Isabelle

I don't mean to gasp, and I instantly feel terrible for my reaction. Then I feel shitty for feeling bad for this pretentious man who couldn't give two shits about what he's doing to my family.

He's the bad guy here, not you.

Besides, his brief expression shows he's all too used to the response. Not that that makes it any better.

He knows my gaze is fixated on it, but he makes no attempt to hide the two long slashes running down the right side of his face, as if he were clawed by a ferocious animal. I force my gaze up to his eyes, which are even scarier than the scars. Their anger-fueled, dark brown stare bores into me, and for the life of me, I can't understand why their intensity is pushing me to the edge of desire.

"I can dress as much or as little as I want. If that bothers you, you're welcome to leave," he says, his massive hand gripping the towel section that's just over his meat.

My mind wrestles with the urge to slip my hand into my pants. I lick my lips as he tugs at the knot on the towel. My eyes voraciously drink in the view as the towel drops to the floor, revealing his massive cock and balls, gleaming in the firelight as they swing freely in front of me.

Who in the hell swims fucking nude?!?

I try—unsuccessfully—to pull my gaze away.

And who's dick is still that huge after?

He leans into me, and I melt under the heat of his breath. "Does that bother you?" he asks, his voice low and taunting.

My heart races, but I can't let him know how excited he's making me. That would give him too much power, and he clearly already has too much to begin with. I squeeze my legs tighter, forcing my gaze away from his enormous cock, and focus on his eyes.

We need to get him to drop the charges.

Yes.

"No," I say calmly, even though my insides are a swirling boiling stew of desire. "Now, about the charges. There has to be something we can do to settle this out of court. It's my fault my dad was even looking at your flowers," I say, my voice thick with a haze of lust and desperation. "If you need to punish a Shepherd, let it be me."

He stares at me, and somehow, it's even harder now to figure out what he's thinking than when his face was shrouded by the darkness. He steps back from me, and I sigh, relieved that his heat's no longer beating me senseless. A smirk plays on his lips as he raises his hand, spits into it, and slicks it over his length. His brow arches as he begins to jerk off right in front of me.

He's waiting for my reaction, but I don't flinch—at least not on the outside. I won't give him the satisfaction. But inside, I'm screaming for release. My nipples are hard, and my clit feels like it's ready to explode at any second. But the only thing I want more than to play with it is to free my dad from the predicament I got him into.

"Well, if that's the case, I'll drop the charges," he says, pumping his hand faster along his cock.

"Really? Tha—"

He holds up a finger to stop me. He groans softly, and I bite my lip, fighting back a moan of my own.

"If you agree to pay off his debt," he finishes.

"I don't have $500,000 either," I say, my voice sinking with defeat.

Is this guy so detached from the world that he thinks everyone has money trees in their yards?

"Not with money," he replies. Instead of easing my anxiety, the statement sends it skyrocketing.

Then how?

As if he heard my unspoken question, he smirks and says, "By agreeing to be mine for the next five years. $100,000 a year."

"You can't be serious," I scoff, stepping back in disbelief.

He doesn't say anything. He doesn't say a word. He just keeps jerking off until he explodes. His cum covers the towel, with some even landing on my pants, and I can't stop a low moan from escaping. As much as I'm attracted to him, there's no way he could think I'd ever give up my life, my dreams. But his eyes darken as he lets go of his cock, and a chill runs down my spine.

He's dead serious.

"Fine, but then you better get used to seeing your father behind bars," he says, turning to walk away.

Ooohh, his ass is firm.

Focus. Your dad's freedom is slipping away.

"Wait!" I call out, closing my eyes for a second, trying to calm my racing pulse and throbbing thighs. "I'll do it."

"You'll do what?" he asks, not even bothering to turn around.

I glower at his back, knowing he's enjoying having all the control in this situation.

"I'll stay here for the next five years," I say, keeping my voice steady, refusing to let him hear an ounce of defeat or disappointment.

"Okay," he says, still not turning to face me, which is fine by me because my glare would've sliced his scarred face to smithereens. "Let's see how good you are at following orders. Bring me my towel."

I glance down at the towel, still soaked with his cum.

"It's covered in—"

He whirls around, growling. The sharpness of his movement makes me gasp, despite my best attempts to remain unfazed.

"Did I ask you to speak or to bring me my towel?" he snarls, his anger rattling my core. "Or are you backing out of our agreement so soon?"

I glare at him from across the room, hating him more the longer he taunts me—tests me.

You have to.

I don't want to.

But... dad needs you to.

I bend down and pick up the towel. It's still warm and sticky from his cum. I walk it over to him and hold it out, but he doesn't take it. Instead, he moves closer to me, so there's barely an inch of space left between us. He towers over me, his hard gaze pinning me in place, and I shiver under the power of his presence.

"Put it back on me," he commands.

I want to ask if he's serious again, but the sharpness encasing his words tells me he is. I push up my glasses and reach toward his waist, but he grabs my wrist with his giant hand.

"On your knees," he growls, sounding like a feral brute.

I swallow hard, practically salivating like a Saint Bernard for this boorish man I've only just met.

Get a grip on yourself—not on his dick.

I tilt my head, furrowing my brows, trying to at least appear like I want to protest his demand. When he lets out a low growl, I drop my head to hide the thrill running through me. I sink to my knees, my eyes locking on his cock and balls.

I lick my lips, then bite my bottom lip to stop myself from tasting the small stream of cum still dripping from his head. I can't believe he has anything left in him, considering how soaked the towel feels against my skin. I lean in to wrap the towel around his waist, and my pussy aches for the touch I'm denying myself.

This is the closest I've ever been to anyone's cock, and I find it better than any book I've read has ever described I tuck the towel in place around his waist and look up, waiting for his next instruction. He cups my chin, giving me a small smile.

"Good girl," he says, and surprisingly, it doesn't feel condescending or belittling. "Now, get up. Ms. Pottsworth will show you to your room, and I'll see you at dinner. We'll discuss your duties then."

"Wait," I say, still kneeling. "I need to go home, and pack, and tell my dad."

"I'll inform your father of our agreement and have your clothes sent here, but for tonight, a dress will be provided," he says, turning to leave the room. He barely looks back at me as he adds, "You won't be leaving."

I scramble to my feet, sanity sluggishly returning as I realize what Adam's saying.

"You can't just lock me up here for the next five years!" I yell, panic creeping into my voice.

He spins around and glares at me, a sinister pleasure flickering in his eyes at my frail attempt to sound strong, making me shrink under his gaze.

"Oh yes, I can. Because now, you—like everything else on my property—are mine," he says matter-of-factly. "And I decide where my things go. I'll see you at dinner." He walks to the doorway, presses a button on the wall, and speaks into it without even glancing back at me. "Ms. Pottsworth, please come and escort Miss Shepherd to the guest quarters in my wing."

I stare blankly as he leaves, and the woman from before enters, ready to usher me to my new quarters.

What the fuck did I just get myself into?

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Things are really escalating for Isabelle now—talk about jumping into the fire! 🔥 What are your thoughts on her confrontation with Adam? I'd absolutely love to hear your reactions, theories, and emotions about this chapter. Every comment helps shape this journey and means so much! If you enjoyed this chapter, please don't forget to drop a comment and a vote. Your support truly makes a difference and keeps me motivated to bring you more twists and turns!