Page 7 of Auctioned

I feel James’s warmth on my other side. He’s as present for this as Topher is. As much of a threat. He steps closer to me, showing his true intentions.

He isn’t enabling Topher. He’s his accomplice.

My heart races. My instincts scream at me to snatch the cuffs from Topher before he puts them on me. To duck beneath hisarm and run. Throw a chair at one of the huge paned windows. Squeeze between the shards and get the fuck out of here.

Save myself.

“You should be proud. Someone will pay a lot for an untouched cunt. A beautiful woman to keep their bed or their basement warm at night.” Topher’s blue eyes darken. “You’ll get to experiment with them, Ophelia. You’ll experiment so fucking much.”

He leans into me.

That’s it.

This.

Is.

It.

In the brief moment I have to think, the rage at being hounded like an animal prevails.

I slap Topher across his face, scratching his cheek. “Go to hell.”

His lips—the lips that I kissed and now repulse me—part in shock. Then they curl into a wicked smirk.

James hasn’t done anything yet. He’s…there. I smell the faint spice of his expensive cologne. I want to taste it.

I…

I’m a fool. He’s here to hurt me, this predator, and I’m falling right into his trap.

These men are psychotic. Or on a bad trip.

They’re preying on me.

So, no.

No sniffing Topher’s dad.

No looking at his son and wondering why I’ve wasted six months of my life on a man who wouldn’t show me warmth and genuine kindness.

Who I stopped liking months ago.

Adrenaline, fear, and the need to fight pummel into my hand. They make me curl it into a fist.

I raise it a second time.

It’s in the air, about to be thrown into Topher’s cheek. He has one hand on the wall, the other gripping the cuffs. If I move fast enough, I could get him. I could?—

“Enough.” A large hand with a bleeding rose tattoo wraps around my wrist. “This little tantrum has to end at some point. Time to go.”

2

OPHELIA

Iwhip my head to the source of the low, rugged voice. I was wrong about him. James’s eyes don’t remind me of sleet.

They remind me of that night.

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