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She gently pats my shoulder before moving off. “I’ll be MC-ing. Just follow my lead, and you’ll do great.”
Then she’s gone, though I don’t have long to wait before her voice echoes through the space, and the mild hum of conversation dies instantly.
“Ladies and gentlemen ofRavish, thank you for your patience. Just a quick reminder of the rules before we move along with our second lot tonight. Touching is off-limits.Onlyregistered bidders in receipt of a paddle may bid. Your bid amount will be electronic and instantaneous. And, as always, all sales are final.”
Touchingis off-limits? Allsalesare final?
“With that said, our second lot of the evening is Scarlet, and you’ll find her dos and don’ts on the screens by you.”
“River” by Bishop Briggs blares as the curtains open without any prior warning, leaving me feeling more than a little like a deer caught in the headlights when every single head swivels toward me.
Lucia had told me that approximately fifty people would be in attendance, but it feels more like five hundred as every eye in the place lands on me.
All except Vaughn, who is doing something on his cell.
I straighten my spine, keeping my eyes focused on him as I slowly step onto the stage, ready to make him see me. To make him admit to wanting me just as much as I want him.
Lucia’s voice is far away as she begins the bidding process, though I can’t hear her over the sound of my blood coursing through my veins, willing him to look up.
Needing him to look at me.
See me, Vaughn.
And then, as though he’s heard my silent plea, he does.
He raises his surprised eyes to mine before what can only be described as abject horror overtakes his sinfully handsome face.
His forehead is creased, his lips set in a flat, thin line, and his dark eyes are murderous as my smile freezes on my face, realizing what’s missing here.
There’s no bidder’s paddle in his hand.
I halt in the middle of the catwalk, and all the air in my body whooshes out when a light-haired man stands up, holding his paddle aloft.
His British accent is strong as his eyes rake across my body like he can see what lies beneath my clothes.
“Five hundred thousand.” A low murmur flows through the gathering before he smirks smugly. And downright nauseatingly. “In British Pounds.”
Vaughn’s stare is the only thing holding me upright as Lucia begins her countdown.
“Going once—”
“One million.”
Vaughn steps toward the Brit bidder with a dark look. “In whatever currency you desire, Creswell.”
Lucia’s unkind laugh resounds in the deathly silence ofRavish. “I’m afraid that’s against the rules, Mr. Burton. No paddle, no bid.”
Then she winks, making my stomach dip. “Going twice—”
“Not a fucking hope.” Vaughn strides closer to the foot of the stage, the gathered crowd parting like the Red Sea. “It’s my goddamn club. I’ll bid if I fucking well want to, and I dare any of you cunts to eventrystopping me.”
As he speaks, his dark gaze travels across each and every face present, finally landing on the Brit, Cheswell. “Retract your bid.”
Cheswell stands a little taller. “Rules are rules, Burton. You made them; you live by them, just like the rest of us.”
Then he nods toward Lucia, whose smile widens impossibly, raising the gavel in her right hand.
I cringe, waiting for it to fall as she opens her mouth almost in slow motion.
