Bartered (The Encounter #1)(28)

Sacrificed? What did he mean by that?

“You could take me, but you always seem hesitant.”

“I could,” he breezily said without hesitation. “But I don’t want to steal that, ma belle. I want you to give it to me, willingly. No contract or obligations, but free will.”

This truly made sense, and at the same time, it was troubling because he wanted so much more from me.

“What if you’re unable to make me give it to you, willingly? What then?”

“I’m man enough to know when to admit defeat,” he murmured before teasing his lip against my ear. “But you must know I won’t give up until I know there’s no hope for me.”

“You seem very determined,” I quietly observed, admiring his perseverance a little.

No man had made it a mission to pursue me like this. I wouldn’t lie, either; I felt special. Though I should know better than to feel that, especially since the man was known for being a playboy. Yet here I was, letting his words affect me.

“Meet me on the shore, at the bottom of the stairs in five minutes.” His kiss on my nose made me blush like I was on my first date. “Stay there and don’t even think of going anywhere else.”

Oh my, what did he have planned?

“Okay.” I felt shy and virginal all of a sudden, which was truly ridiculous because I was far from one.

His eyes glimmered before striding into the villa, while I, on the other hand, took the route towards the garden where the stairs going to the beach were located.

I didn’t take off my shoes until I reached the stairs. One by one, I pulled off my strappy heels and sighed with pleasurable relief when my soles were greeted by the cold cement. Before descending, I stared ahead at the dark sea with the moon appearing to be big and yellow on the horizon. Stars usually littered above, but tonight, the moon was the sole provider of light.

I took my time going all the way to the bottom, smiling when my feet touched the sand. The waves rolled with a soft hush and the air was still.

“You’re smiling.”

Swiftly spinning around to face him, I felt my cheeks burn at the sight of him. Except for the trousers, he was gloriously and deliciously bare. My eyes devoured him, itching to trace his wonderfully chiseled chest.

“I didn’t hear you come.”

“It’s one of my many gifts,” he teased.

I wonder what other gifts he has, I thought cheekily. He was playful and charming and quite irresistible. No sane woman could go unaffected, myself included.

“Come sit with me and help me enjoy this vintage champagne.” He lifted his left hand that held the bottle in a silver wine cooler before he chose a spot to sit.

Strolling towards him, I tried to sit with my small dress as graciously as it allowed, showing more thigh as it rode up almost to my butt.

“That dress is criminal on you.” His eyes scrutinized every inch of my body.

It was merely a piece of cloth; however, the power it exuded was limitless.

“Is that why you acted like a complete arse earlier?”

He shrugged, looking away as he took a bottle opener that had been stabbed in the ice from the bucket.

Peeling off the top seal of the bottle, he gave me a knowing look. “I desire you,” he professed for the second time tonight. “I don’t share, nor do I want other men to see what’s intended for my eyes only.”

My throat ran dry. If the possessiveness in his tone didn’t bother me a little, I would’ve appreciated the poetic tone of his words.

“You’re quite a possessive man. How do women tolerate you?”

“You’ll know soon enough,” he murmured as I looked away.

The cork popped from the bottle before the white foam oozed out of it. He then handed me the bottle. “Ladies first.”

I smirked at his random show of being less chic and grand before taking a swig.

“Drinking champagne from the bottle,” I observed with a hint of teasing, handing him the bottle. “Are you sure you won’t be booted out of Monaco’s elite circle?”

“My lifestyle’s answer enough to tell you I don’t follow the rules. I bend them however I see fit.” He toasted the bottle before me. “Cheers to you and your irresistible beauty. May you bless me with thee.”

I barked out a laugh. “You’re mad.”

“What can I say? A woman who’s beautiful, catty, sharp with eyes so blue they sometimes turn purple, who’s also unafraid to speak her mind and constantly likes to push my limits is a true weakness of mine.”

That was me, summed into a paragraph.

Feeling as if the mood had shifted to something more, I opted to change the subject, delaying the inevitable. “Since you’re being honest tonight, mind telling me about London, 2011?”

“I’d rather you figure that mystery out all by yourself.”

Well, I wasn’t giving up just yet. I’d try again tomorrow.

“I’ll eventually drag it out of you.”

“We shall see.”

“We shall.” I took the bottle from him because it was my turn to drink. Staring at my toes digging into the cool sand, I took a sip, wondering loudly, “Where did Chantel and Sherry go? I mean, I know you said they went to travel somewhere because of your aunt, but where is that exactly?”