Page 8 of Billionaire Book Boyfriend

I nod, my throat tight. "Yes, but I didn’t mean to be deceptive. It’s just that—"

"You let me rave about that book, break it down, even talk about the author like she was a stranger, and you didn’t say anything?"Drake’s voice softens, but there’s still a hint of tension between us.

“I wanted to wait for the right time,” I say, still reeling over how quickly the mood of the night has shifted.

"Here." He pushes a framed quote toward me. "I figured it was the right time to give this to you. It’s from your book, but I’m sure you don’t need it. You probably have tons of your quotes framed already."

I take the frame, holding it close to my chest. "Drake, I—"

I want to tell him how much the gift means to me, but I’m cut off by him holding out a hand to stop me.

"Did you think I wouldn’t understand? I mean... is this Book Boyfriend Dating Agency thing even real, or is it just some fun game for authors?"

His disappointment stings, but it’s not anger—it’s something deeper, something I wish I could fix with a few words.

“No!” I insist, stepping closer, my pulse pounding in my ears. “It’s not like that. Once we connected, I didn’t know how to tell you. I—”

Drake shakes his head, frustration and hurt flashing in his eyes. “I’m really big on trust, and you’ve been hiding this from me, Emily. It makes me wonder what else you’ve kept secret. How can I trust anything you say now?”

My chest tightens as I realize how badly this could end, how easily everything we’ve been building could fall apart with this one revelation. I might lose someone who could’ve been so much more than a random book boyfriend hookup.

“Drake, I know it looks bad,” I say, my voice trembling but earnest. “But I never meant to deceive you. I’ll admit that once I realized you’d read my book, I froze. I was scared of what it would mean to share that part of myself with you. I wondered if you would draw conclusions about me that weren’t true, or if I would have to spend most of our time together explaining the separation between Emily Jameson and Eva Steele. Some people just don’t get it.”

“But you didn’t give me the opportunity to get it,” he replies.

I digress. “You’re right. You’re different from anyone I’ve ever met, and I just didn’t want to ruin what we had going on by talking about my career.” I step closer, searching his eyes for a flicker of understanding. “Not everyone is so understanding of what I write. I thought you’d see me as just a quirky bookworm fantasizing about sex and being loved. I care about you, and I wanted to be more than just a name on a cover or tied to a storyline. Please, don’t let this ruin what we’ve been building.”

Drake’s gaze softens a little, though the hurt is still there. “It’s just... I really liked what we had going. I thought we were being real with each other.”

“We are real,” I plead, my heart racing as I fight to keep the connection alive. “I promise I’m still the same person you’ve been getting to know. The book is just one part of me.”

Drake takes a deep breath, his brow furrowing as he processes my words. “I want to believe that, Emily. But it’s hard for me to process. That book brought out so many emotions out of me, so I know you’re good at crafting moments. Now, I’m left wondering what was real about our time together and what was just fiction.”

“Come on, Drake. That’s a bit unfair,” I say, my voice shaking slightly.

He rubs the back of his neck, frustration and vulnerability written all over his face. “Unfair? Maybe. But put yourself in my shoes for a second. You’ve had the upper hand this whole time, knowing everything about me while keeping such a huge part of yourself hidden. That’s not easy to swallow.”

A pang of guilt hits me hard. “I understand, and I didn’t mean to put you in this position. All I want is a chance to show you that I’m more than my pen name. I want you to know the real me.”

Drake sighs, his eyes softening slightly. “I get that you’re more than the book, but it’s hard for me to shake the feeling that I’ve been playing in the dark this whole time. I’m not saying I don’t want to continue dating you, Emily. I just... I need to figure out what’s real between us, and that’s going to take time.”

A long, heavy silence hangs between us, the air feeling thicker than ever. I can feel how dense his words are, how heavy they are with meaning. I know there’s no fixing this in a single conversation.

“I get it,” I say softly, breaking the tension. “You need time, and I don’t want to push.” I pause, looking into his eyes one last time. “I’m sorry, Drake.” Before he can respond, I step closer, rising up on my tiptoes and gently grazing my lips against his in a soft, lingering kiss. It’s briefer than I’d like, but I hope it says what I can’t seem to put into words. “Goodnight,” I whisper, my voice barely audible

Without waiting for a response, I turn and quietly leave, my heart heavy as I step out into the night.

Chapter 6

Drake

An Unexpected Conversation

Ilean back in my chair, staring out at the city skyline. The usual hum of Atlanta outside my window doesn’t register tonight. My mind’s stuck on Emily. I keep replaying our conversation, the way she stood there, eyes full of apology, telling me she’s more than just her pen name.Eva Steele. The damn author of the book that’s been driving me crazy since I laid eyes on it and the woman I’ve been falling for are the same person.

The last time we were together, she kissed me goodnight, soft and quick, like she was saying goodbye to something more than just the night. But it didn’t feel like an ending. I know it wasn’t. This thing between us, it’s deeper than I was willing to admit.The book—Flirty Dirty Secrets—that’s where it started, but it’s bigger than that now. I’ve re-read parts of it, those scenes she wrote that got my blood running hot. I couldn’t get the thought out of my head thatshewrote them. Emily, with her quiet confidence, that shy smile. She actually sat somewhere in solitude with her own thoughts, heart, and desires and crafted every word, every intimate moment, every heated touch in that book.

And I want that with her.

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