Bartered (The Encounter #1)(29)

“Sherry actually ended up going to Bali. Chantel chose the Caribbean. The penthouse was too confiding for them.” Hugo shifted himself. Instead of facing the sea, he chose to face my profile. “When they arrive in two weeks time, I’m letting them both go.”

The pin dropped. Instantly, I snapped my neck to gaze at him, horrified. “What are you trying to say?” I asked, aghast, hoping he’d say something that made sense because he’d been revealing far more than I was prepared for.

“I want you,” he stated without hesitation. “So in my plan of pursuit, I’m going on abstinence until you’re ready for me.” He was absolutely cavalier about it.

Huh. Well, he was in for a long haul. Kissing was one thing, sex was a whole other complicated matter entirely—one I wasn’t ready to share with anyone other than Damen. Hugo simply was stuck at believing he could attain whatever he wanted because women probably had the trouble of saying no to his wishes. His desire for me could also be used as a weapon; if I manipulated it right, it could be my leverage.

“Really? And when was the last time you went without sex?” There was no doubt the man didn’t go without. From what I had seen in the library that one afternoon, he was as insatiable and hot blooded as they came.

He made a smirk, lighting his face up while his eyes danced with amusement. “Never.”

“You won’t survive it.” Exactly. He wouldn’t last a day. “Why even put yourself in that predicament?”

“Because you’ll be worth it,” he said in a casual manner, as if it was already a given.

“Hmmm… you shouldn’t be too confident about that because I’m going to crush that little hope you’re challenging yourself in attaining. Besides, even if you proved me wrong, I’m not really skilled in that department, so you’re going to be sorely disappointed.”

He was changing the game—the agreement—and it was startling how quickly the tide was shifting between us. He was moving fast with no signs of slowing down.

“I’ve never been denied of anything until you came along. I’m more than willing to put a pause to my sexual endeavors to pursue a much more satisfying one.” His finger caressed the base of my neck, trailing it along my shoulder blade, all the way down to my fingertips before hooking his forefinger with my own. “You’re trying to make me change my mind, and I’m telling you now, that’s very much unlikely.”

How did I counter that? Not only was I having an inner battle with myself, but I was also getting less and less confident my mind and reason would be enough to fight against my body’s urges. Damen was in my heart; however, he also wasn’t here and wouldn’t be in my life for the next months to come.

“Fancy a quick swim?” he broke into my thoughts, looking mighty wicked before adding, “Naked.” He then stood up before me, offering his hand.

His hand was strong, big and masculine, and the thought of having those hands all over me didn’t help with my struggle. “You’re not subtle in your intentions, are you?”

“I have indecent motives, true, but I won’t touch you until you grant me the permission to,” he swore just as I raised my brow, doubting him, before he made a dashing, panty-dropping smile. “I give you my word.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”





Chapter 17


Hugo


Just as I was about to pull my pants down, Isobel started to have second thoughts, rattled at the notion of going au naturel.

“What if there’s a speed boat passing through? What then?”

“Then they see us naked. Who cares?” Her shyness was something I wasn’t used to from women. It was refreshing to see. “Live a little. Consider this a hiatus from your regular life; a free pass to indulge in things you usually wouldn’t consider.” Also the fact I was a selfish man who loved to torture himself by staring at her body like a true pervert, imagining what it would be like to sheath myself inside her moist tunnel.

“Be reckless, you mean? But that’s just not me—”

She tried to argue, but I cut her off, proving it with an example. “Signing that contract wasn’t like you either, but you did it anyway.” It was fate when she’d happened to be the daughter of the man who just so happened to owe the casino money.

Isobel shook her head, adamant about making a point. “That’s different.”

“Not entirely. What you did was risky. I could’ve been a man who gets pleasures from hurting women, or a man with serial killer capabilities, yet you took a chance, trusting I would take care of you.”

“I didn’t really have that much choice… My father isn’t an easy man to deal with,” she insisted with vehemence before chugging another gulp from the bottle.

“We always have a choice, Isobel.” She needed to know that in case her father kept using her to pay off his gambling habit. “Whether it’s right or wrong, you always have an option.”

She broke into a beaming smile, looking up at me with pure sincerity.

“Thank you for taking a chance with me. I know it’s odd to be thanking you, but now that you’ve revealed that you won’t do anything until I allow you to… well, not a lot of men would be that noble.” Pressing her lips together, she whispered another gratitude, “So, thank you.”