Page 70 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

Not a chance.

Once I’d seen him strut across that stage, it was as if God Himself had shown the light down over him as a beacon, calling me to answer. But hot damn, the adrenaline and sheer joy that Memphis was all mine had me wanting nothing more than to jump straight into bed with him. From his beautiful eyes to his mouthwatering footballer’s physique, and up to those lips I wanted all over me, the man was lethal to my libido. Still, I was no hussy, even though I’d acted rather uninhibited thus far.

“My sisters need schooling. More than that, every last one of ’em deserves to have the best chance at a great life. An intelligent woman like yourself probably knows a thing or two about dreaming big.”

“I sure do.” I swung our arms, thinking back to my college years.

They were fun as hell, but also filled with hard work. And I didn’t have to worry about where tuition came from. My educational path had been laid out for me by my parents before I even turned a year old. By three, I was already in the most prestigious preschool in the nation. I took that life path all the way through undergrad, then got my master’s in business at the Ivy League school my father demanded I attend. Once I’d completed my schooling on my family’s terms, I broke Daddy’s heart. Instead of going to work for him within his empire, I changed my destiny and signed up and completed a yearlong gemology program. Using the trust they’d provided me, I went into business for myself. Now I’m the best at what I do, in spite of my father’s plans for me.

Once we were in the elevator, Memphis pressed up against the back wall, his hands around my waist, head dipping to my neck where he placed a sweet kiss. “We have two choices: We can take this back to our hotel and hit your room or mine,” he breathed hotly against my ear, then trailed his lips and teeth along my jaw.

My lady bits throbbed, and I was loath to deny them or me. Fuck it all to hell. Tonight, I’d be a proud flag waving member of the hussy fan club.

“Mine, please,” I murmured.

He kissed me breathless, and we didn’t stop until we heard the elevator ding and a man clearing his throat.

“Getting off?” an older male voice stated from somewhere beyond the lust haze Memphis had me in.

Memphis shifted just his head. “Not yet.” I gasped in delighted horror at the innuendo as he winked at whomever was behind us. He turned and nestled me up against his strong body. “Sorry, newly engaged.” He grinned.

The older man was all teeth as he held up two glasses of champagne. “I remember those days. Got my beautiful wife ofthirty years waiting a few floors up for her bubbly as we speak. Have fun you two!” He smiled as Memphis led me out of the elevator and onto the casino lobby level.

“Thirty years,” I said in awe. “Can you imagine?”

Memphis looked at me in such a way that I thought I could see his very heart shining through his eyes.

“To a woman like you? Abso-fucking-lutely.”

I nudged his shoulder with my own. “Sweet talker.”

He chuckled. “Nope. Just a man who knows what he’s got when he has it staring him straight in the face. My momma didn’t raise no fool.”

I rolled my eyes. “You barely know me.”

He stopped in the middle of the casino floor before we reached the exit. The lights blinked all around us, alarms blared, and people celebrated with endless hoots and hollers. It was chaos.

Everything that had happened so far. Everything that was sure to come. All of it, pure chaos.

“I know what Ifeelwhen I look at you. I know what Ifeelwhen I’m pressed up against you. I know what Ifeelwhen you let down that cool exterior and show me the heat underneath.” He cupped my cheek, and I let out a weighted sigh. “Naomi, I think I already know you better than most people. And baby, I don’t get bored or tired of things that feel good. Three years or thirty, neither will be near enough time with you.”

I swallowed down the fear that suddenly encroached, making my throat as dry as the Sahara. I hadn’t exactly had the best track record with men. Especially the alpha types that I tended to be drawn toward like a moth to a flame. And I wasn’t fooled by this man either. He was as alpha as they came. Old fashioned. Direct. A footballer. You didn’t attempt to go pro in that field if you weren’t dedicated, fearless, and exceptionally hard-headed. He may have swagger and romantic tendencies but that didn’tmean he’d roll over and become what I needed in a partner. And my needs ran hot or cold, depending on what I was working on or what mountain I was set to climb careerwise. That was the appeal of the auction in the first place. A man I could mold and shape into what I wanted. Someone who could fit smoothly into the neat little place I left open for a man.

Memphis didn’t seem like the type that would fit into anything. Definitely not the tiny space I’d left available. No, he was a storm. Wild, untamed, an act of God. An entity that would smoothly appear, kiss a woman with soft whispering rain, then wreak havoc in the most earth-shattering ways.

He was going to change everything.

For the first time, I was willing to take a chance on something wild. Embrace the experience with my eyes wide open, my hands above my head, and the roller coaster of life speeding to a destination unknown.

Today, standing before this man, I felt more alive, cherished, and desired than I ever had before.

Nothing was going to prevent me from walking straight into the eye of the storm and learning exactly what awaited me there.

“Come on, let’s get this party started back at our hotel.” His gaze heated, desire oozing around us like a wind tunnel.

I smiled wide, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him, hard and fast. Then I turned around and slid my hand down the length of his arm until he gripped my fingers. I glanced at him over my shoulder coyly, my lips pressed in a sultry pout.

“Come on, future husband. It’s time to feast…and then maybe we’ll eat.” I winked saucily.

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