Page 30 of Tempting the Billionaire
“Ex-wife,” he clarifies quickly.
I nod. “I’m sorry it’s all so … negative.”
He’s silent for a long moment. Long enough that I worry he’s not going to respond at all. “It was meant to be negative,” he finally says.
I frown in confusion, unsure what he means. I open my mouth to question him, but he beats me to it.
“I spoke with Justin.”
My eyes widen at that. “Spoke?” I repeat. “Only spoke?” I’d been afraid their confrontation wouldn’t include much speaking.
He noticeably grits his jaw at that. “Basically.” He lets out an irritated sigh. “You won’t have to worry about that video of yours showing up anywhere,” he says, leveling me with a sincere stare. “It was a trade. That story in the press about Diane cheating? It was enough for him to drop whatever deal he’d made with you.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded, for a long moment. “You leaked it to the press?” I put together.
He nods, lips still pursed. “And I had my lawyer send Justin a letter threatening a lawsuit if those videos ever see the light of day, outlining the fact that I haveunlimitedresources when it comes to waging a legal war with him. If that’s not persuading enough, I don’t know what is. He’s also got a restraining order on him—he can’t come within a hundred feet of you.”
I take the information as it comes at me, my disbelief growing with every second. “You’d … do that for me?” I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “The news about Diane would’ve leaked at some point. And—” his eyes meet mine “—the idea of that fucker hurting you …” His hands clench at his sides, and he shakes his head.
“But you did it. You did all that forme. After …” I stare at him, my heart breaking even further. That even after I’d hurt this man, he’d gone to war for me. He’d saved my life, defended me against Justin, thrown his reputation to the wolves all for … what? Me? Justme?
“Ezra,” I whisper, my voice catching. “I’m so sorry.” I shake my head, the guilt boiling over. “I never meant to hurt you, I was just blinded by the fear of what Justin could do. I shouldn’t have agreed, and I shouldn’t have played with you. It was awful of meand unforgiveable—regardless of what Justin threatened me with.” I wrap my arms around my waist, hugging myself for comfort. “I never thought it would get this far, I never thought I’d fall …” I swallow, realizing as the words slip out how real they are. “… in love with you.”
At this, Ezra’s eyes widen slightly. “You love me?” he repeats. It’s the first time I’ve seen him not composed, not fully in control. He truly looks shocked, incredulous, and … something else I can’t quite identify.
I nod. I bite my lip, suddenly feeling stupid, silly. I hadn’t even fully realized the extent of my feelings for him until this very moment. But the more I sit in it, the more I realize how true it is. I’m in love with Ezra Bishop, as implausible as that seems. And as the seconds tick by without a response, my heart feels like it might explode.
Ezra stares at me for a long moment. A long, torturous moment. “I didn’t think I could ever really love again after Diane,” he says softly. “I never thought I’d feel that way again.” He walks toward me. “Until you,” he breathes, looking down at me.
My breath hitches in my throat, and I stare up at him.
He reaches down to cup my face in his hands. “I love you, Emma Hayes. And I don’t care what you did—all I care about is that you love me back.” Andwith that, he crushes his lips against mine, wrapping his arms around my body and pulling me against him.
I melt into him, my mind going a thousand different places at once. Shock, relief, joy, but most of all—desire. I cling to him, grasping the fabric of his shirt and pulling him against me.
Without breaking our kiss, he reaches down with both hands to grip my ass, hoisting me up and urging me to wrap my legs around his waist. I do, and he carries me down the hallway and through a door. I break our kiss to look around long enough to see that he’s taken me into what appears to be a cozy living space—complete with couches and a roaring fireplace.
At first, I assume he’s going to lay me down on the coach, but instead he makes a beeline for the plush rug in front of the fireplace, laying me down gently but then grabbing my wrists in his hands and pinning them above my head. I lie there like that, my legs spread wide, still wrapped around his waist, staring up at him.
“Don’t ever toy with my heart again, Emma,” he says, his voice hard—but I can hear the plea within it. “I wouldn’t survive it.”
“I won’t,” I breathe, and I mean it. With every fiber of my being, I mean it. “I’m yours, Ezra. All of me.”
His eyes darken, and he presses his arousal against me. He works his jaw, staring down at me witha desire I never thought possible. “Naked,” he demands. “Now.”
He releases my wrists long enough for me to pull my t-shirt up over my head; then reach behind my back, unclasping my bra.
I fiddle with my jeans, and once I’ve unbuttoned them, Ezra leans back, grabs the waistband, and slides them off of me. He does the same with my panties, leaving me completely nude in the glow of the fireplace.
He pins me back down with one hand holding both wrists above my head, and I pant, staring up at him, waiting for his next move. He lazily draws his finger along my skin, sliding along my stomach, making circles on my breast, around my nipple.
He leans down to press his lips against my ear. “Sweetheart, should I punish you for being so bad?” he whispers.
My heartbeat stutters. “Punish?” I repeat, equal parts fear and arousal coursing through me.
“I have half a mind to tie you up and torture you until you’re begging for release,” he murmurs.
