Chapter 1

Emma 

“I’m looking for the service of a gigolo tonight,” I said to the bartender, my voice barely above a whisper.

He was busy pouring a drink into a glass, but my words made him pause. His eyes slowly lifted to meet mine before dropping to my left hand, where my wedding ring sat perfectly on my finger.

Heat rushed to my face. Without thinking, I quickly pulled my hand off the bar stool and hid it on my lap. To calm my racing nerves, I picked up the glass in front of me and took another shot. I was already half drunk, forcing myself to drink just to gather enough courage to go through with this.

“You wanna hook up for the night?” he asked, licking his lips. “My shift will be over soon, and my place isn’t far from here.”

“There won’t be a need for that.” The deep voice came from behind me. I turned immediately and found myself face to face with an incredibly handsome stranger.

He had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and every part of his body looked perfectly toned beneath his fitted clothes.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. I simply stared at him, completely caught off guard by how attractive he was.

Realizing what I was doing, I quickly looked away and forced myself to compose myself. I had no business staring at another man like that. I was still a married woman.

“I’m sorry... do I know you?” I asked.

“Nope,” he replied as he stepped closer.

The closer he got, the more I caught the scent of his expensive cologne. It was subtle, clean, and intoxicating. “But you are about to.” A slow smile spread across his face. “I overheard you saying you needed the service of a gigolo.” He stopped in front of me and gave me a slight bow. “Well, I’m right here, at your service, ma’am.”

His smile was so breathtaking that it almost stole the air from my lungs. “Just so you know, she’s a married woman,” the bartender said, his voice filled with annoyance after noticing that all my attention had shifted to the stranger.

I wasn't here because I wanted to be, if I had a choice, I would have been anywhere else. But my husband, Jake, whom I had been married to for three years, insisted that I find a complete stranger to sleep with me and get me pregnant.

That was the condition his grandfather had given him before handing over the family company. Jake wanted the company more than anything. The problem was that he couldn't stand the thought of sleeping with me.

So he came up with another solution. I would find another man, get pregnant by him, and we would pay him for his service. As long as a baby was born, his grandfather would never know the difference.

That was why I was sitting in this bar tonight, drinking away my courage while looking for a man willing to spend the night with me.

"My name is Noah," he said. He held out his hand.

I hesitated for only a second before placing mine in his. The moment our hands touched, a strange jolt shot through my body, sending tiny sparks across my skin.

"Emma," I replied softly.

"It's nice to meet you, Emma."

"I have a room reserved at the hotel," he said. "We can go there and talk."

I nodded before I could overthink it. I slipped off the bar stool, and he led the way toward the hotel connected to the bar.

Neither of us said much as we walked through the quiet hallway. My heart pounded so loudly that I was sure he could hear it.The moment we stepped inside the room and the door closed behind us, the air between us changed.

Noah moved closer until there was barely any space between us. His hand rested gently against my waist as he searched my face, giving me one last chance to pull away, I didn't.

He leaned in, and our lips met in a desperate, lingering kiss. My back pressed lightly against the closed door as I returned it, my mind going completely blank. By the time we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily, neither of us speaking as the silence settled around us.

I didn't know if it was the alcohol clouding my judgment or the fact that the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on actually wanted me. Men like him only existed in my fantasies.

Besides, I was a woman who had been deprived of affection for far too long. I had been married for three years, yet not once had my husband made me feel worthy of his touch. Instead, he constantly reminded me how much I disgusted him.

While I spent countless nights crying myself to sleep, Jake had no problem bringing his mistress into our home. He even slept with her in our marital bed while I was left to spend the night on the couch downstairs.

The memory stung, but I refused to let it ruin this moment. I pushed every thought of Jake to the back of my mind and focused on the man standing in front of me.

Noah looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race. "I want you so bad, Emma," he said, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine. "Tell me you want this too."

I nodded, I had never wanted anything as desperately as I wanted this moment. It was unbelievable. I had only met this stranger a few minutes ago, yet I was already prepared to throw away every value and rule I had lived by.

"But it's my first time," I admitted quietly. "You have to be gentle."

"I will try my best," he replied. Without another word, he reached for my dress. The fabric gave way with a sharp tearing sound as it ripped apart in his hands within seconds.

My eyes widened in shock. How on earth was I supposed to return home wearing that?