Rhapsody (Butcher and Violinist 1)

100k. 100k.

With my back straight, I continued to walk and keep up a more confident pace.

All the lights were low. The walls were decorated with rich fabrics.

Several armed men scattered around the various rooms. They watched me walking by, never letting their gazes leave me.

I ignored them and took in the massive penthouse.

It was a stunning apartment in the heart of Belladonna. Most of the floors were oak. Expansive views surrounded the airy twentieth-floor balcony. At first glance, I saw a modern kitchen with expensive finishes and marble countertops.

And then the man stopped at a mahogany door and signaled for me to go in. A rough voice left him. “He’s inside.”

“Thank you.”

He opened the door and I entered a huge office. Shadows covered his space in the many colors of dusk. All I could make out was polished wood and smooth leather.

I can do this. I’ll be able to pull it off. I feel perfect. I feel confident.

But then I spotted Jean-Pierre sitting behind desk. My head spun and my stomach knotted.

And I knew that this experience would make or break my soul.

Chapter 11

Mon Beau

Eden

Fuck.

Jean-Pierre sat at his desk, reading something on his computer, but he looked up when I opened the door. I wondered if I would ever get used to him watching me. Meeting his gaze felt like touching an electric wire in the rain.

He rose. “Mon beau.”

“My beautiful.”

He looked incredible—he’d taken off his usual suit jacket. His crisp, white, dress shirt was rolled up to his elbows, revealing his tanned forearms. With one layer stripped off, he looked less dangerous, like someone I could actually talk to or get to know, instead of the French mafia’s accountant. Less le Boucher and more magnifique.

He was so good-looking, and so absurdly rich. He could have any model he wanted, any singer, any actress, anyone at all who turned him on.

Why me?

I cleared my throat. “Hello.”

“I’m glad you said yes. Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

Nodding, he slowly strolled around his desk. “Would you like a drink?”

“Yes.”

He walked over to the small bar near a large book case and poured some whiskey. “What’s on your mind about our deal?”

“I’m still wondering about this girlfriend experience.”

“What it entails?”

“Yes.”

He turned around with two full glasses and walked over to me. “I want you to feel complete pleasure.”

A shiver of lust ran through my body.

I took the glass from him.

He remained right in front of me. Half a foot of space lay between us. Heat bridged. Already, I wanted him. I had no doubt I could fuck him for this money. That was clear in every part of my body. The only problem I could see, was if I could walk away.

“So, you’re paying a 100k for me to have a lot of orgasms?”

He gave me a wicked smile. “That’s one of the things I’m paying for.”

“What are the others?”

“I want to see inside of you. Deep down to your soul. All the way to your fantasies. Even the wicked ones.” He licked his lips. “What do you think about when your panties get so wet, you have to touch yourself?”

A surge of arousal coiled in my stomach. My palms went sweaty. I gripped the glass harder as I took another gulp.

“Tell me,” he whispered.

“Lately, when my panties get super wet. . .it’s because I’m thinking about you.”

Silence came next as he watched me sip the drink.

“I want to see inside of you. Deep down to your soul.”

This was just supposed to be business. I had to remember that. Jean-Pierre was just business. No matter how hot he made me. No matter how much my body throbbed, and my heart raced and ached. No matter how much my panties soaked.

This was just an arrangement of sex. A proposal to fuck with no strings attached. No connection. No yearning for more. Just two bodies slipping and sliding against each other.

“Do you agree to our deal? Or do you have more questions?”

“I…agree.”

“No.” He took a sip of his drink. “You still have concerns. Tell me now. Because when I start, I won’t want to stop. I can see that with you.”

We needed this discussion, even Leo had recommended that. And just because Shalimar had given him a GFE three years ago, that didn’t mean he still enjoyed the same things.

I took another sip and gave him my first question. “Are you into kinky things that deal with pain?”

“No. I only want you and I to feel pleasure.”

“Good.” I placed the glass on the small table near me. “I would want to only use a condom.”

“That was already brokered in the deal.”

Everything happened so fast. Shalimar had spouted out all the details as well as advice. It was difficult to keep track of it all.

I made sure to look him in the eyes. “If I don’t want to do something, I won’t do it.”