“I brought you here against your will, and then my father coerced you into marrying me. None of this has been your choice, and I don’t want to continue to force you into anything else you don’t want.”

  “You didn’t force me into anything,” I assure him.

  “No, I didn’t. You wanted me last night. Even without my wolf’s heightened senses, I could scent it, feel it, taste it. But what about tonight and tomorrow and the day after?”

  “What about it?” I’m stalling. We both know it.

  He steps closer, which only makes my pulse race faster. I grip the mug tightly to keep from dropping it.

  “Do you want me, Lexi?” He backs me against the counter and takes the mug from my hands, setting it aside then boxing me in. “Do you want me in your bed?”

  “Yes,” I whisper.

  He traces my bottom lip with his thumb, his brow lifting in a sexy arch. “In your mouth?” he challenges.

  I’m already turned on, but at his words, heat slams into me. “Yes.”

  His thumb releases me, and his hand trails down between my thighs to brush my clit. “In your pussy?”

  I swallow hard, rocking forward to meet his touch. “Yes.”

  He releases me, and my disappointment must show on my face because his mouth quirks. But instead of stroking me again, his palm presses against my chest as he says, “What about in your heart?”

  His question is surprisingly serious and carries so much more meaning than the ones that came before it. That was sex. This is… everything.

  I lick my lips, hesitating. More than anything, I want to say yes, not because he’s turned me on enough that I’ll say what he wants, though I have a feeling it’s part of the test. I want to say yes because it’s true. But I’ve learned the hard way that, in this world, truth does not set you free.

  “I want to,” I admit.

  He drops his hand and steps back. Something flashes in his eyes. Disappointment or maybe hurt. It’s there and gone before I can be sure. It’s stupid, but I feel like, for once, I’m the asshole.

  Before I can think of something to say to end this awkward moment, he picks up my coffee and pushes it back into my hands.

  “Grey,” I begin.

  He blinks, and his expression is once again smooth and confident, and unaffected. He presses a kiss to my cheek and then goes back to stirring the batter. “I appreciate your honesty, princess. Now, the real question right now is how many pancakes do you want?”

  Over breakfast, the awkwardness from earlier is forgotten. Grey is surprisingly good at pancakes though I make sure not to let on how good. He’s already way too full of himself.

  I reach for a second helping, and his brows lift.

  “You have a hollow leg or something?” he teases.

  “I’m like a camel,” I tease. “Saving it up for later.”

  He doesn’t laugh though. “Lexi, there’s no famine to worry about. Not with me.”

  I shrug like it’s no big deal, but inside, my feelings churn because he’s just seen right through to the part of me I wasn’t offering up for inspection.

  When we’re finished, I do the dishes while he sips his coffee at the bar. I can feel him watching me, but every time I glance back, he simply winks and grins. He’s keeping it light, which makes my guilt return double-time after brushing him off earlier.

  “I was wondering if you might help me with something,” I say when I’m done cleaning up.

  “I thought I already did that last night.”

  I toss the dishtowel at him, and he catches it with a smirk.

  “I mean with my wolf. I need to know why I don’t have one. And maybe how to get it back—if that’s possible.”

  I don’t mention the fact that I’ve been wondering about all this since the moment I found out I had shifter blood. Or the fact that I haven’t asked him for help before now because I wasn’t sure I could trust him with this. But I have a feeling he knows all of that anyway. And it’s the most trust I can offer at the moment. I hope he sees that I’m trying to offer more.

  He studies me for a moment then nods. “All right, princess. I’ll help you find your wolf.”

  “You will?”

  “But you have to do something for me.”

  I smirk. “I thought I did that last night.”

  “Oh, believe me, your help last night is much appreciated, but it’s not what I want in exchange for this favor.”

  “Then what—?”

  “Let me take you out.”

  “Like, on a date?”

  “Yes. On a date.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Well, it usually consists of dinner and maybe a movie or a walk through the park or—”

  “I know what a date is. I just don’t get why you want one with me.”

  “You’re my fiancé,” he says, and something in me wilts a little.

  Of course. We’re engaged—and the entire city thinks we’re madly in love. Vincenzo won’t let us stay locked away in this penthouse. We have to play the part.

  “Right. I get it.”

  He frowns. “Do you? Because I don’t just mean—”

  “I’ll go out with you,” I tell him quickly because maybe he hasn’t yet realized I would have been commanded to do this eventually by his father, so it’s a small price to pay for figuring out why I can’t shift.

  “All right, princess.” His tone is off, but I have no idea what I’ve done wrong. I agreed to his terms, so why does he look so irritated?

  “Is there something else?”

  “Not at all.” He sets his mug aside and stands. “We’ll go tonight. I’ll make sure the paparazzi are expecting us.”

  27

  GREY

  She isn’t ready to trust me yet, and it’s no one’s fault but my own. I kidnapped her and threw her into a world intent on using or destroying her, so what did I expect when I finally realized I was in love with her? Fuck. Even admitting it to myself in my head still feels surreal. I have no idea when I knew. Sometime last night while I was fucking her, it hit me. This wasn’t about fucking. This was about her. And the moment I understood it, my wolf came roaring back. I haven’t told her that part. I haven’t even used it to help me heal yet. Hell, having him back so soon shouldn’t be possible after what my father did. The only thing that makes sense is Lexi.

