by Erin Trejo
Chapter 32
The interior of this place is gorgeous. It resembles a ballroom. It doesn’t look like a place that would sell off women to the highest bidder.
Jaxson has my arm looped through his. The tension I can feel radiating off him unsettles me. If he’s nervous or tense then there is probably even more reason for me to be.
“Mr. Murphy. I wasn’t aware that you’d be attending tonight.” I tall older man says as he steps up in front of us. Jax just eyes him up and down before saying, “Really? You didn’t realize the auction was for one of mine?” The way he says it makes me cringe inside. One of his. What a disgusting gesture.
“It is a beauty, that much I can see. What is the going rate?” The man asks. My arm tightens instinctively around Jaxson when the man gazes over me.
“You’re bidding?” Jax almost laughs when he asks.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“You’re a little out of your element here, Jarrod. It would serve you well to remember that.” Jaxson doesn’t waste any time pulling me away from the man. I should be grateful. His gaze was making my skin crawl.
“Who is that?” I ask. Jaxson stops at a table and offers me a glass of wine. Of course, I accept it. I am about to be auctioned.
“Someone you don’t have to worry over. He won’t win.” He says. How can he be so sure of that? Although his tone was reassuring, he can’t know that.
“How do you know?” before he has the chance to respond, I hear Bryce say, “How lovely to see you again, Miss Dell.” Oh yeah, real lovely considering.
“What is it you want, Bryce?” Jaxson snaps quickly. I don’t turn around but I can feel the heat radiating off these two men. They are like one giant furnace.
“It’s an auction. Since you insist on auctioning my best asset, why would I not attend?” Bryce’s words send a chill over me.
“We have established that she isn’t your asset, haven’t we?” Jaxson keeps his jaw locked tightly as he looks past me to his brother.
“Oh, brother. You do like to play games don’t you. Don’t be surprised at the bidders this evening.” I feel Bryce’s hand on my shoulder before he disappears. I don’t have to ask what he meant by that. I know what he meant.
I can see the way the muscles in Jaxson’s jaw jumps.
Whoever the bidders are, it isn’t going to end well for me.
Not that I thought it would anyway.
Chapter 33
I feel a slight buzz through my system. I’ve drank every glass of wine that Jax offered me. I need it. I don’t know that I can get through this night without it.
“You will wait right through there. There is security so don’t do anything stupid. You are the last girl up. Most have already gone before you. Just stand there and someone will come for you once it’s over. Everything will be fine.” Jax says. I don’t know who he’s trying to reassure of that. Me or him. He doesn’t sound too enthusiastic at the moment. My hands tremble at my sides before Jaxson reaches for them. He gazes in my eyes for a minute before saying, “I mean it. Everything will be fine.”
With that, he lets go of me and ushers me through another door.
“This is the last girl, Tony.” He calls over to man that could double as a body builder. He looks at me and nods.
I turn to look at Jaxson but he’s already closing the door behind him. So much for believing everything was going to be fine.
I stand in silence. Tony the huge body builder doesn’t even look my way. I wonder what he thinks. What he thinks of the women that get brought in here. Does he not think they have a life somewhere else?
I guess if he was anything like Jaxson and Bryce he wouldn’t really care.
The door opens and I tall red head walks down the stairs in a dress much like mine. It’s long and dark blue. It hangs off her left shoulder. She’s beautiful.
“Wait over there. You, let’s go.” He motions to me. I walk toward him, holding my head high. I will not be a failure right now. If this is the last piece of life that I have to hold onto, I will make the best of it.
I take a deep breath and walk to the door. He holds it open and motions for me to head in.
I walk up the small set of stairs and out onto a platform. Glass lines all the walls. It’s faintly lit but enough that they can take me in.
It unnerves me that they can see me but I can’t see them. I stand tall though. I won’t let them see me break.
Numbers flash on a screen above the glass in the middle. It doesn’t take a genius to know that, that is the bidding amount as of now. Five hundred thousand? For me? What the hell do people think I am? I’m an orphan. I’m nobody.
I’m just me.
Then it hits me.
I’m a Dell.
I’m a virgin Dell.
Chapter 34
A chill races up my spine. What if there is something more about my past, about my parents or family name that means something to these people? What if Jaxson was asking me that for a specific reason?
My mind starts to dance with ideas but all I can see is that goddamn number mocking me. It keeps moving. Up!
My parents were into trading. What would people want with me for that? There isn’t anything else I can think of. No other reasons for this!
My heart slams in my chest. I don’t want this. I don’t want my life to end with this. I look around rapidly at every piece of glass in the room. My heart is hammering. My pulse races.
Who the hell were my parents? What did they do to make me deserve the consequences of their actions? Did they ever think of me when they did whatever it was?
My god! How can anyone not care about their child enough to ensure that they were protected?
The red numbers are a menace. They taunt me. They taunt my virginity and they taunt my life.
The higher it climbs the more I begin to question myself as a person. Can I let someone have my body? Just for the purpose of others making money? It’s almost laughable to think that! I am making nothing. I am nothing. I’m a piece of meat that these men are bidding on to get their thrills. I will be nothing more than a slave to them.
