Page 199 of By His Rule

“They’re nothing you haven’t already heard before.”

He quirks a brow in interest.

Unwilling to dive into dangerous territory, I finally reach for the menu sitting before me.

“So, what’s good here?”

He chuckles. “Everything.”

“Of course,” I mutter, my eyes scanning the list of food before me and discovering that it’s a seafood restaurant. I guess that makes sense, seeing as we’re by the ocean.

Casting a look to my left, I focus on the darkness surrounding us. I can just about make out the reflection of the moon in the calm ocean in the distance.

The desire to walk across the sand and feel the cool water lap at my feet burns through me.

It’s been so long since I’ve had the chance.

“You’re a million miles away tonight,” Kian muses.

“Sorry. All of this is just a little…”

“Overwhelming?” he guesses when I trail off.

“Yeah. My life isn’t like this, Kian. I don’t stay in fancy hotels or eat at five-star seafood restaurants. I don’t even know what half of this is, let alone what I’m meant to choose.” As the words continue to flow, my unease grows until I no longer feel like I belong.

Hell, I don’t fucking belong.

This isn’t me.

I glance around, taking in the polished gold finishes, the expensive bottles of liquor behind the bar, the other diners.

Lifting my hand, I press my palm over my racing heart as my world begins to spin out of control.

Everything around me starts to blur as my panic fully takes over.

You don’t belong here.

You’re a fraud.

And one day soon, Kian is going to learn everything and kick you to the curb…exactly where you belong.

47

KIAN

“Lorelei,” I say a little firmer than usual.

She’s freaking out, and I have absolutely no fucking idea how to deal with it.

Rescuing her from that elevator was one thing, but this, in the middle of a restaurant?

Fuck.

I knew there was a good reason why I only date women who want to use my name to help their own careers or social standing.

I’ve never cared about any of them. Plus, it helps that any tears they shed are nothing more than crocodile tears. I’m sure they work perfectly on their fathers, allowing them to get their own way, but they won’t work on me.

This isn’t fake, though.

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