**This book is a dark romance and contains abusive and mature content.** Lily Anderson was a paparazzi on the hunt for her next big scoop, but she never expected to become the story herself. When she's caught taking scandalous photos of ruthless billionaire Ethan Blackwood, she finds herself at his mercy, forced to pay a price far more intimate than she could have imagined. In a twist of fate, Ethan presents Lily with a tantalizing offer: spend 30 days as his mistress, and all will be forgiven. Desperate and seeking revenge, Lily agrees, determined to expose Ethan's true nature to the world. But as the days unfold, she finds herself drawn into a world of luxury, passion, and unexpected vulnerability. Ethan Blackwood is a man haunted by betrayal, using his wealth and power to control those around him. Yet, Lily's fiery spirit and unwavering defiance awaken something within him, blurring the lines between desire and possession. As she witnesses glimpses of the man beneath the ruthless exterior, Lily's plans for revenge are challenged by the unexpected stirrings of her own heart. In a high-stakes game of seduction and secrets, Lily must decide whether to follow through with her quest for vengeance or surrender to the forbidden passion that threatens to consume them both. Will she expose Ethan's darkest truths or will she find the courage to forgive and perhaps even love the man who once took everything from her?
Chapter 1 The Scandalous Encounter
A quiet lake tucked away in a thick bamboo forest on the far outskirts of the city crackled with an odd, hurried symphony of moans. Even the soft wind rustled the leaves with a knowing sigh, as though it were whispering a wanton yearning. An intensely trembling scarlet Ferrari convertible at the edge of the clearing belied its lifeless state.
A seductive voice, full of ambition and lust, cried out, "Mmm...Mr. Blackwood," from within. Is my part in your next big hit guaranteed?
She asked and got a quiet, amused laugh. "It depends completely on your performance, darling."
A vision of exquisite beauty, Natalie writhed over a sharply dressed man inside the opulent car. The afternoon sun warmed her porcelain skin, which was as smooth and perfect as the best jade. She moved with an almost desperate eagerness, her perfectly formed contours a siren song of pure, unadulterated need. Her long lashes were creating soft shadows on her hot cheeks, and her eyes were closed.
Every gasp, every sigh, and every wanton moan that came out of her mouth was evidence of the ecstasy running through her veins, and the air itself seemed to sizzle with a palpable, seductive fire.
Tucked up amid the lush bamboo stalks, Lily, a young photographer with an eye for scandal, watched the event develop with a mix of growing enthusiasm and professional distance. The man was still completely dressed, unlike his friend, his immaculate white shirt wrinkle-free and his features hidden by a pair of fashionable sunglasses. Not involved in such a... *compromising* action, but rather someone setting out on a leisurely drive.
With a mumbled "Tsk, tsk," Lily fiddled with her camera lens. From the way he looks, you would never guess..." Though she'd been following Natalie for weeks hoping to get a juicy scoop, this was beyond her wildest expectations. She determined, glancing at Natalie's hot face and the seductive slivers of exposed skin, "Forget him, he's just a nobody."
The camera clicked, clicked, clicked, catching every hideous detail. It's going to be tremendous, she thought excitedly.
[The naive beauty Natalie, enmeshed in a hot vehicle meeting with her mystery man!] The issue this next week is going to sell out!
"Dear Mr. Blackwood, how are you doing? Natalie let out a desperate gasp. How satisfied are you?
The sheer wanton hunger in such remarks made even Lily, who has spent years following celebrity scandals, tremble. Unbelievably calm, though, was the man. With a possessiveness belying his laid-back manner, he stretched out and traced Natalie's exquisite jaw line with his long fingers. His voice a cold contrast to the heat emanating from the automobile, he asked, "Is that the best you can do?"
Did you miss breakfast, say?
Although Natalie's cheeks turned a soft pink, she looked up at him with a rebellious spark in her eyes. You're too much, Mr. Blackwood, she said in a raspy, labored voice. Can't I?
Lily choked back a laugh. From where she stood, Natalie was obviously putting up a fantastic performance. Looked at her watch. This might carry on for some time.
'Too much'? The man shivered Lily's spine as his eyes swept over her, a mixture of amusement and something worse. His lips curled into a seductive, predatory smile.
One is you. Natalie shook, her fingers snagging at his shoulders. As it's my first time, please be gentle.With a sharp, unfunny laugh that reverberated through the afternoon silence, he flung back his head.
Incredulously, he said, "Your first time?" "Don't be sly with me."