  She’s my mate.

  Otherwise, being with her last night shouldn’t have been able to break my father’s alpha order over me. It’s the only explanation for wanting to bite her and claim her right there on my mattress as she came for me.

  Now, she refuses to trust me, and that’s on no one else but me.

  But, fuck, it’s infuriating.

  Before I can take my anger out on her, I stalk back to my room and close the door, sealing her off from my bad mood. Two days ago, leaving her alone in the apartment wouldn’t have been an option, but now, I don’t worry. She might not trust me with her heart, but I know she understands I’ll keep her safe from the dangers that await her beyond these walls.

  After a shower and fresh clothes, I step onto my balcony and call Dutch.

  It's barely ten in the morning and already warm enough to be uncomfortable, but I need the privacy.

  Dutch answers sleepily. “Yeah?”

  “You still sleeping?”

  “Not anymore, asshole.”

  “I need advice.”

  “Hang on.” There’s a pause and then, “Okay, I just had to check out the window to see if we had an ice storm last night.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “If you want advice from me, it can only mean hell has officially frozen over.”

  “Fuck off,” I say, but he ignores me, laughing at his own joke. “Are you done?”

  “Okay—okay, what’s up?”

  “Lexi and I slept together.”

  “Fucking finally,” he declares. “How was she?”

  A growl rips from my throat.

  “Whoa, tiger. Forget I asked. Why the hell do you need sex advice from me, anyway? A little late in the game for the birds and the bees talk, isn’t it?”

  I grip the phone tight, trying to keep from cussing him out. If I do that, he’ll hang up, and I won’t have any answers.

  “It’s not about sex. That part’s… good.”

  “Just good—?”

  “Dutch,” I snap.

  “Okayyy. Get to the point. I need to piss.”

  “I want her to trust me with more than just sex.”

  He’s quiet so long that I wonder if he hung up.

  “Dutch?”

  “I’m trying not to make a big deal about this. Give me a second.”

  I sigh. “By saying that, you are making a big deal about it.”

  “Bro, you’re in love with her. How is that not a big deal?”

  “I’m…” I can’t bring myself to argue even if hearing it out loud terrifies me. “Yeah, I am.”

  “Does this mean… is she your… but no, your wolf isn’t even accessible right now.”

  “He’s back,” I say quietly.

  “That was fast. The old man took mercy on you?”

  “No. She brought it back.”

  “No shit. The only way that’s possible is if she’s your—”

  “Mate,” I finish for him, unable to keep the grim tone out of my voice.

  “Dude, that’s—”

  “Don’t say it’s great,” I warn. “It’s fucking terrible, all things considered. But I’m not losing this war, and I’m not losing her either. So, I need you to help me make her trust me, or else she’ll end up doing something stupid, and I’ll end up getting us all killed over it.”

  I brace myself, fully expecting him to make some smart-ass joke, but he gets serious as he says, “This is going to piss you off, but the fact is she shouldn’t trust you. You fucking kidnapped her ass and locked her in a tower. She should hate you.”

  I groan. “I know. That’s why I need your advice.”

  “Look, you’ve had all the power all along, and she’s had none.”

  “I can’t go back and change what happened.”

  “You don’t have to. Just let her have some control, bro. She needs to feel free.”

  “Are you about to give me one of those ‘if you love someone set them free’ cliches?”

  “Fuck no. That’s stupid. If you love her, you have to show her. And in this case, that means giving her back what you took from her in the first place.”

  “Control. Freedom,” I repeat, hating that he’s right.

  “Exactly.”

  “How do I do that?”

  He snorts. “That’s for you to figure out.”

  “I thought you were giving me advice.”

  “I just did. Look, I can’t do all the work, boss. This part’s on you.”

  Before I can argue, he disconnects but not before I hear the distinct sound of him peeing.

  Classy.

  An hour later, I’ve managed to secure us a reservation at Mannino’s. It’s one of the most sought-after restaurants in the city, but it’s also discreet. I lied about the paparazzi and am doing my best to coordinate an evening where we can be out together and still have our privacy.

  Freedom, I remind myself.

  But I know it’s not enough.

  With the table booked, I call Mia next.

  “What’s up?” she answers, breathing heavily.

  “Where are you?”

  “On a treadmill, nosy. What’s up?”

  I blow out a breath, letting my worry go with it. Clearly, I’m on edge and need to relax. “I need a favor.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Lexi needs an outfit for tonight. Can you take her shopping?”

  “Tonight? Did Vincenzo add something else to the calendar?”

  “No.” I hesitate. “I’m taking her out.”

  “Let me guess, Vincenzo’s sending paparazzi to accidentally discover you being in love?”

  “My father isn’t part of this.”

