Page 74 of The Billionaire's Accidental Legacy

He had cultivated a persona of excess, but it was not who he was.

He was not the libertine that he pretended to be. Not that he hadn’t engaged in the business pursuits, but she did not think he did so because he lacked self-control, or because hedonism was a siren’s call he couldn’t stay clear of. No, she had the feeling that it was all to do with his vengeance. And it irritated her that he was playing a part even with her, and yet... She shouldn’t be surprised. She didn’t think he had planned to let her guard down when he had told her about his mother. It had been circumstantial.

She intended to think about that more, but as soon as the plane door opened, a rush of fragrant floral air greeted her, and she could only step outside, her mouth dropped in awe.

“This will be our home for the month,” he said.

“The month... And Maren will be safe the entire time?”

“Yes. Believe me. She has been moved somewhere equally luxurious, and just as private. Plus, she has an entire security detail surrounding her.”

“Okay,” she said cautiously.

Well, at least she would be able to rest. Yes, there were some difficulties emotionally. But she would be safe here from her father, and it was glorious.

A car whisked them along winding oceanside roads, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the water.

Crystal clear and an extraordinary shade of aqua all at once.

The white sands were so bright that she had to put on sunglasses to keep her eyes from burning.

They began a winding road that went away from the water, and up the mountain at the center of the island. And at first, she didn’t see where they would be staying, but then suddenly, she saw it. Buried in the trees, a part of the landscape itself.

The house was on multiple levels, with bridges connecting different quadrants. It was made of honey-colored wood, with large windows that were highly reflective, and made it appear as if it was just more greenery, rather than a massive home.

“It’s like a treehouse,” she whispered.

She sounded more like Maren right then. Like she’d found something fresh and sweet inside herself.

She looked at him. He made her feel that way. It had scared her at first.

She liked it now.

She liked him.

“It is quite something,” he said.

“Whose is it?”

“It’s mine. One of the many properties I own.”

“That’s right. You have clubs. Sex clubs.”

Her lips tingled when she said the words.

“I don’t know that I would go so far as to call them that. But they are designed for people pursuing decadent pleasure, that is certain. The sex usually happens away from the club, though.”

“Usually?”

“There are private rooms. And sometimes gatherings in there get...intimate.”

“I see. And do you participate in such things?”

He shook his head. “No. To be honest with you, group sex has never appealed.”

“That surprises me. You’re an exhibitionist.”

“No. I’m not an exhibitionist. I was making a show of certain things to build a facade. But I am not at my core someone who likes to expose every part of himself.”

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