Page 2
Story: Sold to the Beret
My lips tug in a ghost of a smile as I let the image of her fill my mind for a moment. Something about that big, innocent smile has touched a place in my heart that I didn’t even know existed. I have never felt this ferocious need to protect someone before—someone I haven’t even met.
The bright lights dim, cloaking the area. I sit up, ready for the shit show to commence. White light floods the center stage, putting other areas of the room in shadows. I can still see everyone else around me, but the blinding stage lights gave the space a foreboding feel.
Right on the five-minute mark, the auctioneer appears on the stage. “Alright, gentlemen. It’s time to start bidding. I’ll be presenting ten items for auction tonight. That’s right—ten gorgeous girls for your viewing pleasure, well-groomed and ready to go. I’ll start with number one!” he shouts.
Suddenly, the air is rife with sick anticipation and greed as a tall, slim girl stumbles onto the stage. I fist my hands, banning the image of Rose from my mind as I watch the debacle.
“Bidding starts at a hundred thousand!” the auctioneer states.
I remain stiff in my seat as I listen to the barrage of bids and counterbids flying around me. The girl in question can only stare into the audience, wide-eyed in shock. I should feel pity for her, but it seems like a waste, and I’m too focused on my goal—single-minded. I’m a man of action, not reaction. That bit of emotion won’t save these women, so why should I muster the feeling? If it makes me look like an unfeeling bastard, then that’s what I am.
“One million!” the big-bellied man a few seats from me calls.
The hall goes silent, then the auctioneer chimes, “One million. Going once. Going twice, and…sold!”
I watch impassively as the man shakes hands with his friends and walks to the stage for the girl, then drags her back to his seat to force her to pleasure him. A sick tradition the auction house uses to ensure compliance from their buyers, and to put on a show for those who lose the bidding. I turn away as the man gropes the girl with sweaty hands, a leering grin on his face.
The whole thing fills me with fury, and the constant image of the Beaumont girl serves as my only anchor. She’s the only one that matters. No one else. If I want to get her out of here, I have to put a lid on my rage.
Still holding on to her angelic smile, I slow down my breathing, reminding myself that I’m in a delicate situation and I have to remain calm and alert.
In no time, I’m back to being detached.
“Now, on to the next item of the night,” the auctioneer announces. “Number two is a gorgeous specimen and you won’t believe it…” He lowers his voice to a dramatic stage whisper. “She is a virgin!”
There’s a shift in the air as the second girl enters the stage. Everything fades and she’s all I see. Her steps are tentative as she walks to stand under the bright light. Every emotion I struggled to keep in check breaks free, and a shiver of awareness travels down my spine.
Fuck!
It’s Rose Beaumont. I’m tempted to pull out the picture burning a hole in my pocket, but I can’t take my eyes off her. And anyway, I’ve stared at her picture long enough to memorize every line and angle of her face. She looks older than she looks in the picture, more of a woman, with curves designed to make a man go crazy.
Her long blonde hair cascades down her shoulders, framing her angelic face. Her luscious curves are barely covered by lace lingerie that leaves almost nothing to the imagination. My possessive instincts roar to the surface. She doesn’t belong in this godforsaken place, and I’m getting her the hell out of here if it’s the last thing I do.
A murmur of excitement rises around me at her appearance. Rage fills me up, hot and searing, burning everything in its path. None of these assholes can have her. I will gut them and string them up if they so much as breathe in her direction.
“I can see that number two has stirred up a lot of excitement. Which is why her bidding price is starting from two hundred thousand!” the auctioneer shouts, excitement vivid in his voice.
Rose looks down immediately at the announcement. Her hands are clasped tight in front of her, forming a V-shape down to her thighs, as if she can cover her perfect breasts with her arms. I bunch my fists as the bidding starts, and my fury escalates with every bid.
I feel covert stares being thrown in my direction. I’m sure the people sitting close to me can feel the anger rolling off me in waves, but I don’t care. Fuck them. I didn’t ever think I would bid for a girl at an auction, but for once I welcome the idea of going against my moral code.
I’m known to get my job done by any means possible.
Who am I kidding?The need to protect her goes beyond the dictates of my job. It’s a driving force. This feeling makes no sense, but I don’t care. I keep my eyes trained on her, my fingers digging deeper into my palm as I watch her flinch with every bid.
Fucking bastards. I want to kill them all for making her so scared.
“Six hundred thousand,” an unfortunate buyer calls out.
I grind my teeth, putting a lid on my anger until I’m back to the aloof and devil-may-care man that strolled into the auction house.
“One million,” I growl, daring anyone to challenge me.
