Page 3 of The Perfect Bargain

“You do.” The words spill out before I can stop them, and I don’t regret a single one. Elijah’s lips curve into that dangerous smile as he pulls me in, kissing me hard. I melt, giving in, letting him take what he wants. His hands roam my body, every touch igniting sparks, and I’m already aching for more.

His name tumbles from my lips as he claims me again, deep, powerful thrusts that steal my breath. I can’t get enough. He flips me over, and suddenly, I’m on my hands and knees again. His hand grips my braid, tight and commanding, as he pounds into me, his movements wild, primal. He pulls me closer, rough and unrelenting.

“Say my name again,” he growls, his voice ragged.

“Elijah,” I moan, his name like a prayer. He growls, the sound low and feral, driving me to the edge. I’m spiraling, my body trembling, the pleasure almost too much to handle. The dam breaks, and I come hard, pleasure washing over me in waves.

Elijah’s grip tightens as he follows me over the edge, groaning, his release shuddering through him. We collapse together, a tangled mess of limbs, breathless and spent. I’ve never felt so sated, so…alive.

Maybe this whole game isn’t so bad after all.

Chapter Two

Lily

Ican’t imagine anything ever matching the night I had with James. He was everything I’d dreamed of. Older, sure, but does that really matter? He made me feel…special. That feeling hasn’t faded, even as I walk into this suite, preparing to meet another client.

Everyone else, I keep comparing to him. My first time wasn’t supposed to be easy, but somehow, James made even the scary parts feel…right. Maybe I’m discovering new things about myself—things I didn’t even know I wanted.

As I push the door open, I wonder if anyone will ever make me feel the way he did.

The door shuts with a soft click, and that deep, familiar voice rolls over me.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

My eyes widen, heart stuttering as I whip around, locking onto his gaze.

“James.” I whisper, caught between excitement and confusion. He steps toward me, each movement making my pulse kick up. Why am I so nervous? We’ve been intimate before—seen parts of each other most people never will. And yet, that flutter of anxiety won’t leave me.

“You look even more beautiful than last time.” His voice is a low rumble as he closes the gap, his hand sliding around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I forget how to breathe.

“What are you doing here?” The question is barely a whisper, my words lost somewhere between his lips and my erratic heartbeat.

“Isn’t it obvious?” There’s a playful note in his voice, but I shake my head, lost.

“When I said you were mine, I meant it.” His words hit me like a freight train, sinking deep, and I can’t ignore the way my heart skips at the intensity behind them.

“You’re my client tonight?” I manage, my voice trembling with disbelief.

“And every other night.” His lips curve into a slow smile, and heat rushes to my cheeks.

Before I can respond, his mouth crashes into mine, sparking a fire that burns through every inch of me. The world falls away, leaving only the desperate connection between us. My lips part without thinking, our tongues tangling like they’ve known each other for a lifetime. How does this feel so familiar, so right, when I’ve only been with him once before?

I can’t fall for him. I can’t be that girl who loses her heart to the first man she’s been with. Not in this line of work. Love isn’t something I can afford.

With more effort than I thought possible, I break the kiss, stumbling back to gather my thoughts. But James doesn’t let go. His grip tightens around my waist, pulling me back against his solid frame, and my mind goes hazy again.

“Runnin’ away?” His voice drops, a low growl wrapped in his accent, sending a flutter straight to my core despite my resolve.

“No,” I whisper, my voice shaky, full of uncertainty. “I’m just trying to do my job.”

He doesn’t like my response. I feel the shift immediately—the tension tightening his body, the hardening of his gaze. The air between us is thick, heavy with unspoken words.

“All right, on your knees then.” His voice is rough, cold. The warmth I once felt from him is gone, replaced by something far more unsettling. His hand releases me, the gesture somehow colder than his tone as he steps back. Confusion crashes over me, but before I can speak, his hands are already at his belt, unbuckling it.

My heart races. The reality of what he’s asking hits me like a slap to the face.

“I-I’ve never…” The words stumble out, awkward, panicked. The shift in him is undeniable, and it fills me with unease. The weight of his expectations feels like it’s crushing me.

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