Bartered (The Encounter #1)(38)

He flagged me down with a threat, knowing very well that my father didn’t have money to pay him even half of what he owed.

“Tonight, you played with what? A quarter million? Maybe half? My father’s debt is laughable compared to how much you spend on entertainment. Couldn’t you at least pardon him just this once?”

“And why would I do that, Isobel? Your father means nothing to me. Pardons and favors are out of the question.”

He was selfish, and he wasn’t holding back on showing me who was in charge of the situation. I didn’t have a choice. It was either stay or walk out and deal with my father’s wrath for doing so. And the latter was too horrific to even dare think about.

“You win, Hugo,” I conceded as I exited the door and went in search of the hot tub.





Chapter 21


Isobel


“Forget the hot tub, Isobel,” he said just as I was about to disrobe. “Sleep the night here. I’m heading out.”

“Where are you going?” I asked without turning back.

“Back on the yacht.”

I knew it. He wanted to shag one of those women.

It didn’t take long until their faces swam before me, making me feel hot and cold all over. What did I care if he planned to f*uk one or a dozen of them? It wasn’t my problem, nor was it my business.

“Fine, then. I’m still going in with or without you.” I shrugged, untying my robe as I did so before letting it fall to pool around my feet. And since I was already on display while he watched me from behind, I audaciously took my knickers off, baring my smooth bottom.

He hadn’t made a sound, yet I knew he was still there. The heat of his gaze was powerful as I slowly went into the massive tub.

For the first time, I saw the picturesque view before me. The sea, the stars, and the gorgeous place itself brought magic to my eyes. It was the perfect backdrop for seduction.

“Why aren’t you leaving yet?” The question wasn’t said loudly, nor was I facing him, but he caught it for some reason.

He didn’t bother responding. Instead, I heard him move towards me. Not before long, I heard the sound of a zipper being pulled open and the sudden, swift sound of the garment falling to the floor. With bated breath, I stilled as I heard his movement before he finally came in view through my peripheral vision, before he brazenly showed me his naked body, full frontal and the whole… nine inches? His dick wasn’t fully aroused yet, and the mere sight of it and the thought of what it would look like to its full girth and length gave me fluttering butterflies all throughout my stomach.

The man was made to drive me mental, challenging me physically and mentally, blocking whatever kind of argument I’d had with him and with myself.

My heated gaze drifted away from his form as I waited for him to settle in the hot, bubbling mass of water.

Sitting on opposing sides, he splayed his arms as far as they could reach, lounging and looking like he was Don Juan.

Well, he sort of was.

“Tonight began with our eyes meeting, devouring each other with lust and admiration, but look at you now. You can’t even look at me.”

Giving him a death stare, I aimed to bite his head off—figuratively. “Has it entered your semi-brilliant mind that maybe there’s nothing worth looking at? Maybe, I was just pretending?”

I didn’t get to bat my eyelashes before he was immediately right in front of me. He was so swift in his movements that I hadn’t had the chance to do much when he claimed my lips without our bodies touching. My mouth took him in without hesitation. Our tongues fought out the hungered passion that was escalating out of control between us. I wanted to mold against him and cling to his body. This fevered response that he and I couldn’t seem to control was beyond maddening. As much as I hated it, I also couldn’t resist it.

“There’s no pretending,” he rasped out, breathing raggedly against my lips. “This is real… what you do to me… and what I make you feel. It’s real, Isobel.”

Our passions were so raw even I couldn’t deny it out loud, most especially right after we’d just kissed with pure, utter abandonment.

“Now that’s settled, will you tell me what’s going on in this pretty head of yours, ma belle?” His fingers brushed away the hair from my forehead as he stared deeply, intensely into my eyes.

“I’ll give you a hint,” I sighed, simply because I couldn’t deny him when he was this close to me. “I heard that men who love fast cars drive it harder when they use their stick shift.”

He frowned before he started barking out a deep belly laugh, all the while continuously giving me an incredulous look. “Oh, come now. Admit it, it was quite hilarious.”

“Sure.” I was laughing on the inside…

“What’s wrong now, ma belle?” He dropped a light peck on the tip of my nose, melting me with his tenderness.

“What do you think?” I asked timidly, slightly humiliated for finally admitting what was bothering me. “You’ve embarrassed me in front of your friends by flirting with those insipid women who use sex to get a man’s attention.”

“It happens all the time.” He seemed unperturbed. “I’m used to it.”

There it was: this was his sort of lifestyle. The polar opposite of mine. “Whatever.”