Page 44 of Mastered By Lust

Leah

“Fifteen thousand,” Betty says into the mic.

Fuckboy is still bidding, and now that Gage is gone, he’s smiling as if he already has this won.

And he’s hot, no denying that. If I weren’t already with Gage, I would be interested.

But Iamwith Gage, and fucking someone else was not part of this night’s plan.

Maybe I should leave. No, there’s nomaybeabout this. I stepped out here expecting Gage to bid on me, and win. I take a step toward Betty.

She pulls her phone from her pocket and looks at the screen. Sidling over to me, she says, “Gage has requested that you stay put.”

Stay put? He wants me to stay here and he isn’t even in the audience.

My heart flutters with panic. Does he want me to go with Fuckboy? Dmitri said that Gage likes games. Is this one of them?

I don’t think he’d play a game like this. Not without talking to me first. He was absolutely sincere when he told me he would be winning me tonight.

He is an actor. He can fake sincerity. The insidious voice sends darkness and doubts through my mind.

“Please turn around slowly for the bidders,” Betty says.

The dangling ends of the belly chain sway against my skin as I turn.

When I face the audience once more, someone new hurries over and takes a seat in Gage’s abandoned chair.

Dmitri.

My blood whooshes in my ears, accompanied by the loudthud-thud-thudof my heart.

Dmitri bids. There are additional bids, but Dmitri’s offer keeps going up. The other bidders slowly drop out of the running.

“Twenty-five thousand,” Betty says.

Fuckboy, one of the last hold-outs, raises his card. So does Dmitri.

Where is he getting the money? I should be concerned. But wherever he’s getting it, I’m relieved it’s him and not some stranger.

“Twenty-eight,” Betty says.

Dmitri keeps his card up. Fuckboy hesitates, then raises his as well.

Betty puts her hand on her hip. “Thirty?”

Frowning, Fuckboy lowers his card. Dmitri keeps his raised.

My heart thuds even louder in relief.

“Bidding is now closed.” Betty gestures to me. “Miss L has been won by Dmitri M for thirty thousand dollars.”

* * *

Gage

The two detectives, a man and woman, are waiting in the hall. Standing next to them is our bouncer, Paxton. His job is to keep the area clear of any Vice clubbers who may wander back here by accident or design.

The female detective steps forward as I approach with Margot. Her black hair is tied in a tight bun, and the strong set of her jaw hints that she is tenacious about her cases. “Mr. Hawthorne?”

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