Valencia

That had not been the first thing I nned to say to him.

A part of me mentally scolded myself for being so bold. Old habits die hard.

Mom would have fainted upon hearing such a crass word leave my mouth.

But I held his gaze.

And then he started tough!

A deep, rumbling sound that made my stomach do a weird flip.

I hated the way heughed so easily, so carefree. It felt like a light caress against my skin.

Warm. Inviting.

Damn it.

“Why are youughing? I mean, if you can serve all the women in the kingdom, surely you can serve me, right?” I raised an eyebrow.

The corner of his eyes crinkled with amusement as I drank up the sight in front of me.

Hisughter gradually died down, and he shrugged. “Yeah, I did. And I’m experienced.”

I did not let him see the way my cheeks flushed by quickly looking at my ss to take a sip.

My heart was hammering loudly.

He did not just say that.

How many women had he been with? And why did it make me feel a slight pang of jealousy?

I barely finished taking a sip when he added in a whisper.

You want to try? I can do more than that.”

I wasn’t sure if my eyebrows could go any higher.

Was he teasing me?

“More? Like what? Changing light bulbs or doing myundry?” I asked in a humorless voice, trying to imply that I was

serious.

But it didn’t have the effect I was hoping for.

He burst intoughter again, even coughing a bit. “Are you looking for a boyfriend or a maid?”

Something about thatzy confidence made me want to p him and kiss him both.

He had not walked away yet, so he was interested in what I had to offer.

So, I ced my ss on the table, my forefingerzily brushing over the rim.

“I’m looking for someone who wouldn’t mind being owned for a while.”

I was so done with the whole ‘mate,’ ‘dating,’ ‘iming’ routine.

Honestly, I was tired of all that crap.

And why only alphas got to choose the perfect girl for themselves?

What if we flipped the table?

Why not just make it simpler?

I wanted a boy toy. Something like when I was a kid and wanted a Barbie doll-simple, easy, no fuss over all the mate drama.

My bodynguage must have conveyed how serious I was because then hisughter stopped.

“You are serious about it, aren’t you?” He asked and looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I was bluffing. But I held his gaze and replied,

“Yes or no?”

“When you put it that way…”

I wasn’t wasting any time. I was already sitting on the edge of my seat, calcting how much cash was sitting in my sry ount untouched.

He shed me a grin, and, oh my Goddess, I swear my heart skipped a beat.

This was probably the most expensive doll I’d ever bought.

“I’ll take good care of you,” I added, “How does ten grand sound? But you’ll need to show me your health certificate, you know, just in case we’re gonna…”

He cut me off before I could finish, “Sure, I’m in.” He finished his drink without missing a beat.

He said it like it was a done deal. Like he’d just agreed to dinner instead of bing mine.

He agreed?

Just like that?

I blinked and opened my mouth to say something.

But then someone came running towards my boy toy. And whispered something in his ear.

The change in him was instant.

Gone was the twinkle of amusement in his eyes or the rxed posture. He went rigid, eyes sharp and alert.

His handsnded on the table with a thud, startling me.

He only gave the man a brief nod, and the man left immediately. My boy toy rose up from his seat.

No, we were not done. He had just agreed to be mine.

Pesme

How could he just get up and leave?

My hand reached for his, but he had already taken a step forward.

I hated the way he was all amused and filled withughter and the next second so detached and emotionless.

I hated that I was already feeling like he belonged to me.

Mine.

“Where are you going?” I asked, not liking the way I sounded flustered.

His gazended back on me. And softened.

Just a little.

“Give me your number,” He said tly.

I nodded, grabbed a tissue, and hastily scribbled my number. He didn’t bother reading through it but pocketed it, nheless.

The ink had not even gotten time to dry. What if my writing got smudged?

How would I get in touch with him again?

I looked up at him, but he didn’t even bother sparing me a nce.

Only muttered, “See youter” and then disappeared into the crowd.

Gone. In an instant.

My shoulders slumped and I let my back hit the chair.

He didn’t linger. Didn’t ask me my name. Or give me his. I only watched him walk towards the exit and leave without a backward nce.

His abrupt exit stung.

I felt incredibly stupid for not even asking him his name. It looked like my wild night of fun hade to an end.

All the excitement of meeting him had just been a wild dream.

That’s what I would tell myself when I woke up tomorrow and headed for office.

Grabbing my stuff, I hailed a taxi and then went back to my apartment. After changing into my pajamas, I got in the bed and kept staring at the ceiling, reying my meeting with this enigmatic stranger again and again.

Would I ever see him again?

But before disappointment couldpletely engulf me, my phone buzzed.

There was a message from an unknown number.

I sat up so fast I nearly fell off the bed. Snatching it off the nightstand, I swiped to check the message.

Unknown Number: Consider this an apology for earlier today.

My heart jumped. I blinked.

Was it…?

Before I could process it, another message came in.

An image.

I gasped.

A very nearly naked picture of him filled my screen-damp hair, smirking lips, water beading on sharp abs that made me want to throw my phone across the room and fan myself at the same time.

His lower half was covered by nothing but a towel riding dangerously low. Too low. My mouth went dry.

I stared at the screen, heat crawling up my neck.

Those abs….I wanted to bite them already.

And stupidly, I typed that and sent it to him.

Goodness, what had I done?

I stared at the screen, wondering how he would react to seeing that message. I bit on my lower lip nervously and then, after a few excruciating moments of waiting, a message popped up on my screen.

Unknown Number: Be a good girl and you might have your wishes fulfilled soon.