Bought: Highest Bidder

by Lauren Landish

  He grinned at me as he picked up his shirt, but his expression turned serious as he pulled it on, leaving it unbuttoned. "I've never done that before," he said quietly, gazing at me strangely.

  I paused in pulling my half-ripped skirt up over my thighs to regard him. "Done what?"

  "Been so reckless. "

  I pulled my skirt all the way on and grabbed my bra, putting it on and snapping it back in place. "Then why’d you do it?” I asked softly.

  “Because you make me so . . .” His voice trailed off, his eyes distant.

  I stood there, hanging upon his every word. “I make you so what?”

  Suddenly, his jaw hardened. “Never mind.”

  “Come on, tell me.”

  He shook his head, walking over to the door of his office while simultaneously buttoning up his shirt. “Get the rest of your clothes on and meet me outside. I’m taking you to my place to get cleaned up.”

  I opened my mouth to protest. After all, he didn’t ask if I wanted to go back to his place, but he interrupted me.

  “And make sure you grab that tie on your way out, will you? I don’t want it anymore, and I certainly don’t want the cleaning lady to find it tomorrow. That’s the last thing I need getting out around here.” He winked at me. “You can keep it as a souvenir.” Then he walked out and gently shut the door behind him.

  “Asshole,” I muttered.

  Chapter 17

  Tyler

  Punishing Victoria for her super-hot cock tease was one of the most satisfying things I'd ever done. And being inside of her? It was out of this world. It felt so good and so natural, it was no wonder that I’d almost lost control. I'd come so close to . . .

  It was fucking scary.

  I was losing my touch. My edge. And Victoria, with her body and dirty mouth, was to blame. I didn't want to believe it. I'd convinced myself I'd never have real feelings for a girl again. But if I went down the list of my feelings toward Victoria, it only further confirmed the truth of my addiction.

  Can't stop thinking about her. Check.

  Drives me crazy over the smallest things. Check.

  Want to fuck her day and night. Check.

  Do the stupidest shit around her. Check.

  Yep, I was addicted alright. Addicted to the way she made me feel.

  "There was no hot water," Victoria said, breaking me out of my reverie and appearing in the doorway of the bathroom connected to my room.

  My heart thumped in my chest at the sight of her—her hair wet and wavy, her cheeks flushed with pink. She wore one of my black silk robes that was way oversized on her, but to me she looked like the hottest thing since sliced bread.

  "You gotta’ be shitting me," I said as I dug out some fresh boxers from my dresser and tossed them on my bed. I'd intended to jump in the shower right after. I was sticky down below after our session, but now I'd have to wait.

  Or maybe I should take a cold shower to cool down my boiling blood, I thought.

  "You would think things like that wouldn't happen in a place like this. That’s ridiculous,” she said, walking over to the dresser where her clothes were.

  "It does that from time to time when they do maintenance," I explained. I picked up my boxers, preparing to go into the bathroom to get cleaned up. "In the meantime, take a load off. Stay for a bit."

  "I'm not staying."

  I froze, shocked. "Huh?"

  Victoria grabbed her clothes and clutched them against her chest, hiding her stiff nipples. "I'm going home."

  "Why the hell did you come all the way here if you were just going to go home?" I demanded. I hated how upset I sounded.

  Victoria bit her lower lip. "I don't know. Maybe it was the way you ordered me to come, as if I didn't have a choice."

  "Don't give me that." I growled. "You came because you wanted to."

  “Either way, I'm leaving," Victoria said firmly. I could see the steel in her eyes. She was serious. I wasn't even sure if I could use my charm to get her to stay, but I wasn't about to beg. It pissed me off that I was even upset. Usually, I didn’t even show them the door . . . that was Jonathan’s job.

  "Are you sure?" I hated even asking that much.

  Victoria nodded and then tilted her head at the bathroom. "I'm going to go change into my clothes and then I'll be ready to go."

