Page 92 of Forged

He sighs, collecting his thoughts. “Bella, I promise you, once my family resolves the threat of Anthony Falco, we’ll get you back at a table. But right now, it’s too dangerous.”

I bite my bottom lip. “In other words, I’m in danger.”

His hand moves to tuck my hair behind my ear. “My family respects women and children. Falco’s doesn’t. We’re all keeping our people close right now.”

“Okay.”

He curls his pasta around his fork and stabs a piece of chicken. “Now, Gabriel. Was he also a thrill for you?”

“Maybe.”

His gaze holds mine steadily, searching my face.

“Do you want to see him again?” he asks.

Lars is being gentle with his words, but it still makes my pulse quicken.

“Yes,” I say cautiously. “I think I do.”

Lars taps his fingers once against the counter as he considers that.

“And you’re wondering if I would be okay with it?”

I nod and a smile forms on his lips.

“Bella, if I wasn’t okay with it, that man never would have touched you. I would have taken his fingers if he tried.”

“That’s not a comforting statement.”

He shrugs. “It’s an honest one.”

He reaches and takes my hand, his thumb brushing slowly over my knuckles. I hold his gaze.

“And if we see him again?” I ask.

Lars leans back in his chair, considering the question like a man weighing a high-stakes gamble.

“Then we see what happens,” he says. “We allow ourselves to explore.”

The calm certainty in his voice makes my heart beat a little faster. He turns in his chair, facing me with his hands on my thighs.

“While you were getting dressed that morning, Gabriel did say that he wanted to see us again, but I let him know that I had to wait for your permission. I needed you to be the one to ask.” His thumb strokes my cheek. “I have his phone number, and I can reach out to him, if that’s what you would like.”

“I would like that but—” I say, my hand resting on his thigh. “Lars, I want to make one thing clear.”

His eyes shine with amusement. “And what is that?”

I slide my hand to his inner thigh, continuing up to cup hisdick over his sweatpants. “If we have an open marriage, it’s for both of us. We don’t wonder separately, we only have fun together.”

His eyes close and he exhales sharply as I grip his growing erection through the fabric.

“Fuck, Bella.” His eyes come back to mine. “I love it when you lay down rules.”

I begin to stroke him. “I’m yours and you’re mine, Lars. We’re the foundation. We never let anyone break what we’re building.”

He cups my jaw, pulling me to him. His words are a whisper against my lips. “No one will ever come between you and I.”

His hand moves down to my breast, his fingers pinching my hard nipple through my T-shirt and I feel the spark in my core.