A Real Man: Limited Edition

by Jenika Snow

  How could I say no? He looked at me like he was … hungry for my approval. “Okay,” I whispered, suddenly feeling lightheaded and out of breath.

  He smiled, this confident expression on his face.

  But as the seconds moved by, and we held each other’s gazes, I felt the air shift around us. It got hotter, thicker, and I felt as if I was falling into the abyss.

  But I anticipated the fall.

  “How’s work?” I asked, my voice low, heavy sounding.

  He didn’t speak for a long while, just watched me, these emotions playing in the depths of his eyes. “It keeps me busy.”

  I nodded and licked my lips. I didn’t miss how Hugo lowered his gaze to watch the act. My heart thundered harder. “You’ve always been so busy.” God, my voice was so tight, my arousal shifting inside of me until it was as if another being resided there.

  “Aside from you and your family, my business is the only thing of significance I have.” He shifted on his seat, and I wanted to look down and see if he was aroused. I had no idea why I desperately wanted to see, but that need overrode everything in my brain, making me almost feel like I was malfunctioning.

  “I’m glad we have this day to ourselves.”

  I looked into his eyes, his accent moving over me, making my skin tighten and my inner muscles clench in need.

  “You are?”

  He shifted on the seat again, moving a little closer to me. “I am.”

  “Why?” God, was that my voice sounding so aroused?

  “Because it gives us some time to talk, to be alone.”

  I felt so dizzy, but in a good way. “You want to be alone with me?”

  Yes, he just said that.

  He took a second to answer. “I do, Sabine. So much.” His voice was just as thick as mine.

  God, is this really happening?

  I felt like this was a prime time to kiss him, or for him to lean in those extra few inches and kiss me. I wanted to, wanted to feel his lips on mine, feel that power, that experience I knew he had deep in his marrow. I wanted it to fill me.

  He leaned in another inch, and I found myself doing the same. For a second, we breathed the same air. His body was so big, so muscular, that he seemed to block out everything behind him. I felt wholly feminine right now, and I wanted more.

  And just when I thought I’d finally feel his lips on mine, and finally get a taste of the man that I’d wanted for so long it sucked the very life out of me, the car slowed.

  “We’re here, Sir.”

  I felt reality slam into me, and as I leaned back, I was aware of Hugo still watching me. He looked at me with heavy-lidded eyes, his focus trained on my mouth. His broad, defined chest rising and falling a little harder, faster told me he was still in that moment.

  I hadn’t imagined this; I wasn’t the only one fantasizing about being together.

  Hugo wanted me as much as I wanted him.

  Hugo

  I was hard, painfully so. All I wanted to do was kiss Sabine right then and there. Of course, the timing had interrupted what I knew would have eventually happened. As much as I wanted to say fuck breakfast and just admit what I wanted with her, I gathered my self-control and helped her out of the car.

  What I knew without a doubt was that Sabine wanted me, and I wasn’t going to back down now that I’d seen the truth coming off her in waves.

  She’d be mine.

  5

  Sabine

  We’d left the coffee shop half an hour ago, but with the traffic and the fact that Hugo wanted to take me to this ritzy, exclusive boutique, we’d just arrived five minutes ago.

  But already I was in a dressing room, the woman working the floor shoving dresses at me. She’d been very friendly with Hugo, but I hadn’t seen it as sexual, or even attraction on her part. She’d been pleasantly surprised to see him.

  I thought about Hugo’s profession, about what would happen if I were involved with him. It might be wishful thinking, and I supposed I needed to be realistic, but it was hard not thinking about the what ifs.

  With him owning his own business, he traveled a lot, going to different countries, making deals to further his business; he had connections that made my meager life look dull and unappealing. But he’d always been a facet in my life, and I couldn’t see myself not having him there. He’d always been there, even from afar. Hugo had always shown me it didn’t matter how much money someone did or didn’t have … if they were genuine they were valued.

  And he was as genuine as they came.

  I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. For a second, I didn’t even recognize myself, not with the expensive dress draped over my body, showing off my curves in the most tempting ways.

  Yes, I admitted I looked nice in this dress, beautiful even, and a part of me felt uncomfortable with that fact. I didn’t dress up, and when I did, it certainly wasn’t with lace and silk.

  Will Hugo think I’m beautiful?

  I smoothed my hands over the cream colored material, the lace beneath my fingers smooth, yet slightly raised. The V-neck was right above my breasts, and the large swells gently rose above it with every inhalation I took. I only stood there for a few moments before I heard Hugo clear his throat. My heart started racing harder, knowing he was right behind the dressing room door.

  “You’re well in there?” he asked, and I looked myself over again. The lace detailing had rose-colored threads throughout it, and the material fell to my knees. It was classy, yet revealing without being obscene.

  “I’m good,” I said, but immediately cleared my throat as my voice sounded thick. The arousal still thrummed through my veins.

  “You’re dressed?” he asked, and I heard the distinct change in the pitch of his voice. It got lower, huskier, and I wondered if he was imagining me without anything on.

  The car ride played through my head again, and I felt my cheeks heat. Looking at my reflection, I saw my cheeks had this rosy glow to them.

