Page 6 of His to Possess
I want her.
And it soon becomes quite apparent that I’m not the only one. As with the other girls, the auctioneer starts at a ten thousand dollar bid. Immediately a man somewhere behind me in the crowd raises that to fifteen. I let the bidding go on for a few moments, my blood pressure rising with alarming speed. I figure there’s no point in jumping in too soon and driving the price up.
On the other hand, Lilah is clearly doing this to make money. I still can’t imagine why she would need it. Maybe a fight with her parents? But cutting her off completely doesn’t seem like Cartwright. Regardless, if she feels she needs the money, maybe I should be trying to help her to get as much as possible. No matter what these bastards bid, I’ll be the last one standing. She’ll take her cut and go on her merry way, virtue still intact.
Even if the last thing my dick wants me to do is to let her go.
The bidding is up to fifty grand with no sign of slowing down when I finally raise my paddle. Any thought of strategy has gone out the window. I don’t bid in order to drive her price up—I bid because I can’t sit here for a second longer and let these assholes think they have a chance with her.
“Sixty,” I call out. There’s a beat of silence, as if the room wasn’t expecting the price to jump so much. But then another paddle jumps into the air. Another paddle at the very table I’m sitting at.
“Sixty-five,” Aden Roth calls out in his smooth, smug voice. I glare at him across the table. That malevolent look is back in his eyes. The fucker is doing this just to get to me.
“Sorry old chap,” he says in a terrible imitation of my accent that only makes me want to hit him even more. “Can’t help myself. She seems like a sweet one, doesn’t she?” From the sneer on his lips I can tell exactly what he’s thinking. And I don’t like it at all. “Look at that little body.”
“Back off, Roth,” I practically growl, then immediately regret it. I can’t risk showing my hand. Aden Roth is an opportunistic bastard. If he had any idea of my connection with Lilah, he would absolutely look for a way to exploit it. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s only bidding on her right now to try and look like a big man in front of Clifford Boyd by challenging me. Or possibly out of a sick desire to get back at me for the past sins he thinks I committed against him.
Then his eyes return to the stage, a sickening glint filling them, and I realize those aren’t the only reasons. He wants her.
You can keep dreaming, fucker.
“One hundred,” I say calmly, deciding to switch tactics. Let them all see how serious I am. I might not be a regular at this club, but I’m sure plenty of these men know me by reputation. They’d be fools to get in my way when I want something.
“Shit, Matthews,” Roth says, eyebrows high, that damn smirk still playing around his mouth. “You must have high hopes for this one.”
His gaze returns to the stage and he sighs. “One ten,” he calls out. He doesn’t move his eyes from Lilah and I’m struck by the urge to rip them right from his head. “Sorry,” he says, sounding nothing short of gleeful. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a virgin. I think I’d really like breaking this one in. I bet she’s tight as hell.”
I’m not even aware of the growl rising in my throat until I release it, loud and low. “I suggest you think about what you’re doing, Roth,” I say, voice deadly calm. “Am I a man you’d like as an enemy?” Before he can answer, I lift my paddle. Enough of this. “Two hundred.”
Lilah sways slightly on the stage and I vaguely hear murmurs of surprise around me. I wonder if any girl has ever gone for as much. I don’t give a shit. Protecting her is worth it.
Her eyes scan the audience and I wonder how much she can see from up there. Probably not much, not with the dimness of the room and the stage lights in her eyes. All the better—let her be surprised when she sees who bought her.
Aden Roth looks furious now. “You’re going to threaten me over a piece of ass?” he snaps.
When that ass belongs to Lilah Cartwright, yes, I absolutely will. I merely hold his gaze, letting him see how very serious I am.
His expression only grows harder as his eyes spark with anger. “You think you own the whole damn world, don’t you, Matthews? I’m fucking sick of it.” He leans across the table toward me, eyes narrowed. “Well in case you haven’t noticed, we’re not back at Wyld right now. You’re not a fucking member of this club.” He sneers, looking me up and down. “You might have those pretentious pussies on the board wrapped around your finger, but you have no power here.”
I watch him silently, not at all interested in tossing barbs at this wanker. He holds my gaze as he raises his paddle.
“Quarter million.”
The little fuck. The exclamations filling the room aren’t whispers anymore. Every man here is eagerly looking between me and Roth. Up on the stage, Lilah has gone stone still.
“Five hundred,” I call without a second thought, my gaze locked on the bastard in front of me. The money means nothing. My only concern is ending this for her and getting her the hell off that stage.
“Six,” Roth says smoothly, and I clench my fists. There are five girls still on the stage, all of them gorgeous. Why in the hell is he so caught up onmygirl?
Not your girl,I remind myself.Your responsibility, but not your girl.
“Seven.”
There’s a slight pause. “Seven fifty.”
Got you, asshole,I think triumphantly. We’ve been jumping up in hundred thousand increments until this point. His raise of a mere fifty more tells me one thing—he’s approaching his limit.
I think for a split second—go to eight or end it here and now? Haste wins out. It’s not like I don’t have the money. And I’m not above the satisfaction that comes with showing Roth in no uncertain terms that I far exceed him in money, clout, and power.
