“Come on, Christy.” He sounded closer now. “You’re almost here.” She crawled a little farther before he said, “Stop right there.”
Still on her hands and knees, she waited until he said, “Stand, but leave your blindfold on.”
She stood, wondering what he had in mind for them.
“Take your blindfold off.”
She reached up and untied the blindfold before letting it fall away. He wasn’t standing before her.
He was on one knee in front of her.
Her first reaction was wondering what he was doing on his knee, below her.
Then she saw the small black velvet jeweler’s box in his hand.
He smiled as he opened it.
She clapped her hands over her mouth, unable to believe what she was seeing. A diamond solitaire ring was nestled in the black velvet.
“Christy, I love you more than I could ever express,” he said. “Will you marry me?”
Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes!”
He stood and took her trembling hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. She flung her arms around his neck and tears escaped and ran down face she hugged him.
When he drew back, he smiled and brushed tears from her cheeks with his fingers.
She shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe you got down on your knees for me.”
He gave a soft laugh. “I hope you enjoyed it because that’s the first and last time you’ll ever see me on my knees.”
He kissed her. A long, slow, amazing kiss.
“I love you, Zach,” she said as they parted from the kiss.
With a smile he said, “I can’t tell you enough how much I love you.”
“So why don’t you try?” she grinned and he kissed her again.
“I would love to. Why don’t you come over to my little chair here.”
“Yes sir. Anything you wish”
# # #
Bought
Chapter 1
She’d never been up for sale before.
Imagine, the possibilities.
The pre-auction wine tasting mixer was in full swing. Roni McAllister tossed her long red hair over her shoulder and smiled as she made her way around the room. She intended to scout out the place and pick and choose which men she wanted to bid on her—men with triangle pins, preferably. She touched her own pin, an ornate circle and rubbed it for good luck.
She intended to get very lucky tonight.
The pins were for members of the Kink Club to recognize one another. A triangle meant a Dominant man or woman who would be a bidder, while a circle indicated a submissive who would be put up for sale. KC had infiltrated the elite charity auction thanks to one of the members on the Uptown Charity’s board.
An overture of excitement carried on the busy hum of conversation, and a shiver went through her. She smoothed her palm over her abdomen, the satiny feel of her black dress a caress against her skin. She had designed the dress herself, an exclusive.
She glanced to her right and saw that one of her best friends, Christy, had been cornered by a hairy Pillsbury doughboy who was wearing a triangle pin. To Roni’s surprise, Christy had shored up her courage and had put on her circle pin. Roni was just about to head over there to rescue her friend when a g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s man interrupted the doughboy. The way Christy looked at the new man, with pleasure in her eyes, let Roni know that there was something between the two, more than just a natural attraction. Gorgeous looked like he could more than handle doughboy.
Satisfied that Christy would be okay, Roni passed by Leslie, her other best friend, who had accosted the Navy SEAL she’d been after. “Come with me. Come with me into my lair…” Roni imagined Leslie saying. Unlike Roni and Christy, Leslie wore a triangle pin and was a bidder.
Roni looked away from Leslie and finished making her sweep, identifying no less than four good prospects. Now she would give each of them a chance to talk with her and she would interview them in her own way, determined that someone who excited her would bid on her.
Number One was a nice looking guy with a triangle pin and a Dom’s confident demeanor. He had short dark hair and warm brown eyes.
The man had just turned away from talking with another woman with a circle pin when Roni held out her hand and introduced herself. “I’m Roni.”
“Drake Pierson.” He gripped her hand and smiled. He had a good smile, one you could trust. “Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”
“Most definitely.” Roni smiled as he released her hand. “It’s a beautiful night, an exciting event, great people. What’s not to enjoy?”
He laughed. “I like your attitude.”
“And for you?” she asked. “Meet any interesting people?”
“I’ve met you.” He winked. “I think I’m done for the night and ready to bid.”
“Oh, so you’re a flatterer.” Roni gave him an impish grin. “One of those.”
“I like to consider myself honest.” He raised his glass of wine and took a sip before he asked, “How long have you been with KC?”
She paused, surprised that he had brought the Kink Club up so quickly. “Not long,” she said.
“How did you get involved?” he asked.
She shrugged off the unease she felt as he asked the questions. He was just curious. Wanted to know enough about her to bid on her. “A guy I dated was in KC.”
Drake looked interested. “Did you play much?”
“Not really,” she said. She and the former congressman she had dated had played a few times but he wasn’t the right guy for her. She didn’t always feel…safe with him. She wanted to play and know that she was safe. A little fear was always fun, but not the kind where one was afraid the guy was going to go out for lunch while leaving her in a vulnerable or even a dangerous position.
He nodded. “What do you like and don’t like?”
Roni was beginning to feel like she was at a job interview. “Listen, it’s fun talking with you but I feel like it’s rushing things a bit, getting so personal.”
