Chapter 2

The black Maybach moved through the city like a phantom, silent and sleek. Gwendolyn's head was pressed against the cool leather of the headrest, the world outside a blur of rain and neon. She was too drunk to notice the doorman at the Waldorf Astoria rushing out into the downpour, or the hotel's general manager standing rigidly at attention by a private entrance.

The man beside her-the man she'd just bought for eight hundred dollars-simply gave the manager a look. A glance so cold and sharp it stopped the man in his tracks, his mouth half-open to offer a greeting that never came.

He helped her out of the car, his arm a solid band around her waist, half-carrying her into a private elevator. There were no buttons inside, just a sleek black panel. He swiped a featureless black card, and the elevator began its silent, swift ascent.

The doors opened directly into a suite that was larger than her entire apartment building. A vast expanse of polished marble, plush rugs, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a glittering, rain-swept Manhattan.

Gwendolyn gaped. "Wow," she breathed, trying to sound nonchalant. "Your boss treats you guys really well."

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. He shed his damp jacket, tossing it onto a sofa that probably cost more than her college tuition.

To cover her nervousness, she kicked off her soaked flats and sank into the sofa's buttery leather. It felt like sinking into a cloud.

He didn't go to the fully stocked bar. Instead, he walked over to a small kitchenette and came back with a glass of warm water with a swirl of honey in it. He placed it in her hands.

The simple, unexpected kindness was her undoing. The tears she'd been holding back started to fall again, hot and messy.

"I paid for his books," she choked out, the words tumbling over each other. "I worked three jobs so he could focus on his internship. And he left me because I can't afford a designer dress."

The man sat in a large armchair across from her, his long legs crossed. He didn't speak. He just watched her, his expression unreadable, his fingers tracing the rim of an empty whiskey glass on the table beside him.

But when she said Jordi's name, she saw it. A flicker of something cold and violent in the depths of his dark eyes. It was there and gone in a second.

She stopped crying abruptly, a new wave of drunken indignation washing over her. She pointed a shaky finger at him.

"You're not very good at this, are you?" she accused. "I paid for a service. You're supposed to be providing... emotional value or something." She hiccuped. "I paid eight hundred dollars. I expect the premium package."

He raised an eyebrow. A flicker of amusement crossed his face. He stood up, not with anger, but with a slow, deliberate grace that was mesmerizing. He walked over to a grand piano-a goddamn Steinway-that sat in the center of the living area.

He sat down and his fingers, strong and elegant, descended onto the keys.

A melody filled the room. It wasn't soft or gentle. It was a commanding piece of classical music-Rachmaninoff, played with an aggressive, almost terrifying precision. The complex chords were full of tension and raw, calculating power. The music wrapped around her, sinking into her bones, making her breath catch in her throat. Each heavy, deliberate keystroke was a caress, a promise, a threat.

When the last note faded into the silence, he rose and walked back to her. He didn't sit down. He knelt on the edge of the sofa, trapping her between his arms, his body caging hers. His face was inches from hers, his scent-cedar and rain and something uniquely him-filling her senses.

"Is this professional enough for you?" he murmured, his voice a husky whisper.

Her brain went blank. All she could register was the heat coming off his body, the intensity in his eyes. Her friend's words echoed in her head: no strings, no feelings. This was supposed to be her revenge. She was supposed to be in control.

She straightened her spine, trying to reclaim some semblance of power. "Talk is cheap," she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you... you know. Too old for the job?"

The air crackled. The amusement in his eyes vanished, replaced by something primal and dangerous. He looked like a predator that had just been challenged by its prey.

His hand shot out, cupping the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her damp hair. He crushed his mouth to hers.

The kiss wasn't gentle. It was a punishment, a claiming. It was pure, unadulterated possession, stealing the air from her lungs and the thoughts from her head. She tried to push him away, but he was immovable, a wall of muscle and intent. He captured her wrists with one hand, easily pinning them above her head.

His other hand slid down her back, finding the zipper of her dress. With a slow, deliberate pull, he unzipped it, the cold air hitting her skin.

In one swift movement, he scooped her into his arms. She let out a small gasp as he carried her from the living room, his strides long and confident, towards the bedroom.

He didn't place her on the bed. He dropped her. She landed with a soft bounce on a mattress covered in silk sheets that felt like cool water against her skin.

He stood over her, a dark silhouette against the city lights. He reached for the buckle of his belt, the metallic click echoing in the silent room.

A cold, wicked smile touched his lips. "You're going to pay for that comment," he said, his voice low and guttural. "All night long."