I gasped.
“But aren’t you afraid?” I asked tremulously. “I mean, you don’t really know this guy and Dubai’s really far away. You’re gonna just take off like that? What about high school? What about your parents?”
And Rachel shrugged, nonchalant.
“I’m not worried hun,” she said, flinging a curl over her shoulder. “Life’s an adventure, and believe me, I got to know Prince Ahmed really well during our week together,” she said with a wink. “There’s no one more charming, handsome, powerful, he’s so incredible,” she said dreamily, cheeks flushing thinking of her man. “In fact, I can’t wait to get on the plane, I miss him so bad already.”
And I was jealous suddenly. Because despite my friend’s flighty ways, she was clearly in love, or at least in infatuation. And it feels good to have happiness coursing through your veins, the heady, bubbly feel of summer wine, the sheer joy that takes over your soul. Who wouldn’t dunk themselves in that barrel of honey, let the sweet goo run all over them, covered in bliss?
So I tried to smile, tried to look happy for her, but it was tough. Because inside, I was a gloomy cloud, all blues and greys, mooning over a man that didn’t want me. But I made myself smile for my friend because I understood love better now. It was a taste of heaven, of sheer ecstasy, and I couldn’t hold it against Rachel, couldn’t be a Debbie Downer when she was clearly soaring on air.
So I smiled at her genuinely.
“Have fun, Rach, just be safe, okay?” I said quietly, putting my glass down. “You’re going to be a stranger in a strange land, so make sure you always have a phone with you, okay? And what did your parents say about this?”
Rachel smiled then.
“Oh Jim and Barbara aren’t happy about it, no way, but I didn’t tell them the whole story. I told them that an opportunity had come up to model in Dubai, and I was going to work on my GED while I’m there.”
That was plausible actually. My friend is gorgeous, with rippling hair and a killer smile. She already had a modeling portfolio, experience doing small jobs at the local mall and whatnot. Plus, Rachel had never been a school person, had been bugging her parents to let her move to NYC to try modeling full-time, so this was just the latest chapter in that story. I nodded slowly.
“Best of luck, Rach, I’m gonna miss you,” I said slowly. “And I’m so happy you’ve found happiness with Prince Ahmed, you’re gonna have a good time, I know it.”
“Yes, of course!” exclaimed my friend. “It’s just a two-week hiatus, if I hate the desert I’ll be back at Central High in a snap,” she smiled sassily, sticking out her tongue. “But what about you Ellie? How come I haven’t heard anything about you?”
And I paused because I was still so heartsick about what had happened. Like my friend, I’d fallen in love as well but there was no corresponding happy ending for me.
“Well, you know,” I beat around the bush. “I was auctioned too, and I was really scared at first, but I did get to like it in the end,” I admitted, blushing a little.
“How much did you sell for?” preened Rach. “I know it wasn’t as much as me, but it was a good price right? I hear they pay a lot for virgins.”
I paused for a moment.
“Rach was it you who told them I’d never been with a man before?” I asked, cocking my head to the side, looking hard at her.
At least my friend had the grace to look shamefaced.
“Yeah, I’m so sorry, El,” she admitted, bowing her head a little. “It was that dick Miles. When we were at the pool the first day, I told him to get his friend to ask you out, I said you just wanted to have some fun, needed a man for the first time, and he ran with it. So yeah,” she confessed, “that was my fault.”
I could have ripped into the blonde for talking about my virginity with strange men, but it now seemed so long ago. And it’d also happened back when Miles and his buddies were normal guys to us, when we had no inkling they were actually thugs trying to kidnap us. So I shook my head, sighing again. Best to let sleeping dogs lie.
“Well,” I continued slowly, “I went up for auction and yes, got a nice price. I don’t know how much,” I said fibbing, “but I was bought by a billionaire. They’re all billionaires,” I corrected slowly. “You have to be, to be in the Club.”
