Page 54 of The Billionaire's Bride

"It’s not going to end well," I agree.

"This no sex thing is going to kill me." He slides a finger under the collar of his starched collar.

"It bloody sucks." I scowl. "I can’t decide what’s worse: that she’s not sleeping with me, or that she’s not sleeping with you either."

"I’d have said it’s a relief that she’s definitely not having sex with you… But hell, if it isn’t a bummer that I can’t get some either." He rubs his chin.

We glance at each other, and a chuckle breaks out from me. He smirks back. We both burst out laughing.

"Fuck," he rubs the back of his neck, "how did we get here again?"

"Afraid this one is my mess." I roll my shoulders. "If I hadn’t picked up the phone and called you—"

"Which I am glad you did."

I stare. "You are?"

"Bet the rest of the Seven are pissed that you didn’t reach out to them." His lips quirk

"Bet they are—" I chuckle.

"But seriously," he glances at the wine, "and maybe this is the wine talking... In fact, I am sure it is the wine talking..." He takes another sip. "You called at the right time."

"I did?"

"I guess I was waiting for an excuse to come back." He raises his shoulders. "I was tired of running."

"I was tired of…" Not feeling? Not letting myself think too deeply? Just having an existence which barely scratched the surface? Not facing my fears? My need to live life using all my senses? Not wanting to hide anymore? I take another sip of the water, "I was just tired…"

"You took the brunt of what happened during the incident." Baron’s features harden. "If there was any way I could thank you for what you did…"

"You can leave her."

He starts, then laughs out loud. "You don’t mean it."

"Don’t I?"

"All these years and you choose now to call in that favor?"

"You asked."

"Doesn’t mean I am going to give you what you want." His throat moves as he swallows. "Besides, she is not a thing…that we can pass around between each other. She deserves a chance to make up her own mind."

"With some help from us."

"I knew you had changed Edward," his jaw tics, "I just hadn’t realized how much."

"And you, Baron." I tilt my head, "You haven’t changed at all. You’re still every bit as self-righteous, as focused on the straight and narrow as you were when you joined the army."

"Unlike you." He glares back. "You joined the priesthood to cover up just how twisted you really are inside."

"That’s right." I bare my teeth. "And don’t you forget it, you—"

Baron's phone buzzes. He pulls it out of my pocket, glances at the screen, then holds it to his ear, "Ava? Are you—"

The blood drains from his face.

"Who is it?" I snap.