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“Mas–?” is my helpless cry. “M–?”
But he’s not stopping. The alpha’s relentless, tasting and touching, his hands already beginning to wrench the nightie over my head.
“Mas–?” I pant this time between hungry kisses, unable to believe what’s happening. “Mason?”
And finally, he stops for a moment, blue eyes seizing mine.
“I love you, Carrie Newman,” he growls, gaze on fire. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you.”
My body’s still with shock. Wha–? How? Why?
But the billionaire shakes his head again.
“Ever since the moment I met you,” he repeats. “You were nothing like a regular sugar baby. Those girls are trash, females that you keep in a seedy hotel, feeding them cash. But you were different from the very beginning. Your caring nature, your sweetness.”
I interrupt, grabbing at his hand.
“Mason,” I say breathlessly. “What do you mean?”
And the billionaire throws his head back and laughs then, more of a harsh bark than real humor.
“From the very beginning,” he says slowly. “I wanted to parade you around. I wanted to show you off to my friends, my coworkers, fuck, even my employees. I was proud to have you on my arm and branded as my woman. I wanted people to know that you were mine.”
I’m speechless, gaping at him. But the dark man seizes my face in those big palms then.
“I fucking fought your parents for you. I beat Jim to a pulp, and almost did the same to Rhonda,” he says fiercely. “Because you were mine, and they were abusing my property. They treated you like a ragdoll to be thrown around, worth nothing. I couldn’t take it, so I moved you out next to me.”
That was true. This penthouse was just down the street from Mason’s apartment. But still, there were so many unanswered questions.
“But what about Jim and Rhonda?” I ask slowly. “My parents have called you a ch- child molester.” The word stutters on my tongue, like poison making me choke.
But Mr. Channing just laughs again.
“I don’t give a shit about them. Because you know what? You were never underage, and the world will know the truth soon. You were a sweet thing who entered into a relationship with a much older man, but that’s not illegal.”
I nod.
“But what about your company?” is my agonized whisper. “What about the hotel opening in Paris? Didn’t I embarrass you? And why didn’t you call me these last two weeks?”
My final question is so humiliating, the words squeezed from my throat, eyes beginning to well with tears. But I can’t help it. Because Mason left me dangling, hung from a pole out to dry. Maybe the pain doesn’t sear anymore, but the memory stings like a slap that won’t go away.
He fixes me with a fierce look.
“Channing Corp. is fine without me,” he growls. “That was my mistake sweetheart. I thought that the company couldn’t function without me, but it’s not true. I haven’t been doing shit for years now,” he says wryly. “And they’re totally fine.”
I stare at him.
“But you go to work every day ….”
He smiles wryly again, only half his mouth pulling up.
“Doesn’t mean I’m doing anything while I’m there. But it doesn’t matter,” he growls again. “Channing Corp. is fine. Investors and employees know that I’m not the company, and the company’s not me. We’re separate entities, and I won’t devote my life to it anymore. It’s time for something new.”
I shake my head, confused.
“But I thought you were the face of the conglomerate,” are my dazed words. “I thought you were their public persona, your name on the door.”
He nods sharply.
“And it’s time for that to change. It’s time for all that bullshit to stop. Because you know what? One day I’m gonna die, and I want the corporation to go on without me. My time on Earth is limited, but that doesn’t mean that operations have to grind to a halt.”
And slowly I nod.
“Corporations aren’t people,” are my soft words. “So yes, the company can last for years and years, an eternity even.” Then my voice breaks. “But what does that mean for us, Mr. Channing? What does that mean for us?”
The billionaire swoops down to gather me in his arms again. And for the first time in two weeks I feel protected. My form slumps against that hard chest, relaxing into the aura of strength. Because this is where I belong, with my man, under his guidance.
“What it means,” he growls in my ear. “Is that you and I should be together. It doesn’t have to be the company or you. It doesn’t have to be business or love. I can have both. And if I can’t,” he says, punctuating the words with a kiss. “Then I choose you.”
My eyes fly open, alert.
“What?” I gasp. “What do you mean?”
But Mason isn’t fazed, those broad shoulders shrugging.