“Oh I know,” grinned Rachel merrily. “I’m flying to Dubai on the prince’s private jet, did I mention? No more commercial for this girl,” she tooted, twerking around the living room, shaking her ass sassily. And I had to laugh at that, the blonde looked so funny, dancing with joy, curls flying with glee.
“They’re all billionaires,” I said again. “But I wasn’t lucky like you. Because I fell in love with my buyer too,” I confessed. “But he didn’t want me in the end. In fact, he basically kicked me out,” I said, taking a deep breath, putting a brave smile on my face. “So we’re done,” I said with a small shrug, trying to look okay even as another lance of pain pierced my heart.
And my friend, despite being flighty and silly, was still a good friend. Immediately Rachel stopped prancing around the room and dropped next to me on the couch.
“Ellie I’m so sorry,” she breathed, putting an arm around my quivering shoulders. “I’m so sorry to hear. Are you sure? Are you sure there wasn’t some misunderstanding?”
I twisted around to look at her, wiping a tear from my eye.
“No, there was no misunderstanding,” I said ruefully. “When it was time to go, my buyer literally lifted me in his arms and put me in the car, so that I’d get out of his life. And I’m not like you,” I said, mouth twisted in a painful smile. “Mr. Black could have re-upped for a week, he could be flying me to Dubai, heck, he could have gotten my cell number, but he didn’t. I have no idea what the alpha male’s up to now,” I concluded in a soft voice. “And I’ll never know.”
Rachel hugged me tighter as my shoulders began to convulse in sobs.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” she murmured again, genuine pity on her face. “Neither of us were prepared for this, I just got lucky,” she said. “I just got really lucky that Ahmed and I hit it off, that now I’m gonna date him for real,” she said, rubbing my shoulder comfortingly. “But buck up!” she added cheerily. “What did you say his name was again? These guys are all billionaires, I’m sure we can find him on-line.”
I shook my head sorrowfully.
“No Rach, it doesn’t matter,” I said. “He doesn’t want to see me. Even if I found his contact information, what good would it do? He doesn’t want me,” I said brokenly.
And my friend crooned into my hair, like a mother hen comforting a sad chick.
“No worries, no worries,” she chanted gently. “You’re going to be okay. A man took your virginity and left, but it’s okay, the first one is always hardest.”
And that’s when my head snapped up, eyes blazing a bit.
“But that’s the thing,” I said sharply. “Mr. Black didn’t take my virginity. Not my pussy one at least, only, you know, my behind,” I said, cheeks coloring.
And my friend pulled away, looking at me confused.
“But I thought you said you were sold for a premium because you were a virgin,” Rachel said slowly. “So your buyer didn’t take you, didn’t consummate the transaction? Or he only took you in back? Anal only?” she said disbelieving, head shaking.
And I nodded, letting out an unladylike snort.
“Yeah, in back only,” I confirmed. “Troy said he wanted to leave me “untouched” so that I could go back to my old life, so that I could resume like our love had never happened, that the memory of him would disappear in a poof. I don’t know what he was thinking, that’s not how people operate, that’s not how life is,” I said, bitter again. Why hadn’t I been able to convince him? If there was anything precious to me, it was having his dick in my pussy, a memory that would last me for the ages, keep me warm at night. And now I didn’t even have that, and I felt so stupid, so lost, so sad more than anything. Another wave of depression cr
ashed over me and the tears began to well once again, sobs coming out like gale force winds, terrible to hear, croaks and rasps of agony.
“He doesn’t love me,” I blubbered, nose running, wiping at my eyes futilely. The waterworks were at full force and even the box of tissues Rachel handed to me silently wasn’t enough. “Mr. Black doesn’t love me.”
But my friend wasn’t so sure. She paused for a moment, biting her lip and then turned towards me, expression gentle.
“Ellie,” she said softly. “I think you have it all wrong. I think this man adores you, absolutely worships the ground you walk on.”
“No way,” I blubbered again. But the tears were coming so fast it sounded more like “Nwmwmw.”
