And because that was exactly what he’d been doing, he felt the rage grow bigger inside of him. Before he could stop himself, he moved in until they were inches apart. “Tell me how you feel about me. Is this just business, too?”

“I thought that we already talked about this.”

“No, we agreed to some terms, used a few labels, but you never shared how you felt. It’s been a week, Raj, but we’ve been dancing around each other since the Gen One gala. Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out yet.”

She stepped back. “Like I said. We talked about this. I’m referring to how I will only give you what I’m ready to give, and calling me a coward or trying to put me in my place will not work. Call me when you’re done throwing your tantrum, Ajay.”

There was that flicker of doubt in her eyes, and he gripped it with slippery, desperate fingers. This was going to hurt them both, but it was the only way.

“I won’t.”

“Excuse me?”

He moved away from her now, resuming his post near the windows. His brothers’ smiling faces judged him from their frames on his mantel, and he had to force himself to remain focused.

“I won’t call you, Raj. I knew you were going to do this. I knew that after you saw how great we were together you’d use any excuse to backpedal. But you’re right about one thing. It’s your decision. When you’re ready to tell the truth, then you can call me. Until then, I’ll only speak to your attorneys. That’s how you wanted it in the first place, right?”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice cracking. The sound was deafening to his ears. “I don’t know what you want from me, Ajay.”

“I’ve already told you.” He held his ground, refusing to go to her. “I want you here. I want you with me. I want you to accept that there is something between us, and it’s fucking scary but it’s worth it.”

“I . . . can’t. I have to do what’s best for me.”

“With no care in the world for how it affects other people, right?”

He saw the shock on her face and the hurt. “I knew we’d be done someday, but I never thought it would be so soon,” she whispered. “At your request, we’ll leave this to the lawyers.”

Ajay heard the clear snick of the door closing behind her.

It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to race after her, to give her whatever she wanted, but he couldn’t. She was the one who’d taught him to never settle for less than what he deserved.