I look around the glass walls. I don’t know what I’m hoping to find. A person with a heart? A person that might understand why I’m here? They aren’t out there.
All that’s out there are other monsters like Jaxson and Bryce. All that’s out there are people that have money to spend on an object. Me. I’m the object they want and are willing to spend money on but why?
Fear races through me. At least with Jaxson, he never hurt me. He may have taken me and kept me in that house but he didn’t physically hurt me. I don’t know that it will be the same with the others.
I close my eyes and try to steady my breathing when I hear the ding. I pop them open and look up the numbers. Two million dollars! Someone has bid two million dollars on me?
My chest freezes. Air can’t be sucked in because I’m in shock. Two million flashes on the screen once, twice and then a third and final time. The door opens behind me and the man I know now as Tony waves me over.
With unsteady legs, I walk toward him and down the stairs.
“That number. That’s what I was bought for?” I look up at him and ask.
“That’s it. Your owner will be here to get you soon. The doors are both locked so no use in trying to run.” He says before walking out of the room.
I’m left standing here with only a small light. The sound of my heart thudding is all that can be heard.
Two million dollars.
Chapter 35
I pace the small hallway. What the hell can I do? I can’t run. Even after he said the doors were locked, I tried them anyway. What kind of idiot wouldn’t?
Tears prickle my eyes. This is it. This is all that’s left of me. I’m done, ruined.
I don’t even know how long I’ve been in here. It’s felt like hours but reality is it’s probably only been ten minutes.
I feel like I’m losing my mind. Piece by piece I’m
losing myself. When they come for me, I’ll be completely lost. Is it right to shut down? Should I? Just to block any pain that may come my way?
The more I think about it the more I become aware of what’s coming. Is it going to hurt? Are they sexually deprived? What will they do to me?
The door opens with a squeak. I jump slightly until Jaxson comes into view. He grabs my hand and drags me along like a dog on a leash. I don’t dare ask questions.
Maybe Tony was wrong. Maybe Jaxson is taking me to my new owner. He moves us quickly down some back hallways until a door opens. I can see the stars in the sky. What is he doing? Is my owner waiting out there?
“Get in the car.” He growls. I climb into the car quickly with him right behind me. He drops into the seat before we take off quickly.
I risk a glance over at him. He runs his hand through his dark hair. He looks confused. He has almost a boyish look to him right now. It’s one I would have never expected to see on him.
The car takes every curve with precision. I don’t know what to do with myself. I look at Jaxson out of the corner of my eye but he just looks lost in thought.
I want to ask what’s going on. I want to know why I was rushed out of there but most of all I want to ask where it is he’s taking me. Fear and confusion are never two things you want to feel at the same time yet I have them both.
Words won’t form on my lips. They float through my mind but one look at Jaxson and I’m rendered speechless. I can’t form the one sentence that I need to know so badly.
A few rougher turns and the car comes to a stop. I don’t look out the window.
I keep my gaze on my hands that rest in my lap. I’m afraid to see what’s out there. I’m afraid to see where I am.
“Jaxson?” I risk it. I have to ask. I have to know what the hell is happening now.
“What?” His tone is clipped. He doesn’t even look at me.
“Who bought me?” I ask with my voice shaking. Fear creeps into my throat. Jaxson turns to face me. His eyes have darkened. He looks wild.
“Who bought you?” He repeats my question.
“Yes, who bought me?”
“I did. I bought you, Jade.”
Chapter 36
My eyes widen. Why did he buy me? How did he buy me? Jaxson runs his hand through his hair once more before looking at me.
“Why did you buy me? You owned me already.” I ask the obvious. He did own me. He said so himself.
“That’s not up for discussion, little puppet. Get out.” He nods to the door. I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat as I wonder what could be worse. Jaxson literally owning me or someone else. Neither seem like a good choice at the moment.
I do as I’m told and climb out, noticing we’re back at the mansion. Jaxson comes around the car and grabs my arm roughly. He drags me toward the door. I stumble as I try to keep up with him.
“Can you at least try to be helpful!” He roars. I jump slightly before I keep moving. His mood is as dark as his hair right now. I’m afraid of what that might mean for me.
Beverly smiles as we walk inside but quickly takes a step back when she sees the look on Jaxson’s face. No words are spoken. She just turns and walks away.
Jax pulls me along up the stairs and straight to my room. He slams the door behind us before giving me a slight shove forward.
In my mind, this is it. This is when he takes what he wants from me. I can feel it. The room is thick with tension. His eyes stay on me as I step out of the heels. I kick them to the side before I risk looking up at him.
The heat in his stare causes heat to stir within me. My insides leap to life when he looks at me like that.
“I can’t unzip it myself.” I say quietly. He knows I mean the dress. Hell, he’s the one that zipped it!
“Come here.” He says reluctantly. I walk toward him slowly, his gaze never drifting from my face. What’s he looking for? Fear? I won’t give him the satisfaction of that.
I turn slowly once I step in front of him. His fingers scrape over my skin before he unzips the dress. He lets his fingers linger a little longer than normal at the bottom.
