Page 58 of Auctioned Surrender

“Good, now keep practicing. I’ll see you next week.” I head to the locker room to shower off the session.

My cell beeps as I slide into the driver's seat of my car. Trent’s on his way home to rest, Murph’s planning to send me updates as they come in, and Layla’s still at the gym. That should ease my worry, but still, she continues to stay top of mind. The thought of the dark-haired beauty in a pair of leggings and strappy little sports bra causes my cock to throb. I imagine divesting her of them in the gym and bending her exquisite rear over one of the weight benches while I show her just how submissive she can be. I shake my head to ward off the image, but I already know it’s going to take more than that to clear her from my mind. The physical attraction to Layla is far too strong. The desire to explore the boundaries of the spirited beauty's soft and submissive side pulls on my dominance with a force that will be exceptionally hard to ignore. While I suspect she feels the same, there’s a lot she’s not telling me and that we still need to know if we are going to solve this case for Brian.

I pull up to The Prestian Towers near Lake Michigan, letting Marcus, who’s valeting tonight, know I’ll be heading back out a little while later and will send him a text when I need the car pulled around. “Take your time, Dereck! I could always take the Aston Martin for a little spin while you’re up in the penthouse getting ready,” he says, his eyes alight with amusement.

I give the young man who works at the tower full-time and goes to school at night a smile. “Don’t go too far, Marcus,” I say with a grin before he gives me a thumbs-up and drives off in my car, smiling from ear to ear. I head into the skyrise to get my things ready. If the chatter over the radio is any indication ofwhat’s in store for the team tonight, it’s going to be all hands on deck.

My cell rings, and I catch Murph’s call on the first ring. “Layla finished at the gym. She’s been working out for hours, just walked out the door, and is getting into her car. Damn, does that woman clean up nice! I’d bet money she’s heading to the club looking like that, Dereck.”

I glance at my watch. It’s still too early for anything to be going on at the club. I’d bet money Layla’s not heading there until later in the evening. She won’t want to show up until all the action starts unless, of course, she’s meeting someone, which could always be the case. “Can you let me know where Layla goes and when she gets there? And I know you have a lot on your plate, like checking out how good Layla looks, but can you try to sneak in the rest of that report?”

“Sorry, Dereck.” He doesn’t sound nearly as chastised as he should. “It really has been crazy around here, but I’ll try to get that report out as soon as I can. Hey, I have to go. Things are heating up on the Bryanna front, but we’ll talk soon,” Murph says before disconnecting.

I get a message an hour later letting me know Layla’s stopped at the library, has her computer set up in front of her, but instead of working on it, she’s reading a novel. Layla is smart, and she’s probably just biding her time. She won’t go home in order to avoid R.J., knowing he’s already been there, but she hasn’t seen the extent of the damage or the rage in which he did it. I’ve already had someone replace Layla’s clothing, mattress, and furnishings and have men watching her apartment. I’m still glad she’s opted not to go back home right now. If R.J. walks through her apartment door, he’s going to meet the gruesome side of men who don’t take kindly to violence or mistreatment of women. Layla doesn’t need to be anywhere near if it happens.

It’s far later, and just as I jump into the car with Damian and Evers, who are on their way to the club to deal with Bryanna, I get another message letting me know that Layla’s heading in the direction of the bar too.

Damian’s unusually quiet until we arrive. “Can you keep your eyes on Layla? Find out if she knows anything else? She’s the best lead we have. I have an entire team helping me watch Bryanna.”

“I can, but you know they probably have your ass on camera,” I say.

“If they recognize and come after me, I’ll know who my fucking target is then, right?”

“You’re not wrong, my friend. You should have a backup when you go in. What if Evers runs point out front, then I’ll watch Layla.” I gesture to the grouchy driver who was once on the security team until he decided he liked driving better.

“Fine. You go in first, cover my entry, then find Layla,” Damian says.

He didn’t need to tell me to put my sights on the fiery dark-haired princess because I’ve been looking forward to putting my eyes on her hot little body all day long. “Got it. Here, put this on,” I say, tossing him one of my beanies before I get out of the car and head into the pulsing and crowd enthused club.

I spot Layla right away. Her long hair is flowing around her, and she’s dressed in a short skirt, high heels, and a silky little tank. She’s talking to an older waitress who’s wearing a top which leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination when I walk up behind Layla. Layla senses me in her space, and her body responds so sweetly to my presence. I trail a finger down the pulse along her neck, feeling it begin to beat faster, listening as her inhalations become more rapid. Layla stands with her back to me, trying to play it off, pretending my presence isn’t affecting her, but I know better. “You ran from me, princess. We didn’teven get to finish our Q and A session. I would have at least fed you and given you a ride back to your car this morning if you had stayed.”

