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He held my gaze and took a deep breath.
“Even if I didn’t already have kids, you’d have to give up everything anyway. Because I’m not having your babies if you’re still living that life. They’d need to be safe, and your retirement is the only way to ensure that. Whether it’s with me or Camille…or someone else…you’d have to step away, regardless.”
He averted his gaze and remained quiet for a long time. “I don’t know how I got here. Last week, we were just having fun, and now…I have to make a decision.”
“The decision doesn’t need to be made now.”
“But it does.” His eyes lifted to me. “Because if we continue this relationship, it’s not the same. It’s not a man and his whore. It’s a man with his woman. And as your man, I need to protect not only you, but those you care about. That means…my life needs to change. I can’t risk someone taking you to hurt me…or taking someone else.”
I couldn’t even allow myself to think about it.
“So yes, the decision needs to be made, and it needs to be made today.”
“So…we’re either in this for the long haul…or we aren’t together at all?”
“Yes.”
I prayed it was the first one.
He moved for the door. “I’ll let you know.”
I watched him walk away, knowing I couldn’t interfere with his decision. I wouldn’t want him to be with me because I convinced him. I wanted him to be with me because that’s what he wanted. I wanted him to give up everything for me—because he wanted me that badly.
32
CAMILLE
Cauldron sat across from me in the restaurant, his shoulders broad in the blazer he wore. The waitress was a fine piece of ass, but he didn’t seem to notice because his eyes were glued to me the entire time.
With the exception of his phone.
It seemed to be vibrating in his pocket a lot because he glanced at it repeatedly but never responded to the person trying to talk to him.
“You can get that—”
“It’s fine.”
The waitress brought our entrees, and we ate in near silence. After being apart for so long, it seemed like we should have a lot to say, but there was nothing new to talk about. We already knew each other. Knew what we wanted out of life. We were stuck in this limbo because of me, when we could be in the dining room downstairs, his butler attending to our every whim.
“How’s work?” I asked.
“I sold the business.”
“You what?” I nearly dropped my fork.
He kept his cool composure. “I sold it for far more than it’s worth, so I’m happy with the deal.”
“But that was…sudden.”
“I meant everything I said to you. I’m all in.”
“Cauldron, I never asked you to do that—”
“I’ve learned from my father’s mistakes. I’ve learned from my own mistakes. Whenever you’re ready to come home with me, our lives will be different. We’ll occupy the master as man and woman, and then eventually, man and wife. My home will be your home. And then one day…that home will be shared with little people who share our likeness. Whenever you’re ready for it.”
I knew he was tempting me, making me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I could leave my apartment and return to the estate where I’d fallen in love. Our future had everything I wanted. All I had to do was pack my bags and leave.
His eyes watched my expression, strained for a reaction.
