Chapter 73

Harper's POV

Theo remains across from me, unmoving, his gaze fixed. He hasn’t looked away from me once, not when I admitted the bruise, not when I said I still wanted this, not even now when we’re alone and the air between us feels stretched thin with everything unsaid.

He sits forward slowly, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped loosely in front of him.

“There are going to be some ground rules tonight.”

I blink. “You’ve already got my lists. What more needs to be a rule?”

His eyes narrow slightly, and he shakes his head. “This isn’t about your preferences, Harper. It’s about me. I’m not going to do what I normally do.”

Something inside me stills. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m not going to let that p