Page 81 of Entangled

I think about the way Dom kissed me after I delivered the bazooka. The way he looked at me then, I’d thought... I’dhoped...

No. Maybe if we’d had more time, this would be a different conversation.

“And now she’s back,” I murmur.

A muscle tics in his jaw. “She’s not here for me.”

But he wishes she was. My chest aches. How could he not? God, I hate it. Worse, I can see it. They’re so alike. Stubborn and loyal and determined. The same qualities I admire in him, I have to admire in her.

And Dom said himself that he doesn’t take on—what did he say? Soft-spoken submissives? Is that what I am?

Next toHeat, I suppose it’s true.

Jealousy punishes my every cell, but I’m not sure what else to do here. If he doesn’t want me, it’s not his fault, and I can’t change who I am to try.

He wants a Heather. And I’m just an Eden.

“I’m sure she’s delighted for the new opportunity,” I grit out.

Dom’s eyes snap over my face, studying me. “What is this, Eden? Why are you pushing me at Heather?”

“I amnot,” I splutter.

“Because the last I heard, you were all over Beau’s plan, ready to drag the both of us into bed with you,” he taunts.

My hand flutters to my throat, just to make sure someone isn’t actually cutting off the oxygen there. I stare at him.

Damn him for the images now flooding my mind. I do want to drag the both of them to bed—or let them do the dragging. Being between Beau and Dom was one of the most erotic, soul-searing experiences of my life.

“I— You—” I stammer, and his head tilts as he waits. “You didn’t want me at Bristlebrook!”

Dom’s brows come down. “No, I didn’t.”

“And you didn’t want any part of the deal. You didn’t want to sleep with me,” I remind him, somewhat desperately. Does he really need to put me through this? We both know who he really wants.

“I didn’t want in on the deal,” he says with a hint of frustration. “You were a risk and a liability, and I didn’t want you breaking Beau’s heart.”

“I told you, I’m not going to do that.”

Dom’s eyes swing back to mine, softening. “I know, pet.”

Oh... My insides become warm and liquid. Hereallyneeds to stop with that nickname.

It makes it sound like I’m something he wants to keep.

My hand shaking, I press it against my stomach as something occurs to me. “You didn’t sleep with me by the riverbank.”

“From memory, we didn’t get around to sleeping.”

“Oh, don’t be obtuse,” I snip, and when his jaw flexes, I know I’m on the right track. I bite my lip, letting my mind worry over every detail of that interlude. And it looks different from this angle.

I shake my head. “You helped me out of my panic. It was very... kind of you.”

“Kind,” Dom repeats heavily, like he’s trying to make sense of the word. He rubs his forehead. “Eden?—”

“Beau was the one who asked you to help. I know you never wanted to before that. And that’s okay—of course it is. I’m so thankful you... helped me. But he shouldn’t have pushed you when you weren’t interested.”

Dom is still staring, only now his face is so perfectly expressionless, I can’t decipher a single emotion.

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