The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(84)
He arched an eyebrow as though he couldn’t believe what she’d said. If he’d assumed she’d roll over after what he’d done, he was in for a rude awakening. “I didn’t realize you interpreted what I did as ‘cheapening.’ I had to go.”
“Yes, because men do that all the time. Leave in the middle of sex without coming,” she hissed in a voice only he could hear.
“I’m sorry for leaving you. I’m an asshole, Sophia, and I often do asshole things. I’m going to lay down what the future will hold if we do what you want.” His voice held very little inflection, though something like pain was darkening his eyes. “If we stay together, one day I’ll end up hurting you, and you’ll hate me.”
When he didn’t continue, she said, “Aren’t you also going to say you don’t want me with Salazar? That’s what everyone seems worried about.”
“I’ve discovered that I’m a possessive bastard. The idea of somebody else having you makes me…” His hand tightened. “Let’s just say it’s a singularly ugly feeling. One I’ve never known before. You could be with Blake, who’s my best friend, and I’d still feel it.”
“But if you think you’re going to end up hurting me—”
“Some selfish part of me thinks maybe…just maybe…I won’t.” His mouth closed in a line tighter than a clam’s.
He wasn’t telling her everything, but she knew this was as much as she’d get from him. “You’ve already hurt me, Dane,” she said. “There are no guarantees in life. Have you ever considered that I might be the one to hurt you?”
He gazed into her eyes, holding the look for what seemed like forever. She felt like he was reaching inside and reading the book of her soul. “No. You would never do that on purpose.”
“And you won’t either.”
He stroked her cheek, the touch feather-light and uncharacteristically tender. Her anger lost a bit of its steam as caramel-sugary warmth spread all over her. He pulled her closer now, and she let him. He dipped his head so he could whisper into her ear. “I don’t just want sex. I want to take care of you, but…that’s also selfish of me.”
“You have it all wrong. It’s sweet.” Sighing, she laid her head on his chest. It felt perfect under her cheek, like it was made just for her. “Is it because of what Salazar said to you? I heard him say how things would’ve been better if you hadn’t been born.”
The muscles underneath her grew tight. “He’s right.”
“No.” She lifted her face to look him in the eye. “It’s unfair for him to blame his marital issues on you. Your parents’ problems started before you were ever born.”
He flexed his hands around her. “It’s much more than that.”
“Whatever. I’m glad you’re here. But if we’re going to do this, promise me you’ll never shut me out like that again. I want you to be open and honest with me.”
Old memories darkened his eyes. Probably all the bad ones he’d had with his father. Still, his voice was firm when he said, “All right. I promise.”
* * *
Sophia had no idea. And coward that he was, Dane couldn’t tell her even as he promised. He didn’t want her to find out. Ever.
If he kept his mouth shut, she wouldn’t. The only other people who knew were Salazar—who wouldn’t speak of it, given his role in maintaining the silence—and Henry, who would deflect her just as he’d deflected Dane.
After the dance, he took her to an empty seat so she could sit down and rest her hip. Guilt burned a hole in his heart like acid. Shirley had complained of pain in her pelvis, but she’d been in her sixties when the pain started. Sophia wasn’t even thirty.
She grasped his hand. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“What?”
“You were frowning.”
He looked at the crowd. Overflowing champagne and excellent food were keeping things lively. One thing Mark knew better than anybody was great food. “I was thinking we should leave after this.” He turned to her, then added, “Unless you have other plans.”
“We can go.” She squeezed his hand. “I don’t mind.”
They went inside the house, into their separate rooms to pack.
Dane tossed everything into his suitcase with little care. If he missed something the housekeeper would forward it to him. He also texted Al to send all of Sophia’s things to his penthouse, adding, We’re leaving now. Make sure to have them at my place ASAP.
“Taking Sophia with you?” Salazar was leaning against the door, half-empty glass in one hand.