Page 56 of Highest Bidder

His nostrils flared, and I knew I was about to get fucked on the counter.

And I wasn’t mad about it.

****

Jeff

She curled up on the couch next to me. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her hair was messy from where I’d pulled it. A faint handprint lingered on her ass, but she hadn’t complained.

She never did.

There was some rom-com on TV that she’d picked out. I’d let her choose it; I thought it was a small concession after the way I’d used her before letting her eat.

She sat close, tucked under my arm like she belonged there. I probably should’ve made her sit at my feet, but I liked having her by my side.

And that was the problem.

I told myself I was just letting her recharge before I used her again. That it was about control. Ownership.

But the way she tucked her head against my chest?

That didn’t feel like submission. It felt like trust.

And I hated how much I liked it.

She laughed quietly at something on the screen, and I looked down to find her wearing a genuine smile. Like this was normal. Like we were just a couple wasting a lazy Saturday.

I should’ve shut it down right then and told her to move to the floor. Reminded her what this was.

Instead, I pulled her closer and rested my chin on her head.

I was so fucked.

And not in the good way.

****

Vivian

Sunday morning, I woke up in Jeff’s bed again, but this time, he was nowhere to be found, and his side of the bed was cold.

I reached over and hugged his pillow, breathing in his scent. We only had one more weekend left together.

But at least I’d get paid the following Monday and be able to put a dent in my dad’s debt.

Maybe I’d auction myself again. I doubted I’d bring in another hundred-thousand-dollar bid, but we’d only owe twenty-seven thousand after this. Anything more than that would be gravy.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Onlytwenty-seven thousand.

There was so much I could do with that kind of money. Get my car window fixed, maybe move into an apartment that wasn’t roach-infested, or even take more than one class a semester.

Cherry said she made six figures selling herself. Could I do that, too?

I wasn’t so sure. I obviously fell in love too easily, since I was pretty positive I was head over heels for Jeff and was going to be crushed when this came to an end next Sunday night.

I’d either end up heartbroken a lot or jaded. Probably both.

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