Page 13 of The Billionaire's Marriage Dare

Still enthralling, Jane thought absently, but terrifyingly unreadable.

When they walked all the way out of AMC headquarters, she thought faintly, I’m going AWOL. Today was still a work day, after all, never mind if they had only been asked to go to work to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day.

One of the valets brought his car around – a staid, black BMW – and Christian opened the door for her.

“Thanks.” Jane’s voice was awkward. She wasn’t used to having the door held for her.

She tried to contain herself as Christian started driving, but the silence was driving her crazy, and she finally coughed, several times, until the man finally took the hint and glanced at her.

“Where are we going?”

“My home.”

And then nothing again.

She coughed.

Christian slanted an amused glance towards her. “You don’t need my permission to talk, pet. Just talk.”

Easier said than done, Jane thought. She almost started coughing again but caught herself in time. So she cleared her throat instead—-

Christian rolled his eyes, but she pretended not to see it, asking, “Is Christian really your name?”

Christian’s azure eyes flashed.

I should shut up now, Jane thought. That was what his eyes were telling her.

But her tongue still ended up running away from her.

“Like...50 Shades?”

A muscle started ticking at his jaw. “That’s exactly why,” he said sharply, “I don’t like giving my name.”

Oh.

“Everyone starts thinking I’m this whip-holding guy the moment they hear my name, and people keep asking me about this gray room.”

“Red,” Jane corrected automatically.

“I don’t bloody care.”

She couldn’t help peeking at his expression, asking, “Does that mean you haven’t watched the movie?”

“Not even if my life depended on it.”

“Oh.” Understanding dawned. “So that’s why you wanted me to call you ‘baby.’”

Christian stared at her blankly.

“In the book, you see, he has this popular line – ‘laters, baby.’” She gave him an apologetic look. “So if you’ve ever used ‘baby’ with another girl, then it’s only going to make them think of Christian Gray more.”

Three seconds passed before Christian spoke in a voice laced with quiet fury.

“Fuck.”

Jane choked out a laugh.

A discomfited look suddenly crossed Christian’s face. “I beg your pardon. I normally don’t swear this much.”

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