“I’m sorry.” He looked a little sheepish. “I find you exceptionally interesting.”
“I’m flattered.” She gave him a smile. “I suppose we should do that mingling thing.”
He returned her smile. “I hope to meet up with you again.”
“Perhaps we will,” she said before she turned away and went in search of Number Two hot prospect.
Drake might have been at the top of her list if he hadn’t rushed right into talk about play. A little too anxious as far as she was concerned.
Now for Number Two.
She went up to the blond, blue-eyed man, who wore casual sexy like a second skin. “I’m Roni,” she said and she held out her hand.
He took it. “Craig Hendrix.” He gave a lazy smile that would make a woman’s toes curl, including hers. “What’s the circle pin for?” he asked as he released her hand. “I’ve been seeing circles and triangles all night.”
She’d been so blinded by his smile and good looks that she hadn’t noticed he was missing a triangle pin.
“We’ve all been to various events throughout the year,” she said as she gave the canned answer that they were to give any vanilla—someone not into kink—who asked. “The pins were for special donations made to various charities.”
He gave a nod. “I see.”
Craig was easily one of the hottest looking men she’d met tonight, but he wasn’t a triangle and she was all about exploring the world of kink some more. For a brief moment she wondered if she might be able to convert him into a kinkster, but the chances of finding a man who met her needs in that area, among the vanilla crowd, were remote.
And there was something about Craig…something she wasn’t sure about. She had good instincts and she intended to listen to them—even if they did seem a little off the wall at times. Her instincts told her that for whatever reason she should move on.
“I’d better get to mingling.” For the se
cond time Roni used the “mingling thing” as an excuse to move on. “It was good to meet you, Craig.”
He gave a brief nod. “Likewise.”
As she turned away from him she had the strangest feeling that she’d just pissed him off. Maybe she had cut any conversation with him short, but she didn’t like to waste precious mingling time when she was trying to meet a few more triangles.
After she moved on she went to her next prospects. Number Three had great potential, Number Four not so much. This time she had made sure to check each man’s lapel for a triangle pin.
She was searching the crowd for someone else to check out at the same time she was walking when she ran into a solid wall of man. She stumbled back and the man caught her by her shoulders. At five-eight most guys weren’t that much taller than her, but this time she found herself looking up. Way up. The guy had to be at least six-four.
He had harshly cut features and an intense expression, hard, unyielding. His eyes were crystalline blue and so cool that she imagined herself shivering and goose bumps swept over her arms. He was sexy in a dark, mysterious kind of way—really mysterious.
Yes, she had just run into Mr. Tall Dark and Scary.
Well, scary if it had been anyone but her. It would take a lot to scare Roni McAllister.
She gave him a brilliant smile as he released her shoulders and she held out her hand. “I’m Roni.”
A pleasant feeling traveled though her arm as he took her hand. His grip was firm, a man of confidence. “John Taylor.” His voice was so deep and powerful that it made the most delicious flutters in her belly.
She glanced at his lapel. No triangle. Too bad, she would have loved to have this guy tie her up. She’d teach him how to smile.
“I’m not so sure you look like you want to be here,” Roni said.
John raised an eyebrow. “Do you always say what’s on your mind?”
She cocked her head as she considered his question. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I’d have to say that I do.”
Was that the faintest quirk at the corner of his mouth? Had he almost smiled? Ooh, she loved a challenge and this guy would be a good one. He was intriguing and he had sex appeal.
“How did you end up here?” she asked.
He shrugged. “You could say that I was roped into it.”
“You’re kinda cute.” Roni gave an impish grin. “You just need to lighten up.”
He looked like he had no idea what to do with her.
That was okay. She could teach him.
A male’s voice came over the sound system. “Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in the ballroom,” he said. “The auction is about to start. Bachelors and bachelorettes, please meet behind the stage. Everyone else find a seat and we’ll get started.”
“Gotta go.” Roni held out her hand again and he took it. She loved the tingles that traveled between them when they touched. “See you later.”
He let her hand go. “You just might.”
A pleasant thrill stirred in her belly. Just maybe she would be seeing him again.
She hurried backstage where everyone was getting ready. She didn’t even have a chance to check in with Christy because her friend was nowhere to be seen and Roni was to be the second person auctioned off for the night. She saw Leslie in the audience, waiting to bid on the SEAL she was determined to get.
Excitement made Roni almost bounce on her toes as she waited for her turn. Thank goodness she didn’t have to wait for too long. Patience wasn’t one of her greatest attributes, and she had a lot of attributes.
She had never had a model’s body and never would. She had a full and luscious figure and as far as she was concerned, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. Many men loved her curves—unless they had a thing for Twiggy-esque women. In that case, she wasn’t missing anything.
“Roni McAllister!”
She walked from out behind the curtain and waved as she greeted the audience with a smile. The applause was generous and she felt her heart rate increase.
This is it.
