Page 54 of Mastered By Bliss

I can feel my cheeks turn pink with embarrassment at the very thought.

Satisfaction softens Dmitri’s gray eyes, and he smiles.“So?Do you want to put something else on?”

“I—I guess?”I set down my book and, regretfully, my cookie, then haul ass to the bedroom.

Late afternoon sunlight streams across the bed.Gage is putting on a suit.How is he so hot?Clothed, naked, doesn’t matter.He and Dmitri can both get me drooling.

Dmitri follows me in and goes to his dresser, pulling out black pants and a black shirt—his Low Vice uniform, essentially.

“Is the auction happening early tonight, or something?”I look pointedly at the parted curtains that allow in sunlight.“It’s not even five yet, is it?”

Gage nods.“It’s an early start.Betty wanted to try something new.”

“Cool.”Weird, but cool.

I hurry to the bathroom to do some last-minute personal grooming.If I’m going to be onstage in front of a bunch of bidders, I want to look my best.After a quick shave, I find a matching black bra and panty set, and a little black dress.I’ll be naked or mostly naked, but I want to look nice when I arrive, too.

The guys eye me once I’m ready, appreciation on their faces.

“You look good, little girl.”Gage swoops in to plant a kiss on my lips.“Good enough to marry someday.”

I shove at his shoulder, laughing.I’m no longer scared off by his talk of marriage.By this point, we’ve all three talked about it, what it would look like, how things would change.And it turns out, things wouldn’t change, not really.So we all know it’s the next step for us, but the guys haven’t proposed.

Maybe I should move things along.Icould always propose tothem.And I would do it in the brattiest way possible.Maybe a scavenger hunt with frustrating clues.Or the rings I want to propose with are hidden in an impossible-to-remove bra.

With my head filled with ideas on how I could orchestrate a proposal to Dmitri and Gage, I barely notice the drive to Low Vice.

There’s no bouncer stationed at the rear entrance.Dmitri takes out a key to let us in, then follows us inside and locks the door.

“Where is everyone?”I ask.

“Just ahead, see?”Dmitri points to several chairs arranged in front of the stage.Only a handful of them are occupied.

“Up you go.”Gage smacks my ass and points me in the direction of the stage.

I don’t move.“Um, I’m supposed to go into the back.Betty will help me get ready.”She’ll give me a little chain to go around my belly, and the winner will get a matching collar to put around my neck.

“Not today.”Dmitri grins down at me.“You can leave your dress on, just get up there.”

A soft, churning anxiety ripples through my stomach.What is even happening?I’m taken back to that first night I participated in the auction, when I only vaguely knew what to expect.I didn’t know who would bid on me, or what I would be asked to do.I’d been filled with nervous excitement, and yes, some lust.Being vulnerable onstage, and watched by dozens of people, had been embarrassing and thrilling all at once.

After giving a questioning look to both my men, who give me no response, I walk to the front of the stage.

Betty sees me coming and helps me up.“Hey, Leah.Excited about tonight’s auction?”

“It seems a little…different.”I look out over the people assembled.I recognize quite a few of them.Seth Colton, for one.Then—is that Ella with her guys, Sebastian and Kingston?Olivia’s here too, with her guys, and Samantha with hers.What are they all doing at the auction?I thought they were exclusive.Maybe they’re just here to soak in the vibes.

And…is that Claudia?I frown, confused.What the hell is going on?

Either way, I know Dmitri and Gage will bid on me, and they’ll win.I guess I’ll figure the rest out later.

Betty picks up her mic.“Welcome to a special edition of our auction night!Same rules as always—this is a quiet process.Questions, requests, and whatnot can be texted to the number on the back of your bid card.If I judge the request acceptable, I’ll pass it along.Are we ready?”

The audience gives a small smattering of applause.I squint into the crowd.Is there anyone Idon’tknow in those chairs?Pale blond hair catches my eye.Is thatDanica?But when I blink, she’s gone.

Betty turns to me and winks before returning her attention to the audience.“Tonight, our first victim—I mean,prize—is Miss L.She just turned twenty-four.She’s had seven sexual partners, all of them men.However, she’s open to all genders bidding.You can see her preferences and hard limits on the info sheet provided.Let’s start the bidding at ten thousand.”

I’m always shocked by the amount of money people throw around at these events.Gage told me that patrons have to pay a thousand just to get into the auction.Then they’re bidding on top of that?It’s insane.

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