The Perfect Bargain (Hearts to Buy #2)

Chapter One

Carmen

“ S o, 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 me shiver. 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.

“Your safe word?” Elijah’s voice reminds me, sending a chill down my spine.

“Pineapple,” I breathe, my heart pounding in my chest.

Elijah’s fingers graze my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He pulls the straps of my dress down, slowly, carefully, until I hear it fall to the floor. There’s an intimacy to the way he undresses me, a gentleness I hadn’t expected.

His hands explore every inch of my body, his touch light and teasing. My senses are heightened, every touch amplified. The suspense is agonizing, and I can’t help but squirm beneath his fingertips.

He’s got me. Hook, line, and sinker. His fingers trace my skin, a slow burn that spreads through me. His lips crash into mine, the kiss demanding, greedy. My pulse spikes. I arch, desperate for more, but Elijah sets the pace—his pace. My breath hitches as his mouth trails down my neck, his teeth grazing just enough to send a shiver straight to my core. I’m on fire, about to combust.

Elijah’s hands slide down, slipping under my panties, dragging them down my legs with excruciating slowness. My heart pounds. The anticipation is torture, every touch lighting me up like a fuse. Then, suddenly—his tongue. I gasp, fingers gripping the sheets as his mouth moves against me, relentless. My body hums with pleasure, and I can’t control the sounds spilling from me. I’m coming undone, and he knows it. I can barely breathe, a strangled moan escaping as he doubles down, pushing me right to the edge.

Then, he stops.

“Not yet.” His voice is a low growl, sending chills through me. He’s completely in control, and I’m powerless, aching for more. It’s agonizing, exquisite, and I can’t get enough. He knows exactly how to keep me hanging on.

He starts again, and I can’t take it. I’m shaking, the tension inside me unbearable. My breath comes in short, ragged gasps. Sensing how close I am, he picks up the pace, his tongue driving me wild. My entire body trembles, and I can’t hold back anymore. With a scream, I come apart, the orgasm tearing through me like a storm. I’m breathless, my body still pulsing from the aftershocks, feeling like I’ve just touched the stars.

“I didn’t say you could come.” Elijah’s whisper is hot against my ear. His voice is rough, a tease, and I squirm beneath him.

“I couldn’t help it,” I manage to say, breathless. He tightens his hold, flipping me over like I weigh nothing, pressing his hard body against mine. I can feel him, and the need that courses through me is instant, undeniable.

“You’re a greedy girl,” he growls, his fingers biting into my hips. He grinds against me, and I moan, soft and needy. “But if you can’t follow orders, you’ll get punished.”

That threat? Pure gasoline on the fire. I want more.

“Please,” I breathe, trembling beneath him.

“What was that?” His voice is dangerous now, a low rumble.

“Please,” I say louder, my body desperate for more. He chuckles, his lips ghosting over my skin, making me shiver.

“Since you asked so nicely…” Then, his hand lands hard on my ass. The sting is sharp, cutting through the pleasure, but damn if it doesn’t make me crave more. He spanks me again, harder this time, and I cry out, the pleasure almost too much.

“Count,” he commands, voice like ice. “And thank me.”

I swallow hard, my body trembling. “One. Thank you.”

“Louder.”

“One! Thank you!” His hand comes down again, that perfect mix of pain and pleasure that leaves me breathless.

“Two. Thank you.”

“Three. Thank you.”

By the time we hit four, I’m a mess, desperate, on the edge of losing it. I’m soaked, and when his fingers dip inside me, Elijah groans. “Fuck, Carmen.” His voice is tight, rough with need, and I know he’s barely holding it together.

Then he slams into me, hard and fast, no warning. I gasp, my body adjusting to his size, and it feels so good, too good. I push back, needing more, and he gives it to me—quick, rough, relentless. His fingers dig into my skin, his grip almost painful, but I don’t care. I’m lost in the sensation, in him. The world falls away, and it’s just us, our bodies moving in sync.

Suddenly, he pulls out, and I whimper at the loss, my body aching for him.

“Patience,” he says, his breathing heavy. “I want you to look at me.” He reaches for the blindfold, and the darkness fades as it slips off. His blue eyes are the first thing I see—intense, burning with desire. I can’t look away. He finishes untying the fabric with quick fingers and tosses it aside. He pulls me onto his lap, his grip firm around my neck, tight but not too tight. The rush is intoxicating.

“Who’s in control?” His voice is low, rough.

“You are,” I whisper, barely able to form the words.

“And who owns you?”

“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.