Michelle: The Ties That Bind (Auction Night Book 3)

by Ellie Masters

  "Actually, I was hoping for help." I make a show of lifting on tiptoe. "We came separately, but he should be here by now."

  I still don't have my phone. Hopefully, he hasn't tried to call me.

  Eric laughs a little. "Poor little subbie needs help finding her Dom?"

  "I do, Master Eric. I can't see anything but a sea of black tuxes. You all look the same."

  Thomas joins Eric with his low sultry chuckle. The man's voice is liquid sin, designed to steal hearts and make boyfriends jealous. Only there's no reason for that. The only woman Thomas has eyes for is Penny.

  "Hey, where's Penny?"

  "She's helping Katy set up the stage. I'm surprised you haven't run into her yet."

  "Oh, I was finishing up downstairs."

  There's no reason to mention what I was doing down there. Eric and Thomas exchange a look between them. They know I put their card on the room they reserved. "I actually need to find Katy. I'm supposed to help with the auction, but I was hoping to spend a little time with Tank first."

  "Haven't seen him yet." Daniel pulls out his phone and checks the screen. His eyes light up and he taps the screen. "No, you don't. That's mine."

  "You bidding on something?" My curious nature is hard to silence. "Any problems with the bidding app?"

  He tucks his phone back into the breast pocket of his tux. "It's working like a charm. Very well done. Katy says you helped put this all together?"

  "I don't know about that. I simply helped with the auction and the app. If you have any problems, please let me know."

  "Will do, but no issues so far. Some bastard is trying to outbid me on…something, but I'm not having it."

  "Well good luck." They aren't much help, which leaves me to head back into the crowd.

  Eric tugs on my arm. "Hold up. From the way the crowd is parting, I'd say Tank has arrived." He lifts his arm and waves.

  I'm up on tiptoe, but can't see anything. But then I see it, a parting of bodies. The man behind that is nothing other than the most stunning man alive.

  My cheeks hurt from the grin on my face and I rush to him.

  "You made it!" I give a little squeal as he lifts me in the air, twirling me in a big circle.

  "Did you doubt your Dom?"

  He's holding me high. There aren't many opportunities like this, so I wrap my hands around his neck and bend down to steal a kiss. His eyes widen, but then he settles me on my feet where he can properly take over the kiss.

  In the span of a moment, he sweeps me away. I remember what he said in his office and can't help but agree. I want this too. I want it forever.

  "Shouldn't you be in the back helping Katy?" He breaks off our kiss and tugs me tight to his side.

  "I was waiting for you. I wanted to spend a little time with you."

  He rolls his wrist and glances at his watch. "How much time do you have?"

  I peek at his Rolex. "I'm not due back there until nine. We have an hour."

  "Did you see anything you wanted to bid on?"

  I'd seen several things. "I did. Come. Let me show you."

  Tank shakes hands with Daniel, Eric, and Thomas, before he allows me to drag him off to the tables. We begin by the front door where he needs to login to the app and establish his account. I help with this, while he signs a few forms. Then we're off.

  Knowing how much he enjoys his whiskey, I can't wait to show him the basket of whiskey, the barrel of whiskey, and a weekend getaway traveling the bourbon trail.

  He stops me by the jewelry. "See anything here you like?"

  There are several pieces I like, including a necklace of platinum and diamonds. I point that out, along with a matching set of earrings. It's a complete set, including a ring, but I hedge away from the giant solitaire.

  "I could get you nipple rings." He bumps my shoulder. "What do you think about this set?"

  It's a diamond encrusted set, but I'm not interested. Not with the chain which loops through the rings and connects them. That would give Tank far too much power over me.

  He turns on his phone, but when I try to peek at what he's bidding on, he gives a tsk and shoes me away. "Nosey subs get their bottoms swatted. Is that what you want?"

  I can't help it. I rub at my bottom as if it's already stinging from his hand. Tank chuckles and pulls me along. He bids on the whiskey and then we're looking at several travel packages. There's one to Cancun which catches my eye. It's a weekend trip, something short and sweet. Tank lingers by a display for the Grand Caymans, but that one is for ten days.