  "I'll have Jonathan ready take you home."

  On her way to the bathroom, Victoria paused to regard me. "You're not coming?"

  "Nah. I think I'll take a shower and just relax."

  She was a moment in replying. "Okay then."

  While she went and changed, I told Jonathan to get the car ready to drop her off.

  Victoria looked a rumpled mess when she appeared out of the bathroom, her skirt looking like it had a few holes in it from where I'd been rough. I made a mental note to buy her a new one.

  "I hung your bath robe on the rack in there," she informed, doing her best to smooth her skirt.

  "Alright," I said shortly. "Jonathan is waiting for you outside."

  "Okay."

  She walked over to the staircase leading down to the first floor of my loft. I hated myself for it, but I had to blurt, "Not even going to say bye?"

  "Bye."

  Then she was gone. I stood there for a long moment, varied emotions rolling through me, wondering why she'd suddenly decided she couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

  I know she enjoyed the sex, I thought. What the fuck is going on?

  And that's what impressed me about Victoria. She made me work for it, something I’d never had to do before.

  Victoria

  I shouldn't have been so cold to him, I thought as Jonathan pulled the limo up closer. A pink corvette came swerving into the parking lot like a bat out of hell at the same time we were exiting, but I was too embroiled in my thoughts to notice.

  It’d taken a lot to get the strength to leave, and I still wasn't exactly sure what it was that made me do so.

  While I'd been taking a shower, all of my doubts and worries about Tyler's honesty came back to me and I suddenly found myself angry again. The strong emotion had made it easy for me to give him the cold shoulder and leave him with a bruised ego.

  The image of the hurt in his eyes as I left flashed in my mind, making me feel a little sympathy, followed by a surge of anger.

  Still, I had to admit the make-up sex in his office was off the charts. The whole thing had been exhilarating.

  He only did it to show off his power over me. I bet he thought he could just smooth everything over with his charm and I would just forgive him because he fucked me good. Bastard.

  I dug my fingers into my palm and angrily bit my lower lip, engaged in my thoughts. His cockiness pissed me off to no end. My skin burned as anger flared through my stomach . . . along with feelings of lust.

  Fuck.

  It pissed me off even more that even though I was mad at him, I still wanted him and couldn’t stop fantasizing about him. I couldn't deny that the sex had been hot. Almost too hot. I didn't think I would ever experience something that sexy again. But did it matter if I did? In the end, I was just a fad, someone he could use against his dad to show his defiance. He still hadn’t proven that I was anything to the contrary.

  For most girls, the thought of being with Tyler Locklin would be a dream come true. For me, it was horrifying. That is, as long as I wasn’t thinking about the sex.

  I was the first girl who’d ever shown resistance to him, and he wanted to prove to himself that he could conquer me. And the whole thing with helping me start my own business? It upset me that I'd fallen for such an offer.

  The limo rolling to a halt at a stop light brought me out of my thoughts. I reached for my purse to grab my cell, I needed to text April about an assignment at work . . . only to find it not there.

  “God damn it," I muttered. “It took everything I had to leave. I won’t be able to do that again. . .”

  I mulled for a moment. We weren’t that far away from t
he swanky apartment, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go back there. Showing back up after the cold front I gave Tyler would show that I was weak and needy.

  But I need my phone.

  Screw it, I thought finally. I'll just run in, grab my purse and leave. I won't even look at him.

  "Jonathan," I called. "Can you go back to Tyler's apartment? I forgot something.”

  Tyler

  I'd just gotten out of the shower, my hair wet, and dressed only in my boxers when I heard a noise that sounded like someone entering my apartment.

  It's her.

  I grinned, confident Victoria had changed her mind and decided to come back. My ego soaring, I stepped out of the bathroom, careful to keep my expression neutral and not too eager.

  I couldn’t keep the exultation out of my voice, though. "Back so soon—"

  “Hey, Tyler!” chirped a familiar voice I hadn’t heard in years.

