Page 79 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“No, Sophie. You’re comparing us to a man who exercises control for his own gratification.”

A humorless breath escapes me. “You might want to rethink that argument after the camera incident.”

Though he locks his jaw, he doesn’t rise to the bait.

“There are people who will care the moment our relationship becomes public.”

I scoff. “My name is already public.”

“Not in the same way.” Lucian goes on. “Our business creates enemies. Our associations create others.”

Including the Moretti crime family.

A chill slips through me despite myself.

Caleb finally speaks.

“We can harden your building. We can put someone downstairs and another person on your floor. We can put cameras outside your door and give you every feed. None of that changes the fact that the building has multiple access points, shared elevators, a parking structure we don’t control, and residents we haven’t vetted.”

I stare at him.

This isn’t posturing.

“My apartment was perfectly safe until you came into my life.”

“Yes.” Caleb nods.

No argument.

No attempt to soften it.

The acknowledgment makes my anger harder to sustain.

Frustrated, I wrap my arms around myself and walk toward the windows.

My reflection floats faintly over Houston—hair disheveled, face still flushed from an orgasm I asked them to give me. Under the lights, my engagement ring flashes.

I sigh. It’s their ring. Their penthouse. Their driver. Their security. Their decisions.

And all of it is wrapped up in my mom’s treatment and my father’s debt.

“I need something that is mine.” The words leave me before I decide to say them.

Silence answers.

I look back.

“My practice is mine,” I continue. “My apartment is mine. The furniture is cheap. The kitchen is too small. The air conditioner sounds like it’s preparing for death every August, and the woman downstairs has a dog that barks at absolutely nothing.” My throat tightens, and I despise the emotion creeping into my voice. “But I chose all of it.”

Caleb’s face changes almost imperceptibly.

Lucian says nothing.

“I built that life. Maybe it doesn’t impress either of you. Maybe you look at my apartment and see inadequate security and secondhand furniture and nothing more.

“That is not what I see.” Lucian’s response is immediate.