Her Asian Billionaire’s Perfect Match

Chapter 10

The trees had shed their leaves leaving them bare and stark with a forlorn look about them. Thanksgiving was a few weeks away and families were making plans for the cooking and the carving of the traditional turkey. Leonie was practically living over at John’s place and the wedding between Asami and Lucas was tentatively set for some time in December.

“We could make it a double event,” John said to her casually.

He had picked her up from work and took her to his place where some of her clothes held a place inside his huge closet. She had teased him in saying that he had more clothes than most women put together.

“I am sure Asami would not appreciate the limelight being taken away from her on that special day,” she answered lightly, knowing that there was no point in pretending that she had no idea what he was talking about.

“We could have our wedding before theirs or soon after.” He persisted, this time not willing to let it go.

“Drop it John,” she said abruptly moving away from him off the bed and reaching for the robe, pulling it over her nakedness.

“No,” he told her abruptly, getting up as well but not bothering to cover his nakedness. “I have been sidestepping the subject of marriage because I did not want you to get upset but no longer Leonie. I want us to get married, we are practically living together as it is so what’s the difference?”

“The difference is I would have your ring on my finger and your name as well. The difference is I would be setting myself up to fail and knowingly going into something that is not going to last.” She cried wishing he had not mentioned it, wishing they could go all the way back.

“That’s crap and you know it,” he came down from the steps that led to the huge king sized bed and stood before her, his nakedness magnificent in its beauty. He had the ability to make her weak even though she was getting angry. “Some marriages fail and that’s a part of life. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because the partner was wrong in the first place or maybe they did not love each other enough, but we love each other and we are going to last.”

“And you know that because?” she hissed. “You know it because we have fabulous s*x and we are good together! As soon as we get married that goes straight to hell and I am not willing to take that chance.”

“Why?” he asked her softly, his heart splintering into tiny pieces. “You are using what your father did to you and your mother to miss out on something so wonderful that you cannot even see it.”

“Don’t talk about my father,” she whispered achingly and he felt his heart break for her. All he wanted to do was to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right. “You have no right.”

“I have every right,” he told her moving to stand just in front of her but not touching her. “I love you and you love me and I want you to be my wife.”

“Tough!” she sneered not looking at him but staring at his smooth muscled chest. She wanted him to hold her so badly that she could taste him.

“I want marriage and nothing else Lee,” he told her wearily, feeling disgusted at how much he needed her, at how much he was tempted to let go of his desires and principles and just go with what she wanted. But he could not and as much as he needed her, he was not going to give in to her.

“What are you saying?” she finally looked up at him and the expression she saw there sent a shiver of fear inside her body.

“I am saying that I am going to give you some time to think about what you want and what I want.” He told her. “I have been bending over backwards to please you and not to mention the word marriage to you in case I get you upset but I cannot do it anymore. I need more. This is not enough.”

“You are leaving me?” she asked him incredulously, the tears coming unbidden to her eyes.

He sighed and reached out finally to grip her upper arms. “That was what you got from what I just said?” he tilted her chin and rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip and felt her shiver. “I love you too much to accept half measures, I want it all,” he smiled grimly. “I want all of you baby and nothing less.”

“I can’t,” her lips trembled. “I can’t do marriage. I love you! Isn’t that enough? We could live together if you want; I am willing to do that.”

“You want to live with me but you are not willing to marry me?” he said sadly, stepping back from her, his heart feeling as if it had been replaced by lead. He could not even bear to be around her right now, he wanted to be alone with his immense grief. “I will sleep in one of the other bedrooms tonight and I will have left for the office by the time you are up.”

 She did not beg him even though she wanted to but watched him walked out of the bedroom and out of her life. She was paralyzed, unable to do or say anything. What could she do? She did not want to get married and he wanted marriage. How had it come to this? They had been so happy, at least she had been but apparently he had and now he was trying to force her hand.

She crawled onto the bed and pulled the comforter over her. The bed had been big before but now it felt as if it was never ending without him in it. It was then she allowed the tears to come. She buried her face into the soft pillows and soaked it with her tears.