When The Gavel Falls (Masters of the Castle)

by Tabitha Black

  "Do you have a paddle?" Silver asked Trev, before she could stop herself.

  He grinned. "I have plenty."

  "I, uh, I need to go to the bathroom before this starts. I-I'll see you around." Silver gulped down the rest of her Pinot and dashed to the ladies' room as fast as her heels would carry her.

  * * * * *

  As he made his way into the central ballroom, where the actual auction was being held, Trevor paused when he spotted Master Sam, who was handing out pouches containing commemorative paddles to mark the occasion, and brochures containing all the relevant stats for the submissives on sale.

  "I'll have one of those, please," he said.

  "Sure thing." Sam handed the items over and then lowered his voice. "Are you and your brother going to be one of the P-L-A-N-T-S? The actual bidding paddles are already lying on the seats."

  "No. We're bidding for real," Trev responded tightly, "and we only need the one paddle. You know how we like to share."

  "Well then, good luck."

  The hall was dark and crowded, full of people, some of whom Trev recognized as being regular Castle clients, many he didn't. As soon as he'd spotted Travis over in a far corner, he headed straight for his twin. "Silver," he said.

  "Pretty name. She going to be on the block?" Travis asked.

  "Yep. Not sure what number."

  "It will be in that pamphlet you're holding."

  "Oh." Trevor flipped open the shiny brochure. "There she is. Silver. Number eight. My lucky number." He grinned.

  "Mine too." Travis smiled back.

  "Hey, have you seen any others that you'd rather go for? I don't want you to feel like I'm coercing you into this," Trevor said.

  Travis glanced at the queue of people lining up beside the stage. "Quite a few of them are pretty..." he mused, stroking his chin.

  Trevor was unable to prevent a tightening in his gut.

  "But I trust you, big brother. You've always had a knack for spotting the hottest girl in a room. And luckily we have the same taste in women." Trav winked. "Marshall just walked out on stage. If you still want to surprise our plaything, you'd better get your ass over somewhere else."

  "Thanks." Trevor patted his brother on the shoulder. "Number eight. I'll see you after."

  "Good luck!"

  "You're the best."

  No sooner had he disappeared into the crowd, than Marshall's voice could be heard addressing the throng. A buzz of excitement and anticipation was palpable in the air, and Trevor found himself getting caught up in it. He was used to hunting girls with his brother, and it was weird to be standing there alone, having to rely on the numbers in his bank account instead of his—their—usual powers of persuasion.

  "Good evening," Master Marshall began, while the lights on the stage moved to bring the Master of the Castle into stark relief against the dramatic backdrop of the red velvet stage curtains.

  "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Castle's first ever Charity Submissive Auction. As many of you know, this last summer, the Castle lost one of its own to cancer. For those of you who knew him, the loss has been soul-rending. For those who didn't, Master Don was one of the original six Masters with the vision to help me take a dilapidated stone structure going to rubble in Scotland and bring it here, to Ohio. His greatest contributions to our facility have been the Nobles' Program, the period costumes, and the Master's Supper and Show, where he presided every night without fail that entire first year. There are bits and pieces of his influence in every wing and every hall, and in the rules by which we abide. In short, the Castle never would have become the success it is today without Don, and so, what better way to honor his memory than by hosting this charity event? Bid, and bid generously. Each submissive you are about to meet has pledged to make this a time to remember, and every penny you spend will the Castle not only match, but it will, in Don's name, be donated to aid in a very worthy cause: the fight to eradicate cancer for good."

  As everyone began to clap, Trevor didn't dare glance over to where he knew Travis was standing. He stared straight ahead, his attention focused entirely on the leather-clad man on stage.

  Master Marshall held up his hands, waiting for the room to quiet. "Before we begin, let's go over the rules. What you are purchasing tonight is the use of a willing submissive who has vowed to make him- or herself yours from the moment you make payment until ten o'clock Friday morning. Sexual favors are not included in the bidding. As consenting adults, that is strictly between you and your submissive. If you are the winning bidder in an auction, your submissive will be removed to a waiting area while you settle your account. You will then be given a file containing his or her likes, wants, desires… and hard limits. You will make yourself familiar with those limits and you will not cross those lines."

