Page 43 of Stuck with the Billionaire Celebrity

It’s overwhelming. Suffocating, really.

But then there’s Theo, standing between me and the danger, making all these decisions about security and protection like it’s his personal mission to keep me safe.

Part of me wants to resist it, to push back against the walls he’s starting to build around me. I don’t want to feel like a prisoner in my own life.

But another part of me… likes it. Likeshimthis way. Fierce, determined, focused on me in a way that no one ever has been before.

I glance at the door, wondering where he is right now. He left hours ago and hasn’t returned.

Probably talking to Tad or Devon, making more plans to reinforce the security around the house. He’s been so relentless about it all, barely stopping to breathe, let alone talking to me about anything unrelated to my stalker.

But I don’t want to think about that tonight. Not right now. I just want a moment of peace, a break from the fear and the anxiety that’s been gnawing at me.

The door creaks open, and I look up, half-expecting to see one of the guards or maybe Devon coming to give me an update. But it’s Theo.

He steps into the room, his expression softer than it’s been all day, but his eyes still have that edge of intensity.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice low, almost hesitant.

I nod, giving him a small smile. "Just… trying to relax."

He walks over to the bar cart, pours himself a drink, and then comes to sit beside me on the couch. The space between us is small, but it feels like there’s something unspoken between us.

"You’ve been quiet," he says, sipping his drink. "I know this has been hard on you."

I laugh softly, shaking my head. "That’s an understatement. But I’m managing."

He turns to me, his gaze steady, searching. "You don’t have to pretend with me, Grace. I know you’re scared."

I sigh, resting my head against the back of the couch. "I am scared. But not just of him."

His brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

I hesitate momentarily, wondering if I should even say what’s been on my mind. But something about the way he’s looking at me makes me feel safe enough to be honest.

"I’m scared of losing myself in all of this. I don’t want to be defined by what’s happening, by him. I don’t want to feel like I’m a prisoner in my own life."

He sets his drink down on the coffee table, leaning in closer to me. His presence is grounding, solid, like a shield against everything swirling around us. "You won’t be. I won’t let that happen."

There’s a certainty in his voice. I look up at him, and I see something different in his eyes. Something more than just concern or protectiveness. It’s deeper than that, something that makes the air between us feel charged.

“It’s not for you to protect me from.”

"I mean it, Grace," he says softly, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. "I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

The touch of his fingers sends a heat shock straight to my center, and suddenly, the room feels smaller and warmer. Myheart starts to race, and I find myself leaning into him, drawn to the way he makes me feel—safe, protected, wanted.

"I know you will," I whisper as my eyes lock onto his.

Before I can think better of it, I lean forward, closing the distance between us. Our lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss, and the world outside—the fear, the threats, the stalker—disappears.

All I can focus on is the feel of his lips against mine, the way his hand cups the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

The kiss deepens, and suddenly, it’s like everything we’ve been holding back comes rushing to the surface. The tension, the worry, the need for something solid in the middle of all this chaos—it all pours out in that kiss.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other. I close my eyes, trying to steady my racing heart, but all I can think about is how much I need him right now.

Not just as my protector but as someone who can make me feel grounded, and alive.

---