Bartered (The Encounter #1)(42)

He matched my smile before his thumb brushed against the shape of my bottom lip. “I just had to see you before I go into a meeting. How about you come up for lunch?”

“You sure? I know you’re a busy man.” I wanted to spend time with him, too, but I didn’t want him to sacrifice work hours when we could make out more the second he got home.

“Oui, but I can always make time for you.”

Le sigh. “If you say so. I’ll meet you there at noon.” Gazing at my watch, I looked at him to double check. “Is that good enough?”

“You’re always good enough, Isobel.” He winked at me before leaving me gazing at his perfect behind. Though I was distracted by his perfect form, it didn’t leave my notice that there were a hefty amount of men and women checking the very man himself, admiring from afar.

Yet, of all the people here, he had chosen me. I shook my head, bubbling with silliness as I longed to see him in sixty minutes.

Time, I realized, went by at a snail’s pace when you were counting each minute.





Our lunch date was nothing like I had expected. The second I was ushered in to meet Hugo, I was surprised that he was waiting for me in the elevator.

“Are you ready?” he asked with a smile that made my pu**y contract.

I looked at him with a sheepish expression. “For what?”

“Lunch.”

Oh, that. Lunch… Why had I forgotten about that for a second? It’s his smile, my pu**y reminded me for the second time. “Right. So, where are we lunching?”

“It’s a surprise.” He took my hand to securely stick me to his side before he pressed one of the buttons on the top panel.

“I love surprises,” I breathed out like a giddy teenager on her first date. Keeping myself in check, I glanced at my shiny reflection against the gold-plated elevator doors, wondering when giggling had become a bad habit of mine.

Putting my worries aside, I refocused my attention on the man next to me. There were times to worry about these things, and surely this moment wasn’t one of those.

Just as he’d promised, he surprised me by taking me for a helicopter ride, having no clue where our destination was. Maybe it was the lack of affection from my father growing up that made me feel like, if a man went out of his way to make a woman special, one should always be grateful that they’d even thought of the kind gesture.

Hugo and my father were similar, but it was blatantly obvious that the man next to me, caressing the back of my neck as he pointed out the window, showing me a yacht in the middle of the sea, had a heart, that he’d cherish you once you were under his care. I respected that about him. I truly did.

Not only that, but he was a man of his word. I mean, how often had we had instances where he could have simply taken me and I might not have even cared because I was so out of it? And yet, he’d remained true to his word, holding out hope that, one night, I’d tell him to go all the way.

I wasn’t going to lie, each time we came together, kissing and touching, the thought always played out in my head. However, there was something always holding me back from uttering the words out loud. Though, in my head, yes, I did beg of it once or twice.

The yacht came closer into view. The size was just about as massive as Luca’s from that party, which I hadn’t realized on our previous trip to it. Once we landed on his yacht, Hugo was all smiles as he helped me out of the helicopter before directing us towards the back end of the vessel, towards an awaiting, smaller boat, which I was assuming was what we’d be riding in next.

Hugo hadn’t let go of my hand since he’d helped me out of the helicopter, and I found myself feeling at ease when he’d plant a kiss on my forehead or anywhere around my face, which he always managed to do. The back of my neck, my cheek, shoulder blade, my nose, you name it. Wherever skin was exposed, he’d bless it with his amorous lips.

It was a short boat ride towards the shore where our lunch waited, prepared with thorough detail and embellishments inside a white linen tent. His staff greeted us with a warm smile and a heavy dose of romance everywhere.

“Welcome to Corsica.”

“This is quite grand,” I breathed out, overwhelmed by the splendid gesture.

He shrugged before leading me towards the white linen-covered table where he pulled out a chair for me to sit on. After I was seated, he then took the opposing seat from mine.

“I only do grand when I happen to really like someone,” he flirted back with ease.

“I hope you’re not thinking tonight’s the night…” I hid my smile away. “I don’t put out on first dates. Just a thought.”

“Really, now?” He chuckled with pure amusement before he gestured for someone to pour us champagne then focused on me again. “I appreciate a woman who knows her value…” he trailed off in a sexy, husky tone. “It makes it all the more sweet once I have captured her, trapped in between my arms, trapped by my lips, impaled underneath me…”

“You really need to learn not to make a woman blush from head to foot in broad daylight.” I tried to scold him, but his deep, throaty laugh merely made me gaze at him in such awe and tenderness. He truly was beautiful. It became lethal when he smiled or when he laughed, eyes dancing as he gazed at me as if I was the most enchanting thing he’d ever set his eyes upon.