  The quiet that had descended over the audience became amplified as Marshall looked over them, the ice blue of his gaze seeming to pierce each one of them in turn.

  "Your submissive has vowed to make his or herself pliant to your desires," Marshall continued, and his stare became positively glacial. "But no still means no. If you cross that line, you will find yourself in my office and I will not be forgiving. Also, the Castle rule regarding gags is still very much in effect. If you do not apply for a waiver and I catch you using one, I will not be forgiving. Are these rules understood?"

  No-one in the audience said a word, but his edicts were crystal clear, and after another sweeping glare, Marshall nodded. "Then let us begin. Our first submissive, ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome… Jasmine."

  A pretty girl dressed as a belly dancer, complete with veil, walked up on stage, to a smattering of applause. As Marshall talked about her likes and dislikes, Trevor found himself tapping his foot. His ears pricked up when the bidding for her began, the numbers going higher and higher until someone purchased time with the lithe brunette for thirty-eight hundred dollars. Not too bad, he mused. The fact that Travis was chipping in was helpful. And they didn't usually spend much of their own cash anyway; preferring to let the girls they seduced at the Castle entertain them. They could afford it.

  Jasmine was led away and the next girl, a petite blonde, came up on stage. One down, six to go, Trev thought impatiently. His mind began to race with the possibilities. He'd been so distracted by his encounter with Silver that he and Trav hadn't even gone over what they'd like to do with their new plaything once they had acquired her. His cock began to harden in his suit pants as he pictured her, naked and spread-eagled, helplessly begging them to let her come in that adorable accent. Maybe they'd torment her until midnight tomorrow, finally pushing her over the edge as the clock chimed in the New Year. Gripping his bidding paddle more tightly, Trevor took a deep breath and waited.

  * * * * *

  Silver's heart was in her throat as she stood beside the stage, waiting her turn. She hadn't in her wildest dreams imagined there would be quite so many people, quite so many blinking red lights being held up, quite so many hundreds of dollars promised in return for a couple of days with a submissive. And the numbers were getting higher.

  She had spotted Rosa in the line too, but her friend was farther down—she had even longer to wait. A different babygirl was on stage, and Silver swallowed as she heard the winning bidder agree to pay eight thousand dollars for the bubbly, sexy girl.

  Oh shit, oh shit, what the fuck am I doing here? It had all seemed so exciting when she'd agreed to it in the safety of her own bedroom at home in Brisbane—being desired so much that someone was willing to pay for time with her had seemed like such a hot idea. To be bought as a plaything, with no control over who the purchaser was, what he chose to do to her, how he decided to use her—and yet to simultaneously have that fantasy fulfilled with the safety net of it happening at the Castle... it had seemed like a good idea at the time… back when she was feeling particularly submissive and masochistic, and would have given anything for a good, hard play. But now?

  Now it was actually happening, and behind each of those
flashing red lights in the dark void of the audience was a face, and she did not know a single one of them. You sort of know Trev, a small voice protested. Yeah, but he's not the kind to need to pay for it, not when he probably gets it for free whenever he wants. What if someone really awful wins the bid, like that creepy dude who spoke to me earlier? It's not like I can back out. I signed the waiver.

  Silver started as the girl directly in front of her made her way up to the stage. She was vaguely aware of Master Marshall introducing her as 'O'. Clever name, she thought.

  'O' seemed enraptured to be there, at centre stage, and Silver gasped as the gorgeous brunette suddenly stood with her back to the audience, bent over at the waist, and effectively mooned every single person in the room, provocatively, remaining in that position, as if begging to be spanked, or fucked. Or both. Hardly surprising, then, that the bidding started thick and fast and only grew higher and higher, until 'O' was finally sold for the same amount as the girl before her; eight thousand dollars.