  My jaw dropped at the sight of the person standing at the doorway to my bedroom.

  No. Fucking. Way. This bitch has balls.

  I blinked, trying to will the image away.

  Candice.

  Am I hallucinating? I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming.

  Candice, my old back-stabbing girlfriend, was standing there before me. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, short bangs framed her forehead, her makeup was soft and girly, and she was wearing a tight red dress that showed off her curvaceous figure that I once loved to handle.

  I stood there, speechless, staring at her like she was a banshee that had come to haunt me.

  It was she that had ruined my faith in relationships. Her, who I’d done everything for. Her, who I made sure wanted for nothing. I gave her everything.

  All of me.

  In the end, I found out she was just using me. Using me for my money and to get ahead. She had me fooled from the very beginning. I thought she was the love of my life, when all she ever was, was a fucking gold-digging skank.

  “Still working out that incredible body, I see,” she murmured with appreciation, eyeing my abs and appearing unperturbed by my shock.

  Breath finally found my lungs. “What the hell are you doing here? And what makes you think you can waltz up in here like you own the place?”

  Candice’s eyes stayed on my abs. “You, or someone, left the door open,” she replied softly, ignoring my question. “I knocked a few times. No one answered. I was going to leave, but I heard noises. I came in to check on you, to make sure you were alright. I called your name, but no one answered.”

  I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. “I was in the shower . . .”

  Candice tore her eyes away from my stomach and nodded. “I realized that when I came up the stairs.” She looked around the room. “Not much has changed, I see.”

  “Nope,” I said easily, finally able to regain my swag. “But I have.”

  Candice stepped forward, reaching out. “Ty—”

  “Don’t even start!” I yelled.

  Candice froze.

  “Why are you here? You know how our relationship ended. I told you that I never wanted to speak to you or see you again. And I meant every word of it.”

  Candice’s arms dropped to her side and she dipped her head. Seeing her look so vulnerable caused old emotions to roll through me. “I wanted to see you,” she said quietly. “I’ve missed you.”

  “That boat has sailed,” I said firmly, pushing away any feelings of sympathy. “Long ago. And it’s not coming back.”

  Candice looked up. Tears were streaming down her face.

  Oh God. Not this bullshit.

  “I’m so sorry, Ty,” she sobbed. “I didn’t mean to do it. I’ve been trying to work up the courage for so long. It was just that I felt so lonely and so vulnerable and he—”

  I set my jaw, unimpressed by her act. “Do you really think I want to listen to this bullshit? Good God, listen to yourself! We will never be anything ever again, Candice. Ever!”

  Candice pressed her hands against her face and sobbed, her whole body shuddering.

  Damn, am I gonna have to drag her ass out of here or what? It was obvious that my ex-girlfriend wasn’t going to make this easy for me.

  “I’m not falling for it, Candice. You fooled me once with that shit, but you won’t fool me again.”

  She stopped for a second. "It was the biggest mistake of my life! And I regret it more than anything in the world."

  Ditto, I thought

  “Can you quit with the act?” I demanded, after a half-second of listening to her ridiculous sobs. “It’s pathetic.”

  Wiping her eyes, Candice grew quiet and stopped the melodramatic sobbing. It was crazy how she could cry her eyes out one minute and be totally tranquil the next. “I saw Jonathan help a girl inside of your limo as I was coming up. New girlfriend of yours?"

  "That's none of your business."

  "Really, Tyler? You could do so much better."

  "Better than a cheating skank? I sure can."

  Determined, Candice walked over to me, her intentional seductive strut seeming to taunt me. I averted my eyes, refusing to give her the satisfaction.

  "What are you doing, Candice?" I growled, looking at the wall, even though I knew damn well what she was doing.

  "It's been so long, Tyler," Candice purred, reaching me. She placed a hand against my stomach and then began dragging her fingers softly along my happy trail.

