SABRINA'S POV

Breaking into a million dollars hadn't been in my plans for tonight but plans changed and people adapted especially when their moms went out with their girlfriends to celebrate their engagement. Apparently, mom's new boyfriend gave her a fancy ring and she went out to celebrate, forgetting that we had a pile of unopened bills and a voicemail from the utility company that sounded very much like a threat. 

My knees scraped against the concrete as I hauled myself onto the terrace ledge and over the railing, praying my thrift-store dress doesn't give up on me. 

Luckily, I landed on the terrace without incident and slipped back into the sneakers and bag I'd tossed over. 

My heartbeat drummed in my ears as I reached the sliding door. I would've gone through the front door but I'd get caught immediately so the back terrace was my only option. I picked the lock, praying my lock picking skills wouldn't fail me now. I fumbled with the keyhole for a few seconds before I heard a click. Bingo! 

A sigh of relief escaped me. Breaking in was the easy part. Getting to steal whatever jewelry I could find here was another. 

I crossed the lavish living room and then to a primary suite. I tried not to gasp in awe at every art piece littering the walls. It took every ounce of willpower not to pluck them off the wall and run.

“Stay focused, Sabrina,” I told myself. “Your job is to find the jewelry and get the hell out.” 

The villa was always cool and quiet. The owner, Gwendolyn Brooks, was a 65 year old business mogul who regularly travels abroad for business trips. It's the busiest time of the year so she hasn't been here in over a month. I knew this information because I was her nosy neighbour. 

“Sorry, Gwen, but poverty is smiling at me right now.” I whispered as I crept into the bedroom. 

My eyes zeroed in on a red box on the dressing table and I smiled. This was almost too easy. 

I'd barely made a move before a strong hand shot out and grasped my throat. The backpack I'd slung over my shoulder dropped to the floor. The room tilted as the stranger yanked me down and pinned me against the bed. A gasp left my mouth as a handsome face stared back at me.

“Who the hell are you?!” He hissed. 

A wheeze came as my reply and I talked, the forearm pressed against my throat. 

A scowl stretched across his handsome face as he repeated his question. At this point I'm going to die from the pounds of solid muscle stopping the air from entering my lungs. 

He seemed to have noticed my difficult breathing because he loosened his grip.

“Talk.” He sighed.

I wheezed for air and glared at him. Who the hell was he and what was he doing here? Did he break in too? But when I looked at him he didn't look like he was a thief. At least that disheveled hair and naked torso says otherwise.

I tried to push him off me but he pinned me down again.

“Where do you think you're going, intruder? Or should I say thief?” His hoarse voice caressed my skin. 

“I'm not a thief,” I scoffed at my lie. “I work here.”

“And you're coming in to work by 1 in the morning?” He chuckled.

“No. I left my backpack here earlier and came to get it. I work here as a gardener. If you're the owner of this then you'd know who I am.” I was surprised at how smooth the lie left my lips.

“I am the owner of this house and I have never seen you before.” He leaned forward. Now that he was closer, I could see his face clearly.

He had short thick dark locks that were cropped at the sides. Stubbles darkened his jaw and I spotted a thin scar slashing through his right eyebrow. He was the opposite of the preppy, clean-shaven types I usually went for. 

My eyes dropped to the pair of black sweatpants that rode low on his hips and then up to the inky tattoos swirling around his bare chest and shoulders in intricate patterns. If it were anyone else, I would've admired this rare masculine beauty but he looked old enough to be my father and worst of all, he was a stranger, one who was probably a few seconds from either killing me for trespassing or calling the cops. 

“Can you please let me go? It's late and I have school in the morning.” I said still, struggling underneath him.

“You didn't think of that when you broke in, did ya?” He grinned.

“I didn't break in.”

“Then if you actually worked here, why didn't you walk through the front door like a decent human being? Hmm?” He mused. 

Goddamit, he'd seen through my lie. Now, what is he going to do? Kill me? Have me arrested? No. I couldn't get arrested not when I'm still in my senior year of college.

I swallowed hard and let the worst flow smoothly. “I'll do anything just please, don't call the cops.”

He regarded me with a grin. “Anything? Are you sure you want to word it that way?”

“I don't care.” as long as I get the hell out of here in one piece.

“It's your funeral.” He loosened his grip from me and I leaned back on the bed slowly.

When I tried to run, he grabbed my wrist.

“And where do you think you're going?” He tightened his hold to the point where I feared he'd break my bones. It's been only a minute since I'd met him so I wouldn't be surprised if he actually broke it. He looked like he would do it in the blink of an eye and not think about the consequences.

My nostrils flared. “Let go of me.” 

His lips tipped at the corners. “Not when you haven't finished your part of the bargain." 

I stared at him, looking as dumfounded as hell. “Bargain? What bargain?”

A yelp escaped me when he dragged me towards him. When I tried to protest, he placed one hand on the crown of my hair, gently caressing my hair. My heart beat so loudly in my ribcage I feared it'd rip from its place. No one has ever touched me like this. 

“You promised me anything as long as I don't call the police.” His smirk widened.

My throat went dry like the desert. Holy shit. I did say that.

“Listen, I —”

“Let's begin then.” His hand moved down to stroke my jaw.

“Begin what exactly?” I wanted to scream.

“Payment for saving you.” 

“You didn't save me. I'm still here, aren't I?” 

“That's too bad now, isn't it?!”

“What are you, a psycho?!” I was beginning to panic.

“Quite the opposite, really.” He grinned and it sickened. Now, I wished I didn't come here in the first place. 

I looked up at him, for someone kneeling on the bed, he was quite tall if he towered over me like this. 

“Ummm,” I swallowed hard. “Can you please, let go of me?” 

“Nope. What I w

ant happens in this position.” 

“What is it you want in this position?” 

“Your lips around my dick.”