I'd been getting ready for hours when I heard the butler announce Hudson’s arrival. I sat on the edge of the bed with my hair pulled back around the nape of my neck, and I waited for him to call for me or send someone. But he didn't. Finally, I got brave enough to go downstairs on my own. Hunger got the best of me mostly.

He stood in the middle of the foyer, with his hands crossed in front of him and a single white rose. Of course, it matched my dress. He had on a full tuxedo, and I tried to breathe as I took my steps carefully to the stairs.

But, as he stood there, I realized why I was coming down on my own. Hudson liked a grand entrance, and me walking down the stairs with the light shining off of every bead on my body gave him exactly that. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, he walked over to me and extended his arm, whispering in my ear, “You look exactly like I thought you would.”

I looked at him. “What does that mean?”

“Breathtaking.”

And just like that, I was speechless.

Hudson held the door open for me as he entered the town car, and we drove in silence until we reached the restaurant, overlooking the ocean. It was enclosed in glass, so the evening air didn't bother us. The view was practically unimaginable, with the waves crashing below. I had never seen anything like it. But, just as I was falling into my own mind, Hudson brought me right back out.

“So, what do you think of the weather?”

I smiled at him. “You're going asking about the weather? Really?”

“I thought I got to ask you anything I wanted.”

“I mean you just took me halfway around the world to this beautiful place, and you want to talk about the weather. You’re a mystery to me.”

“I feel the same way about you.”

“So, what about this being a vacation?” I asked, as I placed a white napkin on my lap, and the waiter poured me a glass of red wine.

He squinted at me. “What do you mean?”

“At the airport, we discussed how this is a vacation. I thought that implied no business.”

“Then, what is it that we’re doing? You and me… This is business.”

I chewed on my lower lip. I hated to think that the only reason I was here was because Hudson wanted to do business with me. It made my stomach turn. It made me irrationally angry, and I couldn’t figure out why.

“But you never mentioned any business before we got on the flight. What changed?”

“Well, while you were peacefully sleeping in the back, I got a call from a client that he needed to crunch some numbers. I thought that, since we were in the area, it wouldn’t be a problem. Besides, I'm not sure you get to demand things of this trip.”

“I'm sorry? I never asked for a trip. I requested dinner, which you agreed to.”

He looked at me. “And here we are at dinner.”

As always, I was allowing Hudson to get under my skin. There was just something about him; he was like an itch I couldn't scratch. And he drove me crazy.

“Why do I bother you so much?”

I scowled at him. “I don't know, because you're pompous and arrogant? And because you think you own everything, including women.”

The shock was written all over his face. “You're honest.”

“And you’re rude. You think that money can make anything possible.”

Now, he was starting to raise his voice. An older French couple behind him had stopped talking. “Money can fix everything. It makes things better, makes it so you don't have to feel anything about anyone. I can buy your time, and when we get back to the states, I can never talk to you again, and money does that for me.”

“And why is that so horrible? Why is dating a girl properly, spending time with her, and being friendly so difficult for you?”

“There are just some things you don't understand.”

“Then help me to. You bring me here, and you don't even wait for me to get off the plane before you’re gone. I'm in a new place that I've never been before, I'm terrified of what might happen, and you don't care.”

I thought he would get up and walk away. But he just sat there, dumbfounded, like no one had ever spoken to him like this in his entire life.

“So, I don't know how to treat people well. Is there anything else?”

I folded my hands in my lap, and looked down at the beautiful satin napkin that was lying there. “I'm sorry. This is all a little overwhelming for me, and I shouldn't have said that. I just didn't expect you to leave. I didn’t really expect any of this.”

He shook his head. “No one has ever asked me to stay.”

He reached for his wine glass. I put my hand on his, and stopped him. “I'm asking you to. Does that mean anything?”

He left his hand there beneath mine, the heat growing between them. “Yes it does. I’m sorry about the plane. I thought a girl like you could handle herself. I didn’t feel the need to babysit you. But I can, if that’s what you want.”

“I’m not being childish.”

