He seemed to come to the same conclusion as he relaxed back into his chair, taking a healthy swallow of his coffee. She watched his lips caress the cup and his throat bob as he swallowed the liquid and a shot of heat went through her. “Your eagerness pleases me, aşkım. After our marriage, you will be a great asset to the family.”

His reminder of their upcoming nuptials made both her stomach and her smile drop.

Of course, his sharp gaze missed nothing. “You have yet to give me an answer to my proposal and we are almost in my homeland.”

She bit her lip and reminded herself that she was trying to keep him happy, to get him to drop his guard. She should just accept his proposal and move on with trying to formulate an escape plan. But getting married felt like such a big deal, which was ridiculous. She’d been kidnapped, drugged, and raped. Why not married?

Still… she couldn’t bring herself to accept. Not yet. Accepting felt like giving up the dream wedding she’d always thought she’d have. A groom with similar interests, her sister to help her choose a dress, her parents standing with her at the altar. A man who respected and loved her for her. Not the idea of her, or whatever it was that Volkan insisted he loved about her.

“I need more time,” she pleaded in a low voice, reaching out hesitantly before taking his hand with both of hers. She’d noticed that when she spoke his name or touched him, sometimes she could get through to him. “Two days ago, I was in Canada with no idea that you’d come back into my life.” She deliberately stayed away from saying things like kidnapping, psycho, insane, and what-the-actual-fuck-is-wrong-with-you? “A few hours ago, I was in the United Kingdom and now I’m on a private jet to Turkey. My whole life literally changed overnight, and my head is spinning trying to keep up. Marriage is a big deal, and we don’t know each other very well yet.”

Volkan cupped her cheek with his hand. “We have a lifetime to get to know each other. We can do it after our marriage. I won’t be swayed into postponing the wedding.”

She nodded, but was grateful that he seemed to listen, at least in part. “I know that, but can you give me a little time?” she pleaded. “You’ve gone to such lengths to purchase a new wardrobe for me. All that jewellery, even the toiletries in the penthouse were my preferred brands. Every girl imagines her wedding day and I’m no different. I need time to adjust my expectations, to avoid disappointment.”

“Why would you be disappointed?” he asked sharply.