“My brother requested my help with something,” I answer. “I didn’t want to leave you behind.”
“Didn’t want to or couldn’t?”
“Yes.”
That earns me a sideways glance, but she doesn’t press. Not yet.
When the elevator doors open to Ezra’s penthouse, I step in front of her. My arm is protective. Possessive. She doesn’t resist, but I see the flicker of fire behind her eyes. Good. I want it lit.
The doors open again, and Ezra is waiting, lounging in a chair like a prince in his court.
“Well, well,” he says, eyes cutting to Ivy like a knife dipped in honey. “You brought her.”
Before she can speak, I turn to her, grip her chin gently but firmly between my fingers, and say it loud enough for him to hear.
“Don’t let him touch you.”
Her breath catches.
“I mean it, Ivy. If he lays a finger on you, I’ll break it off.”
Ezra grins like I just handed him a toy.
“Oh, don’t be like that, Roman. She didn’t seem so scared of me this morning.”
The rage coils in my gut again. I force it down.
“You’re annoying.” Ivy snaps at him. “I hope that girl is smart enough to make you work for it before she forgives you.”
“Why are we here?” I manage to ask without losing my temper.
He waves toward the side hallway. “There’s a woman in my bedroom refusing to speak to me. Says she doesn’t trust me.”
“Smart woman.”
“Exactly why I need you. You’re the morereasonableone, remember?”
I don’t reply. I turn to Ivy instead, pull the velvet box from my pocket, and pop it open.
A ring. Deep-cut blue diamond surrounded by black diamonds, glinting like sin and power.
She stares.
“Ivy—”
“Are you proposing?” she interrupts, eyes narrowing, voice half-laughing, half-terrified.
I slide it onto her ring finger without permission.
“You’re lucky I didn’t just make you my wife legally already,” I murmur. “This is me being generous. You’re not stepping foot on his property without my ring on your finger.”
She stares down at the ring like it’s burning her skin—but she doesn’t take it off.
Behind us, Ezra lets out a low whistle. “Damn. You’rereallygone for her.”
I don’t look at him. I only look at her.
Because she’s not mine yet. Not fully.