  “I am,” I said softly.

  There was a moment of silence.

  “Let me see you, Sabine.”

  My pulse jackknifed, and I felt my throat tighten. I looked down at myself, knowing I wanted to show him, because I thought I looked nice in the dress, but I felt so nervous. I’d never felt so … pretty.

  “Sabine.” He said my name deeply, with a touch of authority.

  I reached out and grabbed the handle and, for a second, just held the little brass globe in my hand. It started to warm when I finally pulled the door open. Hugo stood just a few feet from me, this air of confidence and control surrounding him.

  He looked so damn good.

  I felt my cheeks heat even further, but prayed I didn’t look like a total twit. I didn’t want him thinking I was embarrassed by this moment or his generosity. I also didn’t want him to think I couldn’t control myself and the clear attraction I’d felt between us in the car.

  And God, had I felt it. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the heat that had consumed me at the way he’d looked at me. He didn’t speak for long seconds, but he was definitely appraising me.

  “It’s too much, isn’t it?” I felt my hands start to shake from my nerves. I was losing it, but I couldn’t stop the energy moving through me.

  “Krasivitsa.”

  I felt butterflies take root in my belly at the way he called me beautiful. It was only one word, but it sounded like he meant so much more with it.

  “You’re absolutely beautiful, Sabine.”

  I felt my damn blush intensify. “Thank you.” I saw the woman holding up a few more dresses, but Hugo waved her off.

  “I love this one. I think this one will be perfect for tonight.” He looked up at me after scanning my body for several seconds. I liked that he took charge. I loved this dress, but hearing him shut any other dresses down, and telling me this was the one, made me feel very feminine … very happy that he was pleased.

  We didn’t speak for long seconds, and I wondered if the woman still st
anding in the background felt weird just watching us. Surely she could see the connection that was going on? Or maybe I was the only one that felt it?

  “We need some privacy,” Hugo finally said, addressing the woman. She was gone a second later. I ran my hands down the dress, but caught myself and curled my fingers into fists. Hugo took a step closer and another and another, until he was right in front of me, just a few inches separating us.

  I had a hard time breathing with Hugo’s scent filling my head. He glanced down at my lips, licked his own, and exhaled roughly, as if he was having just as hard a time as I was.

  “There are a lot of things I want to say right now, Sabine.” He still stared at my mouth.

  “Say them,” I whispered, not caring if anyone could hear us.

  “They aren’t proper,” he said and took another step closer to me, so much so that if I inhaled our chests would brush together.

  “I’m past proper, Hugo.” I was feeling bold, braver. “I know what happened in the car wasn’t just one sided.”

  He was still looking at my mouth. My heartbeat filled my head, and I grew dizzy.

  “No, it wasn’t just one sided.”

  And then he leaned in, pushed my hair aside, and said softly against the shell of my ear, “It’s always been you, and I’m tired of waiting, Sabine. I’m ready to make you mine.”

  6

  Hugo

  I couldn’t stop thinking about Sabine and the moments we’d shared in the car and at the boutique. I could have taken her right then and there, shown her what I wanted to do to her, and not given a shit if the sales associate saw it. I’d been hard, so fucking hard I’d thought about going to the bathroom to relieve myself to try and tame some of this need moving through me.

  But I knew nothing would compare to Sabine. I knew nothing could tame my arousal unless it was she.

  I’d waited four years to be with her, hiding my feelings, not sure if telling her what I wanted, and hoping she felt the same way, would work out. She was an adult, knew what she wanted in life, and the way she’d reacted to me today told me she wanted me.

  My driver pulled up to the house and everyone exited. I watched as she climbed out of the car, her long legs unfolding. The heels I’d insisted on buying because they matched the dress and screamed “fuck me” looked incredible on her. My cock jerked, but I tried to keep the desire that burned deep inside of me at bay.

  “Thank you for dinner. It was lovely,” Annabelle said and wrapped her arms around Leo.

  “My pleasure.” I should have said more, how it was lovely to catch up with them, how we needed to do all of that, but my focus was on Sabine and the way she wouldn’t make eye contact with me. She’d been doing that all night, and a part of me felt like a predator wanting to grab onto its prey … and Sabine was my prey.

  I could tell she might be conflicted about what was going on between us, the arousal that I knew she felt just as strongly as I felt for her. I looked at the feather necklace she wore. It had meant so much more than just a graduation gift all those years ago. It was a token of my feelings for her, light, easily held in the hand, but complex even if on the outside it didn’t appear as such.

  And the bracelet she wore on her delicate wrist. I was possessive of Sabine, without a doubt, but I was also controlled, careful, and knew how to keep myself in check. I didn’t even want to think about her with anyone else.

  She was mine, and I wanted to show her how good we’d be together.

  Sabine

  After we arrived home, I’d hoped to spend time with Hugo. My parents had gone to bed a little over an hour ago, and here I was still in the dress Hugo had gotten for me, not wanting to take it off for some reason.

  I didn’t know what any of this meant, or if I’d even get to talk to him about it before he left, but the very thought of him leaving and not coming back for so long—however long that might be—had this sick feeling consuming me.

