Page 50 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée (French Conquests 1)

It would half-kill her to go, she thought, but she wasn’t going to let it. She was a survivor, and she didn’t think how long she would last if she didn’t get out of here. Staying this close to a man she loved, who didn’t, wouldn’t, or couldn’t, love her back, would crush her like a submarine on the ocean floor.

“You know what Sofia tried to do. How am I to be sure that something like that will never happen again?”

“It won’t,” he said quickly, sitting next to her and taking her hand. “I promise I will never let any harm come to you.”

“Why did you bring me here? To France? There’s absolutely no reason for this ruse.”

He took a few moments to answer, but when he did, she wished she hadn’t asked him. “I was afraid that when I saw Sofia again, that I would be tempted to seduce her away from my brother. That my contempt for my brother would drive me to hurt him the same way he hurt me. I asked you to come because I wanted someone other than my family and the household staff to keep my vengeful thoughts at bay.”

“Did it work?”

“Jacyn, please.”

“Answer me!”

“The answer is complicated. Please. I need you, Jacyn.” He squeezed her hand gently.

I need you.Those words and his mere touch were making her question her decision. She wrenched her hand away. “Don’t Alex. I am only asking for one thing, that you let me go… today if possible. I’ve spoken to Liam and asked him to get me on a flight back home.”

He looked incredulous. “What? You went toLiamabout this?”

She clarified desperately, “He’s the one who owns all the jets and other means of transport. With an injured body, I figured I rather lay up on the jet’s bed than an on uncomfortable commercial seat.”

“You spoke to mybrotherinstead of coming to me?”

It seemed to Jacyn that the idea that he had been bypassed was almost as offensive to him as the thought of her leaving. Would that sibling rivalry never end?

She tried to explain. “It’s just that you and things have been so weird lately. You know, since…”Since the morning I told you I was just using you for a boy-toy,she thought. That wasn’t something you came back from. Once you said it, it stuck. “I just figured he would easier to approach, that’s all.”

“Don’t be silly,mapuce.This whole idea of you leaving is ridiculous!”

“It’s not ridiculous. I’ve loved being here. I love thechâteauand the horses and your family and the smell of lavender and jasmine on the breeze. But my life has been on hold. I have a business to launch. I need to go.”

He reached for her and pulled her against his chest. She could feel it heaving under her cheek and the raw emotion startled her. It threatened to trigger a response, an avalanche of feelings which, once set-in motion, would be unstoppable. She wanted to pull away, but the feel and scent of him was so addictive, she couldn’t move a muscle.

His voice was hoarse as he whispered into her hair, “Jacyn, after all that has gone on between us, are you telling me that you feel nothing?”

And now, she had a decision to make. She could stick to her guns, double down on her denial, and repeat the lie that it had all been about the sex, or she could honor what she felt for him and tell the truth.

Even though the truth had a way of landing with the force of an A-bomb.

She gathered her strength, lifted her lashes so that her pained brown eyes connected with his wide, anguished ones. “What I said about this being only about the sex. I lied. There’s more, it seems like there was always more, even from the moment I met you.”

He waited. His attention riveted on her.

“I love you, Alex. I don’t have anything more to say about that. I don’t know how to expand upon it, or clarify or explain. I love you, and that’s why I can’t stay here another minute. So, I’m going to ask you again, am I free?”

She waited as he sat there, stunned. Did a part of her hope he would confess that he loved her too? Was she wishing he would beg her to stay, promise that if she did, everything would be okay?

She didn’t have time to wonder much longer, or find answers to these hard questions. He nodded, exhaled slowly, and rose, not even looking at her. “You’re free to go, Jacyn. I have no further hold on you.”

Look at me look at me look at me!her heart screamed.

Nothing. Not a backward glance.

“Don’t call Liam. I’ll make arrangements. You can fly out tonight, if you wish.”

She discovered that her tongue was plastered to the roof of her mouth. She could barely move it to say, “Thank you.”

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