Page 42 of Mastered By Lust

We knock on the back door of Low Vice.

Dmitri opens the door. Because of course he fucking does. I shoot an accusatory look at Gage, who didn’t warn me Dmitri would be here.

Gage gives me a bland grin.

Dmitri clears his throat. “Miss L, Gage J.”

His voice is even. Professional. There’s hardly a flicker of interest in his eyes.

“Hey, Dmitri,” I say.

“Hey.” He gives me the briefest of smiles. It’s as if he barely knows me.

I suppose I prefer this to drama, but I want my friend back.

Gage leads me down the hall. Before we reach the corner with the stage, we turn down a second hall. This one leads to the offices, as well as the prep rooms for the auctionees.

“Betty will be here in a second.” Gage squeezes my hand. “Are you nervous, baby girl?”

“I’m nervous about what we’re doing. Not so much about the auction itself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m worried it isn’t allowed. For me and you to have this agreement…it seems to go against the spirit of the auction.”

“Couples make these arrangements all the time.” He grabs my waist, whirls me around, pushes me against the wall. The hard length of his dick presses against me, hot like a brand, even through his pants. “Plenty of other people are up for auction tonight. Nobody will be left wanting at the end.”

I push my hips forward, seeking more contact with his cock. Who the fuck cares that we’re in a hallway and anyone can walk past at any time? I want him. I want him to fill me, wreck me, put me back together again.

He nuzzles my neck. “Besides, if I outbid everyone on purpose, it just means more money for charity and club improvements.”

I rub against him. Maybe we can skip the auction and he’ll get me off in this dark hallway. The danger of being discovered is part of the appeal.

The door next to us opens. I squeak in alarm, and Gage chuckles.

Betty leans out of the room and waves. “Leah. Get your ass in here, sweetheart. It’s time to get ready.”

I kiss Gage goodbye, then head into the room. There, I strip down. Betty dabs some lipstick on me. She helps me put on a new belly chain.

“Robe off, bra off,” she says. “It’s time to go. You still wish to do this?”

Gage is out there waiting for me, so I nod. “Totally. I’m ready.”

She leads me out onto the stage and picks up a microphone. I stand, clad only in panties and the belly chain, in front of mostly strangers. I’m embarrassed and self-conscious like the first time I was here, but I have a much better idea of what to expect.

I feel a lot more powerful this time, too. Maybe it was Gage’s lesson.My body is power.I’m wielding it here onstage.

The light shining on me is bright, like last time. It makes it hard to see everyone. Still, I look.

I find Gage in the audience. He nods and gives me one of his public non-smiles, a faint softening of the lips.

Sitting with the bidders is another man I recognize—the guy from Caro Boulevard. He’s the one who watched from the other car while Gage got me off in the front seat. He notices me staring and gives me the same fuckboy grin as last time.

He’s going to bid on me, for sure. Well, he can try. Gage is going to win.

Dmitri is nowhere to be found. I’m disappointed, although I should be grateful. No drama.

But I want him here. I wanthim. Not only his sexy, muscular body, but his easy friendship, his dry humor. The way he looks at me and makes me feel valued and precious.

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