  I didn’t want anyone else. I’d known that before I’d even seen the desire for me in his eyes. The very thought of not being able to tell him the truth, to be honest with the both of us, made it seem as if the world would crash down around me.

  I thought on that for several minutes and came to the conclusion I couldn’t just hope something like this happened again.

  Hugo was it for me.

  Thinking about being with anyone else just didn’t do it for me. I wanted only him, and he needed to know that.

  Hugo

  I’ve never been the type of man to sit around and wait for things to fall into my lap. I didn’t get where I was in life, and with my corporation, by not taking action.

  I’d waited long enough to be with Sabine, and I wasn’t going to wait anymore.

  But when I opened the front door of the guesthouse, I saw her standing there. She still wore the dress I’d bought her, and this stab of possession slammed into me. I wanted her wearing the things I bought.

  I wanted to be the one to peel what she wore off.

  Lust slammed into me, but so did love. I fucking loved Sabine, more than I could even fully comprehend … more than she’d ever fully know.

  For her I’d go to any lengths to make sure she was protected. I’d level buildings if it made her happy.

  “Hugo.” She whispered my name, and everything in me tightened. “I’m just going to say this because I’m done hiding.”

  I curled my fingers into the doorframe, trying to refrain from pulling her into the house and making her mine. I wanted to kiss her until she was breathless, until she was clutching at me and begging me to make her mine in any way I saw fit.

  But I didn’t move, because she clearly had something to say. This would be a break it or make it situation. She’d either tell me whatever between us couldn’t go on or she’d finally give herself to me.

  She looked down at her hands, which she started twisting together. She was nervous, and I hated that I’d made her feel this way, even inadvertently.

  I reached out and placed one hand on hers and lifted her head up with a forefinger under her chin. She stared up at me, her eyes so wide, her expression so vulnerable.

  “It’s okay,” I said softly, wanting to pull her into my chest so badly, to stroke my hand over her hair, and to let Sabine know she’d never have to feel anything but comfort and safety around me.

  “I love you, Hugo.” Her eyes got even wider when she said those words, and if possible, my body tightened even further. I let go of her hands and chin, staring at her with probably a little bit of shock on my face. However, what I felt so strongly it could have knocked me on my ass, was possession.

  She’s mine.

  7

  Hugo

  “I love you so much, Hugo. I have for years. I know what I felt from you today when it was just us, and I’m tired of trying to pretend that this might go away … that my emotions for you will diminish over time.” She looked at me for a long second. “It only grows stronger as time passes.”

  I didn’t have any self-control when it came to Sabine. Right now, the way she looked at me, the things she said … I wasn’t about to try and stop myself from having her, from showing her I loved her as well.

  I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I’d wanted to.

  I cupped my hand on the back of her head, held her in place, and leaned forward. For a second, all we did was stare into each other’s eyes and breathe the same air.

  “Kiss me, Hugo,” she whispered, begging me in that softly sweet voice of hers.

  I groaned, my body shaking. “Lyubov moya.” I whispered the endearment, knowing she’d understand the Russian term. I opened my eyes and saw she understood me clearly.

  She looked up at me with wide eyes.

  “My love,” I said on a harsh groan. “I love you, too, Sabine. God,” I groaned and closed my eyes for a heartbeat. “God, I fucking love you so much it hurts sometimes.” I leaned down to kiss her like it was the last time I ever would.

  But it wasn’t. Fucking h
ell it wasn’t. We were just getting started.

  She moaned for me, and I kissed her harder. I tightened my hold on her hair, tilted her head back, and moved my mouth down her neck. With my tongue and lips, I ran a path down the slender arch of her throat, licking, sucking, and making her know I loved every part of her. I sucked on her collarbones, loving the way she arched her back, her breasts pressing firmly into mine.

  “That’s it, Krasivaya.” I sucked on her flesh until I knew it would be red, until I knew my mark would be on her. “I’ve wanted you, too, for years, Sabine. I’ve wanted you until it’s only been you consuming my thoughts, until it’s only you that I’ve lived for.”

  “Hugo.”

  The way she whispered my name had my cock jerking. “Tell me what you want and it’s yours.”

  “I need you. Just you.”

  I pulled her inside the guesthouse, shut the door, and cupped the side of her face. I ran my tongue along her bottom lip, tasting the sweet flavor of her mouth. God, she was perfect. I curled my hand around her neck even more, dug my fingers into her hair, and pulled her impossibly closer. There wasn’t any part of her I didn’t want touching me.

  She pulled away and I moved back, giving her space.

  “Are we doing this?” she asked. Her voice was soft, her lips red and glossy.

  “I want to do so much more,” I said in a low voice, looking at her mouth, still holding onto her.

  The silence stretched between us for several seconds, and then she rose on her toes, wound her arms around my neck, and kissed me like she needed me to survive.

  I groaned, loving that she opened her mouth wide for me. I plunged my tongue into the warm, sweet recess of her mouth.

  “I’m so wet.”

  The sound of her whispered words had my cock jerking even harder. I wanted to be buried inside of her, to feel her pussy milking my cock.