Page 11 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

“This is no laughing matter,” my stranger announced gruffly, still holding me tightly, for which I was grateful.

“We understand, sir. The fire department is a few minutes out. Please relax and stay calm. We’ll free you shortly.”

“Um…thank you!” I called out, my voice sounding shaky in the confined area.

I began to slowly extract myself from the comfort of the stranger’s hold. I stepped back until I reached the rail. When I did, my nerves took over and my knees became jelly. I crouched until I was closer to the floor where I planted my ass rather ungraciously. My long, wavy blonde hair fell over my cheeks, shrouding me from the world. Still, I kept a hold on the rail above my head and closed my eyes.

Then I breathed.

In and out.

Slow and steady.

I felt a weight shift at my side, and a long, pair of midnight-covered legs stretched out across the floor.

Unexpectedly, a warm sensation covered my nape. “Hey there, are you going to pass out?” His voice carried nothing but concern as his hand rubbed at the tension in my neck.

I swallowed against the panic threading through every single one of my pores and nodded.

“My name is Jack Larsen. What’s yours?”

After he’d made such a big deal about me smelling like summer and weed, I opened my mouth and lied. I wasn’t aboutto give him any more verbal ammunition to wound me with. “Rebecca,” I stated flatly.

His brows pinched together. “Are you okay, Rebecca?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m going to be fine. As soon as we get the hell out of this elevator.” I reached across the floor, noting that my purse must have fallen off my shoulder as it was lying on the ground, most of its contents having spilled out.

Horror hit when I noticed my birth control pills, a couple of tampons, a tube of lip gloss, a wad of used tissues, a compact, a one-hitter, and my backup pair of lace undies spread out like confetti across the floor.

I scrambled toward my things. Just as I was about to reach a loose tampon that had rolled farther away, next to my backup undies, a large masculine hand wrapped around both. I looked up in horror as Jack dangled the lacy white thong from a single finger.

His eyes turned a fiery sienna, dazzling me stupid as he crouched before me. He spun the lace around in a circle. “You know, people say the contents of a woman’s purse are fascinating, and I’d have to agree with them,solskinn.” He chuckled and that warm rumble tore through my chest, spreading like a soothing balm over my shattered nerves.

“Give me those.” I went to grab them, but he pulled his arm back, evading my reach.

“I’m curious. Why would you have a saucy pair of panties in your bag?” He tapped his lips with his free hand. “Were you coming from a tawdry evening out? You know, I’ve heard what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. Is this proof of such a thing?” He grinned wickedly.

I stood and snatched the undies from his hold lightning fast. “How rude! You don’t touch a woman’s panties.”

He scoffed and crossed his arms, his lips twitching with mirth. “I beg to differ. I very much love touching a woman’s underthings.” He leaned closer, his face now a few inches from mine. “I think I’d rather enjoy touching your panties, while you were still wearing them…or perhaps, I’d prefer taking them off.”

“You’re delusional,” I snapped, shocked at the surprising curl of heat coiling low in my pelvis as the image he presented filtered through my mind.

The elevator shook and once more I found myself pressed up against Jack’s solid frame.

“The feel of you in my arms is astonishingly welcome, and since you keep ending up there, I believe it must be fate.”

“Fate?” I growled, my hands curling around his shoulders as I narrowed my gaze.

“What else could it be?” he asked.

“Coincidence?” I gasped as one of his arms slung low around my waist, pressing our bodies even closer. I could feel his breath against my cheek, sending goosebumps along my skin.

“You don’t believe in fate?”

I shook my head noncommittally. I actually did believe in fate, but I did not, however, believe in coincidence. What was it about this man that had me lying through my teeth?

“Divine intervention then?” He continued smiling.

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