Page 59 of Ignite

But Felicity’s face was blank. “I’m sure there is a lot about our Captain-Coach that you don’t know or understand. And Rylee …” She paused, and I wanted to know what she wasn’t saying, “Don’t let your stubbornness cost you a man that you should be fighting for, not pushing away.”

“I’m not.”

“You are. You have these ridiculously high standards that no one is going to meet.”

“Daddy loved the RFS. He gave his life to serving. I can’t accept anything less.”

“But just remember, there are other ways to serve.” Felicity nodded over her shoulder to where the MC was getting ready to start the night. “And Ethan is doing wonders with my high schoolers.”

I thought of Ryan.

I thought of Sonia’s tenants.

I even thought of Old Man Hobbs who couldn’t stop crowing about the new dart boards that Ethan had donated after the team had accidentally broken the old ones. I didn’t want to know how dart boards could end up smashed on the ground, but Ethan had taken responsibility for the actions of his team, even though he hadn’t been in the pub at the time.

“Looks like you’re going to have to dig deep to win a date with your man,” I whispered when Eric took to the stage in black leather pants and a glistening chest. Every woman in the room went wild, and the only reason I didn’t scream myself horse was because Felicity would kill me for fawning over her man.

“That’s why he’s up first. I’ll bid whatever I have to, and he’ll pay me back when I return the favor at home tonight.”

“Ladies and gentlemen who wish they were me.” Eric commanded the stage, and I could see how he had paid down his debts using his body. At one time, he was the most expensive adult entertainer in Sydney. Then he came here and gave it all away after falling in love with my friend. “We want you to open your wallets, wide.” He jumped down from the stage and parted the nearest woman’s legs to screams from the crowd.

“Don’t be shy. You want me. You want them.”

Reece, Ethan, Korbin, Brody, Trey, and Bailey strode onto the stage, all wearing fitted blue denim jeans and tight, white t-shirts. The roars from the crowd grew louder and I looked to the back where the high school seniors had congregated. Most of the boys wanted to play on the team, and the girls were looking at the men on stage with a hunger their parents wouldn’t want to acknowledge.

“But, ladies, I’m not cheap.” Eric worked the room, stroking hair and letting anyone pat his ass. “I’m not single or free,” he said, stopping at Felicity’s chair. He straddled her and tongue fucked her in a way that impregnated half the crowd.

“But if you want one night with me.” He walked backward towards the stage, rubbing his hands over his oiled chest. “If you want one date with …” He nodded towards the other men on the stage, and said in low voice that hit all my lady nerves, “If you want one date with my friends, then it’s gonna cost you.”

Eric paused and every person in the room wanted to throw their credit cards at him and damn the consequences. “So, men, let’s show them what they’re buying.”

I wouldn’t have believed it unless I’d been there.

Korbin refused to let Eric steal all the glory and he had his posse of fangirls up the back screaming his and Brody’s name. Bailey and Trey had imported their one-night fuck-buddies from other towns to ensure they weren’t embarrassed. They thrust and ground to Chris Isaak’s “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing” and we all wanted to do bad things to all of them.

I finally understood the fascination with reverse harem books. If my brother wouldn’t kill me, I could certainly go me a footballer-style reverse harem. I laughed, I couldn’t even handle the one who was looking at me as if he knew what I looked like naked—and wanted to see me again.

The auction for one night with Eric was announced just after the online auction for Stormy Waters went live.

Dozens of women bid for their chance with Eric until he nodded towards his girlfriend. “Are you really gonna let this body go home with another woman?”

Felicity doubled the highest bid, knocking out her competition and earning her another public tongue fucking.

Dressed back in his jeans and nothing else, Bailey got a couple of offers but the winner came from out of town, and I was the only one who saw him look at Shar Curren with a tinge of regret. Was something going on there? Shar had lost her husband three years ago and hadn’t made any attempt to join the dating scene. Then again, Bailey kept his private life private, so who would know?

Trey was up next. I expected Grace to bid for him even if it was just to get him to look at her damn request for clearing, but Grace stood at the back of the room, drinking with the Bay Tigers. Each year, the rival rugby league team came to heckle and try and spoil the night. They’d been outplayed tonight with the strip tease and Stormy Waters’ auction. I couldn’t work out why they’d stay around but wished Grace would leave them alone. Even from here, I knew nothing good would come from her mixing with the enemy.

“Fuck that,” Trey announced when bidding had stalled at just over Bailey’s winning bid. Trey placed the winning bid on himself and stormed off the stage, brushing away women who wanted a second chance. But when Grace excused herself to go after him and I saw them duck out the door together and hoped they’d sort things out.

Korbin didn’t wait for Trey to leave the stage before he took his place. He stood, perfectly still and waited for women to scream his name. Only when he was satisfied they were ready, did he give a nod to the sound desk.

Korbin used his body the way Mother Nature had declared illegal. The man I knew became someone different, flexing his muscles and urging the crowd to keep bidding. He easily surpassed Trey and Bailey’s totals combined and it took three barmaids from Beringi to pool their funds to win a date with Korbin.

After Korbin, Brody was almost an anti-climax. A group of women opened the bidding high and stared down anyone who dared to speak.

“And now it is time for the two captains, who wants to go first?” Old Man Hobbs tossed a coin and Reece took the stage. Mrs. Olson, the elderly bank teller saw off early bidding while I waited for a sign. Reece and I had a deal, he wanted me to bid, win, and then he’d pay me back.

After I made my first bid of the night, Reece blew me a kiss, but Ethan shot me a death glare. WTF? Everyone else dropped out, leaving Mrs. Olson and I to fight it out.

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