Contracted For Pleasure

Chapter 2

***

The rest of the day flew by.

The sea, as it should be, was salty and smelled of watermelon rinds, the foamy surf was noisily running onto the pebbly shore, and the wind cheerfully fluttered the white umbrellas decorating the beach. Having swam enough and surveyed the surroundings, I realized that even here I am pursued by failure. There were no single men of the category I needed in free access.

It's okay. I still have tonight and two whole weeks to go. It'll all work out!

It was with these thoughts in mind that I went to the restaurant that evening.

When I opened the massive glass door of Da Vinci, I found myself in the pleasant, relaxing atmosphere of an inexpensive resort establishment. Light music, a white grand piano in the center of the room, small tables, and a relaxed crowd. Bomond, in short.

I c****d my chin confidently, strode over to a vacant table, and lowered myself into a chair.

- Good evening," the waiter materialized immediately.

I looked at the guy with an appraising gaze. Young, tall, good-looking. I gave myself a mental smack. Come to your senses, Aria! You don't want to get involved with underage girls!

- Your menu," a leather folder lay on the table in front of me.

- Thank you," I nodded to the boy and plunged into studying the dishes on offer. Yes... It's a bit expensive, though.

- Capreso, grilled fish and coffee, please.

- What are you drinking?

- An orange freche," I replied, pushing the "toad" deeper.

The waiter wrote down the order and disappeared into the bowels of the kitchen, and I leaned back in my chair and looked around the room.

At the next table, a couple in love were cooing - don't be jealous, Aria, don't be! - A little farther away, in the corner, three ladies of profoundly balsamic age were laughing loudly, and at the opposite wall elderly men were talking quietly. Well, well, well. Now that's interesting. My gaze slid down his broad back, covered with a light-colored shirt, and stuck to it. What muscles! Mm-hmm. And the neck? Strong, tanned. And that dark hair falling carelessly down his collar. Incredible type! So, no ring on his hand, no woman around either. Let's take it, Aria, let's take it!

The stranger leaned slightly to the right, and I could see the beautifully sculpted cheekbones, the straight nose, the sensual lips. Something treacherously trembled inside. What was it? Butterflies in my stomach? There seemed to be a whole population of butterflies in my stomach.

Meanwhile, the waiter brought my order and, after wishing me a pleasant appetite, left.

I was frantically thinking about what to do. It's one thing to plan everything speculatively, but the other... Oh, what a coward I am! Come on, Aria, this is your chance! Take a risk, you have nothing to lose! Even if the handsome guy blows you off, no one will know about your failure.

I tried to pull myself together, picking at my salad and continuing to stare at my Apollo's back.

The sparing gestures of his large hands, the careless smile, the lazy grace of his movements. I watched the stranger with bated breath. Eh, I don't think I have a chance to get such a handsome man.

While I was staring at the man of my dreams, I didn't notice how I had turned the mozzarella and tomatoes into a mess. Looking at the ruined salad, I mentally said goodbye to the fifteen euro and sipped the bright orange juice. More precisely, the juice.

At that moment, the stranger turned and looked directly at me, and I choked. No, where is justice? The damned drink went down the wrong throat, and I coughed in the most unseemly way. Tears welled up in my eyes, whether from resentment or fErentration. Covering my mouth with a napkin, I bent down, trying to catch my breath.

- Can I help you, young lady? - A pleasant baritone suddenly sounded nearby.

I lifted my head and ran into the attentive gaze of the Man of My Dreams.

- T-thank you," I forcefully replied. - I'm fine. I think so. Well, almost. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm talking nonsense," I apologized to the stranger and coughed again.

That's it, Aria, we're screwed. Only you could have blown your only chance.

The body, as if sensing that it had done its best for my failure, immediately calmed down and returned to normal.

I had nothing to lose, so I stared at him, trying to get a good look at him. What? At least I could enjoy the last of it!

- You're funny," the handsome man grinned and nodded to a vacant chair. - May I?

- If you're not afraid," I blurted out.

Oh, man! What am I talking about?!

- Right, funny," the man smiled even wider, and I was suddenly relieved.

I wanted to get his attention, didn't I? Well, it worked! Albeit not as masterfully as planned.

- Aria," I extended my hand and introduced myself.

We'll do it, Aria, we'll do it. Without leaving, so to speak... before the client runs away.

- Eren," he nodded, shaking my palm. How long have you been on vacation?

- No, first day," I answered honestly.

- Oh, so you still have everything ahead of you - sea, mountains, pleasure trips," Eren said a little mockingly. - I envy you.

- And you? - An excited question escaped my lips.

No, no, no! Don't tell me you're leaving already!

- I'm here on business. A couple more weeks, and then I'm going home.

Ugh. I'm relieved. That's all I need!

- Can I order you something? To make up for the juice," he pointed carelessly at the orange drink.

- Fresh," I corrected myself.

