Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Victor laughed. “You must have quite a fortune, Ward, if you’ve just spent two million euros on one girl and already looking to buy another.”
“If my two mil had truly bought Ily, then I wouldn’t need another, would I?” I narrowed my eyes. “I have no idea the going rate for a slave. And…seeing as you’re playing hardball and only giving me a twenty percent stake in her, when I go home, I go back empty-handed. I’ll need to find another toy to entertain myself with.”
He nodded as if I spoke perfect sense. “Yes, I suppose you will.”
“Unless…” I cocked my head. “You give me that membership you keep dangling in front of me. Then I could visit her every weekend and behave myself in the interim.”
“Pay me the two million you bid, and perhaps we’ll discuss it.” Tapping the laptop keys for a few seconds, Victor stepped away from the desk. “It’s ready for you.”
Behind him, the floor-to-ceiling bookcases reminded me of the library where Ily and I had made our bargain.
Fire licked through my blood.
My cock twitched.
What happened down in the garden…fuck.
I’d never come that fast or that hard. Never been wholly in the moment without needing to picture other things to climax. All I’d needed was her. And it wasn’t even because I’d hurt her.
She was different.
And different was fucking terrifying.
“What if I gave you another two mil?” The question escaped me before I censored. “Right now?”
“Oh?” His eyebrows soared upright. “What on earth for?”
“I’ll buy a membership, just like I bought her.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t blink.
Shit, wrong move, Ri.
Had I offended him? Shown my true colours?
The urge to ramble crowded my mouth with words.
I swallowed hard, held his stare, and didn’t back down.
Finally, he asked, “You’d pay me two million to become my official guest?”
“Is it a lifetime membership?”
“It is.”
“Then yes.”
“Interesting.” He tapped a finger against his lips. Looking me up and down, he frowned. “I find myself wondering if you want the utopia I offer or just a single slave currently trapped within it. Because…I must warn you, Henri. If you’re doing this because you feel a warped sense of responsibility—because you baited and trapped Ily on my behalf—those sorts of possessive feelings will only bring you grief. I’ve told you this. I’ve warned you not to covet. We don’t do monogamy in this world. We are promiscuous. We are indulgent. Flesh is flesh. A hole is a hole. And if you can’t tell the difference between an obedient slave and a silly little girl you think you have a crush on, then…my answer is no.”
Ice replaced my organs.
Crush?
I didn’t have a crush.
What a ridiculous notion.
Scrambling to stay in character, I asked, “And if it’s because I can see for myself how much I fit in here? How much freedom I’ll find within your demented castle…what then?”
“Well…” He shrugged. “That does change things.”
“Fine.” I nodded with finality. “I’ll transfer four million and—”
“Not so fast.” Running a hand through his impeccable hair, Victor took his time studying me. “I’ll give you a week. How about that? That’s more than generous. I’m a businessman, so money talks with me, but I’m ultimately a connoisseur of pleasure. Tonight, we will play some games, watch some entertainment, and fuck whoever we want. Then, in a few days, I’ll make my decision on how you can become a member.”
I didn’t miss the open door he’d just given me.
The unsaid welcome that I could become a member—through action or cash. Either way, I could figure out a way to stay, which would give me more time to get the location to Q without having to leave Ily on her own.
“Deal.” I strode to him and held out my hand.
“I look forward to seeing how you react tonight, my new friend.” Shaking my hand, Victor let me go and waved at the laptop. “It’s encrypted to the highest level. All transactions are untraceable. The bank account number is written on the Post-it right there.”
Fishing my useless phone from my pocket, I held it up. “All my banking details are on here. Wouldn’t it be easier to turn off your signal scrambler and let me make the payment from my own device?”
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “I’m afraid not. My guests are all aware that staying in my residence means forfeiting their devices and connections. Nothing can be sent in or out unless it’s on my servers.”
Interesting.
My mind immediately launched into a covert mission on how I could break into his office and send GPS coordinates to Q.
“But what if those who come to stay need to remain in touch with the outside world?” I asked, playing dumb.
“That’s the price of paradise.” Victor stepped away. “Only you can decide if you’re willing to pay it.” Moving toward the tan leather couch, he sprawled out and tapped his finger against the arm. “In your own time, Henri.”