  Shit, shit, shit, Silver cursed inwardly. The bids have been getting higher with each girl, but there's no way I'll ever fetch anything near that amount.

  "And now ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our next girl up on stage... number eight, this is Silver, who has traveled all the way from Australia to be here with us this evening!" Master Marshall reached out to her, beckoning her to join him under the hot lights.

  Don't trip, don't trip, don't trip, Silver chanted inwardly as she ascended the small steps in those infuriating heels. After what felt like an eternity, she had finally taken her place beside the handsome, commanding, blond man who was hosting the event, and it was all she could do not to bury her face in his broad chest and hide.

  "Give us a twirl, sweetheart," Master Marshall said encouragingly.

  Silver looked out beyond the edge of the stage, but the lights were shining in her eyes and she couldn't make out a single face. Slowly, she began to rotate, certain that her face was scarlet.

  "Silver is not only stunning, she's also a pleaser, ladies and gentlemen," Marshall continued his spiel. "When asked what she particularly enjoys, her answer was 'Whatever he wants me to.'"

  As she heard the claps and wolf whistles which greeted that statement, Silver closed her eyes, certain that her face was about to burst into flames. She couldn't recall ever having made that comment. What an idiotic thing to say, especially in a situation such as this. It's not true at all! Was I feeling submissive and masochistic on the day I filled out that form, or bloody suicidal? Swaying on her stilettos, she stared at the floor and wished it would open wide and swallow her up as Master Marshall continued.

  "Her hard limits include... verbal humiliation. She states a preference for edge play and says she really gets off on pain. Her motto is that she'll 'try anything once, twice if it hurts'. Shall we start the bidding at three hundred?"

  Glancing desperately to one side, Silver clocked Rosie, who was watching her with a smile of encouragement on her gorgeous face. She looked absolutely adorable; her pigtails had been curled into ringlets, she was clutching a white teddy bear, and were those fluffy bunny slippers on her feet? Brilliant idea, Silver thought, her feet already aching in her tight but sexy shoes, wish I'd thought of it. The ribbons in Rosie's blonde hair fluttering, she raised one thumb in that universal salute of encouragement.

  Something about that simple gesture from a true friend gave Silver strength. She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and returned her gaze to the sea of anonymous people. You're here now, it's too late to back out. You've literally got nothing to lose. Why not enjoy it? This place is amazing and remember; everything happens for a reason, she told herself.

  The sea of shadowy faces were lit up as red winking lights shot into the air, one after another, Master Marshall calling out ever higher amounts.

  They want me, she realised, wiping her moist palms on her dress. They're offering hundreds—no, thousands—of dollars of their hard-earned cash to spend time with me. A slow tingle began to spread through her body at the thought. Flashbacks of the endless nights in her marriage where she had tried unsuccessfully to get Stephen's attention played in her mind's eye like a silent film, and Silver exhaled slowly as the bidding continued. She was desirable. People wanted her! Without even thinking about it, she turned again, this time coquettishly, tossing her hair over her shoulder and giving the audience a little wave.

  Maybe she was in luck. Maybe some gorgeous guy would win, a stud who fancied her so much he was willing to pay for her time, a guy who would do all the things to her she had been missing for so many years. Silver's heart began to pound and her loins turned to liquid at the thought.

  "We're currently at seven thousand. Do I hear seven and a half?" Master Marshall was calling out.

  Seven thousand dollars, Silver thought, the figure slowly penetrating her fuzzy brain. You can get a car for that. Two cars. You could get a car and take a very, very luxurious holiday. And yet, someone is willing to cough up that amount of money to spend a couple of days with me instead.

  "Seven and a half to the lady over there, number fifty-eight. Do I hear eight thousand?"

  Lady? Silver felt as though someone was dripping an icicle down her spine. It had not for one moment occurred to her that a woman might buy her. Oh please not... I like girls, but not in that way, didn't I make that clear on the form?

  "Eight thousand? Come on folks, did I mention that this young lady has traveled half way around the world to be here? This could be your only chance to get to know her a little more... intimately."