When I feel, him move, I step away from him. Turning to face him, my heart leaps around my chest.
I start to slide the dress down my arms when he stops me.
“What are you doing?” His voice is gruff and sexy as hell.
“Isn’t this what you paid for?” I ask. Jaxson’s eyes flash with danger. A danger I’m about to get into bed with.
I watch his throat as it bobs slowly. Then he moves. His hands wrap around my forearms. He shoves me roughly onto the bed.
Looming over me, he says, “If I take you and that’s a big if, little puppet. You will be begging me for it. Not pulling your dress off and looking at me like some kind of sick fuck.”
Chapter 37
Jaxson’s words hang in the air. He looks me in the eye and I know he’s telling me the truth.
“What does that mean, if?” I ask him. He bought me. I thought that’s what they all wanted from me.
“I bought you to protect you, Jade. How many times do I need to say that before it registers in that pretty little head of yours?” He asks, his gaze dropping to my lips. God, how I want to feel those lips. Those soft, full lips.
“A lot I suppose. It doesn’t make sense. You were supposed to sell me but you bought me back. Why?” As quickly as that lust slipped into his eyes, it’s gone. What I see in them now is scary.
“What I have told you about all the questions? Enough!” His voice is firm and controlling, much like the man himself. I swallow hard as I look at his lips. Fuck, what am I doing?
“What’s that look, Jade? Does it make you wet when I talk to you like this?” There’s Jaxson. The one I met.
“Who were my parents, Jax?” I need to know. Now more than ever. Something is very off about all of this.
“So many questions, little puppet. Get up.” He moves off me quickly. I sit up like I was told.
“Take the dress off.” He says, sliding his hands into his pockets. He leans against the wall watching me with those penetrating eyes.
I let the dress slowly slide down my arms, then my body. Pooling at my feet, I step out of it. His eyes move over me, causing bumps to form on my heated skin.
“Take those panties and bra off.” He nods toward them. I reach around my back, slowly unhooking the clasp. I should feel exposed to him but I don’t.
I let the bra slide down my arms before dropping it to the floor. My breasts are free for him to gaze it and he makes good use too. I reach down and slowly pull my panties down. Stepping out of them I look back to Jaxson for his instruction.
“How many times have you touched yourself thinking of a man’s touch?” He asks. His eyes are hooded. Desire radiates off him.
“Not many.” I admit.
“Get on the bed.” I climb on and sit down, watching him.
“Do you remember what it felt like when I ate you in the pool?” He asks. How the hell could I forget that? That night is burnt into my memory forever.
I nod once.
“Lay back and spread your legs wide for me, little puppet.” His voice is gruffer than it was. It’s sexy as hell.
I do as I’m told all the while watching him.
“Do it. Touch yourself.” He commands. I’m hesitant but the look in his eyes makes me do things.
I slowly slide my hand between my legs, gently massaging my clit. Jax’s eyes darken as he licks his lips.
“Jaxson, please.” I moan.
Chapter 38
He watches me work myself into a pant. He doesn’t care that I’m begging him. He doesn’t care that I’m so close.
“Please what, little puppet?” He plays games with me. He knows I want his mouth on me, his fingers on me.
“You.” I say breathlessly. He walks toward the bed, a carnal look in his blue eyes.
“Me what? What do you need from me? You look like you’re doing just fine.” He s
ays. “Faster!” He snaps. I jolt but stroke myself in a faster rhythm. Nothing I can do to myself feels as good as what he did to me.
“Jaxson! Please! I need you to touch me!” I cry out. I’m begging the man that fucking bought me. How ironic is that?
Before I can get another stroke in, Jax is shoving my hands away. Replacing my fingers with his tongue, I arch into his touch. His tongue works magic on my body. As close as I was with my own hand, his mouth is a hundred times better.
I wiggle my hips trying to get him closer to me. His hands grip my thighs, holding me in place as he assaults my body with his mouth.
“Beg me to let you cum, little puppet.” He says, pulling his mouth away from me. I whine. Jax chuckles, his breath touching all the right spots.
“Please, Jaxson. Let me cum!” One long lick.
“Again!” He growls.
“Please make me cum! Please. Please!” I cry out. That must be enough for him. He leans his head back down, sucking my clit into that overly hot mouth. His teeth grind against it but the flick of his tongue is crushing.
Lights flash behind my eyes as he sucks and licks harder.
My body vibrates with need. A need to cum. A need to feel him. A need to taste him. I crave his touch but I want that taste of him too. The thought of him on my tongue, in my mouth, down my throat is what sends me over the edge.
My body convulses as tears run down my cheeks. A silent happiness settles in my chest. I don’t know why I feel at peace in this moment but after what he just did to me, I can’t help it.
He could have used me. He could have forced himself into me and taken what he paid for but he didn’t. Instead he gave me a pleasure that I’ve never known before.
Jaxson lays between my thighs out of breath as though he had an orgasm himself. I risk the repercussions of looking down at him and see his eyes tightly closed, a faint smile curling his lips.
“Thank you.” I say softly. His eyes open and his gaze meets mine.
“For what?” He asks and for the first time his voice is as soft as silk.
