Page 6 of The Birthday Buy

“Here, put this on,” the handler says, tossing the black fabric bag meant to blindfold me.

Obviously, Ghost wants to prove some kind of point. I do as I’m told. I know Jay would never let anything happen to me, either. He implanted a tracking device inside my body so he would always be able to find me. If that’s not sexy as hell, then I don’t know what is. With the fabric over my head, I can’t see anything. The man leads me, stumbling out the door and down the hall. Footsteps fall into step behind me and I can only assume it’s Ghost falling into line. I hear the elevator ding and realize just how idiotic and obsessive it is to essentially blind me now. I’ve already seen the way into the underground club. He’s clearly trying to make some kind of statement by concealing his identity as the buyer from me. I swear this is exactly why women are better criminals than men. We don’t overcomplicate the bullshit and we get the work done.

The cool night air swirls around my bare legs, and I remember I’m wearing incredibly sexy, revealing black lace lingerie. I shiver beneath the fur shrug. I’m not excited about being in the car practically naked with Ghost, but I would do anything for the man I love, including this.

When we stop walking, I hear the sound of a car door opening and closing and then I feel the finger of my-not-so-mysterious captor beneath my chin. “Awww, there’s my prize. Imagine my excitement when I saw you pop up on my tablet.” Ghost snickers.

Cecile and I were right. He wasn’t able to resist the temptation to own me, even if it is only for one weekend. If he wants to play games now, though, I can play them all night long. Tit for tat. I hope he realizes I always play to win.

When I say nothing, his hands run down my body slowly, savoring each touch as his palms run over every inch of me sensually. My heartbeat quickens. If Jay is watching, I think to myself in a panic. When nothing happens, I allow my body to relax. Ghost mistakes my unease for enjoyment. “Mmmmm. You think you like my touch, Trouble, but I can assure you if you could look into my eyes right now, you wouldn’t be enjoying it as much as you are.”

Fucking Disgusting. I have to fight the urge not to gag and vomit on us both.

“Get in the car, Trouble. If the wrong person sees us together, that’s exactly what we’ll be. In trouble.” His voice is dangerous and diabolical.

He might have to bring me back alive as part of the agreement, but he is absolutely planning to use me for his own pleasure this weekend. Little does he know his plan never stood a chance at coming to fruition. I’ve been planning this for weeks; whereas Ghost, being the impulsive man I know him to be, has thought about this for hours. He didn’t even have more than five minutes to process his decision to place a winning bid on my body. The man that’s with him grabs a hold of me and shoves me into the back seat of the car roughly. The soft leather cushions my landing. Ghost buckles me in next to him, then drags his fingers up and down my thigh. I know it’s him. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. Here we go with the reasons I’m a better criminal; Ghost blew his own cover.

“You know, Trouble, I go to these types of events every so often hoping I’ll get lucky and today was a lucky day. A woman like you deserves to know what satisfaction is.”

Don’t vomit. Don’t make gagging sounds. Don’t say anything, Demi. I practically yell at my subconscious.

As difficult as it is to bite my tongue and not respond, I manage to pull it off and Ghost goes on talking about himself and all the ways he is far superior to any man I’ve ever had. It’s easy to tune him out. Instead of listening to him carry on, I think about Cecile following us, or Jay tracking me when Cecile messages him like the note I left him instructs. Then I think about riding his dick all night long. I left him a little something-something taped inside the card I wrote him. I smile. I might suffer now, but it will all be worth it to see the surprise and pure delight on Jay’s face soon.

We didn’t drive for long before the car comes to a stop and the driver cuts the engine. Next to me, I feel Ghost unbuckle his seatbelt first before reaching over to do mine. I wish I could just reach out and punch him in the throat right now. It’s taking everything in me not to act on my intense rage. Only a little while longer until the tables turn and I have the upper hand. The door on my side opens and someone grabs me by the arm and tugs.

“Get out,” the driver’s voice demands. “Don’t remove the cover from your head and don’t kick me. I’m going to carry you inside.”

Gross. I don’t want his nasty hands all over me, but there are no other options yet. I could always cut off his fingers one by one later and add them to my collection before I decide. The thought of it is the only thing helping me get through the uncomfortable experience. Once inside, I’m plopped onto what I can only guess is a bed, handcuffed, and told again not to remove the cloth bag covering my head. Then I’m left alone. It’s tempting not to remove the cover, but I have an irritating feeling. I’m, in fact, not alone, and someone is watching my every move. Instead, I sit and wait. Soon Cecile and Jay will arrive, and none of this will matter.

Daddy Jay

Isit in the driver’s seat of my car tapping the envelope Demi left me against the steering wheel. I’m only a few blocks from her location. I can’t believe she’s at Club Lust. My knuckles are white from clenching my fist. It’s so hard not to go bursting inside, throwing punches and demanding to know where my woman is. I think back to the words I shared with the team a few hours ago, realizing that trusting Demi’s process has never been more difficult than it is right now. I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself down and focus on something else. At ten o’clock, I’m supposed to open the envelope. She’s been inside for over an hour already. I have another fifteen minutes before my timer goes off.

Outside, the streets are empty and silent. There are no distractions from my thoughts. Next to me, Ricky stirs uncomfortably. I know he can sense my unease. If Edward was in on this, I’m going to break his nose for sticking it where it doesn’t belong. Did he really think it would be okay to sneak around my back like this? I curse under my breath and check the time again. Ten more minutes. The wait is dragging on and on. It feels like I’m losing my damn mind. I try to distract myself by replaying the birthday blowy in my head. I lean back into the seat and close my eyes. It was so fucking hot. I can never get enough of how naughty my girl gets for me.

Ricky shifts next to me again, pulling me from my thoughts, and I check the time. Five more minutes. Unable to think about anything else, I watch as the seconds tick by, waiting anxiously for the time to reflect ten o’clock precisely. Finally, after what feels like forever, my alarm goes off and I hastily rip open the envelope. Inside is a note from Demi and three little blue pills taped to the opposite side of the card. Below them it reads:

Keep track of these this weekend and take one any time you’re ready for a good time.

She drew a winking face below the note. I pinch the bridge of my nose and laugh. I’ve been sitting here anxious over opening up a card full of either Viagra or street drugs for hours. Boy, did she have me played. I start to tuck the card away and then remember there’s writing on the other side too. My eyes skim over the generic happy birthday poem and stop when they land on her handwriting.

Happy birthday to my big, sexy, baddy Daddy,

In thirty minutes, track me down and find my location. When you arrive, check in with Cecile. Most importantly, don’t get mad. I’ll have your present waiting for you upstairs. I wasn’t sure how to wrap it for you this year.

She didn’t sign the card, instead she kissed it with bright red lipstick. This woman and her surprises. Why do they both keep me coming back for more year after year? I roll down my window and light a cigar. If I have to wait longer, I may as well try to relax. I close my eyes and inhale, then let the smoke out slowly. I’ll torture her later for making me wait all night to fuck what’s mine, and on my birthday weekend, of all things. She’s bratting hard for a punishment, and it’s going to be exactly what she receives.

Demi

Afew minutes pass before Ghost’s deep voice pierces the surrounding silence.

“I know we keep meeting like this,” he rasps. “With me being all mysterious, and you being curious about who I am.”

I roll my eyes beneath the black fabric. I know exactly who you are, fucktard. I set you up. Fucking idiot. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at my thoughts. He mistakes my silence for an invitation to tell me his entire bad guy monologue. God. He’s such a newb.

“It’s fine.” I answer.

”I don’t blame you for desperately wanting to know who I am, Trouble.” He says inflecting on the word trouble.

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