“This Irish beauty is a fashion designer from Baltimore,” the MC said as he gestured for her to show herself off. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”
More applause as Roni walked across the stage like a fashion model would before returning to her spot.
“If you’re lucky tonight, you will be spending a weekend for two at Half Moon Bay with Roni,” the MC said. “Let’s start the bidding out at one thousand.”
At the same time, no less than four men indicated they wanted to bid on her. The lights weren’t too bright and she was able to see the men as they bid. A couple of the men wore triangles, the other two did not. She spotted John sitting three rows back and found herself a little disappointed that he wasn’t bidding.
However, Craig, the vanilla guy was bidding, despite the fact that she had come close to blowing him off. What would it be like to be owned by him for a weekend? Hopefully more interesting than their conversation had been.
The bidding reached twelve thousand and there was a pause before someone in the back said “Thirteen.”
She knew that voice. It was John’s.
A thrill went through her. Mr. Tall Dark and Scary had actually bid on her.
The next thing she knew, the auctioneer pounded his gavel and said, “Sold. To Mr. John Taylor.”
Another shiver of excitement made her almost jittery as she was escorted from the stage and down the stairs to where John waited for her.
“Hi, cutie.” She grinned at his perplexed expression when she called him cutie. He really didn’t know what to do with her. All the more fun for Roni. “Planning on staying for the after auction dessert party and dance?” she asked even though he didn’t look like a dessert guy much less a dancing guy. With his dark presence she was surprised he was even here.
“I didn’t get a chance to eat dinner before I came.” He moved his gaze around the room. There was something deliberate and calculating in the way he looked at everything. “I think I’ll get something in the lounge.”
“Mind if I tag along?” She smiled as he looked back to her. She had planned on staying to chat with her friends afterward, but something about John made her want to spend some time with him. “It will give us a chance to get to know each other before our weekend away.”
“I hope you like bar food,” he said. “What I want is a good burger, fries, and a beer.”
Now that seemed to suit him better than a suit and tie and an exclusive charity auction no matter how good he looked in a suit. It wasn’t that he didn’t look like he should be there, it was more that he looked like he’d be happier in some place casual like a bar, knocking back a bottle of beer instead of sipping from glasses of wine.
“Sounds good to me.” She fell into step beside John as he started toward the doors leading from the ballroom and out to the lounge. “I’m ready.”
Chapter 2
Before joining John in the lounge, Roni excused herself to go to the ladies room. When she came back out of the restroom, she nearly ran into Drake, the Dom she’d spoken with first out of all of her prospects.
He smiled when he saw her and came to a stop. “I apologize for getting too personal with you earlier,” he said.
Something about him and his sincerity sent a pleasant warmth through Roni. “That’s all right. I guess we can be a little enthusiastic about what we love.”
“I find you very interesting,” he said. “I wasn’t able to bid high enough but I’d like the chance to get to know you better.”
Yes, he had been way too forward when they’d first met. But, should she give him another chance? He was good-looking and sexy. He had just touched too soon on a subject they both enjoyed. He had an allure about him that drew her in.
“Sure.” Before she could change her mind she opened up her purse that she had picked up at the coat check after the auction. She found a grocery receipt and scribbled her name and phone number on the back of it. “That’s my mobile number.” She handed him the
paper. “You can call me pretty much anytime.”
“Great, Roni.” His grin seemed to light a spark in his eyes as he slipped the receipt into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “I’ll call you.”
“All right.” She gestured toward lounge. “Meeting my buyer for a drink now. I’d better go.”
“That’s something else I wanted to mention. I’ve heard about that guy.” Drake looked troubled. “You need to be careful.”
“What do you mean?” She frowned.
“Just watch out for him.” He stared in the direction she had gestured to. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine.” She put her hand on his arm. “Don’t be concerned about me.”
“Can’t help it.” He shook his head as she moved her hand away. “Just be careful, okay?”
“Sure.” She didn’t know what he was talking about, but she’d get her own read on John. “I’ll talk with you when you call tomorrow.”
Drake nodded. “Have a good night.”
I intend to.
She parted ways with him and headed to the hotel’s bar. John was in a lounge chair in one corner. He might be a man of few words, but he was what some might call broodingly handsome. Dark and dangerous looking, his jaw set, he looked like a caged tiger ready to tear into its handler.
Drake’s words came back to her—when he’d told her that she needed to be careful around John.
Roni mentally shook her head. He might look almost fierce right now while doing something as simple as reading a menu, but she didn’t feel like she had to worry about him harming her. Although she did wonder what it was that Drake had heard about him.
She watched John as she walked in his direction. He’d taken off his suit jacket and had laid it over one of the two other chairs at the table, rolled up his shirtsleeves, and took off his tie. The shirt was white against his tanned skin and it pulled tight over his powerful shoulders. She could tell that beneath the material that he was cut, every muscle well defined.
The Auction Box Set Page 10
