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ut I felt like a leaf buffeted by a stiff wind.
“Her skin is exquisite,” he murmured with what sounded like faint surprise. “Where did you find her?”
Again, the nervous laughter and CoCo redirected with a simpering, “Now, now…such details are unimportant, darling. Shall we retire to the salon and start the bidding? Henri? Champagne for our guests, please.”
Silence followed and I realized they’d all filed from the room. I shuddered. One of these vile people would purchase me like a head of cattle and take my virginity like something out of the medieval times. In their eyes, I was simply a woman to be owned, not a person with rights.
I didn’t know how long I remained in that cold room, suspended by my hands, my feet barely dusting the floor, but it’d seemed forever before the opening of a door finally broke the quiet of the room. My hands were numb from loss of circulation and I feared nerve damage.
“You are a lucky little bitch,” CoCo said into my ear. “Try to remember that. Adieu, darling.” And then something sharp pierced my skin. Before I could cry out, I was aware of nothing.
I awoke slowly, my head throbbing in time to the beat of my heart. My blurred vision cleared and I heard soft female voices.
“I think she’s awake,” one said.
“She’s so pretty,” said another.
And yet another giggled knowingly as she said, “I bet Omar will keep her all to himself for days.”
I scooted away from the voices and tried rubbing the blurriness from my eyes. My mouth tasted of bitter cotton and I knew I’d been drugged. Whatever CoCo had filled me with had knocked me out long enough to transport me here — wherever here was.
“Where am I?” I asked, my voice coming out sounding scratchy and rusty. Three young women sat clustered around me on a giant bed of vibrant silks and satins of reds, oranges and lemon-yellow. They peered at me with open curiosity, assessing me with bold glances. They were dressed in flowing, gauzy shifts that left little to the imagination and I realized with a start that I was dressed similarly. I gasped and tried to cover my breasts but my action only caused the women to laugh at my foolishness. “Who are you people?” I demanded to know, though my voice wobbled with fear.
A brunette with long, flowing locks that curled like wild roots searching for water, came forward with a welcoming smile that showcased white teeth and began introductions as if they were all sorority sisters and likely to come BFFs and not prisoners dressed like sex slaves “I’m Belinda,” she pointed to the redhead, “She’s Scarlet,” then finally pointed at the short blond, “And she’s Cassie. And you are?”
“Layla,” I answered haltingly, not quite sure what to make of these women. I was afraid to ask but I needed to know. I asked again, “Where am I?”
“Can’t you tell?” Belinda asked, gesturing to the opulent room filled with ornate gold furnishings and cool marble floors. The obvious wealth in the room was astounding. When I met Belinda’s amused stare, she answered, “You’ve been purchased by Sheik Omar Hakim for his harem. Consider yourself lucky. He only selects the best and he’s notoriously picky about his women. There must’ve been something about you that made him want to bring you here.”
“I’ve been kidnapped and brought here against my will. I’d hardly consider that luck. Can you help me, please?” I pleaded with Belinda. “I was on my way to study abroad when I was abducted from outside my hotel room and then auctioned off. I didn’t come here willingly!”
Cassie nodded as if understanding, saying, “I cried for days when I first came. But when I realized I had a much better life here as a pampered member of Omar’s harem, I stopped crying. You will, too.”
I stared at the blond, not quite sure I was hearing correctly. “You like it here?”
She bobbed a nod with a smile. “We all do.”
Scarlet laughed at my look of horror. “Oh, don’t be so shocked. We live as princesses do. We want for nothing and Omar is a very kind Master and a skilled lover. You will come to adore it here.”
“He bought me like a cow at market,” I said, wiping away the sudden show of angry tears as the events of the last few days rolled over me. I couldn’t stop the words as they tumbled out at the first show of true human kindness, even if they were crazy in believing life as a prisoner was better than wherever they’d come from. “I miss my parents, my friends…I just want to go home. The things they did to me…” I buried my face in my arms, sobbing openly. Within seconds, all three clustered around me, crooning soft words of comfort as I cried. Their perfume surrounded me in a sensual cloud that made me want to lay my head against their soft shoulders. I’d never been attracted to women but at that moment I was starved for kindness and frightened out of my mind. When the first press of soft lips met my own, I didn’t fight it. I closed my eyes and accepted the comfort given. Another set of lips pressed feather-light kisses along the column of my neck while another gently fluttered sweet touches along the curve of my breast. My tears finally stopped and I reluctantly opened my eyes to peer into Belinda’s deep brown ones.
“Why did this happen to me?” I whispered.
“You’re one of the lucky ones,” Belinda answered, smiling.
I shook my head, vehemently disagreeing. “I don’t want to be here.”
“You will.”
How could she say that?
“You will come to adore Master Omar more than your old life,” she said in a calm tone, her smile widening with knowing but I could only shake my head in horror.
“I won’t.” My mouth tightened. “I hate him. I will always hate him for doing this to me.”
“Shhh,” she warned, a frown marring her beautiful face. “You mustn’t say such things.”
“Why not? It’s true,” I said, not caring. “Good people don’t buy others. He’s a despicable excuse for a human being.”
