Page 51 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

I didn’t care.

The bidding went on, with bidders dropping out quickly as the money went higher. Soon, there were only three of us left. There was Hugh McTavish, a debonair Scottish man who’d transplanted to West Bay a couple of years ago. He was a handsome guy, but he had to be pushing sixty. He had deep pockets, though, and he was staring at Jelly as if mesmerized by her. I couldn’t say I blamed him.

The other two were, of course, Thad Russett and I. Jelly had walked back and forth on the stage as the bidding went on, and if she felt awkward, she didn’t show it. She looked comfortable onstage, and I couldn’t help picturing her as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. I wondered what lingerie she would wear. This led me to wonder what lingerie she had on under that sexy dress she was wearing. I realized, looking at it closely, she might not be wearing anything at all under it, and my cock, already hard, got uncomfortably larger.

Nico kicked me under the table.“Aren’t you going to bid?”

“What?” I came out of my daydream and instantly raised my paddle. I didn’t care how much she was going for. I was going to win.

“That’s three million, five hundred thousand dollars for four months with Jelly,” Carmen announced. I glanced at Hugh and Thad and was surprised to see Thad throw his paddle down and stomp out of the room.

It was just Hugh and I left now. It seemed that even if I hadn’t attended the auction, Jelly’s plan to be with Thad would’ve fallen through. I had noticed in the past that Hugh McTavish paid Jelly a lot of attention, but so did a lot of men.

Leo leaned in to whisper something to me.“Don’t let him win.”

“I’m not going to, but why?”

“He’s rumored to have wild parties where he enjoys watching his partners get fucked by lots of other men. Hereportedly doesn’t care whether or not they’re into that.” Leo’s face was grim.“I’m not sure how he’s even participating in the auction. I think maybe he somehow slipped past Carmen’s background checks.”

I was horrified. I wasn’t sure, of course, but Jelly struck me as a one-man kind of woman. I couldn’t picture her wanting to share or be shared. Had I participated in some group sex from time to time? Yes. I particularly liked it when I was with two or three women, and I’d enjoyed watching those same women get off with other men.

But that was casual sex; the kind you have at Cayenne where you know everyone is a willing participant.

If I had Jelly, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to share her. And the sex wouldn’t be casual, either. I’d want her to be mine alone, and I wouldn’t be interested in fucking anyone else if she was in my bed.

I raised my paddle as the bid continued to rise. Hugh McTavish wasn’t backing off. I did some calculations in my head. I knew that in addition to the money, I would need to buy Jelly a house, a car, pay off her school, and she would need designer clothing and jewelry. She also would have a weekly spa appointment to keep her nails looking perfect and her pussy shaved how I liked it.

Fuck. That sounded amazing. I had to bite back a groan thinking about how if I’d won, I’d be able to sink inside her very soon.

We’d flirted around it for so long. She’d barely been able to stand me at Reynolds’and Nadine’s wedding. Or so she’d said. When we’d danced there had been a definite spark. And at Daisy and Jack’s wedding? Well. I’d danced most of the night with her, and I’d known her feelings for me were similar to how mine were for her. We’d worked together for months. I’d sat at her table at Sugar like a lovesick puppy every night for months. It was time—past time, really—for us to be together.

I could easily afford it. I was a billionaire. In addition to my salary as a surgeon, I’d invented a tissue-like polymer thatcould be used in place of human ligaments. That alone had made me a billionaire. But I’d also received large inheritances from both my maternal and paternal grandparents.

I could wait Hugh McTavish out.

But I was getting tired of this. When Carmen raised the bid to three and a half million, and Hugh still raised his paddle, I called out,“Five million dollars.”

All chatter in the room stopped. Jelly even stopped walking and stared at me. Hugh tossed his paddle down.

“I could afford it too, you bastard,” he called out good naturedly.“But I can tell you’re not giving up.” He blew a kiss to Jelly.“Beautiful girl, I hope to get the chance to be with you one day.”

She smiled and blew a kiss back to him while giving him a saucy wink. I could tell the smile didn’t reach her eyes, but my fist still clenched possessively.

“Sold to Paolo Lanetti for five million dollars,” Carmen said. I saw her give me a‘what the fuck’ look. I felt slightly guilty about showing up late and not filling out the proper paperwork. But right now? All I cared about was being with Jelly.

“Be careful,” Leo whispered.“I’d be shocked if he doesn’t ask you for a few nights with her.”

I nodded.“Don’t worry. I’d never let him have her.”

Nico cleared his throat.“What about me?”

The entire table turned and stared at him.“Seriously?” I asked.

He nodded, looking uncomfortable.

Enzo smirked.“I knew you had a thing for her, but I guess I didn’t realize how far it went.”

Nico and I had been friends forever. I’d met him before I was a teenager. We’d fucked the same women before over the years, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about him and Jelly. He was staring at me with his dark blue eyes, and I could see the desire in them.