Page 71 of Auctioned Surrender

He drives with precision and skill, navigating the traffic with ease. He hits the highway and lays into the gas, showing me precisely what he and this magnificent car can do as he moves through the lanes of traffic.

“Holy shit, papi. You gonna let me drive your ride?”

He grins widely. “We’ll see,” he says, slowing down as we get to the ramp that takes us into the inner city traffic.

“You know I can drive!”

“That I do, princess. Here we are,” he says, pulling into the parking lot of a large white building. “We’re on the backside, but it’s a center for martial arts. I instruct a few times a week when I’m in town and work out afterward. I’ll show you around,” he says, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs and through the white double doors of the facility.

We enter a long wood-floored hallway and pass multiple glass-windowed offices along the way until we reach another set of large double doors at the end of the corridor. “This is where I’ll be when you’re finished with your workout,” Dereck says, opening the door so I can look into the room. There are only a handful of men, and two of them are in what looks like white karate suits, facing each other and appearing ready to fight.

“You’re going to do a karate workout?”

He smiles, pulls me in for a kiss, and strokes my cheek. “I instruct and practice Judo, princess, among other techniques, but that’s the main focus on the floor today,” he says, closing the door.

“You gonna teach me some moves, papi?” I sass.

He grins and rubs my nose with his before taking my hand to lead me down a different hall and to another set of double doors.

He opens one side, and I gasp, taking in the room with a quick scan. “Dereck, you didn’t say a word! It’s perfect! Beyond that even!” I say, walking swiftly past him and into the large room entirely walled with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. There are dance bars around the perimeter, and in the very center of the room stands a perfect silver pole that extends from the hardwood floor and to the ceiling.

I turn back and find him watching me with those intent gray eyes. I go to him and tiptoe, pulling his face toward me. “Thank you, Dereck. It didn’t please you that I wanted to dance with a pole, but you brought me here anyway. What a wonderful surprise.”

He taps my nose with a finger. “Correction. It doesn’t please me that you’re still contemplating turning the heads of people who would do you harm if they knew the reason, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dance. I’ll leave you to your workout, Princess. Find me when you’re done,” Dereck says before turning and heading back to the main gym.

I get my little bluetooth speaker out and start my playlist, letting the sultry tones of Ruelle flow around me like only she can do. My routine always begins with a stretch, and this time I have ballet barres and put them to fair use, stretching my legs, arms, and back, working through the various positions as Ruelle seduces the audience with her sultry tones. It takes effort not to focus or become rigid with the plug in place, but I focus my energy on the music, and a half-hour into my routine, my bodyhas grown accustomed to the toy, and it adds to the physical satisfaction of the dance.

When I’m thoroughly warmed, I test my strength on the pole, moving from one lift to another. When I’m done, I try it again, putting the steps and moves together, switching outpacing, strides, and lifts to create a more fluid routine. The sequence works better than I dreamed, and the thought of having just created something new and different excites me beyond belief.

I take out my earpieces and engage the bluetooth to the speakers in the room, running the routine from start to finish, ending in my signature splits with a flip across the floor and a bow to the audience.

There’s clapping at the door. I glance up to find Dereck standing in the doorway, looking hotter than hell in one of the white suits I saw on the men in the room he showed me.

“That was incredible, hot and sexy, Layla. Where did you learn that routine? It’s different than the one you performed at the club.”

I feel my cheeks heat from his praise. “I just created it, just now, in this very room. It’s been in my head for a few weeks now. I’ve been taking one lift and placing it with another one, completely taking apart the routine I’ve been doing to make something fresh and contemporary.”

“I’m impressed beyond belief, but hardly surprised. You have a special gift, Layla, and you looked exceptionally graceful. I couldn’t even tell that you were wearing my plug, and I was watching to see if I could.”

“How do you know I am?” I ask, winking at him.

“Because you want to be with me, so you’re not going to lie to me. You know it’s not something I like, and you find your pleasure in pleasing people, and I would be more than disappointed if you told me lies.”

I nod, another little white lie. I’ve lost track of how many I’ve told, but it’s the only thing I can do to hide the larger lie that he can never learn.

Chapter 15

Dereck

Layla has gone quiet. She is such a passionate and expressive woman that it's written all over her lovely features when she lies to me. She needs time to trust me. I’ll not make lying comfortable or enable the behavior, but for now, because there is much for me to learn about what she hides, I’ll allow it until I no longer do.

I hold out my hand. “Grab your bag, Layla. At some point, we’re going to settle up for all the lies you’ve told, but for now, I’ll show you to the showers, and then we can get something to eat. I’ve worked up an appetite.”

She nods, still reserved, still contemplating her lie, and hopefully, it sits uncomfortably with her until she is ready to confide in me.

I take her hand, guide her to the women's locker room, and let her in with my key. “I’ll be back for you shortly, say twenty minutes?” I ask.

Layla glances down at her watch and nods. I lift her chin, so she has no choice but to look into my eyes. “I’m not exactly sure why you’ve gone all quiet, but reflection is good for the soul. It will help you sort through whatever you’re contemplating, andwhen you’re ready to share it with me, I’ll be here,” I tell her before leaving her to ponder my words.

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