  He doesn't have that much time he can take from work.

  "Cancun for the weekend looks like fun." I try to get him to bid on Cancun.

  "Grand Caymans sounds pretty nice. Look, it's all inclusive, and check out these bungalows."

  I'm looking at the very private bungalows and know exactly what he's thinking. If we go there, I'll spend my entire vacation naked and bound inside that bungalow with his cock shoved down my throat.

  He laughs at my lack of enthusiasm. "Fine. Cancun it is. Let's see if we win."

  I grip his arm, happy with the way he indulges me.

  Nearly halfway around the room, we're making good time, but it's nearly nine and I see Katy in the middle of the room surrounded by a circle of eager submissives. Katy's looking a little frazzled.

  I tug on Tank's sleeve. "Look."

  "Oh lord, can she breathe?" Tank takes off for the center of the room, making a beeline for Katy. The crowd parts for Tank. He's huge and impossible not to notice. I follow along, tucked against his side as we make our way to Katy.

  "Katy!"

  His booming voice carries and the generalized din of the crowd quiets for a moment. Everyone looks, but when they see Tank greeting Katy, they return to their conversations and the noise level returns to its previous level.

  I take a step back while he gives her a little whirl.

  "You look like you need a drink." He sets her on her feet, grabs my hand, and hers, and steers us toward the bar. As we escape the eager submissives, Tank leans down. "How you holding up?"

  "It's a bit intense. Thanks for the reprieve."

  We make it to the front of the bar and he orders a glass of wine for Katy. It doesn't go unnoticed that he orders nothing for me, or that he orders soda water for himself. This tells me that while I'm not supposed to be in the auction, he has every intention on playing tonight.

  Won't he be surprised?

  I give Katy a look, something she innately understands.

  "Master Tank, do you mind if I steal your sub? I could use a little help running interference with all the subs."

  "Absolutely." He turns to me. "Go help Katy with whatever she needs, try to be back to me before the real auction begins."

  Katy lays her hand on his arm. "If you don't mind too terribly much, I really don't have anyone helping me out backstage. Would you hate me if I asked to have her until the end of the auction?"

  Tank glances between us then gives a nod. "If that's what you need."

  "Thank you. I promise to return her at the end of the auction." There's a smirk on Katy's face I hope Tank doesn't see.

  Katy pulls me out of Tank's grip, but he doesn't let me go without a kiss.

  "Love you," he says.

  The endearment makes my heart flutter.

  "Love you too."

  "I'll see you later." There's a longing in his voice, a pull I feel in the pit of my stomach. I know what I need to do, and for the first time I'm not afraid.

  Chapter 12

  Katy and I walk to a side door leading back to a series of conference rooms. This is where everyone will be getting ready.

  "I have three rooms set aside. Two for your auction and then the larger one for the first. If you could just see that all the forms are filled out and help me with the bid sheets for the second?"

  "I'm on it."

  Katy leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "I can't thank you enough." She glances over her shoulder, back the way we cam
e. "I still need to handle that crowd. We have a few last-minute signups."

  "I got it. Just funnel them back here and I'll take care of everything."

  "Great. Um, you may want to change before things get crazy. I have a feeling you won't have time later. I moved your bag over there."

  She points to one of the rooms.

  With Katy gone, it's just me and an empty hallway.

  It's strange how there's a sense of calm flowing through me. I'm not scared anymore, and I finally understand what I was afraid of. It's not bowing to Tank. Katy's right. So much of what we do already crosses into M/s territory. My fear is in losing myself, and it's an unnecessary fear.

  There's no way Tank would ever let that happen. Not to mention…I Dream of Jeannie. He loves that show and I've finally realized why.

  Part of it is because of the Master, but it's really Jeannie's spitfire attitude which he loves. He's not looking to bury my personality beneath a collar. He wants me to embrace what I can become.

  And I'm ready.

