The Billionaire's Seduction - Excerpt
Power & Passion series
“He did this to you?” Max asked, his tone calm—too calm. There was a deadly edge beneath the conversational veneer, a quiet but unmistakable warning that sent a chill down Lexie’s spine. She could tell he was holding himself back, waiting for her answer to determine what came next.
Lexie’s chest tightened as panic and shame warred within her. “Max, I should…” she began, her voice faltering as she tried to look away, but his grip on her chin prevented her from escaping.
“Lexie,” he interrupted, his voice low but filled with restrained power, “if you are in trouble, you only need to ask for help.” His dark eyes softened briefly, just enough to let her see the patience behind the fury. He released her chin but didn’t step back, his presence still looming, protective yet unyielding. “You know I’ll handle it. All you have to do is say the word.”
She swallowed hard, torn between the desire to spill everything and the fear of what that might unleash. Could Max really stop Enzo? Could anyone? This wasn’t just about physical safety—this was her entire life. Her career, her students, everything she’d worked so hard to build…all of it could be destroyed if Enzo released those videos.
“I’m fine,” she said at last, her voice trembling as she forced herself to meet Max’s gaze. Her mind flickered back to her plan to hire a hacker, to take control of the situation herself. She couldn’t risk dragging Max into this—no matter how much she wanted to.
The disappointment in Max’s eyes cut deeper than she expected. It wasn’t anger or frustration, but something far worse: a quiet sadness, a knowing look that told her he saw through the lie and hated that she felt she couldn’t trust him. It was almost enough to break her resolve.
“Fine,” he said sharply, though his fingers lingered on hers for a moment longer, their grip firm but gentle. “When you’re ready.”
