Page 107 of Into the Woods

I leaned as far away from him as I could. “Eric—”

He gave a rueful chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m mucking this up, aren’t I, darling? Maybe I should’ve started off with a more specific question.” When he reached into his pocket, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

It sure as hell wasn’t a ring box.

“Eric.” I choked on his name as he pried the lid up, revealing a sparkling princess-cut diamond that had to be at least five carats, surrounded by a ring of sapphires.

“I know this is sudden for most people, but I’ve learned that if there’s something I want, then I have to take it.” He looked me in the eyes. “Rebecca Whittier, will you marry me?”

No.

I wanted to say it. Hell, I wanted to scream it. To close the lid and hurl the box away from the table.

“It’s too soon,” was all I could manage to squeak out.

He laughed, the sound warm and inviting. “I know we’ve known each other for less than two weeks, but I’ve already shared more details of my life with you than anyone else. You understand, Bex. We fit.”

Love wasn’t puzzle pieces fitting neatly into perfect shapes. It was messy and chaotic, passionate and consuming.

“I won’t lose you,” he finished, his tone taking on a harder edge that caught my attention.

My gaze snapped up to meet his, and I swallowed hard at what I saw. He looked possessed. Like a child who’d just been given a toy he’d always wanted and would fight to keep.

I was the toy. I was a thing for him to own. To be his.

The irony wasn’t lost on me that, forty-eight hours earlier, I’d let myself become someone else’s possession. I’d told Court I was his—that every piece of me belonged to him.

The difference was, I knew Court would treat me like someone to be cherished and protected. Eric? Yeah, he looked like he’d put me in a glass case on a shelf and occasionally bring me out to play with when the mood struck.

I wanted to say no. I needed to say no… but then I thought of the auction. Of the girls and women who were likely suffering, people I could help if I just played along for a few more days. That’s all we needed—a few more days, then it would be over.

“Bex.” His hand tightened around mine, squeezing my fingers together until the joints popped.

I couldn’t hide my wince. “You’re hurting my hand.”

“We’re made for each other,” he went on, ignoring the fact that he was grinding my bones together. “Surely you see that.”

I looked up, took a deep breath… and spotted a red light blinking in a corner of the ceiling.

There were security cameras in here. Cameras that the guys had hacked. There was a good chance that Court was watching us right now. The hand Eric was strangling was under the table between us, but I knew Court would see any sign of distress and come running. He’d blow up the entire operation for me.

Then it would all be for nothing, and I couldn’t be the reason innocent people were hurt.

“You caught me off guard,” I whispered, keeping my tone light and soft. “I wasn’t expecting a proposal tonight.”

Eric frowned. “I know it is a bit sudden.”

A bit? I wanted to laugh in his face. The guy was freaking delusional. And dangerous.

“You’re right,” I said. “We haven’t known each other long, but I can already tell how special you are. This is like a fairy tale. I never expected to find my own Prince Charming.”

He grinned, relaxing the crushing grip on my hand. “And I never expected to find my princess, but here we are. And I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.”

“Me, too,” I demurred after a beat, lowering my lashes and hoping he’d see the expression as bashful and not I’m-going-to-throw-up-if-I-look-at-you-much-longer. I drew in a breath, centering myself, before I lifted my eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

“Oh, my love,” he breathed, letting me go so he could take the ring from the box and slide it onto my finger. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to mine before I had a chance to come up with an excuse.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

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