  I head into the room set aside for us and quickly change into my genie outfit. I then head to the larger room where nearly a score of giggly subs eagerly awaits the main event of the evening.

  It takes but a minute to go over the chain of events and I make sure they all have a list of limits to fill out. This will be done first, prior to them knowing who gets the winning bid.

  We don't want their answers to be influenced by the Dom who chooses them. These need to be their limits. Safety is always paramount at the club.

  With that task done, I return to the smaller room. I need a minute alone to absorb what I'm doing.

  There are six of us signed up for tonight, but seven poles. One will be left empty in homage to Master Andy's memory. I'm hoping Tank and the guys come through and next year, Katy will be tied to that pole. They're looking for a man who can meet Katy's needs.

  The door swings open and Alexa walks in. I can't help but squeal as I rush to her.

  "You're really doing this?" I fold her into a hug.

  Alexa is trying to get Master Daniel to move from being her Dom to her Master. She and Daniel are the complete opposite of me and Tank. She wants Daniel to be her Master. Daniel isn't convinced. Tank wants me to be his slave, and I'm the one who's not convinced.

  I point to a small chair where Alexa's stuff is laid out. "Your stuff is ready. Hurry up and get dressed."

  "I'm so nervous."

  "Does he know?"

  "Nope." Alexa shakes her head. "It's going to be a surprise."

  I guess Master Daniel won't be the only one surprised tonight. "Well, fingers crossed for you."

  "What about you?" Alexa asks. "Are you ready for tonight?"

  She knows my hesitation. We're a tight knit group of subs and best of friends.

  We have to be.

  Look at the men we serve.

  Penny wanders in and Alexa and I shift our attention to her. We grab her and pull her into a group hug.

  She looks to Alexa first. "How are you holding up?"

  "I'm nervous as fuck." Alexa rubs at her arms.

  Alexa turns the tables on Penny. "How about you? Are you nervous."

  "I bet she is!" I can't help but laugh.

  Penny blushes. "The butterflies in my stomach are complaining about the butterflies in theirs. I'm a mess, but an excited mess."

  I pull her into another hug. "You're going to do great and it's all going to work out." My words are for her, but I feel them in my heart.

  Things between Tank and me are going to be better than perfect by the time this night is done.

  Alexa grills Penny about Eric and Thomas. She wants to know what we all do. Will they bid on her together? Take her together?

  What would that be like? I can't wait to ask her in the morning.

  We're all here for different things. Penny to see if her Dom and Master might consider moving their separate twosomes into a threesome. Alexa is dying to become Daniel's slave. Then there's me.

  I'm not sure what I'm really trying to prove, except I'm ready to let go.

  The buzzer on the phone grabs my attention. Thinking it's Katy, I rush to answer.

  "Katy?"

  "No. It's Edge."

  "Oh! Yes, Sir, how can I help you?"

  "I'm bringing you a girl. She's new, and mine. I want her to go to auction. She'll be using Master Andy's post."

  There are a million questions which come to mind, but I'm not going to question Edge. Like Tank, he's one of the Old Guard. He's not the boss of me, but I respect his authority. That means, it's not my place to question him. But sending a new girl to us…to go up on the auction block?

  He rattles off instructions, telling me what he wants. When I hang up, Alexa looks at me.

  "What's up?"

  My voice is a little shaky and I'm still a bit stunned. "That was Master Edge. He's sending someone to us. Better hurry up and get dressed. Katy is going to be pissed if we're not ready."

  I leave Penny and Alexa to take care of this girl Edge is sending us. She's coming in by the back-alley service entrance.

  There's a big door that separates the hall leading to the back-alley entrance and the rest of the inside. It has a tiny door in it at eye level. I open it and am surprised when I see a girl about ready to knock.

  "Hey there!" My greeting is friendly and I'm really curious.

  The girl smiles but she's clearly nervous. "H-hi."

  "Hello, Master Edge." My gaze flicks over the girl's shoulder to Master Edge.

  "Michelle, please take care of my date."

  His date? How interesting, but not my place to question him.

  "Yes, Sir."

