Chapter Twenty-Three

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KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

I stretched in annoyance where I lay beneath the sun sail on the deck outside my villa. I’d spent a leisurely morning hiding from giggly goddesses and tormenting assholes, doing my best to once again plot a way free.

I’d commandeered the stationery provided in the bedside drawer and sketched a map of the island from memory. So far, I’d found the central hub where the restaurant and main facilities lived—also the place to avoid, thanks to its welcoming nature for guests to mingle and Sully to reign like a tyrant.

I’d set out at dawn this morning and jogged down the remaining sandy paths, finding forks leading to more accommodation, dead-ends into the jungle, lanes to the beach, and a few tracks leading deeper into the island.

I had no interest in going into the heart of this prison. My freedom wouldn’t be found there...it would be found out here.

I looked up at the bright horizon.

Home called to me past the watery cage and miles of twinkling sea.

The knock came again, wrenching a reluctant groan and swinging my legs off the lounger where I’d sprawled. The black bikini I wore winked beneath the open-style kimono. The lacy ivory material dappled my skin with sun patterns, browning a stencil onto my flesh the longer I stayed outside.

The knock rapped again, this time with impatience.

The urge to ignore whoever it was kept my body heavy and locked on the lounger, but the knowledge that ignoring the summons would just bring possible pain ushered me up.

This wasn’t the real world where I had a choice. I couldn’t keep hiding behind a locked door because the lock belonged to someone who had a key.

A man who had all the keys.

To everything.

My happiness.

My health.

My hope.

Dammit.

The floppy cream hat I wore blocked one eye as I stood and padded my way from the deck and across the pristine floor of my villa, leaving breadcrumbs of golden sand behind.

My heart skittered from its normal rhythm, worrying that my visitor wouldn’t be the friendly girl who brought my breakfast this morning. I’d yet to ring for lunch. I’d cocooned myself in an oasis of loneliness and had no desire for an interruption.

Of course, I knew who it was before I opened the door.

Bracing myself for the inevitable buffeting of awareness, hate, and heat, I wrenched open the thick barricade and came face to face with my nemesis. “You.”

He jolted, his gaze instantly devouring my body.

My nipples pebbled despite myself. My stomach melted against my control.

I should’ve changed.

Despite the tropical temperatures, I should wear jackets and sacks to hide myself as much as possible. I didn’t want him looking at me. I didn’t want him anywhere near me.

Ignoring the need to cross my arms and hide my figure, I snapped, “Leave me the hell alone.”

His eyes found mine again. A lazy smirk twitched his lips rather than the fiery snarls from last night. For a moment, we locked in another battle of piercing proximity. The hair on my nape stood up. Whenever we were together, the island seemed hotter and cooler all at once. My body became overly sensitive and totally troublesome with its responses.

I blamed the first morning and the memory of elixir.

I blamed him for all of it.

With a noble incline of his head, he bowed graciously. “Good afternoon...Jinx.”

His suit of choice today was light grey with the finest chalk pinstripes. His tie was silver. His shirt white. His shoes as polished and as perfect as any CEO who worked in a city rather than one who ruled over an atoll.

I hated that he once again managed to steal what little air I had left. I loathed that despite my rancour—that only increased the longer we interacted—I found him indescribably attractive.

Once again, his perfectionism made me detest him all the more. “It was good until you appeared on my doorstep.”

His eyes flashed, but he swallowed back his temper. “You and I...we need to get something straight.” He cricked his neck as if I’d interrupted his script on how this meeting would go. Whatever cordial response he might’ve delivered died beneath a whip of anger. “I dislike you as much as you dislike me.” I froze as he planted his hand above my head on the door frame. “Actually, dislike is too gentle a word. I’d say what I feel for you is more like—”

“Disgust.”

He clucked his tongue in reprimand. His gaze snagged mine, blazing blue. “If I disgusted you, I wouldn’t be able to make you wet.”

I sucked in a breath. “We discussed that. Don’t mistake biology for—”

“I made you wet because there’s something going on between us. Just like you make me hard because, for some reason, I have a morbid fascination with fucking you.”

I struggled to stay standing and not punch him or run into the sea. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

He signed condescendingly. “Such a little liar.” His hand slipped from the doorframe and traced gently down my arm.

Instantly, goosebumps sprang, shivers attacked, dampness gathered.

No.

Just no.

I was mortified.

I was horrified.

I hated myself...not just him.

Removing his touch, he raked his hand through his hair and leaned back, giving me space to breathe and room to drown in despair.

“Something is going on between us, and neither of us are interested in the mess it’s causing.” He swallowed hard. “Contrary to what it seems, I despise arguments. I much prefer smooth waters, Eleanor Grace, and I’m willing to make a compromise to ensure our co-inhabitation doesn’t end with one of us killing the other.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

His jaw clenched as if battling against his next phrase, but he pushed on anyway. “I’m...sorry for giving you the elixir without a proper welcome on my island. It was reckless and has blurred lines that I won’t fucking cross.”

I would’ve choked if I had any saliva in my mouth.

Did he...did he just apologise?

“You are here to work for me. I won’t jeopardise the value you’ll bring to my business by...making you unhappy. These fights have to stop. This lust has to end.”

I hugged myself, unable to stop the need to curl close and protect. “And how do you propose we do that? Are you going to let me go?”

He shook his head, his canines flashing as he smiled. “No, I am not going to let you go.”

“Then...what are you saying?”

“I’m saying, I will no longer torment you, and you will no longer be given liberties to talk back to me. I am your owner. You are my belonging. I will treat you with civility and respect as long as you obey without question.” His voice lowered. “Believe me...this proposition is much better for you, Jinx. I suggest you stop pissing me off, stop antagonising me, stop making me so fucking hungry, and we can return to a simpler relationship.”

I laughed once. “You expect me to bow to you? To never answer back...even when you’re wrong. To never question your behaviour, even when it’s morally corrupt?”

“Yes. This is my island. You obey my laws.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I increase your contract from four a month to four a day.” He delivered the sentence with such coldness, it glittered with icicles.

I froze.

Four a day?

Four men in a single day?

I wanted to throw up.

My stomach actually clenched to evict my morning breakfast of mango and perfectly cooked nasi goreng.

Sully slipped his finger beneath my chin, raising my gaze to meet his. Before, the blue held streaks of animalistic desire. Now, they were clear with ruthlessness. “Respect me, and I’ll leave you alone.”

I arched my jaw away from his control, narrowing my eyes to slits. “How can I respect you when you trapped me here?”

“Find a way.” Clearing his throat, he commanded, “Now...I’ve failed in my welcoming duties. Instead of enlisting a member of my staff to show you around, I will personally ensure your orientation is complete.” His voice turned arctic. “After all, today is your last day on vacation. Tomorrow, you begin work as an official goddess.” Taking my hand, he jerked me from the villa, making me stumble beside him. “Might as well become familiar with your home before you enter Euphoria.”

I twisted my hand from his, rubbing at the prickles left behind from his touch. “What’s Euphoria?”

He grinned like the devil. “Euphoria?” He strode ahead, inserting hands into his slacks pockets and looking effortlessly suave. “Is where you’ll find true freedom. Your only freedom. Euphoria is the only place you’ll want to be...once you’ve tried it.”