Page 41 of The Billionaire's Baby

"Ari," I whisper, and his gaze intensifies.

"Say that again."

"Arpad."

"No what you called me earlier."

"Ari?"

His lips kick up, "I like the sound of my name from your lips."

"Does anyone else call you that?"

He shakes his head.

"That’ll be our secret, huh?"

"Here’s another." His smile broadens. "I’ve fancied you since I first laid eyes on you."

I chuckle, "I thought you were angry with me."

"I was."

I wrinkle my forehead. "I don’t understand."

"Somehow, you got under my skin. You made me want to haul you close and ravish you. And this feeling of being so near the edge, of not knowing why I felt what I did, of not wanting to let you go until I found out why I was having this reaction to you… It made me feel—"

"Uncomfortable?"

"Out of control." He says simultaneously. "It made me want to push you away and keep you close at the same time."

I take in the sincerity of his gaze, the depths in those grey-blue eyes of his which invite me to trust him, to drown in them. "It’s why you had the Seven offer me the contract for the security of your businesses?"

He doesn’t blink, and if I hadn't been looking for it, I might have missed the twitch in his left eye.

"That’s it, isn’t it?" I lean back to put distance between us. I am still in the circle of his arms, but whatever. "It was you who was behind my getting this contract. You did it, knowing if I accepted it, I’d have to move to London."

His jaw tics, "Are you accusing me of wanting you near me?"

"I am saying that you manipulated my career, so you could have me in a place where you could control me."

"You’re getting ahead of yourself."

"And you’re delusional if you think your over-the-top, interfering ways are going to win you any favors with me." I jump up and he drags me right back down into his lap.

"I’m not done with you."

"Oh, but I’m done with you."

"We’re just getting started, Sparks. Remember, you need my cum inside you."

"Maybe I don’t care anymore. Maybe I’ll simply miss this window, then inseminate myself with the sperm of another man."

His jaw hardens. A nerve throbs at his temple. He glares at me and that hint of meanness that I’ve become so familiar with reveals itself in his eyes.

I swallow and my nerve-endings jangle.Don’t poke the beast. What the hell do you think you’re doing?And when have I ever backed down from a challenge, huh?

"Actually, I think I need to find another man. Someone who doesn’t impose stupid conditions and who’d be more than happy to fuck me and—"