Page 1 of The Perfect Bargain

Chapter One

Carmen

“So, Carmen, will you be mine? Willingly, openly, my submissive?”

The air crackles with tension, thick enough to slice through. Elijah’s gaze pins me, a challenge laid bare in his eyes. His words hang between us like a tantalizing dance of power and surrender. I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, and this is no different. A gauntlet thrown at my feet.

I study him—the raw intensity in his striking blue eyes that have held me since the moment I first saw him.

“I’ve never been good at following orders,” I begin, my voice steady despite the rapid beating of my heart. “But what’s there to lose?” I take a step closer, closing the gap between defiance and desire.

His smile is slow, predatory. “You won’t regret it.”

“I better not,” I retort, my smile mirroring his. There’s a thrill in this, a dangerous game of push and pull. Maybe it’s the drinks we’ve both had, or maybe it’s something more primal. Either way, this feels like the best course of action tonight. Besides, I was paid for this, after all—and my curiosity will always be my downfall. “I’m not easy to tame,” I warn, my tone laced with challenge.

He leans in, his breath a whisper against my skin. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I know I’m playing with fire, but oh, how I love the heat.

“On your knees,” Elijah commands, his voice cutting through the air and changing the entire vibe of the room.

I comply, more curious than anything about where this is headed. I’ve been down roads like this before, but I’m not about to spill my life story to him. My past, my experiences—those details are staying locked up tight, especially tonight.

I sense him move behind me, and instinctively, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what’s next. His hands glide through my hair, and it takes a moment for me to realize what he’s doing.

He’s braiding it.

That’s a new one.

“A safe word,” he suddenly says, his hands still working my hair into a braid. “Choose any word you want. If you need this to stop at any time, just say it. Everything stops. Got it?” His tone is firm, but there’s an underlying seriousness—a vital acknowledgment of boundaries.

I nod, even though he can’t see it. “Pineapple,” I reply, keeping my voice steady. The idea of a safe word isn’t new to me, but the formality of it—him laying down the rules so clearly—is unexpected. There’s no guessing here, no mystery about consent, and somehow, that makes it more thrilling.

Once he finishes with my hair, he moves back in front of me, and I look up at him.

“What now?” I ask.

He reaches for something behind him, and when he kneels before me, I see the black blindfold in his hand.

“Trust,” he says, as if the word should mean something to me. “You’ve got to trust me, Carmen.”

My eyes flicker down to the blindfold and then back to him. His expression is serious, his gaze fixed on me, making meshiver. I feel vulnerable, but the adrenaline rushing through me tells me that I want this. Badly.

I hold his gaze, unblinking, and slowly nod.

The corners of his mouth turn up in a smile, and he leans forward, his movements slow, careful. His eyes never leave mine as he places the blindfold over them, wrapping it tightly behind my head.

Now, it’s pitch-black, but the feeling of his presence in front of me is unmistakable. He’s close—so close that I can feel the electricity between us. My mind races, wondering what’s next, but before I can dwell on it, Elijah speaks again.

“Stand up.”

I follow his command, my mind still reeling. What is going on? But before I can give it much thought, I feel his lips on mine. The kiss is hungry, possessive, a stark contrast to the slow, controlled way he’s handled me until now.

His hands move to my shoulders, pushing me backward. I instinctively step back, allowing him to guide me. My legs hit the bed, and Elijah pushes me down until I’m lying completely at his mercy.

I’ve been in positions like this before, but I’ve never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. And yet, I can’t help but wonder what’s next.

The anticipation is killing me.

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