Chapter 3

Raoul

When Karina walked in, I could tell what drew Luca to her in the first place. Her thick blonde hair is tied at the nape of her neck, drawing attention to her face. She is bare-faced tonight, unlike she had been on that night four years ago. Those blue Disney princess eyes are wiped clean of makeup, framed by thick, dark lashes.

She seems taut like she could snap any time soon. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

She is wearing a black trench coat which is not knotted, revealing a high-necked black dress. Almost like she is here for a funeral. Her funeral. She hadn’t dressed so conservatively four years ago. Her supermodel figure had been on full display, the low-cut gown exposing more of her full breasts than it concealed.

She had walked into my Vegas casino with her father, all killer legs and lipstick and big hair. Luca—or the twenty million dollar estate in Santorini—hadn’t stood a chance. It had been horrible. Luca almost went bankrupt. His father had threatened to disinherit him for gambling away a resort he had been given control over.

Her plush lips part, then close up again. Her mouth opens again like she has something to say.

I could put good use to that mouth.

I push the thought away as I feel a tightening in my groin. Karina is not a distraction I need, or even want. I prefer to be with women with a little bit of substance. She’s a gorgeous woman, something she knows and is quick to capitalize on. She probably intends to do that right now.

I have a great deal of respect for my time. I sigh.

“Okay.” I look into her eyes.” Would you prefer to be bent over my desk?”

Her face becomes an almost comical shade of red and her eyes take up more space in her face. Anyone would think she had never heard of sex before. I glance at the clock on my computer. It’s 8:33.

“W... what?” She stammers

The outraged virgin act is beginning to get old. “Or would you prefer to fuck while standing?”

Her face becomes even redder, something I didn’t think was possible. Karina Hardings is an interesting woman. Turns red in the face at a proposition but helps her father to swindle young, impressionable men out of their money. I wonder how far that blush extends. Does it brush her breasts, or end at her neck? The first night I had seen her, she had had a black dress on, more lace than satin. Much shorter and more revealing than what she has on now, but that does not stop my mind from forming a few images that would probably shock her into fainting.

What had begun as a way to scare her off had come back to bite me in the ass. “You seem shocked,” I observe silkily.

“I... that... I didn't come here for that.” She forces out of her lips. “I wanted to ask for an extension on the loan.”

“Did Manuel not tell you... I don't give those?”

I wonder if she’s going to faint. Her lips are wobbling, almost like she wants to burst into tears. I rise to my full height and I hear her breath catch as she looks up at me. I walk around the desk, bracing my hand on the armrest of her seat and leaning in till I can smell her scent, soft and feminine. Seductive in its way. Her eyes are locked to mine and I can’t look away from the large blue eyes for the life of me.

Our lips are so close that our breaths mix. I remember thinking Luca was a fool to let a woman make him lose his mind. Now, I suppose I can cut him some slack. The confusing mix of innocence and sensuality from Karina can make just about any man lose his mind. I’m not immune.

Her breath is quickening and her lips are parted slowly. The terrified little virgin is affected, after all.

“You’re a beautiful woman. I hear you’re intelligent.” I drawl, catching her silky hair between my forefinger and thumb. The image comes to my mind before I can stop them. Her hair spread like a halo around her head as she lay beneath me, her nails digging into my back. Her hair fisted in my hand as she took me in between those soft lips. I groan inwardly.

“Surely it must have crossed your mind that I wouldn’t want to be repaid monetarily.” I continue.

“I...” She swallows. “Can’t do that.”

Without letting myself think about it, I let my hand snake around the nape of her neck, my thumb stroking her pulse where it beats against her neck. Her eyes dart to mine as she

Takes my forearm in her grip. I can’t tell if she’s trying to pull me towards her or take my hand away from her. Her dilated eyes and heavy breathing tells me she can’t tell either.

I let my lips brush against hers. God, she’s intoxicating. Every bit was as soft as I anticipated. Her eyes drift close and a sigh escapes her lips. She seems to sway slightly towards me. Her grip softens on my forearm.

I must have been a monk in my previous life, because despite the overwhelming urge to go through with my earlier questions—and the image of her sprawled across the surface of my desk—I move away from her. Her eyes snap open, wide with disbelief.

I busy myself with picking my watch up and closing it around my wrist.

“Have the money ready in two days. See yourself out.” I say coldly without sparing her a glance. The intercom rings and I pick up the receiver.

It is Bianca, my secretary. “Raoul, I’ve rescheduled your meeting for Friday...”

In the corner of my eye, I see Karina standing. She seems a bit shaken, but her mouth is set in a firm line. She looks like she's ready for battle. She begins to walk towards the door but stops halfway and turns to look at me. Bianca’s words begin to trail off as Karina undoes the buckle of her trench coat and shrugs it off, letting it fall to the floor.

Her teeth seem to be clenched. Her eyes are boring holes into mine. She reaches behind her for the zip of her dress and undoes it deftly, her eyes never leaving mine. The dress falls to a pool at her feet.