He’d made me feel completely exposed. Because as much as I hated to admit it, he was right, but my pride got in the way of me admitting it.

“He’s fucking lame. Not half the man you deserve. You know it. I know it. And he knows it.”

“Oh, and you’re the whole man I deserve?”

“No …” He replied, surprising me. “But I am the man that will have you screaming my name, calling out for me in the middle of the night, and wearing my ring and last name until we both take our final breath on this earth. I’m also the man who’ll kill anyone who tries to get in the way of our future. So break up with him, for his sake, because he’d never survive my wrath.”

I shook my head, not wanting to take in what he was saying. “You wouldn’t.”

He stepped closer, menacingly close. “Princess, not only would I, but I’d fucking enjoy it. How’s that for fair?”

I closed my eyes, needing a moment to think because while I normally considered myself a morally upstanding citizen, the fact that Robert was standing in front of me declaring that he would literally take another man’s life, was kind of a turn on.

It was right then that I started to realize I would likely be going to hell for this man.

I opened my eyes to find Robert’s on me, peering down at me, through me. He was awaiting my decision.

“Okay.” I nodded. “I-I’ll break up with Co— him but we can’t sleep together until I do.”

I swallowed, relieved at having made that decision. Truth be told, Cohen and my relationship had been over for a while now. I wasn’t sure exactly when it happened … hell, truth be told, it was likely doomed from the very beginning. Because compared to Robert Townsend there was no other man. He’d ruined me for everyone who came after him.

And as he moved closer like a panther stalking its prey, I knew he knew it.

“That’s fair,” he stated cockily while wrapping his left hand around the side of my face, pulling me into him for another kiss.

I wouldn’t let my mind think about everything else he’d said. The mention he’d made about marrying me, or even the four children he spoke of having, after that first night together. No. I didn’t need to think about all of that. For the moment, I could just soak up the beautiful feeling of his kiss, the embrace of his arms and being in his presence, and the strength and protection it afforded my own peace of mind.

“Are you hungry?” I asked as I pulled from his embrace. I needed to break the kiss because as much as I wanted to be fair to Cohen, I couldn’t do so if he was going to keep kissing me.

Robert stared at me for a few heartbeats before finally releasing a breath. “Sure. What do you have?” He began removing his suit jacket.