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this chance forever,” he breathed, his voice husky and low.
    I looked up into his eyes, stunned by his admission. “Why haven’t you asked me on a date before?”
    “It wouldn’t be proper. Your dad is my boss, I had to wait till I’d finished my internship and reached this goal. So that I had something to offer when I pursued you. And pursue you, I will. I’m a patient man. I know what I want. And I want you , Jade.” Full lips curved into a smile and his eyes gleamed as if he had just won first prize.
    Hi s words pleased me, it was exactly what I wanted to hear. “You sound very sure of yourself.” I cocked an eyebrow at him.
    “You have no idea, little darling. No idea . You are part of my master plan.”
    “I am?” My breath hitched.
    “Yes. I think we’d make beautiful babies together. I’m going to buy you the biggest mansion I can afford, now that I’ve made junior partner. It’s all coming together.”
    I pulled back a fraction. “ Hold on a minute. Don’t I have a say in this master plan of yours? What if I said no?”
    “ Haha. You can wipe that frown off your pretty little face. I’ve already spoken to your dad about us. He practically gave me his blessing to sweep you off your feet and to marry you. Your mom is already picking the venue.”
    My eyes widened. This was a bit too fast for me. “Wow, you don’t waste time , do you, Mr. Junior-Partner?”
    “Jade Masterton. It has a nice ring to it.” I had to admit he was right. I liked the way he said my name as if I was already his. Confident men were my weakness. Especially if he went after it with as much tenacity as what Mr. Masterton was doing. It turned me on. I could never respect a man who didn’t know clearly what he wanted.
    But I wasn’t going to make it that easy for him. If any man wanted me , really wanted me , he had to work for it. That was the only way to truly appreciate anything in life. If things were given too freely, they diminished in value.
    “ Marcus, we hardly know one another. Why the rush?” I genuinely wanted to know, so I held my breath while waiting for his answer.
    “Y our Mom is salivating at the thought of being a grandmother. Your father sees the logic of his firm being passed on to his son-in-law. They practically want me to marry you and get you pregnant immediately.” He chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows.
    “Right,” I said with a shaky breath, remembering the conversation in the kitchen and how eager my parents were. My head was spi nning. Yes, I wanted to catch a good man, but this was ridiculous. “What about your parents?” I ventured. I didn’t trust events that ran too smoothly.
    “They couldn’t be happier. You’ re practically royalty in this city. We both come from a long line of old money. You are well bred. We couldn’t be more perfect for one another. We have their blessing too. At least they know you aren’t a gold-digger.” He laughed, amused by his own joke.
    “Sweet L ord. I sound like a pawn in a business deal. I don’t know, Marcus—”
    “ Don’t overthink it. Just go with the flow. It’s your destiny to be with me. As my wife. I’ll take good care of you. Give you everything you want.”
    I sighed. “But what about love ? We don’t love each other.”
    He took my hand and guided it between us, bringing it to rest on his hard length. “We will love one another, darling. Trust me. I can’t wait to have you all to myself. I’m going to make love to that beautiful body of yours. You will be mine, those breasts that have been teasing me all night, that luscious mouth… I want to get you pregnant as soon as we’re married. What do you say, should we start practicing immediately?”
    I gasped. “ Marcus, I need to think this through. It’s too much, too soon.”
    “Look around the room , darling. See all the other girls? They wish they were you right now. They want your fairy tale life. They would say yes in a heartbeat. Why not you?”
    I narrowed my eyes