Page 81 of Cherry Auction

I lead Brooke towards the lounge area by the bar. No one’s allowed to drink before they scene, but if you bring in your own alcohol, the bartenders will mix drinks after you’re done playing.

Regulars sit in the large, comfortable chairs scattered around, along with some newbies. I nod to a couple of them, my hand possessively on Brooke’s lower back.

No one touches what’s mine.

Everyone here knows better. Consent is king and required before any touch. Caleb hovers at one end of the club. Isaak is at the other, keeping watch over everything, always ready to enforce the rules.

We bypass the lounge and head towards Caleb. As we get closer, I see he’s chattering with Moira. Thank god. The relief I always feel at seeing my sister safe, unmarked, and in one piece floods through me.

Okay. See? Everything’s under control. Last night shook me, sure, but even the best doms have their off days. Tonight, I’m in my element and I can bring everything back to rights.

Moira’s the first to notice us. She looks right past me, her whole face lighting up at seeing Brooke.

“Brooke!” she exclaims, throwing her arms out wide andalmost smacking Caleb in the face. He moves back just in time as my sister sprints in her Catholic school-girl outfit towards Brooke. She all but leaps into Brooke’s arms. “We were so worried! Are you okay?”

I would roll my eyes at my sister’s confidence in me. Except I think it actually means that as much as I’ve tried to hide my darkness from her, she’s seen it, anyway. She knew what I was capable of. Fuck. She doesn’t look at me, eyes only on Brooke.

“I’m good,” Brooke smiles, hugging Moira back. “Really good. How’ve you been? I’ve missed movie nights. Oh, and I finally sawTitanic! The good part anyway. And look at you, so cute!” She tugs at my sister’s pigtails as she pulls out of the hug. Moira really committed to the whole schoolgirl kink tonight, knee socks, short skirt, and all.

“Hell yeah, more movie nights!” Moira exclaims. “You’re coming back home to the apartment now, right?” She looks expectantly at Brooke, and I can feel the weight of Caleb’s eyes on Brooke, too.

My entire body goes tense, waiting to hear how Brooke will answer. Yes she’s wearing my collar, but this was always part of my terror at bringing her here. I pull back from the girls, only then realizing I’m holding my breath.

Here, all she has to do is ask anyone else in this room for a ride. I meant what I said last night. I likely will hunt her to the ends of the earth if she tries to disappear again. I wouldn’tbe able to help myself. But she was very, very good at hiding from me the first time.

A single flip of the coin and our lives could diverge again.

Just then, she reaches back for my hand, squeezes, and tugs me forward until I’m standing beside her.

“Oh thanks,” she says. “I’ll definitely have to come over for more movie nights. But, um, I think I’m going home with Domhnall.”

She looks up at me shyly and the flood of tension in my chest releases as I step forward, my hand sliding easily to possess the small of her back again.

Finally, finally, I breathe in. “Of course,” I murmur in her ear. “I always want you at home where you belong. With me.”

Her entire body relaxes into my side, and I finally begin to believe that maybe, just maybe, in this fucked up world of violence, burden, and sorrow, a thing such as happy endings might still exist.

THIRTY-THREE

BROOKE

Finally it’sour turn on the stage. I stand still, my heart pounding as Domhnall ever so gently tugs my coat off my shoulders from behind, revealing my nakedness. And my tail.

“We’re going to crawl towards the spanking bench, little kitty,” he says as we step onto the small, raised stage right in the heart of the club. “Down on your hands and knees now.”

This began on a stage with all eyes on me. It’s only right we’re back here. My heart thumps in my chest at the oddly full circle moment.

I bend down. I suppose I’m not entirely naked. I’m wearing flesh covered gloves, slim little knee-pads—Domhnall thinks of everything—and of course, my tail. As I drop to myhands and knees, I arch my back and wiggle my ass, so my tail flicks back and forth. It’s a fun sensation, and I think I hear appreciative whispers from the crowd. I can’t believe I’m up here on stage, after watching other couples’ scenes play out for the last hour.

“That’s a good kitty,” Domhnall croons. By his confidence now, you’d never know he was in a dark and brooding mood all day. It’s only since we stepped in the club that he’s seemed to snap out of it. But I’m also wondering now if the Sir persona hides what inner Donny is really feeling. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s a little shattered inside.

So I didn’t just want to come to the club to see my friends. I hoped coming here might ground him and help him find his center again. I know he’s hurting. I think tonight could help both of us. And I’m desperate to feel the deep connection between us again.

He leans down and attaches a leash to my collar. The nervousness I’ve felt all night dissipates at the slight tug as he takes command. All my muscles relax, and when I give another cat stretch, I feel even looser.

Domhnall walks beside me as I crawl forwards, so gorgeous he looks edible in his black shirt, dark blue jeans, and black leather boots.

“Stop here,” he says. “And lift your eyes.”

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