousy ripples through me, but I’ll be damned if I’ll show that to him. “I just want to know the rules,” I say gruffly.

He takes hold of my chin and forces me to look him in the eye. “I asked you a question, Evan,” he says softly. “Would it bother you if IfuckAustin?”

I grit my teeth and don’t answer right away. Then I pull my chin from his grasp and say, “It might send the wrong message to your associates.”

He smirks. “So, you wouldn’t care other than for that reason?”

“I don’t want to die,” I rasp. “You said I was protected if I was your boyfriend. But if you’re fucking other people, your mob pals won’t believe we’re together.”

He doesn’t respond, he just watches me with a strange expression.

“I don’t understand what happened, Luca.” I frown. “I thought we were getting along really well at the wedding. Then you just… changed.”

His face twitches and he says harshly, “You told me you didn’t give a fuck if Idied, Evan. I guess that ruined the mood for me.”

I stiffen. “When did I say that to you?”

“At the wedding. When we were dancing.”

I frown, confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I sincerely don’t. Why would I have said I wanted him dead? We were getting along so well.

He tilts his head, studying me. His eyes are like black pools and there’s a hint of resentment simmering there. “So now you’re saying you care if I die?”

I grimace. “Well, I… I don’t actively want you dead… anymore.”

“I guess that’s an improvement,” he murmurs.

His gaze is so intense, I have to look away. Being near him has me hard, but since we’re fighting, I’d rather he didn’t know that. “Look, I… I don’t remember saying I wanted youdead. But I’m telling you, cross my heart, I don’t want that. Okay?”

“Fine.” Some of the anger seems to fade.

I clear my throat. “Now, I need to know what the rules are. Are we allowed to sleep with other people, or not?”

His expression is suspicious. “Do you have someone in mind? Is that why it matters so much to you?”

“No,” I say in an exasperated tone. “I’m asking because ofAustin. You seemed really into him and I don’t know where that leaves me.”

He looks frustrated and he’s silent for so long, I think he isn’t going to respond. Then he says huskily. “I don’t want Austin if I can have you.”

Heat flushes through my body along with relief. I hadn’t even realized how much I wanted to hear him say that. But hearing he’d choose me over Austin is everything. “Okay. That’s all… all I wanted to know.”

“That pleases you?”

“Maybe.” I grimace. “I wasn’t sure why you were still keeping me here since you’ve made no attempt to sleep with me. I thought maybe you’d lost interest in me.”

“No. I haven’t lost interest,” he says softly, running his gaze over my body. “I’ve just tried to be patient. I’ve allowed you time to settle in.”

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