Page 118

I don’t know if it’s because I yelled or because of what I just told her.

Maybe both.

The silence that followed is so abrupt it feels like the entire room has been stripped of sound.

She barely blinks.

Her lips part, but no words come.

“You’re playing with me,” she says finally.

I release her and walk over to the bed, sitting down and resting my back on the headboard.

“No, Selene,” I say, calmer now. “I never lied to you.”

One brow rises as she crosses her arms over her chest, but for the first time since walking into this room, she actually seems willing to listen.

“What you saw happened half a year ago or more, like I already told you. I didn’t initiate it or suggest it. It was just sex between four consenting adults.”

Selene visibly recoils at the explanation, and I close my eyes briefly.

I fucking hate knowing those words are hurting her, but there’s no point hiding the truth now.

“Lorelay has wanted something with me ever since we started working together. That was probably one of her attempts to convince me,” I continue honestly.

Maybe it’s difficult for her to hear, but I need to be honest with her.

“It was the only time anything happened between us, and as you saw, it wasn’t even just the two of us. When she found out about you, she tried to blackmail me with that video. I didn’t want it getting to you under any circumstances.”

Selene opens her mouth, clearly about to ask something.

“I didn’t want you to see it for reasons that should be obvious by now,” I continue. “But not because I cheated on you.”

I get to my feet and walk to her again.

“God, Selene…” I murmur softly. “I would never cheat on you.”

My hand settles on her cheek as I lean closer.

Her eyes fall shut.

And then, thankfully, she melts into my palm.

The tiny movement nearly destroys me.

“I wanted you to be mine even when you were still in a relationship, Selene,” I confess quietly. “I would never do anything intentionally to lose you.”

She doesn’t answer.

She doesn’t move.

She gives me no indication of what’s going on through her head.

Yet she leans into my touch.

And that small surrender feels dangerous enough to give me hope.

My thumb moves slowly across her skin, wiping away the damp trail beneath her eye. Her breathing turns uneven again.