Page 8 of His to Possess
“What are you doing here?” I whisper.
One eyebrow arches as he stares down at me. “Funny. That was going to be my question for you.”
“It’s not really any of your business.”
His bitter, unamused laugh brings goosebumps to my arms. “I beg to differ. Seeing as how I just agreed to pay a million dollars for you.”
A steady pulsing picks up low in my belly, matching the pounding of my heart. He didn’t just pay a million dollars forme—he paid a million dollars for my virginity. The image of him taking my lips in a bruising kiss flashes through my head. It’s a fantasy I imagined hundreds of times in my teen years. Could it be possible that it’s about to come true?
Before either of us can say another word, the door opens and a man I’ve never seen before enters. He looks a little bit like an underling from a cheesy mobster movie, with his slicked back hair, ruddy complexion, and shiny suit. From the way Philip stiffens, I get the sense he knows exactly who this is. He releases my arms and steps to my side, nudging me slightly behind him with his shoulder, his stance protective.
“Mr. Matthews,” the man says, his voice every bit as oily as his hair. “My staff told me what happened tonight. I insisted they were wrong—when has Philip Matthews ever deigned to grace my doorstep? But I see that I misjudged you.” He gives me a lecherous smile. “I see you found something you like tonight.”
Philip’s shoulder tenses the slightest bit. I doubt anyone would notice unless they were standing as close as I am. He shifts slightly, pushing me even farther behind his back, like he doesn’t want this man looking at me.
“Mr. Rossi,” Philips says in greeting. “I was meeting some associates here and happened upon the auction.” He shrugs. “What can I say? I got caught up in the moment.”
The guy is studying him, skepticism written all over his face. Before he can ask any of the questions I’m sure are on the tip of his tongue, Philip takes my arm. “Now, if you’ll tell me who to make the check out to, I’d like to get my prize alone.”
There goes that pulsing again. Where does he want to take me? And, more importantly, what does he want to do to me when he gets me there?
The man Philip called Rossi holds his hands out wide. “What’s the rush? You have her for the whole night. Let’s have a drink. I’d love to catch up.” His eyes roam over my body, hungry and heated. “I’d like to get to know your prize a little, as well. She must be quite special to fetch such a high price.”
A surge of red-hot anger goes through me. He’s talking about me like I’m not even here. Or, worse, like I’m not even a person worth acknowledging. Like I’m just an object put on this earth to be lusted after and used by men like them.
Which is pretty much what you confirmed to him when you agreed to do this stupid, stupid thing.The reality of my mistake is settling over me. I never should have signed up for this madness. I should have found another way—any other way.
There weren’t any,I remind myself.You were out of options.
“I’d prefer some privacy with my new friend,” Philip says coolly. “I’m sure you understand.”
Again, the man spreads his hands wide. “Of course. We can set you up in any of our very comfortable suites. Dinner can be brought up, whatever drinks you want. Take some time to get to know your lovely prize, and then we can begin.”
“Begin?”
Rossi blinks at him a few times. “With the rest of the evening’s entertainment.” There’s a long pause in which my heart rate starts to gallop out of control. The other shoe is about to drop, I just know it. “Before you take Miss Cartwright’s virginity, of course.”
I didn’t think it was possible for Philip’s voice to go any colder, but it does. “What are you talking about?”
“You know.” Rossi waves his hands vaguely, like he’s looking for the right words. “Her deflowering. It needs to happen here.”
“Here?” Philip spits.
Rossi’s eyes are wide, almost frightened, and I wonder what Philip’s face looks like. “You read the contract, right?” Rossi asks, uncertain. “About the rules?”
Philip’s voice is pure ice. “Assume I need a refresher.”
The guy is stammering now. “The, uh,encounter, it’s supposed to happen here. In one of our, uh, public viewing rooms.”
My stomach drops through the floor. Public viewing room?
“What?” Philip shouts. There’s no longer any ice in his voice—he’s one hundred percent fire, pure anger radiating from him. “She’s supposed to lose her virginity here? With a fucking audience?”
The man holds out his hands. “It’s in the rules. The woman who fetches the highest price is always taken for the first time in public. You should have been supplied with a contract—”
Philip spins, turning the heat of his glare on me now. “You knew about this?”
“No,” I whisper, dread filling my body. “I didn’t…I had no idea.”