  He bends to speak into the girl's ear. "Little mouse, there is something I need to take care of. Michelle will take care of you until I come and collect you."

  It seems I'm to be her babysitter. That's okay. I've done this countless times before. It's always a pleasure to show a new girl around.

  "Don't worry." I inject cheer into my voice, reassuring the girl. "Master Edge will be back in a minute."

  "Yes." He shifts his attention to me and kind of rolls his eyes. I can sense he's irritated. "Someone forgot to get enough rope for the auction. Michelle, she is my personal charge. I trust you understand?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Now, if you'll excuse me…" He spins around and marches back down the hall, leaving me staring at a very uncertain woman.

  "It's been some time since he's brought someone in." I smile, feeling a need to reassure her.

  "Um yeah, I guess. He mentioned the auction."

  It looks like there will be quite a bit of handholding. Whatever possessed Edge to bring in a new girl and have her go up for auction? He must see something I do not.

  "Hang on. Gimme a second and I'll get this thing open."

  I can't believe Edge would send a girl in for the auction who nobody knows.

  "Step back for a minute. The door swings out." The hinges give an ear-piercing squeal as I push it open. "Well, that's a look."

  She's not going to auction looking like a drowned rat. Edge asked me to take care of her. I take her hand in mind and size her up.

  "We can get you dressed up easy-peasy."

  Curious, I ask her what her thing is. Surely, she can't be a newbie? But she seems genuinely confused and I realize this really is all new to her.

  "Never mind. I know exactly what to put you in." I know what Edge likes even if I have no idea what the hell is going through his mind. It’s just unheard of to take a newbie and put her in this kind of auction. "My name's Michelle, by the way."

  I get the girl dressed into a leather and lace outfit, have her sign our standard nondisclosure agreements and put on a stack of colored wristbands around her wrist. I explain the different colors to her and watch her eyebrows practically climb up her forehead.

  We chat about everything and anything and nothing at all. This girl is a bundle of nerves and I'm going to do what I can to calm her
down.

  We finally get to the pink wristband. It's the color all of us will wear who are going up for the auction.

  "And the pink one?" Ivy is curious.

  "That's for the auction."

  "Edge mentioned the auction."

  A presence fills the room, followed by Edge's deep baritone. "She'll take the pink, Michelle." Edge's large frame fills the doorway and he's holding a bunch of rope. He tosses it on the floor. "Please take that to Master Sam."

  "Of course, Master Edge." My tone shifts to deferential. I gather the rope and exit the room after Edge dismisses me. I guess he wants time alone with Ivy.

  Whatever is going on between those two is electric. The air practically sizzles between them.

  Sometime later, Edge returns Ivy to my care. I pawn her off on Alexa and Penny while I settle down to think about what I want to put on my bid cards.

  Katy joins us and she explains how the auction works to Ivy. Unlike me, she's not shocked at all by Ivy's sudden appearance.

  I wonder if anything ruffles Katy's feathers.

  Ivy asks a ton of questions and I answer as I can. I'm deep in thought about how Tank is going to react when he sees me on that stage.

  After I hand out the bid sheets, I plop down beside Ivy. She's holding four pieces of paper while I'm holding five.

  "Why do you have an extra one," Ivy asks?

  My cheeks heat up, but before I can answer Katy responds. "It's an old bet between Michelle and Tank. He wants to take things to the next level, but she's said no for years."

  There's no bet. I don't know why Katy said that, or how she knows what I intend to put on that fifth bid sheet, but Katy seems to have a sixth sense about these things. She leaves us to check on the others.

  The four of us are nervous. I feel it in the air with the hushed conversation and contemplative stares. I'm worried, but at peace. This is the right decision. I know Alexa and Penny have their own concerns.

  They sit together talking and I notice Ivy is shaking.

  "How are you holding up?"

  "I'm nervous."

  I place my hand on her knee. "We all are, but I know Master Edge really well. He's a great guy, an amazing Dom, and a wonderful man. You can trust him."

  Her smile is faint but there. "Thanks."