Page 148 of Temporary Vows

“There isnothingto talk about.” I try to wrench my hand free but he grips tighter.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” His brows rise so high they almost disappear into his hairline. “You don’t think a date with my asshole cousin is something we should talk about?”

My body stiffens, ready to snap. “Date?” The shrill tone in my voice makes him flinch. “You think I was on a date with Parker?”

“What the fuck else do you call a meeting between two people at a restaurant?”

“A goddamnmeeting.That’s what I call it.”

“He wants to fuck you. That makes it a date.” His skin is reddening by the second.

I can’t argue about Parker’s intensions. I’m pretty sure Dorian is right. That said, I can’t be responsible for anyone else’s desires.

“That is nothing to do with me. It wasn’t a date. After all I’m notyou?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I shoot him an incredulous stare. He can’t be serious. “Parker told me. He said you’re always with your women.”

He responds with an off-center laugh that makes him look and sound like a psycho. “Parker… Parker told you that? And you believed him?”

I keep my eyes on him. How can he ask me that? How? He’s acting like the last few weeks didn’t happen.

“Why wouldn’t I believe him?” I level him a hard stare and raise my hands. “Have you given me any reason not to?”

Something shifts in his eyes. The rage dulls, though his face remains stern.

“Even if he wasn’t telling the truth, haven’t you been arranging your little meetups with Susan?” My tone jumps a notch, dragging up my earlier anger. And now I’m getting to the real point. “We shouldn’t even be having this fucking stupid conversation anyway. Aren’t we supposed to have separate lives?”

“No! We arenothaving separate lives,” he growls, tightening his fist.

My pulse kicks hard against my ribs and my spine snaps straight. For a heartbeat we stare at each other and I’m so stunned I can’t breathe.

“What? I don’t…” I stutter in a rasp. “I don’t understand you?—”

“No separate lives, Elodie.” His jaw clenches.

The words land harder, hitting me all at once. My lungs stall and a hollow pressure blooms in my chest. I blink at him, my mind still trying to catch up. “Is that… rule just for me?”

“No.”

My fingers go slack at my sides. “But you and Susan?—”

“No.” His voice is softer now. “There is just you. Only you. You and me.”

The air leaves my lungs like he's knocked it out of me, and the tightness in my chest fractures.

My lips part but nothing comes out.

I search his face for that deflection I’m used to. For that cruel twist he always delivers right when I let myself believe him.

It doesn't come.

He looks like he means it. He looks like he means every word.

My throat tightens. I don’t know what to do with that. Don’t know what to do with him. Don’t know what to do with the part of me that wants to believe him so badly it hurts.

"I..."