Page 12 of Off Limits Billionaire

6

MARCUS

The nervous energy radiating from Anabella made me want to comfort her as soon as she gripped my hand during takeoff. The winds gently shook the jet on our climb into the clouds. When I pulled her attention toward me with a kiss, she relaxed, sighing against me and melting into my touch.

Once we leveled out, she pulled away with relief blanketing her face.

“That wasn’t so bad,” I told her as we relaxed into our seats.

“No, it was nice, and you taste like cinnamon spice,” she said, touching her bottom lip.

I chuckled and pulled out my tablet. “I was talking about the ascent, but the kiss wasn’t bad either.”

“Why couldn't you have just let it be about the kiss?” she asked with a roll of her eyes. “You just like being difficult.”

“From the way you ghosted me after our night together, I’d say I was easy.”

“Nothing is easy about being withMarcus Adler.”

I wanted her to want me as badly as I wanted her. “Now why would you say it like that? Outside of our family issues, which aren’t ours by the way, what’s not easy about being with me?”

Ana opened her mouth to speak but stopped. She huffed out a breath. “You’re right. Outside of you being cocky and annoying when you’re trying to get your way, I’ve never had any issues with you. It’s my brother who really pushes the ongoing feud.”

“Paul’s issues with me are purely situated in jealousy.”

She shifted in her seat to turn and face me. “Jealousy?”

“Yeah, jealousy. I tend to get the upper hand more times than he probably likes, especially when he’s had his eye on something. But Paul has very expensive tastes and lacks the bankroll to afford it.”

“Wow! I can’t believe you just said that!” Ana pushed herself out of her seat to sit across from me. “Are you really using your family’s privileged head start to call my brother jealous?”

“If I remember the tale correctly, our families had a similar start. It’s not my fault that we ended up using our advantages better. The Priceless Pierce name doesn’t exactly scream poverty. You have nearly $650,000 on display in that shop as it is. That Jean Joseph de Saint Germain musical table clock would haul in at least a quarter of that.”

“It doesn’t work.” She pouted and folded her arms across her chest. “Grandpa Augie won’t let it go unless it’s fully restored and in working order. At least, that’s why he said it’s not ready for sale. I think he’s just not willing to part with it ... wait a minute. You noticed the Saint Germain?”

“How could I not? Outside of you, it’s the most beautiful thing I saw when I walked into Priceless Pierce.”

She blushed and relaxed. “Flattery won’t distract me from the fact that you’re glossing over how you’re worth billions and calling my brother jealous because his tastes are similar to yours.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t call him jealous. He’s impractical and unrealistic. I also don’t want to spend this entire flight to Heathrow talking about your brother and his hobbies. I want to talk about how insufferable it is being in a relationship with me since you know so well.”

Ana narrowed her gaze at me. “What’s insufferable is how you won’t let it go. I’m beginning to think it’s simply because I’mforbidden. I’m just another conquest to you, I bet.”

“You’d lose that bet.”

Memories of the first night I noticed Anabella Pierce pushed their way to the forefront of my mind once again. I couldn’t stop replaying how her dark blonde strands were pulled high into an intricate design with two slivers framing her beautiful face. She wore a stunning dark gray gown that made her soft blue eyes pop. Her smile beckoned me. Her laughter was addictive. She'd lit up the entire room and I'd tried to put her out of my mind because of the stupid feud between our families.

“I doubt it,” she replied. “You’re accustomed to getting what you want and the fact that you can’t have me,again, is driving you crazy.”

“You’re right that I’m going crazy trying to figure out how I can date you without pouring gasoline on this dumpster fire of the Pierce-Adler feud.”

She snickered. “A dumpster fire, indeed. How about we stop talking about our families and the unlikely scenario of us ever being able to see each other romantically? Tell me about the Godschalk.”

We spent the rest of the flight discussing the clock and reviewing the pictures and videos sent to me by the auction house. There was a spark, a twinkle, a passion that burned brightly in her eyes whenever we discussed her restoration techniques and other items in the collection. I was amazed at what she told me simply from looking at the files.

By the time we landed, we were both exhausted. I had a driver greet us as we got off the plane and shuttle us to one of my favorite hotels with views of Big Ben as a tribute to our trip. Ana couldn't help but marvel at the sights around us.

I never imagined how happy it would make me feel showing someone ... well not just someone, it’s her. I never imagined how happy it would make me to show Ana around a city I’d been to so often I’d thought about buying a condo there.

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