Page 48 of To Tango, with Desire

“And I’m not a billionaire, able to buy whatever the hell I please. I’m not used to having more money than I can handle on my finger. It makes me nervous. Everything about this life you’re offering me scares me.”

“That’s no excuse.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “What do you want from me? I told you the reason, and it’s not good enough, so I’m not going to bother anymore. Thanks for coming tonight, but I think the party is well and truly over.” She turned, ready to storm off.

“Do you want to end this?”

She froze, gasping.

“No more games, Amira. Do you want me to take back that engagement ring and end this? Because you say you’re not embarrassed but haven’t told all of your friends we’re engaged. You won’t wear the ring—”

She turned and when she looked at me, I could see tears glistening in her eyes. “I hadn’t made up my mind.” Amira sighed. “That’s why I didn’t wear the ring. I wanted you to be the first to know.”

“Wait—are you saying yes?”

I closed the distance between us, brushing back a tear.

“Amira, are you saying yes to marrying me?”

“I have terms.” She lifted her chin. Eyes direct. “And conditions.”

“But you’re saying yes,” I pressed, my heart thundering in my chest.

“I’m still angry with you for causing a scene at my birthday, so we’ll see how our first date pans out. But I’m considering your proposal. Seriously considering it, but only if we agree to certain conditions. If we can, then yes, I’ll marry you.”

A surge of adrenaline pumped through me, filling every cell with something akin to pure joy.

“I’m sorry for the scene I caused. I was angry with Kade and I took it out on your friend.”

“You’ll have to apologize to him.”

“I will.”

“Being angry doesn’t give you the right to shove people around. It doesn’t excuse your behavior.”

“No, it doesn’t. But no man has a right to touch you like that.”

“Zane—”

“What if the roles were reversed? If I had a woman all over me, would you like that?”

I gripped her hips, leading her back up against the brick wall. “If a woman touched me like this.” I caressed her hips. “Or leaned in like this?” I ground against her and knew the moment she felt my hard length. “Would you like that?”

Desire clouded her soft brown eyes, her lips parted, and it took every inch of my self-control not to kiss her until she begged for mercy.

“You’re playing dirty.”

“And you’re mine to play with.”

She lifted her chin. “That’s so . . .”

“Accurate? You are mine. And I won’t stand around and let another man touch you like that. I’m drawing the line, Amira. Is that clear?”

“You don’t get to boss me around. I’m not your employee or your servant.”

“No, you’re my fiancée. And I expect you to respect that relationship. Even if it’s arranged, even if it is rushed. You agreed to marry me. And if this is going to work, I need to know that you’ll respect those rules.”

“And you?” she challenged. “Will you respect mine?”