- What?

- It's not juice, it's fresh.

- What's the difference? - Eren looked at me perplexed.

- In the price," I answered the man just as casually, unable to take my eyes off his hands. It was my personal obsession. Some people judged their partners by the beauty of their faces, others by their firm ass or trim figure, but I always fell for hands. Long fingers, harmonious structure, confidence and strength. Erens's hands won me over immediately and unconditionally.

Stop. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're not here to fall in love! Chill out, Aria. Put on a healthy pragmatism.

- Well, if the only difference is the price," the man grinned, beckoning to the waiter. - An orange juice," he ordered softly, without adding any "please" or "be kind.

The man seemed to be used to giving orders. There's a little doubt in my heart. Aren't you swinging too far, Aria? You can see that Eren is a high-flying bird. And it's absolutely unclear what he forgot at your table. Eh, it'll be a shame if the evening ends in nothing.

There must have been something in my eyes, because Eren looked at me carefully and asked:

- Has anyone ever told you that you have a very lively face? It shows all your emotions. For example, you're regretting something right now. Can I ask you what's upsetting you?

- Don't mind me," she shook her head and flashed me a dazzling smile. At least, that's what I hoped she looked like. - It's all frosh.

- That word seems to mean something different than I imagine it does," the man said with a snicker. - Are you sure we both mean regular juice?

- Fresh," I grinned.

- What?

- Not the juice, the frosh.

I think I'm getting a little carried away.

- O-okay, kraut. So, what do you mean by that word?

The waiter placed a tall glass with a straw in front of me, and I hurriedly took a sip of the cool drink.

- You see, Eren, fresh is a liquid that is obtained from fresh fruits by squeezing them," I said with a completely unperturbed look.

- What are you saying? - The man replied seriously. - I would never have thought of it.

- Yeah, yeah, that's right.

I nodded to give more weight to my words, sipped some more and leaned back in my chair comfortably.

- It's funny," the handsome man said thoughtfully, eyeing me with a keen, I'd even say, appraising gaze.

I continued to sip the orange drink in silence.

Finally, as if coming to some conclusion, Eren leaned over the table, moving closer, and said stiffly:

- Aria, I'd like to make you a little proposition.

A chill ran down my back.

- I'm all ears," she answered the man, trying to hide her excitement.

- You see, Aria," Eren switched to a confidential tone. - I'm going to be in this city for a couple more weeks, and considering that my... partners are always trying to slip me ladies they've engaged, I'd like to make you a business proposal.

He fell silent, looking inquisitively into my eyes.

- And what is it?

- You become my companion for the whole time of my stay here, and in return you get a good monetary reward and a very pleasant and varied vacation.

- So it's basically an escort?

I pretended to think, but there was nothing to think about. Wow, the universe had heard my pleas! A real brutal man, with the most beautiful hands I'd ever seen, a mind-blowing figure, and no strings attached! And all for free. Not a man - a dream! The only question that remained was what I was interested in.

- Is s*x included in the price list? - Taking on a businesslike appearance, I clarified.

Come on, say yes!

- Absolutely," my future partner said firmly. - It's a basic condition of our contract. If you agree, you must be prepared to respond to my wishes at any time of the day or night, with no right of refusal.

- Good appetite? - I grinned, trying with all my might to calm my ragged breathing.

- Do you agree? - Eren ignored my provocation, answering with a counter-question.

- Why me?

I was really curious. How could I attract the attention of such a man? No, I am a pretty girl, of course, but with all my arrogance I used to look at life realistically and could honestly admit that I do not reach the level of those ladies with whom such specimens usually have fun! I didn't fit the role of a "Bond girl"!

Eren furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

- Why not you? - he parried. - You're young, attractive, smart, and you've managed to pique my interest. I think that's enough to seal the deal.

I mentally slapped myself. Don't burden the man, Aria! Agree before he changes his mind!

- Great, partner," I answered the man with the most serious look. - The contract will be verbal, or shall we have it notarized?

- Right, funny," Eren grinned and got up from the table, leaving a large bill on it. - Let's go," he said, giving me his hand.

The touch of a hot palm brought a shiver of anticipation. Would my hopes come true?

Eren led me out of the restaurant and toward the parking lot.

- Aren't you staying at this hotel? - I looked at my companion in surprise as he opened the car door.

- No," he answered briefly. - Do you need to take any of your things with you?

- Are you saying...

- Just what I've already said - you have to be available to me at all hours of the day and night, which means you'll have to live near me. You have a problem with that?

- I'd rather sleep in my room.

You bet! Going to an unknown place, unknown with whom... No, with all my fighting spirit to such a thing I was not ready!

- Great," Eren said dryly. He slammed the car door shut, activated the alarm, and turned to me. - Drive.

- Where to?" she looked at Eren confused.

- To your room. I hope it's spacious enough," he said nonchalantly.