Page 16 of Taken by Moonlight
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There should have beena drum roll, or a blare of trumpets announcing the auction. But nothing. Not even the bump and grind hard rock that accompanied the strippers as they performed onstage.
Instead, classical music played quietly in the background, the sound so low it could have been in the nextroom.
Golden light from overhead crystal chandeliers shone down on the tableau, glinting off the gold wallpaper and the ornate gold vases stuffed with fresh flowers. Expensive oil paintings hung on the walls. It wasn’t until you examined them closer that you saw the nymphs chased by satyrs with enormouserections.
The room could have been an expensive setting in a fancy restaurant. A round bar tucked into the corner featured mirrored shelves displaying fine cordials. Leather chairs and white-linen draped tables accented theatmosphere.
Shifters drifted into the Dom Room, selecting tables as male staff hurried to bring themdrinks.
The more liquor, the higher the bidding. No female wait staff. This was far too risky, especially if a cranked up shifter decided he wanted the waitress instead of the goods offered onstage.
Goods. That’s what I was. A shiver raced down my spine as I clutched my red satin robe closedtight.
Beneath it, I wore a white flowing nightgown, something Norm had found in a back closet. The others being auctioned wore red dresses, which they would discard and show off red bras and G-strings andthen…
Nothing.
White was more suitable to a virgin, Normdeclared.
How about black, as in the black of night, where I wanted to flee. But pride prevented me from walking away. Running away. I’d agreed tothis.
And Norm had texted me the copy of the promissory note he’d signed, so he couldn’t weasel his way out of the money. The auctioneer had witnessed it, along with Dr. Hart. Even if I didn’t trust the sour-faced auctioneer, I did trust the good doctor. No one would try to foolher.
Red high heels on my feet, I walked back and forth off stage, pausing to peek between the curtain folds. Males settled into place. Up front, tables were reserved for the elite. All of them in elegant dinner dress, looking likebillionaires.
Beneath the finery, I sensed the wildness, the pawing internal need forsex.
Damian, Alex and Gabriel claimed the table front andcenter.
The three of them looked so different, with urbane Dante commanding the center seat, sweet, cute Alexander on his left and rugged, charming Gabriel on his right. In dinner dress, they lookedamazing.
Alexander read the program, as Gabriel scanned the room. Dante’s attention remained on the stage. A half-filled glass of whiskey dangled from his long elegant fingers. He could have been relaxing in a library, conversing with business partners, but for the heavy scent of testosterone and slight male aggression peppering the air. Even my limited sense of smell could pick itup.
Sweat popped out on my temples. I knew these weres, maybe even considered them friends, as much as shifters could be friends. For them to watch me as I paraded out there, selling my body, myinnocence…
Scanning the well-lit room I realized there wasn’t an ugly shifter in sight. No real surprise. Unlike humans, shifters had little body fat due to their accelerated metabolism and most were striking in theirlooks.
All the better to devour you with, my dear, the wolf from childhoodwhispered.
I snatched a program from a passing stage hand and studied it, feeling my stomachroil.
First, the auctioneer would announce the rules. No touching the women.Good.
My relief fell short. That task was up to the auctioneer. Oh, and the women would all discard their clothing to show potential purchasers exactly what they werebuying.
“Do I really have to take off all my clothes?” I whispered to Glinda, the second blonde auctioning herselfoff.
She flashed a sympathetic smile. “Honey, it’s not a big deal. You’ve been out there stripping for them. This is just a different end result, only with moremoney.”
She thought I was a stripper. Terrific. I didn’t even like taking off my clothing in front of a mirror, let alone a room filled withshifters.
The redhead sat on a chair and began applying red glitter on her crotch. I got an uncomfortable glimpse of her vulva before looking away, feeling as if I’d just burned myretinas.
Glinda noticed. “That’s Sheila. She has a magick vjayjay and likes to highlight it for theguys.”
I stared at Glinda. “Magickvjaygay?”