  “Oh.” Her surprise and ensuing silence speak volumes. But I know Mia, and she’s not going to let this go. Right on time, she says, “You want to explain to me why you’ve been completely against love for the better part of your entire life, and the moment you meet the least available woman, you immediately change your mind?”

  “I’d rather not explain anything,” I say.

  “Grey Diavolo. She’s literally the most off-limits woman you could have chosen.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “Your father will kill you both.”

  “I’m aware of that too.”

  She sighs and then swears in Italian, something she’s done since seventh grade when she took a full year of the language and only learned the bad words.

  “Will you take her?” I ask, hoping the worst is over with her.

  Then again, I have no doubt she’s going to spread this news to the others, and it’ll only get worse once Razor and Ramsey hear about this.

  “Of course,” Mia says. “I’ll send a car in an hour.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t thank me; just owe me one.” Her tone is smug, and I shake my head. I should have known this wouldn’t be a freebie.

  “Fine,” I tell her. “See you in an hour.”

  After ending the call, I go in search of Lexi and find her curled up on the couch, watching a movie I’ve never seen before.

  “What are you watching?” I ask, stopping beside the couch rather than sitting on it.

  Dutch’s words echo from earlier. I need to give her the control, which probably means giving her space too.

  When she doesn’t answer, I look over to find her staring at me with clear judgment in her expression.

  “What?” I ask.

  “It’s Furious Seven.” At my blank look, she adds, “Tell me you’ve seen the Fast and Furious movies.”

  I shrug. “I don’t really watch TV.”

  “Wow, I finally feel sorry for you.”

  A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. I sit on the armrest, still keeping space between us. She hits the pause button on the remote, which she apparently figured out how to use while I was gone.

  “What happened to Claire?” she asks.

  I blink, trying to understand where the question came from. “Mia cleaned her up and took her home.”

  “So she’s safe,” Lexi says.

  “Of course.”

  She bites her lip, and I wait, but she doesn’t ask anything else. Part of me wants to push it, but I remind myself of the bigger picture and focus on my plan.

  “Our dinner reservation is set for eight,” I tell her.

  “Oh.” She blinks as if just remembering our conversation. “Okay, is it fancy?”

  “It’s black tie,” I say.

  She starts to rise. “I don’t know if I have anything else in the clothes you bought me, but I’ll check the wardrobe.”

  “Actually, I was thinking you could pick out your own outfit.”

  She stops and looks at me warily, and I realize how little control she really has—and how right Dutch is about offering her some.

  “Exactly how would I do that? From an app on your phone?”

  “I was thinking you could shop for it yourself. Mia’s sending a car for you in an hour.”

  Something flickers in her eyes. Disappointment? There’s a wall up between us after our conversation earlier, and I can’t read her. My chest tightens as I wait for her to give me some sort of response. If she doesn’t want to spend time with Mia—

  “You trust her to babysit me instead of doing it yourself?” she asks.

  I frown. “It’s not about babysitting. I just thought you might like the company of another woman. You’re welcome to go alone if you prefer.”

  “Alone,” she repeats skeptically.

  “I’d send security, of course, but that’s for your safety. My driver will take you anywhere you want to go.”

  She stares at me, and I get the distinct impression it’s not enough. But it’s all I can offer her. For now.

  “I’ll go with Mia,” she says eventually.

  I nod, trying to hide my relief. “Just tell them to put your purchases on my account. I’ll take care of whatever it is you pick out.”

  I rise and start back to my bedroom, already thinking of a few more calls I can make to ensure this day goes smoothly for her.

  “Grey.”

  The sound of her voice stops me. I look back and find her watching me from across the living room. Something flashes in her gorgeous eyes.

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever seen Pretty Woman?”

  “No.”

  She looks relieved. “Good.”

  28

  LEXI

  After showering and changing into a pair of jeans and a cropped tee, I sit alone and pretend to watch the movie I’ve chosen. It’s packed full of high-speed car maneuvers and a cast who will do anything to protect the people they care about. The Fast and Furious movies are favorites I’ll watch again and again. Today, I’m too distracted to appreciate it. Grey’s dinner invitation did weird things to my insides—right up until he reminded me this is all part of our game.

  I hate how much it hurts to know he’s only taking me out so that the paparazzi can feed our fake love story to the unsuspecting residents of Indigo Hills. Mostly, I hate how much I already care for a guy who clearly doesn’t care for me beyond being a means to an end. We might not be on opposite sides anymore, but that doesn’t mean we’re friends.

  All morning, I’ve been replaying the last few days with him, trying to figure out who he really is when he doesn’t think anyone’s looking. It made me think of Claire and how he handed her off to Mia like he’d rescued girls like her before. But I can’t assume anything. Even if he does things like cuddle and cook me pancakes. Because when morning comes, reality has a way of crashing back down around us—a fact he reminded me of when he planned this dinner around the paparazzi.

  By the time Mia’s car arrives, I’ve decided two can play this game of politics and pretend. Tonight, I’ll show up to that dinner looking like the arm candy he’s asked for. And if he tries taking me back to bed again, I’ll make sure he knows that, if he wanted dessert, he should have ordered it at the restaurant.