Page 43 of The Billionaire's Fake Wife
"Take your worst nightmare and multiply it by 1000… Then add another few zeroes."
"Your wanker instincts are showing."
He bares his teeth, "Your… fight or flight senses need sharpening."
My heart begins to race. Adrenaline fills my blood.
"I meant every word I said." He thrusts out his chest.
The pulse thunders at my temples.
His nostrils flare. Bastard senses my fear. Sweat beads the inside of my palms and I hold up a finger. "Hang on."
His shoulders bunch, every part of him on edge, ready for the start of whatever insane race he has in mind. Darkness bleeds off of him. He’s excited. Damn him. This entire thing is a joke for him… and I stupidly came along for the ride. I have to take control, have to. "So, let me get this right."
He angles his head.
"If I evade you now, I can leave?"
"I don’t repeat myself."
Icicles crawl up my back.
"If… if you catch me?"
"Then you’re mine to do with as I want."
"For the next seven days, right?"
He raises an eyebrow.
"And you’ll pay off my debts and arrange for my sister to be treated by a specialist?"
He nods, "I’ll deposit another million in your account, in good faith, so both of you are taken care of for the immediate future."
I swallow. Why is he doing this? Something is not right. What is he not telling me?
What choice do I have?
I had upped the stakes. He’s made this deal impossible to resist… All the more reason to cut and run. I have to get away from him, before he ruins me completely.
"Deal." I hold out a hand.
He ignores it. He peels back his lips and his pearly white teeth shine in the first rays of the moonlight.
My legs quiver; my thighs spasm. Get away, get away from him now. My body leans away from him, ready to bolt. Something primal inside of me insists that I stay, meet his gaze. Not look away as he bends in closer.
His breath sears my cheek.
"Run now. You have until I complete my countdown."
"Five."
I tense. Go, go. The hard edge of his glare bores into me. He can see my heart, my soul, my every desire lies unleashed in front of him.
"Four."
I take a trembling step back. What am I trying to prove? Why am I not taking the small advantage he’s offering me? Because it’s a trap, it’s a—
"Two."
"You cheated." I gasp, "You missed a count."
He bares his teeth, "One."
I turn and bolt.
