Page 73 of The Elusive Billionaire

“My theory was that you’re a hopeless romantic, but too scared and ashamed of choices you made as a child to allow yourself the pleasure of it as an adult. And my deal is this.” He cups my face with both hands, forcing me to look him in the eye.

It’s aggressive, demanding even, and it’s what finally eases my racing pulse.

When he controls me like this, I feel free for the first time since I was sixteen, and that is why I truly need therapy.

“I want a daughter.” The honest rawness in his words rips open the tender skin around all my insecurities, and my blood speeds through my veins like a dolphin chased by a predator.

“G—good luck with that.”

“And I’d like her to have a mother.”

“I know a great matchmaker—her name’s Madi. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to help.” I ignore the sharp stab of jealousy that squeezes my chest in a vice.

His grin is devious, delicious, and so damn dangerous to my well-being.

“Who I want is Firefly.”

“She doesn’t exist.”

“She’s scared,” he counters.

“You hate me.”

His long, thick thumb runs along my bottom lip, and his hungry eyes follow it as though he’s about to devour me whole.

“Do I though? I thought I did for a long time. But you know what else happens around you?”

“The Grinch in your pants grows ten sizes?”

Said Grinch rubs against my hip bone, and I stifle a sigh that desperately wants to escape.

“That’s a welcome side effect, especially since no one else has caught his attention since the first time you yelled at me. But what happens when you’re near is a colorful explosion that only you seem to create. Anger, curiosity, lust, fear…it all bubbles to the surface with you, Monroe.”

“Why fear?”

“That should be obvious.” His goddamn eyes actually sparkle in the sunshine. “My fear is what if, after all these wars, I realize I don’t actually hate you at all?”

No. Now he’s just messing with my head because he believes I lied to him. He’s playing games. He has to be.

Lowering my gaze because I can’t take the heat of him a moment longer, I ask, “What’s your deal, Grey?”

“Regardless of what happens, I’m bound to protect you because it’s my world, my connections that have caused this commotion in your life.”

“My past behavior dictates my future. Not everything is about you.”

Insufferable, arrogant ass.

“But this is. I feel it in my soul.”

I attempt to sidestep him, but he keeps a tight hold on my face.

“You have three seconds to tell me what you’re planning, or I’m out of here.” My voice is much stronger than I feel.

“The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is this: Don’t fight me.”

I’m pretty sure my expression morphs into one that can only be read asDuh. “What do you mean?”

“We’re going to plan this wedding. We’ll even put on a show while doing it, but I won’t do anything I don’t want to do, and you shouldn’t either.”