“I didn’t say you were. I didn’t invite a child to dinner, I invited a feisty woman who I simply met at a bar.”

I pulled my hand away, and set my lips into a thin smile. “Well, then, I guess you should order. For the both of us, because I have no idea what anything on this menu is.”

He smiled, and it lightened the mood. He called the waiter over, and ordered a something I couldn't pronounce, but sounded delicious. Something with fish and I liked seafood.

“Why France? If you really didn’t have this planned as a business trip, then why did we come to France?”

He took a sip from his wine glass before speaking. “I love France. The cuisine is amazing, and it's beautiful. And I've been told it's romantic. But I wouldn't really know anything about that.”

“I saw the beach on my way to your home; it's amazing. I'd love to see it again before we go back.”

He shook his head. “You know, I have never been to the beach here.”

“Really? Then I think we need to fix that.”

He raised his glass. “Agreed.”

“You know, I really am sorry for what I said earlier. It’s not my place.”

“But you were right. I don’t treat people like people. I’ve never had to. I spend most of my time alone.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have anyone to spend time with. No one of importance, at least. And I decided a long time ago to stop spending time with people who weren’t important.”

“Any reason why?”

He shook his head. “That’s a story for another night.”

Our conversation remained on frivolous topics the rest of the dinner. We discussed our trip to the beach. He asked me multiple times which one I wanted to go to, and if I wanted to go at night or during the day. He was actually interested in what I wanted. My outburst from earlier had done some good.

As we left the restaurant, he offered me his arm to escort me to the town car, and I realized I didn't want to go back yet. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I was on a real date, like something out of the movies.

“I don't want to go back yet.”

“Aren’t you exhausted? I mean, I know you slept on the plane…”

“It doesn't matter.” I took off my shoes, and held them by the straps while I started to walk down the cold cobblestone street towards the beach. “You promised.”

He started to chase after me, but I could hardly run in the heavy gown, and even after I pulled it up above my knees, it still dragged in the back.

“Let me take those for you.” He offered his hands to my shoes after we slowed down.

“Oh that's very nice of you. Have you ever done anything like this before?”

He shook his head. “I don't think I've ever been to a beach at night.”

“No, I mean offered to do something for someone else just because it was a nice thing to do.”

He stopped in the middle of the street. “Do you ever just let things happen?”

I turned around. “Not really.”

“Why are you always analyzing me?”

“That's part of what I do. I'm just trying to figure out who you are.”

“Why do you want to know so badly?”

“Because there's something here. There’s something between us, and I just have to figure it out. Because as much as you infuriate me sometimes, all I want you to do is kiss me.”

There was something about the wine that had made me incredibly honest. I turned around, and walked to the beach, while he stayed several feet behind me. When my toes reached the sand, it was cold and squishy under my feet, so I held my dress up so it wouldn’t get dirty. Right before I reached the water, Hudson came up behind me and ran his fingers along my neck. He whispered in my ear, “We agreed, no strings attached. You’re not playing by the rules.”

I turned around. “I don't feel like that’s an option anymore.” I wanted him to kiss me so desperately it hurt. Hudson made me feel crazy, and it was intoxicating.

He dropped my shoes in the sand, and they landed with a thud. “I want to watch you swim.”

“But I don't…” He reached his arms behind me, and undid the clasp that held my halter together. Slowly, he pulled down the fabric in front of me. I felt my exposed breasts meet the night air, and goose bumps broke out on my skin. He kissed the side of my neck, and allowed the dress to drop the rest of the way down into the sand. I was left with nothing, but a pair of nude underwear.

“Are you happy with your purchase?”

“You have no idea.”

I backed away from him, and walked into the icy water. All that I could see was his dark shadowy frame on the beach when I turned around again.

“Why don’t you join me?” I called.

“That's not the arrangement.”

“I'm making a new one.”

I walked back out of the water, put my hands around his chiseled face, and I pulled him into my lips. It felt like fire was running through my veins.

Hudson James had bought me. But what he didn't realize was, I owned him.