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"Don't call me darling," I say quickly. "I'm not your darling. I am your assistant and?—"

“And soon-to-be lover,” he says in a sultry tone. “You’re gonna be my paradise lover.”

“That sounds absolutely cheesy.” I shake my head as I turn to look at him. “Why are you so devastatingly handsome and so freaking annoying?”

"I don't know. Why am I?" He grins. "Is it perhaps because—" He pauses.

"Because what?" I ask him.

"I don't know." He frowns slightly. "You ever sometimes wonder the sort of person you are?"

"All the time. Why?"

"I don't know. Sometimes things just pop into my head that make me question the path I am going on in life."

"What, the path that led you to being a billionaire?"

His lips thin, and he lets out a deep sigh. Something's bothering him, and I have no idea what. This dark cloud has suddenly appeared from nowhere.

"Hey, is everything okay? You were literally just joking a couple of seconds ago, and?—«

“I was just thinking about your situation and you and life,” he says. “You’re a good person.”

"I mean, I try to be. I'm not always. I'm not perfect. I mean, I never heard that I was an angel or anything in another life, so…"

He chuckles. "You know you're absolutely ridiculous sometimes?"

"I know. I should've been a comedian, but I'm scared I'd just get tomatoes and eggs thrown at me all the time."

"Yeah. I could see that happening."

"Ha ha, very funny," I say. I lean my head on his shoulder and look over at his profile. He's still thinking, and I don't want the mood to change. I like a teasing Liam. I like who he is when he's flirting with me and trying to turn me on. For some reason, it makes me feel special, even though it really isn't.

"Hey!" I tap him on the shoulder, and he looks down at me. He kisses the tip of my nose, and I frown slightly. “What was that for?”

"Because you're cute, and you're pretty," he says.

"Why?"

"Well, you were about to do something to help relieve my stress, and you stopped."

"Well, you were acting like you didn't want me to," he says, shrugging. But I can see a wicked glint in his eyes as he tries to hide a smile.

"Well, perhaps I've changed my mind. Maybe I do want that release after all. I mean, I'm soon to be a married woman. If I can't have some fun with my boss on a plane, then what sort of life would I have led?"

He shakes his head and smirks slightly. "You are?—"

"Don't call me ridiculous again," I say, interrupting him.

"I wasn't going to say that. I was gonna say that you're the perfect mix of sweet and naughty. Now relax," he says as he pushes me over to the side, his hand sliding back under the blanket.

Chapter Eighteen

Liam

Elisabetta is trembling as my fingertips continue to caress her. Her skin is soft, silky, and warm, and it feels incredible knowing that I am making her react like this. I wish we were somewhere private, somewhere where there was absolutely no possibility of us being caught. I want to watch her lips trembling, I want to have her begging me to continue, I want to hear my name spoken on her lips in lust. Her eyes are hazy as she gazes at me, and I’m tempted to lean down and kiss her passionately.

For a few moments, I wish I had hired a private plane so she wouldn’t have to worry about people seeing or hearing us. I debate ushering a flight attendant over to call the captain for me, but I know that would be utterly ridiculous. But something about this woman has me thinking absurd thoughts. I made sure we took a commercial flight because I didn't want to look like I was boasting about my wealth. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to impress her with my money.