Hugo’s driver was waiting at the curb exactly twenty minutes later. I wasn’t surprised though. Hugo had power, connections, and this dominating air about him that had all other people taking notice.

We were in the back of a Mercedes and heading into the city. It was an hour’s drive from where my parents lived, and even though I was still nervous, I didn’t mind this alone time with him.

I looked out the tinted window and watched as the city came into view. I could see the skyscrapers in the distance and wondered exactly what we planned on doing. Hugo hadn’t exactly told me anything, just that we’d be spending most of the day here.

“You didn’t eat anything before we left,” Hugo said, and I glanced over at him.

“I wasn’t hungry.” And I hadn’t been, but at that moment, my belly started to grumble, giving away that I was now.

“How about we have some breakfast?”

I nodded and smiled. “Okay.”

He nodded, the expression on his face satisfied. “We’ll stop at Vellaim’s Café first,” he said to the driver.

“Of course, Sir.”

Hugo looked at me again. “Then I thought I’d take you shopping.”

That had my eyebrows lifting clear to my hairline, I was sure. “Shopping? For what?” The tennis bracelet on my wrist felt heavy, although I knew I mainly felt like that because I was hyper aware that Hugo had given it to me.

“I’d like to get you something nice for dinner tonight.”

I didn’t know what to say, although my first reaction was to decline. He’d already flown out to see me for my graduation, bought me this tennis bracelet that probably cost a fortune—a years’ salary of what my parents made combined, and here he was trying to buy more for me.

“I—”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t decline, because it would please me to do this for you, although I’ll respect your wishes.”

I stared at him, wanting this man so much I ached in places that should have embarrassed me. But I also wanted to please him.

“You look shocked.”

“I am,” I said honestly.

“Is it that hard to believe that I want to do something nice for you?”

I shook my head instantly. “Of course not. You’ve always been kind and generous. But you’ve already given me the bracelet, and come all the way over here—”

“Because I wanted to; I wanted to make you happy.” He leaned in a little closer, and I smelled the masculine scent of his cologne as it consumed me. “And I want to do this as well, Sabine.”

How could I say no? He looked at me like he was … hungry for my approval. “Okay,” I whispered, suddenly feeling lightheaded and out of breath.

He smiled, this confident expression on his face.

But as the seconds moved by, and we held each other’s gazes, I felt the air shift around us. It got hotter, thicker, and I felt as if I was falling into the abyss.

But I anticipated the fall.

“How’s work?” I asked, my voice low, heavy sounding.

He didn’t speak for a long while, just watched me, these emotions playing in the depths of his eyes. “It keeps me busy.”

I nodded and licked my lips. I didn’t miss how Hugo lowered his gaze to watch the act. My heart thundered harder. “You’ve always been so busy.” God, my voice was so tight, my arousal shifting inside of me until it was as if another being resided there.

“Aside from you and your family, my business is the only thing of significance I have.” He shifted on his seat, and I wanted to look down and see if he was aroused. I had no idea why I desperately wanted to see, but that need overrode everything in my brain, making me almost feel like I was malfunctioning.

“I’m glad we have this day to ourselves.”

I looked into his eyes, his accent moving over me, making my skin tighten and my inner muscles clench in need.

“You are?”

He shifted on the seat again, moving a little closer to me. “I am.”

“Why?” God, was that my voice sounding so aroused?

“Because it gives us some time to talk, to be alone.”

I felt so dizzy, but in a good way. “You want to be alone with me?”

Yes, he just said that.

He took a second to answer. “I do, Sabine. So much.” His voice was just as thick as mine.

God, is this really happening?

I felt like this was a prime time to kiss him, or for him to lean in those extra few inches and kiss me. I wanted to, wanted to feel his lips on mine, feel that power, that experience I knew he had deep in his marrow. I wanted it to fill me.

He leaned in another inch, and I found myself doing the same. For a second, we breathed the same air. His body was so big, so muscular, that he seemed to block out everything behind him. I felt wholly feminine right now, and I wanted more.

And just when I thought I’d finally feel his lips on mine, and finally get a taste of the man that I’d wanted for so long it sucked the very life out of me, the car slowed.

“We’re here, Sir.”

I felt reality slam into me, and as I leaned back, I was aware of Hugo still watching me. He looked at me with heavy-lidded eyes, his focus trained on my mouth. His broad, defined chest rising and falling a little harder, faster told me he was still in that moment.

I hadn’t imagined this; I wasn’t the only one fantasizing about being together.

Hugo wanted me as much as I wanted him.

* * *

I was hard, painfully so. All I wanted to do was kiss Sabine right then and there. Of course, the timing had interrupted what I knew would have eventually happened. As much as I wanted to say fuck breakfast and just admit what I wanted with her, I gathered my self-control and helped her out of the car.

What I knew without a doubt was that Sabine wanted me, and I wasn’t going to back down now that I’d seen the truth coming off her in waves.

She’d be mine.