The doors to the elevator slide open to reveal my dealer’s penthouse.

The anticipation is making my skin tingle with curiosity. My dealer—Anthony—has a fresh selection for me prepped for inspection.

This is one of the things I love about these deals. I never really know what treat is waiting, and I never know what girl will catch my eye.

Then there’s what will happen once I have her all to myself.

There’s no better joy than picking out your dessert from the menu and savoring the satisfaction that comes after.

“Nice to see you, Mr. Sterling,” Tony greets me with a smile.

I’m his number one customer. He better fucking greet me with a smile.

We shake hands as professionals do.

“And you, Anthony. How are you?”

“I’m particularly hopeful,” he responds with a small chuckle. “Thank you for asking.”

“That’s great. You told Winston you have a selection of lovely women for me to choose from tonight?”

“I do. I have the ladies lined up for you on the far side of the living room. Come. I’ll show you.”

We walk alongside one another deeper into the heart of his space.

The whole place is as decadent and rich as white chocolate—and colored as such. Aside from some artwork and random plants, I am awash in sterile white.

Glass globes of various sizes hang above the dining table, while a grand piano sits in one corner, and the glass staircase twirls upwards towards the second level add to the ambiance of it all.

The girls come into view in front of a lit fireplace that stretches out across the majority of the wall behind them.

Each girl has blonde hair—in various lengths and styles—and each is dressed in their own unique, luxurious outfit.

I’m impressed with what Anthony has pulled together in such short notice.

“Your menu for the evening,” he announces as he waves a hand towards the girls. “Each has had a medical checkup and has been cleared.”

Two great benefits of going through the dealer—rather than searching for myself—is faster service and a guarantee that they’re clean and healthy.

Just because they haven’t had sex yet doesn’t mean they can’t have something that can cause problems for me later on.

I look at the girls. Six in total.

I approach the first one. She has a short bob and is dressed in a dark green cocktail style dress. Very appealing.

“Name?” I ask her.

She stands there nervously, fidgeting too much.

“Ashley,” she responds—albeit timidly.

I like virgins—obviously—but she’s a little too timid for my liking. Not for what I’m looking for.

“Lovely name,” I tell her with a smile.

I move to the next girl.

This one has long straight hair and is dressed in a black dress that is quite revealing.

There’s promise here.

“Name?”

“I’m Monica,” she rasps. “And you are one tall drink of sexiness, handsome. What’s your name?”

She’s giving me a sexy smile and a come hither look as she pushes her tits forward.

From one end of the spectrum to the other. First woman was too timid, and this one is too bold. She may be a virgin, but I don’t think she’s as innocent as she hopes that little fact will make her seem.

On to the next girl then.

The third girl has a nice body, but immediately I’m put off by her. She looks as though she’s applied fifty layers of makeup. I don’t mind a little, but there’s a point where it’s excessive and unappealing.

A natural look is what I need.

I glance at her, giving her the same smile I gave the previous two and move on to the next girl.

I take a long look at this one. Soft curls, striking eyes, a slinky silver dress, and sparkling heels.

She looks me straight in the face. Not timid at all and not too bold.

I already like this girl.

“Name?”

“Gabrielle.”

She speaks with confidence. I like that.

“Why are you here, sweetheart?”

“What’s your name?” she counters.

And defiant.

“I asked you a question, Gabrielle.”

“I know,” she confidently states. “But if you’re going to ask for my name—and quite rudely at that—it’s only fair I know your name as well. Especially in this scenario.”

“What scenario are you referring to exactly?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

She stares at me as if I’m an idiot for asking such an obvious question.

“The scenario where you’re about to pay to get off of deflowering me, which will result in my first awkward sexual experience and will no doubt derive little sexual fulfillment from.”

Beautiful and spunky.

I approve.

My lips quirk upwards in amusement.

“Is that so?” I cockily ask. “I’d have to say you may be off a little in…what you’re expecting to happen if I take you home with me. I’ll be happy to correct that.”

“And I’d say I made a pretty accurate statement,” she sweetly states and flashes a cheeky smile at me.

“You still haven’t answered my initial question,” I remind her.

“Name?” she firmly counters.

I let lose a low chuckle.

“It’s Case.”

She appears pleased with my response.

“Pleased to meet you, Case. And to answer your previous question, I’m here because you want a virgin. I just so happen to be a virgin who wants to get the whole losing-one’s-virginity out of the way. And, hell, I may as well get something out of the whole ordeal,” she exclaims.

Beautiful, intelligent, and business-savvy.

I definitely like her.

Before Anthony called to tell my butler he had a selection of women ready for me, I finally came up with a plan to solve the issue I’m having with the Senator.

Senator Price is all about family values. So, all I need to do is convince him I’m a family man and settle down with just one woman.

That’s where a wife will come in handy. I just didn’t have a woman in mind yet to help me accomplish this before now.

Instead of just banging my frustration out with Gabrielle’s delectable body, I’ll marry her.

It sounds fucking batshit crazy, but it’s going to help me seal the deal for the rocket launch.

With Gabrielle as my wife, Senator Price will have to take me seriously and give me the support to get the permits I need.

He’ll see that I’m not the rich playboy who sleeps around as he believes, and that I’m a changed man dedicated to the love of my life.

The fact that Gabrielle is intelligent and quick-witted will help, too. She’ll be able to play along with the plan and hold her own with the politician.

This is going to work out very nicely.

“You’ll do,” I confidently state.

I turn to Anthony—ignoring the last few girls I haven’t looked at yet—and point to Gabrielle.

“I’ll take her.”

“Very good, Mr. Sterling. Same service fee as usual for providing your selection for the night.”

I pull my phone out from my suit pocket and make the bank transfer of funds to him.

“Payment sent.”

“Thank you for your business. I look forward to our next deal.”

I turn to Gabrielle—my investment.

“Looks like you’re mine now, sweetheart. Do you have all your things?”

She turns behind her to grab a bag she’d hidden.

“Now I do,” she states.

“After you,” I tell her as I turn to the side and gesture towards the elevator.

She walks in front of me. Hips swaying provocatively without even trying, her perky ass on display in her silver dress.

She’s going to be delightful in bed. Between her fine body and sassy attitude, there’s no doubt we’ll set the sheets on fire.

We step into the elevator and stand in amicable silence.

I start to think of how I can convince Gabrielle to go along with my plan.

My mind begins to strategize, and I can’t help but glance down at her curvy body wrapped up in that slinky dress.

Enjoying the view, I realize there might be one slight issue that may arise.

I really want to fuck her brains out. As much as I know I can’t, the temptation is incredibly powerful.

I have to remember that if I hold out on taking her virginity, that it will keep her by my side long enough to get what I need from the good Senator.

“Where are we going, Mr. Sterling?”

“It’s Case. And we’re headed to my hotel,” I respond, flashing her a smile.

“Okay.”

I’m staring straight at the elevator doors. I peek a glance at her from the corner of my eye.

She’s biting her lower lip.

She is so fucking sexy.

The urge to pin her against the elevator wall and devour her mouth is nearly overwhelming.

No intimate touching, Case. Not yet.

As soon as I touch her, I know I’ll give in.

First, seal the deal. Get her agreement to be my wife.

Second, get the Senator on board with giving me the permits.

Then—only then—can I indulge myself with her.

I dare to steal a glance at her that isn’t provided by the reflection of the elevator’s cold steel.

She’s still biting that fucking lip.

Keeping my hands off her is going to be the ultimate test of my willpower.