Page 11 of Cherry Auction

“Come,” I say brusquely, and she steps forward onto the elevator with me. My hand’s still on her elbow but she’s walking forward of her own volition. Which tells me thatwhatever game she’s trying to play this time around, she doesn’t mind walking into my trap.

Four-D chess always was her favorite kind. She lets you think you’re winning only to go in for the kill once you’ve exposed your vulnerable belly.

“The bedroom’s just in here,” I say once we step off the elevator. “But I want you to wait outside for a moment. Will you wait outside like a good girl?”

She pauses, breath catching at my question, but then she nods. “Uh. Sure.”

I smile and run the back of my fingers down her cheek reassuringly, giving her a little smile. “Good.”

So many years I spent thinking of all the things I would do and say to her if I ever had her in front of me again.

I can’t help but stare now that she’s here. The cascade of silky dark brown hair over her shoulders makes me want to run my fingers through it just like I used to when the sunlight would hit it as we picnicked by the Dublin River. We’d spend hours just walking and holding hands, barely talking sometimes. It didn’t matter how foggy it was out, she made it feel like the sun was shining in that deep, dark, cracked place inside me.

I love you, Domhn, she used to throw her arms around me and whisper.Swear we’ll run away together? Just you and Moira and me.Her sweet voice in my ear and the scent of her jasmine perfume drugging all my other senses.I’ll love you forever.

I was such a stupid, obvious, unloved little piece of shit, she and her paps probably scouted me a mile off. The memory creates such a sharp, painful ache, I want to run my fingers through her hair all right. And then yank her head back to demand answers. Will she cry prettily for me? Her uncertain hazel eyes flicker back and forth to check out her surroundings, giving her a Bambi look. I’ll so delight in making the mascara run down her cheeks.

Yes, Moira and I had to flee our home country because of Mads but her betrayal goessomuch deeper.

Iknow. I saw last night. Oh god, Domhnall. Isaw.

I turn away so she doesn’t see the gut-churning rage on my face. I slip into a nearby room, and when I come back out, I have a black silk blindfold in hand.

Finally, fate has smiled on me by allowing this foolish woman to dare show her face to me again. I always knew one day I’d find her. I never expected her to surprise me, but oh, how I’ve waited for this.

Finally, I’m going to take back the power she and her father stole from me.

“I’m going to put this around your eyes now and lead you into the bedroom,” I say, offering one of my gentlemanly smiles out of my suitcase of facades.

I’m very handsome, I know. It disarms her.

Does she think I’ve bought her ludicrous amnesia story? Or does she knowIknow we’re back to our old chess gamesand just think she has the upper hand because she always used to be able to lead me around by my dick?

Her eyes flick to mine uncertainly, but she stands still as I slip the blindfold over her eyes. Only once she can’t see me do I allow myself to really smile. With all my teeth like the wolf I am.

Then I open the door wide and lead her inside to my room with assorted whips, cuffs, chains, and cages.

SIX

BROOKE

The blindfold is sosnug and thick, I can’t see a thing.

My heartbeat is loud in my ears, at least until the man I’m with flips on a stereo system. Music fills the space with a slow, sensuous beat.

And the elevator went down to a basement. I’m pretty sure, anyway, because there weren’t any windows.

Could anyone hear if I screamed? Should Itryto scream now? For help?

Or is the music meant to cover the sound in case he makes me scream in a different way? Is he interested in my pleasure… or pain? I tremble, suddenly afraid I’ve been the stupidest, stupidest girl on the entire planet. Moira was nice, sure. But she’s naïve and the auction could have had more dangerous bidders than she knew.

Fuck. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into? I try to lift my hands to take the blindfold off, but he catches them and kisses my palms gently.

It reassures me but doesn’t stop my hammering heart.

“Are you going to hurt me?” I ask, trembling.

He tugs me forwards. “Sit,” he says in his deep voice, taking my hips and directing me to sit on a soft mattress. “Don’t take off your blindfold or I’ll have to punish you.”

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