TRIGGER WARNING AND DISCLAIMER:
If you are uncomfortable with morally gray characters and intense, romantic, and explicit scenes that go beyond your values, this is not the book for you.
You've been warned.
What happens when desire collides with desperation? When two souls, burning with need, are bound by nothing but a simple arrangement, yet unable to resist the pull of each other's darkness?
This isn't a fairy tale, and there are no happy endings here—only the raw, tangled mess of human craving. Pleasure and pain, trust and betrayal, all wrapped up in a contract you'll never want to break, even if it destroys you.
Thirty days.
No emotions.
No strings.
Just lust. And maybe—just maybe—something more.
Step inside, if you dare.
Because once you do, you won't want to leave.
And neither will they.
But be warned… some rules are meant to be broken.
---
Chapter 1: The Proposal
Isla sat at a small table in the corner of Café Lumière, the low hum of conversation surrounding her. The coffee shop was cozy, with warm amber lights casting a gentle glow over the room. Outside, the autumn wind blew softly against the windows, but inside, the atmosphere felt like it belonged to another world—a quiet space where thoughts could be hidden away, and time moved slower.
But today, Isla couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. She was 28, and life had taught her to always keep her guard up. She'd learned the hard way that you couldn't trust anyone too much. Past betrayals and the weight of financial struggle had left her with walls too high to climb. Yet, here she was, staring into her coffee cup, wondering if this moment would be the one to shatter everything.
And then he walked in.
Damien.
She knew who he was the second she saw him. His presence was undeniable. Tall, well-built, with dark, piercing eyes that seemed to take in everything around him. His sharp black suit and the confident way he moved made it clear—he wasn't someone who was used to being unnoticed.
Isla's heart skipped a beat when his gaze met hers from across the room. It wasn't a casual glance. There was a depth in his stare as if he could see past the walls she'd carefully built around herself. She quickly looked away, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this man—this stranger—was about to change her life.
A few moments later, Damien approached her table. His steps were steady and purposeful. Without asking, he sat down opposite her, his dark eyes never leaving hers.
"Isla," he said, his voice deep and smooth. Something was commanding in his tone that made her heart race. "I know why you're here."
She blinked, surprised. "You do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled slightly as if he found her reaction amusing. "You need money. And I can help with that."
Isla's breath caught in her throat. She had been living paycheck to paycheck for months, struggling to make ends meet. She'd been searching for an escape from her current situation, but she hadn't expected someone like Damien to offer a solution.
He didn't waste time on small talk. Instead, he pulled out a black folder and placed it on the table between them. "I don't do things halfway," he said, looking directly at her. "What I'm offering is simple—thirty days. No emotions. No strings. Just an arrangement."
Her mind went blank for a second. Was this some kind of joke? Thirty days? No emotions? She could feel her pulse quicken as she looked down at the folder. What could he possibly mean by that? What kind of arrangement was he talking about?
Damien leaned in slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm offering you a chance to escape your current life, Isla. A way out of all the mess you're in. You just have to sign the contract."
Isla hesitated. The offer sounded too good to be true, but at the same time, there was something in his voice—something that pulled her in, made her want to listen, made her want to believe him.
"I don't understand," she said quietly, her mind still spinning. "Why me? Why offer this to me?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he watched her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, almost soothing. "Because you need this. More than you realize. You've been holding yourself back, Isla. You're scared to take risks, to let go. I'm offering you the chance to do just that. To experience something... beyond what you've known."
Her heart was pounding now, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. His words stirred something deep inside her—a yearning she had kept buried for so long. She wanted to say no, wanted to push him away, but there was something about him that made her want to listen, to understand what he was offering.
Damien slid the folder closer to her, and her gaze flicked to the papers inside. "Just think about it," he said, his voice low and persuasive. "Thirty days. No commitment, no emotional attachment. It's all laid out for you. Everything you need."
Isla's fingers hovered over the papers, unsure. It was tempting. The thought of financial freedom, of stepping away from her struggles—just for a little while—was more appealing than she cared to admit.
"What exactly would this arrangement involve?" she asked, finally breaking the silence.
Damien's lips curved into a small smile. "It's simple. You live your life as you normally would, and I will provide for your every need. You'll be free of worry, free of stress. All you have to do is follow the terms of the contract."
Isla felt her breath catch in her throat. What kind of life would that be? To have everything taken care of, to be free from the constant weight of bills and uncertainty? But at what cost?
She met his gaze again, her chest tight with the complexity of it all. "And what's in this for you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
His smile deepened. "I get what I need. And you get what you need. It's as simple as that."
Isla's mind raced as she processed the offer. Thirty days. A chance to escape. But what would it cost her in the end? Could she really go through with it, knowing that there were no strings attached, no emotions involved? Could she trust him?
She looked at the contract again. The terms were clear and straightforward. There was no ambiguity, no hidden agenda. It seemed too easy. Too perfect.
But was it?
"I need time to think about this," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "This is... a lot to take in."
Damien's expression remained unreadable. "Take all the time you need," he said, standing up and pulling the folder back towards him. "But I'll warn you now—once you sign, there's no turning back. This isn't a game. For thirty days, you belong to me. In every way that matters."
His words hit her like a wave, each one a reminder of the gravity of the situation. She looked up at him, trying to gauge his true intentions. But all she could see was the certainty in his eyes.
"I'll be waiting for your decision," he said, his voice low and commanding.
Isla sat back in her chair, the weight of his words settling over her. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, curiosity, desire. Could she do this? Could she really walk away from everything she knew and embrace something so unknown, so dangerous?
As Damien walked away, Isla was left alone with her thoughts. The city outside continued on, oblivious to the decision she was about to make. The weight of the choice pressed on her chest, and for the first time in a long while, she felt both terrified and exhilarated.
What would she decide?