I JOIN JEFF FOR DINNER.

He’s already seated at the head of the 24-seater table in one of the formal dining rooms of the manor.

This room is one of my favorites. It’s so grand with a huge chandelier dangling from the intricately carved ceiling. The center of the dining table is adorned with an elaborate flower arrangement and flanked by exquisite candle holders made of silver.

The “Prince” is waiting for me.

He’s sitting there in his fine designer clothes and I’m wearing the house staff uniform. But it doesn’t stop me from fantasizing this is a scene from one of those romantic Disney movies.

I really hate my stupid Cinderella moments.

He stands up when he spots me under the archway.

“Mara, come.”

I slowly walk over to the table, my heart banging against my chest. I don’t know what I’m even doing here. My decision is final. I don’t want to give away my child. I don’t want this job.

But I’m here just the same.

He pulls out a chair for me at his right.

I’m not used to such gallant gestures from his kind, but I appreciate his gentlemanly manners. “Thank you, Mr. Vandercourt.”

His scent wafts toward me, so expensive and masculine. My arm brushes against his arm when I take my seat. His warmth seems to seep into my skin and before I know it, I feel hot from the roots of my hair to the soles of my feet for no reason. This man affects me like no other.

He takes his seat back at the head of the table. “I told you to call me Jeff,” he reminds me.

I give him a small smile and just nod.

“Eat,” he tells me gently. “I hope you’ll like the food or we can ask for something else.“

“No. This is good. More than good.” Why on earth would I even ask for anything else? This dinner was prepared by a chef!

My stomach growls. I flush in embarrassment. He smiles.

“See? You need to eat.” He gestures for Nora to serve me, and Nora happily comes over to do his bidding. But I decline, feeling awkward. I’m also one of the help. “I can do it myself, Nora, thank you.”

I’m so nervous and anxious but I’m indeed hungry. I’ve been thinking hard the whole day and I hardly had anything to eat. Now I’m ravenous.

I dig into my food.

Jeff lazily watches me as he sips from his glass of wine.

Chef Calvin is really the best. This is probably the most sumptuous dinner I’ve had in a long time.

“More?” Jeff asks me.

I glance at him and find him staring at me, his eyes amused.

“I’m sorry…You want to talk now?” I mumble, wiping my lips with a napkin. My goodness! Have I been eating like a pig in front of him, forgetting my manners entirely?

“Eat, Mara. We’re not in a hurry. We’ve got all night to talk. I’m staying over.”

All night? Oh God. He’s expecting me to agree.

I drink from my glass of water. My nerves, momentarily diverted by my hunger, are back. I’d rather we get it over with so he can go on his way, and I can go on looking of other ways to solve my problems.

I straighten in my seat. “I’m okay to talk now.”

He fills both of our glasses full of red. “Take your drink. Let’s go to the balcony.”

I’m glad for the fresh air hitting my face. I feel even hotter after the wine has settled in my stomach.

I’m sitting on an armchair and Jeff is standing against the railing, looking out into the expanse of the estate now shrouded in bluish light coming from the moon. It’s almost full moon.

Lamp posts are scattered around the manor, giving illumination to the landscape below. The shadows produced by the labyrinth gardens are mesmerizing. It’s quite a sight from this vantage point. I love gazing out here whenever I get the chance. I could dream that I’m a princess looking out from my castle’s tower. Silly fantasies. Never going to happen. But they ease the heaviness in my heart every time.

Jeff faces me, leaning against the railing. “So, have you thought about my offer, Mara?”

I swallow. How am I going to word my rejection in a manner that will not offend him? I don’t want to get fired from my job.

“Mr. Vandercourt—ahm, Jeff, I thought about your offer all afternoon, and it’s been hard for me…” My voice trails off.

He waits for me to continue, just standing there, commanding, so handsome he makes it even harder for me to say no. It would be so easy to be swept away by the fantasy and agree, have a taste of heaven in this man’s arms for a bit, but I know I’ll regret the consequence.

“I must respectfully decline your offer. I truly apologize. But I just can’t. I can’t do it.”

“One million dollars.”

I stare at him, not fully comprehending at first.

“I’ll pay you one million dollars for this child, and I’ll make sure you’ll have the American visa you desire. You want to be an immigrant? I’ll find you a job in any company you’d like to work for. I’ll make sure you’ll be set for life, Mara.”

Oh God, please, don’t do this. Don’t give me these choices.

