The Billion Dollar Bachelor(42)

“Why did I say what?”

“Back at the restaurant. You said ‘you’re mine.’”

He didn’t respond, only stared at her, eyes glittering.

“You told me I was yours. That there wouldn’t be any other men.” She took a deep, silent breath. “Did you mean it?”

Still he said nothing.

“Jax … .”

“Yeah. I meant it.” His voice was harsh. “I meant every fucking word.”

Anger, hot and sharp, flooded through her. “Well, that’s too bad because I’m not yours, asshole. I’m not a piece of property. I’m not anyone’s damn possession, not anymore. And I certainly won’t be told who I can and can’t see.”

“Why not? Why can’t you be mine?” Color stained his cheekbones. “I want you, Pandora. I want you more than I’ve wanted anyone in my entire life. I want to keep you and I don’t want you sleeping with anyone else.”

A cold thread of panic began to wind through the anger boiling in her gut. “Keep me? What? Like some kind of pet?”

“We can get engaged. For real.” He began to come toward her again, stalking her like the tiger he was. “You can marry me.”

Marry him? Dear God, was he serious? For a second a rush of heat swept over her, mixed with a longing she didn’t recognize. Then both were drowned in a choking flood of fear. Her mouth dried, her heart beating so hard it was like an earthquake was inside her. “Stop!” Her voice was shaken. “Are you insane? I don’t want to marry you. Jesus Christ, I’ve only just gotten out of one cage, I don’t want to lock myself in another!”

Jax halted inches from her. He towered over her, all darkness and heat and raw passion. Overwhelming, dangerous. “You think marrying me would be a cage?”

“Wouldn’t it be?” she flung back. “I mean, that’s pretty much what I’ve got now, right?”

“Bullshit! You’re free to come and go as you please. I’ve never put any limits on you.”

“That doesn’t mean freedom, Jax! Not when everything I have now comes directly from you. My home, my job, my income. It’s all yours. Nothing I have is mine.” Dizziness gripped her. All the freedom she’d thought she had, all that independence … . It was a lie. An illusion she’d chosen to believe. Why? Why had she believed it?

Because you’re happy with him and you don’t want to leave.

Panic squeezed tight inside her and she backed away from him, wanting to put distance between them any way she could.

“I thought you wanted this,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You said this was important. That it shouldn’t be controlled. And you’re right. It is important. You’re important. I don’t want to control it. I don’t want to limit it, so why can’t we see how much more it can be?”

“I know what I said. But … I can’t …” She stopped, unable to untangle the knot of emotions inside her. God, this was screwed up. She was screwed up. Part of her was desperate to get out and yet part of her wanted to stay with him. And never leave …

“My freedom is more important,” she forced out. “I’m sorry, Jax, but it’s more important than this. More important than you.”

“Snow …” He reached for her.

“No,” she said, knocking away his hand. “Not Snow. I’m not a princess shut up in a glass coffin. Not anymore. I’m free now. I can make my own damn decisions.” She had to get away, find somewhere to breathe. Away from him. “And I’m getting the hell out of here.”

Pandora tried to step past him but before she could, his arm slid around her and he was pulling her close, her shaking body up against his.

“Don’t,” Jax said fiercely. “Don’t go. Be mine, Pandora. Let’s try this. Marry me.”

The heat of him burned through the material of her dress, through her skin, through her flesh, into her heart. Searing her. She would never escape him. She knew it with every breath in her. He’d imprinted himself onto her the moment they’d locked eyes in the bar.

And you don’t want escape him, either …

Panic fluttered, a bird caught in a net. God, she had to get out of here. Now. “Let me go, Jax!” She pushed at him and instantly his arms fell away.

But she could still feel him on her. In her. Everywhere.

You’ll never be free.

“I love you, Pandora.” Coiled tension pulled taut every line of his tall, broad figure.

Her throat tightened and beneath the fear and the anger, a dull pain stabbed, an old familiar longing digging in deep.