Chapter Two
Rose
I thought my life couldn’t get any worse after my stepfather sold me off to an auction house. I was wrong. Now, standing on this stage with men trying to outdo themselves in a bid to own me, it feels like the whole world is crashing down on me.
The bright lights dim, cloaking the area. I sit up, ready for the shit show to commence. White light floods the center stage, putting other areas of the room in shadows. I can still see everyone else around me, but the blinding stage lights gave the space a foreboding feel.
Right on the five-minute mark, the auctioneer appears on the stage. “Alright, gentlemen. It’s time to start bidding. I’ll be presenting ten items for auction tonight. That’s right—ten gorgeous girls for your viewing pleasure, well-groomed and ready to go. I’ll start with number one!” he shouts.
Suddenly, the air is rife with sick anticipation and greed as a tall, slim girl stumbles onto the stage. I fist my hands, banning the image of Rose from my mind as I watch the debacle.
“Bidding starts at a hundred thousand!” the auctioneer states.
I remain stiff in my seat as I listen to the barrage of bids and counterbids flying around me. The girl in question can only stare into the audience, wide-eyed in shock. I should feel pity for her, but it seems like a waste, and I’m too focused on my goal—single-minded. I’m a man of action, not reaction. That bit of emotion won’t save these women, so why should I muster the feeling? If it makes me look like an unfeeling bastard, then that’s what I am.
“One million!” the big-bellied man a few seats from me calls.
The hall goes silent, then the auctioneer chimes, “One million. Going once. Going twice, and…sold!”
I watch impassively as the man shakes hands with his friends and walks to the stage for the girl, then drags her back to his seat to force her to pleasure him. A sick tradition the auction house uses to ensure compliance from their buyers, and to put on a show for those who lose the bidding. I turn away as the man gropes the girl with sweaty hands, a leering grin on his face.
The whole thing fills me with fury, and the constant image of the Beaumont girl serves as my only anchor. She’s the only one that matters. No one else. If I want to get her out of here, I have to put a lid on my rage.
Still holding on to her angelic smile, I slow down my breathing, reminding myself that I’m in a delicate situation and I have to remain calm and alert.
In no time, I’m back to being detached.
“Now, on to the next item of the night,” the auctioneer announces. “Number two is a gorgeous specimen and you won’t believe it…” He lowers his voice to a dramatic stage whisper. “She is a virgin!”
There’s a shift in the air as the second girl enters the stage. Everything fades and she’s all I see. Her steps are tentative as she walks to stand under the bright light. Every emotion I struggled to keep in check breaks free, and a shiver of awareness travels down my spine.
Fuck!
It’s Rose Beaumont. I’m tempted to pull out the picture burning a hole in my pocket, but I can’t take my eyes off her. And anyway, I’ve stared at her picture long enough to memorize every line and angle of her face. She looks older than she looks in the picture, more of a woman, with curves designed to make a man go crazy.
Her long blonde hair cascades down her shoulders, framing her angelic face. Her luscious curves are barely covered by lace lingerie that leaves almost nothing to the imagination. My possessive instincts roar to the surface. She doesn’t belong in this godforsaken place, and I’m getting her the hell out of here if it’s the last thing I do.
A murmur of excitement rises around me at her appearance. Rage fills me up, hot and searing, burning everything in its path. None of these assholes can have her. I will gut them and string them up if they so much as breathe in her direction.
“I can see that number two has stirred up a lot of excitement. Which is why her bidding price is starting from two hundred thousand!” the auctioneer shouts, excitement vivid in his voice.
Rose looks down immediately at the announcement. Her hands are clasped tight in front of her, forming a V-shape down to her thighs, as if she can cover her perfect breasts with her arms. I bunch my fists as the bidding starts, and my fury escalates with every bid.
I feel covert stares being thrown in my direction. I’m sure the people sitting close to me can feel the anger rolling off me in waves, but I don’t care. Fuck them. I didn’t ever think I would bid for a girl at an auction, but for once I welcome the idea of going against my moral code.
I’m known to get my job done by any means possible.
Who am I kidding?The need to protect her goes beyond the dictates of my job. It’s a driving force. This feeling makes no sense, but I don’t care. I keep my eyes trained on her, my fingers digging deeper into my palm as I watch her flinch with every bid.
Fucking bastards. I want to kill them all for making her so scared.
“Six hundred thousand,” an unfortunate buyer calls out.
I grind my teeth, putting a lid on my anger until I’m back to the aloof and devil-may-care man that strolled into the auction house.
“One million,” I growl, daring anyone to challenge me.
Chapter Two
Rose
I thought my life couldn’t get any worse after my stepfather sold me off to an auction house. I was wrong. Now, standing on this stage with men trying to outdo themselves in a bid to own me, it feels like the whole world is crashing down on me.