The Billionaire Secret 2 (Billionaire, BWWM, Interracial, Romance) Read Online Free Page B

that she w While as actually a little worried. Blake felt fear tighten his chest and anger burn through him, hot and cold at the same time.
    “And you believe him?” He asked calmly, a little too serenely.
    “Well, no, not really.” Something in him uncoiled and relaxed, but not much. “I mean, if it’s true, I don’t think you’re the type of person who’d cheat, so it’s okay if it is true.” He could see the insecurity on her face and the coil tightened again. He never wanted to see a look that like that on her face again.
    “Come here,” he told her as he patted the spot on the bed beside him.
    Aiyana sat down beside him without hesitation. He rested his hand on her thigh and felt her muscles quiver beneath his touch. “Aiyana, I love you. I’ve never fooled around with Julia. If I had, I wouldn’t have made her my business partner. People at my business, they misunderstand a sideways glance for telling someone you love her. It’s either that or they just really love to gossip about nonexistent scandal around the water cooler.”
    “I love you, too.” She told him as she leaned in to kiss him. He felt her lips soften and leaned into her too, parting her lips and placing his hand on her cheek while he kissed her. Before it could get too heated and he lost control, he slipped the box from him pocket and flipped it open. Aiyana was too distracted by his lips to notice until he pulled away gently, kissing her on the lips before holding the ring between them.
    “Maybe, when I’m a married man, all those scandalous rumors will end. Aiyana, would you do me the honor of relieving me of this weight: being the subject of those embarrassing break-room whispers?” Aiyana felt her heart stop in her chest as she looked down at the ring. It was so white, the band made of white gold and the tiny diamonds scattered across it as if they were the stars gleaming in the night sky. It wasn’t a huge diamond, and she was glad it wasn’t gaudy, but she also didn’t know if she could accept it.
    Moments passed, the first few filled with anticipation from Blake, and then disappointment as he realized she wasn’t answering him.
    “I know it’s not as romantic as you probably expected it to be. I should have set up something better.” He offered lamely his apologies as he watched her eyes well up with tears. She bit her bottom lip and he wanted to kiss away the hurt he knew was there.
    Finally, as if she’d snapped back to reality, Aiyana looked up at him with watery eyes and gripped the hem of her nightgown. “I know your mother hates me,” she whispered, feeling guilt wash over her.
    Blake was stunned into silence as he felt the box lowered to his lap. He didn’t want to lie to her, tell her that his mother loved her and that it was all okay, but he didn’t want to give voice to the reality either, that she’d be marrying him when his mother didn’t approve. But how could she know?
    “Did she say something to you?” he asked as he felt his heart smashing into tiny bits. It hurt, like someone had just stuck a hand in his chest and squeezed hard. His breathing was shallow but he tried not to show her how much her obvious refusal upset him.
    “No, but I didn’t need to hear it from her lips to see it in her eyes. She doesn’t like me, Blake. In fact, it’s a little more than that. She doesn’t approve of me, and I don’t know if right now is a good time to think about, well, this.” She couldn’t bear to look down at the ring. Her throat was constricting and she felt one of the stray tears sliding down her face. This wasn’t how she’d imagined the night going.
    “Just give her some time honey. When she sees how much I love you, adore you, she’ll come around. She’s just set in her ways and needs some time to-to-” he didn’t know what to say. Was she going to leave? He couldn’t tell. He’d asked too soon, and now he feared he was going to lose her because of his impatience. “Just forget about