  Silver held her breath, barely able to hear Master Marshall for the roaring in her ears. Please not the lady, she prayed, please God, I'd rather the troll than a woman, girls just don't bring out my inner sub the way men...

  "Going once, going twice... oh wait, no, we do have eight thousand in the back there, number twenty-one."

  The red light blinking far off in the distance was one of the prettiest things Silver had ever seen, she mused, staring at it, trying to make out the person who was holding it. She thought she could glimpse some blond hair, but it was too dark to tell for sure.

  "Eight thousand to number twenty-one, do I hear eight and a half?" Master Marshall paused, and Silver tried to remember to breathe. "No? Eight thousand then. Going once, going twice... SOLD, to number twenty-one. Please come backstage and claim your prize, she'll be waiting for you."

  The roaring in Silver's ears had reached a crescendo as she allowed Master Marshall to guide her off stage. She had gone numb; she couldn't even feel her feet anymore, she was aware of nothing but the thought that she was about to find out who had won... who had bought her...

  In a daze, she left the stage and was greeted by a salt and pepper-haired older man with hooded, seductive eyes, who smiled kindly at her. "I'm Master Grimsley. Please come this way," he said, and took her by the elbow, leading her to what looked like a temporary office cubicle. Trembling, she sat down and clasped her sweaty hands in her lap.

  "Gotcha."

  Silver looked up and her heart stopped as he stood there, grinning down at her with an expression like a cat who'd got the cream.

  "Trev," she whispered. "I... it was you? You bought me?"

  "We did," another voice, with exactly the same treacle tones as Trev's, chimed in, and Silver blinked as another, identical man appeared beside him. Perhaps she was seeing double.

  "I, what?"

  "You're ours now, sweetheart," the first Trev said, and he reached forward to pull her to her feet.

  Did someone spike my wine? "I-I don't understand."

  "I'm Travis," the second Trev said, smiling broadly. "Trevor's twin brother. We won the auction. From now until Friday morning, you belong to us."

  "Ours to do exactly what we want with," Trevor added, clipping a leash to the velvet ribbon around her neck. "And we do intend to get our money's worth."

  Realisation dawned slowly. Twins. Two men. Two Dominants. Twice as much... well, everything. "You
both bought me together? To, to share?" she bleated.

  "You were right, bro. She is a knockout. Ohhh the things I am gonna do to that body. And her accent is to die for," Travis reached out and stroked her cheek. A spark of terrified lust shot through Silver at the brief touch, and she whimpered.

  "Let's have a look, shall we?" Trevor opened up the folder he was holding. "Oh, this is interesting. Very interesting. We are going to have so much fun, baby," he added, tugging gently at the leash he was still holding. "I can barely decide where to start."

  "We'd better start out slow," Travis replied, still grinning. "It wouldn't do to break our new toy too early, put her out of commission."

  "Aw, we're not going to break her. Just bend her a little."

  Silver stared at the two men, her heart crashing so hard against her chest that she feared it might break a rib.

  They really were identical, down to the smallest detail. Travis and Trevor were tall and well-built, their muscular frames evident even in the 1920's gangster-style suits they were wearing, complete with dark shirts and white ties. Shaggy, dusty blond hair fell almost to their shoulders, their eyes dark and smouldering, full of threats and promises as they looked down at her. They were both smiling wolfishly, and she noticed that Trevor had a dimple in his right cheek, while Travis's was in his left. It was all too much to take in.

  "You-you never told me," she stammered, addressing Trevor. "That you h-had a twin brother."

  "Guilty," he replied, entirely unconcerned.

  "We thought we'd surprise you," Travis added.

  "Mission accomplished," she whispered.

  "Oh that was only the first of the surprises we have in store for you, sweet thing."

  "Poor baby, she's quivering," Trevor said, reaching out and putting a warm hand on her shoulder. "How about we get out of here?"

  "Sounds good to me," Travis said, taking the leash from his brother. "Let's go to our place first. I want to get to know this young lady without any interruptions."