The Billionaire's Choice

Jade Mercer’s first mistake was answering Ryan Cole’s call at two in the morning. Her second was opening her apartment door. Because Ryan looked dangerous when he was angry. But he looked lethal when he wanted something. And tonight, he wanted her. “You ignored my emails.” No hello. No apology for showing up uninvited outside her apartment at 2:13 a.m. in black slacks and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Rain clung to his dark hair. His jaw looked tight enough to crack. Jade stared at him in disbelief. “You came here because I ignored your emails?” “You left work.” “I needed a break.” “You didn’t answer your phone.” “I have boundaries, Ryan.” His eyes moved slowly over her. Bare legs. Oversized sleep shirt. No bra. The temperature in the hallway changed instantly. Jade saw the exact moment his self-control slipped. That look. Every survival instinct she possessed screamed at her to close the door. Instead, she asked the worst possible question. “Why do you care?” Ryan stepped closer. Not enough to touch her. Enough to make breathing difficult. “You really want to ask me that right now?” Her pulse stumbled. Because his voice sounded wrong. Rougher than usual. Lower. Like he had been thinking about something for too long. Jade tightened her grip on the door. “You’re my boss.” “And you’re avoiding me.” “That’s because being with you was a mistake.” Ryan went very still. The rain hammered softly outside the building. Somewhere downstairs, a car horn echoed through the empty street. Then Ryan laughed once. Quiet. Dangerous. “A mistake.” Jade swallowed hard. “Yes.” “Interesting.” His grey eyes dropped slowly onto her mouth. “I don’t remember you sounding like it was a mistake when you were in my bed Saturday night.” Heat exploded across her skin. “Ryan..” “You said my name like you couldn’t breathe.” Her entire body was locked. Nobody had ever spoken to her like this before. Not Ryan. Not calm, controlled, terrifying Ryan. But tonight something about him felt different. Unstable. Like he had finally snapped whatever leash he kept on himself around her. “You need to leave,” she whispered. He ignored that completely. “You’ve been avoiding me for nine days.” “You counted?” “Yes.” The answer came instantly. No shame. No hesitation. Jade stared at him. “What is wrong with you?” Something dark flashed across his expression. I want you. Ryan Said. “That doesn’t explain showing up outside my apartment at two in the morning like a psychopath.” “No,” Ryan agreed softly. “It explains why I haven’t slept properly since.” Silence. The kind that wraps around your throat. Jade’s heartbeat turned uneven. Because he sounded serious. Terrifyingly serious. Ryan stepped inside before she could stop him. The door clicked shut behind him. “Ryan” “You went on a date on Tuesday.” Not a question. Jade blinked. “Excuse me?” “The lawyer.” Her stomach dropped. How the hell did he… “You followed me?” His jaw tightened slightly. “No.” “That is not convincing.” “I had dinner at the same restaurant.” “On purpose?” Ryan didn’t answer. Which was an answer. Jade stared at him as she had never seen him before. Maybe she hadn’t. Because this version of Ryan felt stripped down to something dangerous, obsessive, and raw. “You’re acting insane.” His eyes held hers. “You don’t get to do this,” she whispered. “You don’t get to ignore me at work for days and then suddenly show up acting like” “Like what?” “Like I belong to you.” That hit something. Jade saw it happen in real time. Ryan’s entire body went still. Then he crossed the room so fast it stole her breath. One second space existed between them. Next, her back hit the wall beside the kitchen. Hard. A gasp escaped her lips. Ryan braced one hand beside her head. Not touching her. Trapping her anyway. His breathing sounded uneven now. Actually uneven. “You went out with him twice,” he said quietly. “Did he touch you?” The question came out rough. Possessive. Completely irrational. “You cannot ask me that.” “But did he touch you?!” The way he looked at her right now, like jealousy was physically hurting him. It should have terrified her more than it did. “Why do you care?” she whispered again. Ryan stared at her for a long moment. Then his hand slid slowly against her waist. Bare skin. One touch. Jade inhaled sharply. Ryan closed his eyes briefly, as if touching her had destroyed the last functional piece of his restraint. He muttered softly. At himself. Definitely at himself. His thumb pressed lightly into her hip. “You know what the worst part is?” Jade could barely think. “What?” “I told myself it was one night.” His eyes opened again. Dark. Burning. Ruined. “And then you smiled at another man,” he said quietly, “and I nearly fired someone over it.” Her mouth parted. “What?” Ryan gave a humorless laugh. “The Chicago meeting? The vendor contract? The travel schedule?” Holy s**t. “Was that because of Daniel?” “You canceled on him twice.” “You sabotaged my dates?” “I rearranged your priorities,” Ryan said. “That is literally psychotic.” “And yet,” he said softly, moving even closer, “you’re still letting me touch you.” Her breath caught. Because he was right. God help her, he was right. Ryan’s fingers slid beneath the hem of her shirt slightly. Just enough to make her shiver. His grey eyes caught the reaction instantly. And something about that seemed to snap inside him. He kissed her hard. Not gentle. Not careful. Like the last nine days had been driving him slowly insane. Jade gasped against his mouth as his hand gripped her waist harder, pulling her closer. Every part of him felt controlled except this. Except her. “Ryan…” “I know,” he said against her lips. “I know.” But he kissed her again anyway. Deeper this time. Possessive. Like he was furious she had ever let another man look at her. Jade’s fingers twisted into his shirt before she could stop herself. Ryan made a low sound in his throat that nearly destroyed her. Then suddenly, his phone buzzed. He ignored it. The phone buzzed again and again. This time, Jade saw the screen light up. UNKNOWN NUMBER. Ryan frowned and answered harshly, “What?” Silence.