He didn’t know what to say. The one thing she wanted, he couldn’t give her. How could he offer her love, something he’d never been exposed to growing up? He’d been taught to be strong, to be the best at everything. Love was a weakness. He’d been drilled to bottle that shit up. He wanted Adora, but couldn’t offer something he was incapable of.
“You’re right, this isn’t a fairy tale. It’s more complicated, it’s real, but it doesn’t mean I’m not giving you my all.”
She fiddled with his tie. “It’s just that my father never wanted me, and it hurt knowing that—more than you know. I had to watch my mother struggle, and had to live my life feeling unworthy. I’m an adult now. I want more.”
“I’m not your father, Adora. He was an asshole to walk out on your mother. I’m nothing like him.”
“You’re more like him than you realize,” she said. It sounded like Adora may know the identity of her real father, and it was something he was in the process of narrowing down.
He shook his head. “You don’t even know me.”
Tobias didn’t even know himself. He’d been programmed to succeed, but at what cost? He couldn’t help but remember why his brother took his own life. Most people needed more than dollars and cents—did he?
“But we’re having sex tonight.”
“Yes, we are,” he said. “That’s non-negotiable.” He ran his hand up her thigh. “We’ll have all the time in the world to get to know each other after tonight.”
“What if I tell you I’m scared?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I promise I won’t hurt you. We’ll go nice and slow. I’ll take good care of you.” He gave her leg a little squeeze.
“I’m not worried about my body.”
Tobias had a lot to prove, and it was all unfamiliar territory. But if he wanted to secure his legacy, he needed a woman. A wife. The longer he spent with Adora, the more his physical attraction morphed into genuine affection. It terrified him, this new vulnerability. His first reaction was to fight back and put up walls. He hoped he didn’t fuck this up.
“One thing at a time,” he said. Tobias slid his hand up her dress, holding her hip as he kissed her shoulder. “No more worrying.”
“I haven’t told my mother about us. About our date.”
“You’re doing it again. Tonight’s about you and me. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.” He kissed her deep, holding her close. When her tongue slipped into his mouth, his eyes rolled back in his head. Never had a woman had such a profound effect on him.
****
Last week, Adora had been satisfied with her lot in life. Putting herself through college wasn’t easy, but she was determined to make something out of her life. The studying, the working, the struggling—it would all be worth it one day.
Everything had changed.
In one week.
Adora was falling in love with a man twice her age, a man seemingly perfect in every way. She knew it was a mistake to go along with any of this, but she couldn’t convince her heart otherwise. His words, his affection, and the way he stood up for her, everything kept pulling her in, and she was starting to change her hard-set views. Maybe things could work out. Maybe he’d grow to love her?
“If we don’t stop now, I’ll be taking you right here on the sofa. I don’t think you’d want that.” His voice always sounded rough and deep, having a direct effect on her libido.
She wanted to tell him that she didn’t care one way or another. There was something about Tobias that demanded obedience, and she was helpless against it. She wanted him, wanted him to take control of her body in every way. Was she selling out? Putting her fears above her ideals? She didn’t want to admit it, but even without the blackmail she wouldn’t have been able to turn him down.
“I still say the dress costs way too much,” she said.
He gave her that same evil smirk that made her body fire hot. “You can thank me tonight.”
Adora slipped off his lap, and changed back into her clothes. Tobias carried her dress to the front of the store. There was an older man in a suit waiting for them, a soft measuring tape around his neck.
“Carlos, thanks for coming by. Seems we have a bit of an emergency.” Tobias winked and tossed the dress into his waiting arms, continuing on to the checkout counter. Adora followed behind him, but the tailor stopped her.
“A few measurements, please.”
Adora obliged him as he quickly took all her measurements, then took the notepad to a wooden folding table with everything a tailor could need. She couldn’t believe how much pull Tobias Bennett had. It made her feel special that he’d chosen her.