“But…why me? You can have any other woman you want.”

“Not really. The woman I want is saying no.”

I blink at him. “But…I’m sure many women will kill to be the mother of your child.”

“You’re not killing nor dying for it.”

“Mr. Vandercourt—“

“I want you, Mara. You’re my first choice.”

“But you don’t even know me.”

“I know enough. Corazon vouched for you. I trust Corazon.”

Make him fall for you…

“But…”

He walks over to me and sits beside me on the sofa. His nearness makes me want to go up in flames. Is it the wine? Or simply his powerful effect on me? Or maybe both?

“I want you,” he utters again, but his words take a whole new meaning this time. His eyes are aglow with an inner fire as he stares at me, searing me to my soul.

I squirm in my seat as I feel a throb build in my core, something that never happened to me before. It feels strange, and it feels good, too. What is happening? Is this what I think it is?

He smiles as though he can read my mind.

“I want to have that child with the woman I desire. And I desire you, Mara. You’re very beautiful.”

Oh God, not fair. Not fair!

He reaches out to touch my cheek, his fingers skimming my skin gently. His thumb passes over my lips. Electricity ignites all over me, singing me all the way to my toes.

Take a risk…Who knows, you might just win in the end. You’ll not only get a working visa, you’ll also land yourself a Prince Charming.

“Jeff…”

Before I can utter more, his face descends on mine.

I didn’t mean to kiss her. I wanted her to agree to my terms without the aid of seduction, but the thought of her saying no was simply out of the question.

She has to say yes, and by God, I’m going to make her shout it to the rafters.

But as my lips take control of hers, I lose coherent thought.

She smells so fucking good and tastes so fucking sweet.

I have long taken kisses for granted. I can’t remember when I last wanted to kiss a woman this bad. Like I’m going to expire if I don’t taste her, like I’m going to stop breathing when I don’t feel her softness against me and inhale her scent into my lungs.

I frame her face in my hands and deepen the kiss, my tongue breaching the seam of her lips, driving in, trapping her gasp. Her flavor melts into my tongue and I know, this kiss wouldn’t be enough. I want more.

My cock thickens and lengthens fast as I plunder her mouth, my desire rapidly razing my self-control. I’m besieged with a hunger so ravenous I’m turning into an animal who can’t get enough of her kisses.

I want her. Fuck, I really do.

Nobody has made me so hard this fast. I’m so shocked at my body’s quick response toward her but I welcome it. I’m so glad I desire her this much. Making a child with practically a stranger is hard even for a man of vast sexual experience like me, but kissing this woman now, I know I’ll enjoy every second of it.

I’ll tremendously enjoy creating this baby with Mara.

This is what sealed the deal for me.

She has to be the mother of my baby, no one else.

I pull away from her lips to demand her capitulation before I end up taking her on this balcony with our clothes on. Fuck, I’m dripping in my pants. “Say yes, Mara.”

Her lips are shiny with our combined saliva and it’s all I could do not to devour her again. I’m not a man who’s easily aroused by a pretty face or a sexy body, but this young woman is proving all that wrong. She can easily make me lose control.

“Say yes, dammit,” I growl.

“Yes…” she breathes.

My hands frame her face tighter, shaking her a bit. “Again. Say it again.”

“Yes.”

I smile, relieved by her acquiescence. “You’re mine now. My child will grow in your belly, soon.”

The possessiveness I’m feeling toward her is shocking the shit out of me, and it’s firing up my lust tenfold. I’ve never come inside a woman’s body without protection, but I can’t wait to do that for the first time. Come without restraint. With nothing between my hard cock and her wet pussy.

Nothing but my hard flesh driving into her, and her warm softness wrapped around me as I shoot my seed inside her.

My balls contract painfully. Jesus, this is unbelievable. I’m on the verge of orgasm from the mere thought of coming bareback inside her.

I clench my jaw, reining my lust in.

I reluctantly let her go. “Take a rest now, Mara. I’ll talk to you again tomorrow.”

She stares at me, her lips swollen from my kisses, her eyes dazed.

Her nipples are straining against the material of her uniform. Are her nipples as pink as her lips?

I can easily find out.

“Go now, Mara,” I say firmly before I give in to the temptation.

She seems to come back to her senses. She stands up clumsily. “G-goodnight.”

She practically runs away.

I cradle my head with my palms. I don’t think I can stand comfortably with this boner.

Jesus, I fucking hurt.

But I end up smiling like an idiot.