Page 2 of Saving Meri

Bear moved through the room like a predator in the den of lesser beasts. His commanding presence filled the room. He didn't posture, didn't fidget. He was the kind of man who owned any space he entered, and these bastards recognized it. They thought he was one of them.

The auctioneer moved with oily precision, a man accustomed to controlling the room with nothing but his presence. He was tall but slight, his frame draped in an impeccably tailored black suit, the sheen of fine silk catching the dim light as he led Meri forward. He took measured, deliberate steps, the gleaming soles of his Italian leather shoes clicking against the polished marble of the stage.

His face was smooth, almost ageless, his skin artificially taut, the result of expensive upkeep rather than youth. A thin-lippedsmile rested just beneath his neatly groomed mustache, the kind that didn’t quite reach his cold, predatory eyes. They were sharp and assessing, a rich hazel darkened with calculation, flicking over Meri as if appraising a prized artifact rather than a living, breathing woman.

The thick silken cord wrapped around Meri’s wrists was a deep crimson, the fibers soft but unyielding, designed not just to bind but to display. He held it lightly, almost casually, leading her like a man guiding a dance partner, but Bear saw the truth in the way Meri’s shoulders remained rigid, her hands clenched into fists.

The auctioneer’s fingers flicked the cord once, sending a silent command. “Careful, my dear,” he murmured smoothly, his voice like honey dripped over a blade.

Meri didn’t react, didn’t flinch, but Bear saw the pulse flicker at her throat, the only betrayal of what lay beneath the carefully crafted mask she wore as the auctioneer led her to the edge of the stage.

He turned, with an air of grandiosity, to face the crowd, spreading his arms wide.

“Gentlemen,” he purred, his voice thick with satisfaction, “your evening’s entertainment.”

The auctioneer trailed a hand down her arm, his voice wrapped in silk. “Tonight’s prize is something truly special,” he crooned. “Experienced, but still feisty. A perfect balance of submission and spirit.”

Meri barely flinched, barely reacted, but Bear saw it—the tightening of her jaw, the tension in her muscles. She was fighting to stay still, to keep control of the only thing she had left.

“The rules remain the same,” the auctioneer continued. “She’s yours to enjoy for the night. Use her however you like. Just don’t damage the merchandise. She’s far too valuable to be wasted.”

A ripple of appreciation moved through the crowd.

Bear’s stomach twisted.

“Fifty thousand,” the first bid rang out.

Numbers flew. One hundred. One fifty. Two hundred.

Meri’s gaze swept the room. Not frantic—assessing. Looking for an opening, an escape.

Bear was about to give her one.

“Half a million,” a man in a silk robe called out lazily, swirling a glass of bourbon.

“Six hundred thousand,” someone countered, tapping a thick cigar against the edge of an ashtray.

“Seven hundred and fifty thousand,” said the original bidder.

Bear had let it climb. Had let them think they had a chance. He’d watched them place their bids as if they were discussing stocks, as if the woman standing before them was nothing more than a luxury to be sampled.

Enough.

“One million.”

Silence. The auctioneer hesitated. The men around Bear shifted, interest turning to scrutiny. That wasn’t a price for a few hours of pleasure. That was something else.

The auctioneer’s eyes gleamed with greedy curiosity, but he covered it well. “Gentlemen, do I have an advance on the million dollar bid?”

Nothing.

The gavel came down, striking wood. “Sold.”

Bear forced himself to stay still as two guards led Meri off the stage. Her head turned slightly, just enough that their eyes met.

She didn’t know who he was or what she could expect from him, but she knew what would happen next… or at least she thought she did. As she gazed at him, he gave an imperceptible nod, and for the first time since stepping onto that stage, hope flickered in her eyes.

The moment the guard motioned for Bear to follow, he did so without hesitation. They moved down a dimly lit hallway, the air thick with moldy concrete and cigarette smoke.

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