  I grabbed her wrist firmly, stopping her before she could reach my junk. I turned my gaze on her, scowling fiercely. "I don't know why you suddenly decided to show up, Candice, or what you hope to accomplish, but I'm going to ask you one time to leave. If you don't, I'm going to drag your ass out of here. And trust me, you don’t want me to do that."

  Shit, I better be careful, I thought when something suddenly occurred to me. Becoming forceful with her could be a lawsuit waiting to happen, maybe it's even exactly what she wants. She knows I'm loaded. If I get rough with her, she could claim anything, and being a female and with my bad boy reputation, who wouldn't believe her? I won't even have to worry about mine and Victoria's relationship ruining things at work. Candice will ruin everything herself.

  Worrying about whether Candice's intentions had malice in them caused me to become momentarily distracted and my grip on her wrist became lax, allowing her freedom.

  "I bet whoever she is can't suck your dick like I can," Candice purred up at me, my cock suddenly in her grasp. "Remember? I'm the only one who could take all of you.”

  Before I could reply and shove the cock-hungry whore away, I heard a shocked gasp.

  Chapter 18

  Victoria

  I'll just go up there, grab my purse, and leave. I'd repeated the litany about twenty times since getting out of the limo and making my way up to Tyler's door.

  Don't show any emotion or give him a chance to get you in his bed.

  All I had to do was keep telling myself that I was strong and that I could do it. The problem was, I could feel my resolve weakening.

  There were too many conflicting emotions going through me.

  On one hand, I wanted to believe Tyler. I wanted to believe he would be faithful with me and that we could somehow make our relationship work, even with our disapproving parents. If it wasn’t for his past, I’d probably believe him. He hadn’t given me much reason to doubt him, after all.

  But, he did have his past. And our parents did want us apart. And I felt like he was just a rich, eligible bachelor who was looking for a challenge and a reason to defy his father.

  After I exited the elevator at the top floor, I walked down the hallway. After a moment of gathering my resolve, I knocked on the door.

  The door creaked open.

  That's funny, I thought. I thought I locked it.

  I stepped in and closed the door behind me. I was about to call out Tyler's name, when I heard talking up in the loft area where his bedroom was.

  He must have company.

  I walked over to the s
tairs and paused, listening. Then I heard it. A female's voice.

  My heart began pounding in my chest erratically.

  Calm down, I tried to tell myself. It could be anyone.

  Despite trying to reason with myself and keep cool, I was overcome by a sudden, overpowering urge. I rushed up the stairs as fast as I could and let out a sharp gasp when I reached the top.

  I knew it!

  My wildly-beating heart skipped a beat at the sight before me.

  There, standing before his bed with nothing on but boxers, was Tyler with some pretty blonde girl, dressed in a tight red dress, who was holding his cock in her hands.

  You fool! How could you be so stupid?

  The room began to spin around me and my breathing became shallow.

  I should've known. I should've known. I should've known.

  Tyler's expression was one of shock and he was quick to shove the girl away from him. "Victoria, I can explain!”

  "Don’t bother!" I croaked. I don't even know how I managed to get the words out. I had a lump in my throat the size of a basketball.

  Fighting to keep the tears at bay, I rushed over to the night stand and grabbed my purse.

  "Victoria!" Tyler reached out to grab my arm, but I swatted him away, rushing toward the exit.

  "Don't fucking touch me!"

  "Please—"

  I stopped at the top of the stairs, digging in my purse, turning around to confront him.

  "I knew from the beginning you were a sack of shit," I snarled. "I don't know how I could've been so stupid to ever believe that you actually cared about me or that you would stop your manwhore ways!"

  Tyler reached out imploringly. "It's not what you think."

  How cliché. Isn't that what they all say? It's not what you think. Everything I need to know is right in front of me.

  In the background, the girl in the red dress watched our exchange with her hands on her hips and an impish smile on her face.

  "He does this to all the girls, honey," she purred. "You shouldn't be surprised."