“No seriously El,” she said again. “This man, Mr. Black, loves you to death, I think something just got lost along the way,” she said thoughtfully. “I think somehow the two of you got your wires crossed and that actually this man loves you so much that he was willing to let you go.”
That was totally wrong, twisted logic, and I shook my head vigorously.
“Why would you let someone go if you loved them? Why would you kick them out of your house, physically dump them into a waiting car, unless you wanted to get rid of the woman?”
And Rachel shook her head.
“Only Mr. Black can answer that honey, you know I don’t know,” she said again, her voice gentle, soothing. “But I think you should ask him yourself,” she added with determination. “I think you should find him and ask him.”
I almost cracked apart then.
“Find him and ask him?” I parroted dumbly. “This guy wants nothing to do with me, he paid for his week and is done. Completely done.”
But Rachel shook her head again, eyes still thoughtful.
“No, I don’t think so, Ellie. A man who had every right to take your virginity, hell, who paid for the right to take your virginity, would never leave something like that on the table. These are guys who press every advantage, they didn’t get to where they are without knowing how to work every angle. And the fact that Mr. Black left money on the table …” she said, her voice trailing off.
“Money on the table means …” I prompted, wanting to hear the words.
But Rachel just shook her head again.
“You have to ask him yourself, El,” she repeated firmly. “I think he loves you but the only way to know for sure is to talk to him.”
And my heart crumpled again. I couldn’t go back into the lair, couldn’t make myself vulnerable again, my heart was breaking as is. Mr. Black had a hold on me, my sensitive soul in his hands, and he’d done nothing but smash it on the ground, destroying me, turning me into a sorrowful mess, hair tangled and eyes red as I sobbed my heart out. How could I go back to take more pain? How could I expose myself again to potential hurt?
But Rachel just shook her head, giving me a comforting squeeze.
“Listen El, I know it’s the last thing you want to hear, but sometimes you’ve got to hear it from the mouth of the horse to be sure,” she said. “So find him and ask him,” she said sturdily. “You’re better off with a definitive answer.”
I took a deep breath. I couldn’t possibly, wasn’t that obvious? But I made myself smile tremulously. “I’ll think about it,” I murmured, too heartsick to say more. “Thanks for the support.”
And Rachel gave me a real hug then.
“Listen Ellie, you’re my best friend, have been since we were five. I know we’ve grown apart a little, you were always so good at school while I sucked at it, so thanks for letting me copy your homework all those times,” she said with a wry grin. “But you’re still my best friend despite everything and I want what’s best for you,” she said seriously. “So don’t let this one go, okay? Because although I come off as a silly flibbertigibbet most of the time, I still care about you, and my spidey sense tells me that this man loves you. Don’t give up so easily, it’s not you, it’s not the Ellie I know and love.”
And my eyes started filling with tears again.
“Thanks Rach,” I said softly, “I really appreciate it. I really appreciate it, and I want the best for you in Dubai.”
“I know,” she replied with a gentle smile. “Only you would want the best for me in this hare-brained scheme, that’s why I love you so much, your unfailing belief in me. And I have that in you, too. So go,” she encouraged. “Go back to the compound and find him.”
I started in my seat.
“Go back to the Billionaires Club?” I asked dumbly. “Find Mr. Black through the Club?”
And Rachel nodded.
“Where else?” she asked. “And guess what? I still have the address in my phone, we Ubered there that night, remember?”
And with a couple quick swipes, there it was on the screen, 4514 Stanton Street. My eyes watered a bit, but I made myself commit it to memory.
“Thanks Rach,” I said, voice trembling a bit. “I think I will find Troy.”
“I know you will, otherwise I’ll tell Ahmed to,” she added cheerily. “And then there’ll really be a mess!”