She turns, grappling with her emotions, trying to recover her composure, and when she does, she’s back to throwing shade. “Yeah? How nice, and what would you have paid a girl like me, after that was done? Tell me?”

“Probably more than you charge, princess.” I can’t help but goad her a little. A small bit of retribution for her absurd comment. Besides, she’s entirely too alluring when she’s all wound up.

Layla gives me a withering look, one I no doubt deserve, but she doesn’t lay down that easily. “The services are endless for the right price and the right girl. Unfortunately, it’s not me, papi. Look around the club. You can have your choice of a wealth of willing women. In the meantime, grab a drink and enjoy the show,” Layla sasses, throwing me a wink before spinning on her stilted heels and quickly making her way to the back of the stage.

My dick has been problematic since she slinked out of that little sports car in those skin-tight jeans, and it pulses with desire as this sultry little spitfire prances away from me, full of secrets in her short skirt and sexy heels.

The MC announces Layla to the stage next. I wait with anticipation along with the rest of the bar as she walks out onto the raised platform and manages to take my breath away. The bright red G-string bottoms Layla wears are enough to keep any red-blooded man’s interest. She strolls around the stage in time to the music, flirting with the crowd, throwing them smiles, and tossing her long, dark wavy hair for the audience. Layla sends a seductive little wink in my direction before spinning and lowering herself to the floor. She teases us all, writhing on the floor before arching her delectable little body to give the rowdycrowd and me a very up front and personal view of her upended ass.

She doesn’t let up, keeping us all enthralled with her seductive display, teasing us with little touches to her top, before rising from the floor and heading for the rod of steel in the middle of the stage. This crowd knows what’s coming, and the excitement grows twofold while my anticipation and desire for the spirited beauty grows even more intense.

Layla keeps us waiting and sure as hell doesn’t disappoint. She slowly spins around the pole, giving everyone in the room a good view of her feminine but rippled physique displayed in her tiny little outfit. She uses the strength of her arms, upper body, and abdomen to lift herself and her legs to propel her graceful form around that pole.

Bryanna, the one everyone’s trying to protect, isn’t far from the stage, watching as her friend dances for the crowd. A glance in Damian’s direction assures me he has the situation with Bryanna well in control, leaving me to give my undivided attention to the fiery dark-haired beauty on the stage.

Layla’s soaking in the music, completely lost in her performance, teasing the audience every time she slides up and down that pole. She teases, touching the little string on the side of her G-string panties, and then spins for the entire room. She keeps every hot-blooded male on the edge of their seat, waiting with eager anticipation for her to quit teasing and take something off.

Layla has the entire audience on edge, and this gives us all a little smile as she seductively tugs on the dainty string around her neck, letting the lacy material float to the floor. Her magnificent breasts spill out, bouncing beautifully under their slight weight, high, firm, and fucking perfect. Layla spins one more time, working the pole, slowly grinding up and down ever so indecently before flipping upside down. She holds herselfupright with the strength of her arms and a dainty ankle wrapped seductively around the silver rod. She flips from the pole and lands perfectly, sending the crowd into a loud frenzy before taking a bow and prancing off the stage.

I spot R.J. across the room. His mouth pulls tight as he watches Layla, but he quickly turns his attention when he sees Bryanna across the room. I’m not worried because Damian’s watching Bryanna. His eyes haven’t left the wispy dark-haired woman with deep green eyes who he’s been trying to bring home to safety, but she has secrets of her own, and until Damian learns what they are, it’s not going to be as easy as just taking her home to mama. I focus on Layla, who’s watching R.J., tracking him as he walks across the room and disappears into a doorway marked as an employee-only entrance.

As soon as his attention shifts, Layla slips through the back of the stage and returns seconds later in a silky red robe that barely covers her ass. She walks down the stairs of the platform stage, adjusting her over-the-shoulder purse as she heads to the bar. She says something to one of the burly bouncers and then walks out the back exit swinging her luscious little ass for anyone who’s watching.

I weave my way through the patrons and head out the front door, making my way quickly around the side of the bar to the back. I’m just in time to see her take a wad of bills from the driver of a car parked at the rear of the lot, walk around to the passenger side, and then slip into the front seat.

My jaw tightens. I would have bet anything Layla wasn’t servicing on the side, that she was dancing for enjoyment, or perhaps needed the money; both of which are acceptable reasons, in my opinion. I should leave it alone. Layla’s a big girl, free to do whatever she chooses with her body, but she’s managed to become my responsibility to protect, and I decide she isn’t selling herself in some seedy parking lot tonight.I’m halfway to the car when a woman cries out, drawing my attention to a large, burly man roughly pushing a woman wearing a robe similar to Layla’s, but in pink, toward an RV at the back of the lot.

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