And I had to laugh then, the first ripple of happiness to go through my soul in a while. Because you know what? Rachel was right. The whole virginity thing had spiraled out of control and gone completely haywire. On the one hand, Troy had had a good plan, meticulously planned and thought-out. The alpha hadn’t taken my virginity because he was going to release me back into the world, and wanted me to recover as soon as possible from our loving, from our deep, intimate connection. But that’s where it all went screwy. Because just as I couldn’t separate the physical and the emotional, neither could he. And so everything had gone off the rails. The big man thought he could protect me by not touching my sweetest spot, but instead, feelings had seeped into every nook and cranny of our hearts, every breath, every unspoken promise, and Troy Black was just as head over heels as me. So although the alpha hadn’t penetrated me in my most intimate space, ultimately it didn’t matter. The emotional was there, the hold on our hearts, on our bodies, the love between us stronger than the heavens themselves … and I just had to make him see it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Troy
I was so fucking depressed and angry at once. Is there a word for that even? Dangry? Angpressed? I had no idea and just shook my head furiously. Watching Ellie leave my estate, watching the car carry her away had been the single worst moment of my life and my heart fucking died thinking about it. I’d never see those titties bounce again as she rode up and down my cock, never drive my dick between those sweet ass cheeks, making her moan, shiver with wanting me.
So I was back at the compound to take out my frustration and desperation. And fuck yeah, that fucker Miles got it. After confronting him, the lesser man turned into a blubbering mess, sobbing, dropping to his knees, touching his forehead to the ground as he admitted abducting the two girls.
“Please sir,” he begged. “They wanted it! They were sluts, they were begging for it!”
I roared, kicking him once in the stomach with a heavy boot.
“Fuck you, she never wanted it,” I rasped, chest heaving with anger. “Fuck you,” I ground out again, with another swift kick.
The man curled up in a ball, clutching his stomach.
“Nooo!” he wailed, “Nooo, please, I beg you!”
I was just about to smash his head, raising my foot to stomp on that stupid fucking brain, when suddenly a girl’s voice rang out. And not just any voice, but the voice of my girl, my woman, the female I adored above all else.
“Troy,” Ellie pleaded, voice melodic, soothing to my soul. “It doesn’t matter. Or it does,” she corrected, “but let it go okay? Because Miles brought us together.”
I turned to see her standing in the room, the beautiful brunette at the Billionaires Club and blinked stupidly, not believing my eyes. What the hell? My girl had come back? How was this possible, was I walking in a dream?
So I shook my head, eyes blazing all over her body.
She turned to look at him as well, his prone form curled up in a protective ball, like a hedgehog waiting for another strike. And there was something so pathetic about it that I felt my anger ebb, felt myself grow calmer.
“I know,” the beautiful brunette said softly. “I know Troy,” she said, putting a small hand on my arm. “But let it go okay? He’s already hurting enough,” she said, “Just let him get fired, he’ll never cross you again.”
And I grunted, taking her elbow. Because the truth is, I didn’t want Ellie to see the damage I’d done already. The lesser man was face down, so she couldn’t see the broken nose, the bruised eyes, the fact that I’d already kicked out a couple teeth. The physical damage was bad yes, but even worse was what was coming. Because Miles would never do business with the Club again, and to a greedy lowlife like this, that had to hurt the worst.
So I guided Ellie from the room, leading her into another one, with chairs and table, set up for conferences.
Sitting down, I took a deep breath and took in the gorgeous brunette. Fuck, she was a breath of fresh air for my beaten soul. Soft, beautiful, her face so innocent and angelic, framed by wavy strands of brown. And that body, oh fuck that body was Venus de Milo come to life. I’d succeeded in putting a couple pounds on her frame during our week of love, and she wore it well. It was hard not to jump her, not to let go of all my inhibitions and become an animal ruled purely by instinct, driving in deep, watching her sigh and gasp as my cock took what was mine.
But that was the problem. Ellie wasn’t mine, not anymore.
“Why are you here?” I ground out roughly. “And who the fuck let you in?”
Sold at the Auction Page 13
