Page 14 of Taken by Moonlight

“Sex in human form,” I stated. “Otherwise, nodice.”

He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Fine. The auction is for skin, anyway. If shifters want to get kinky, they do out of mutualconsent.”

I was impressed. “You have standards,Norm.”

“I have liabilityinsurance.”

Whatever. “Ok, where do Isign?”

Norm handed me his tablet. After I cyber signed my name, he got that goofy grin on his face again as if he knew something I didnot.

Then he snapped his fingers. “Guy! Get Peyton herdrink.”

Guy sauntered over, his gaze pitying. “It’ll be okay,Peyton.”

He handed me a cocktail glass half filled with amber liquid. I downed it and coughed. Whiskey, with a little something to take the edgeoff.

I’d seen him give the same mixture to a new hire stripping for the first time. Always in the past I’d felt bad for the girl, getting on stage, gyrating and getting naked for oglingshifters.

Now I was the one on stage, and they’d be doing more than looking. One of them would purchase me for the night as you’d buy a horse or a prized piece ofart.

Not a nice way to lose my virginity, but the options were much worse. And maybe I’d get lucky and the winning bidder would be a goodlover.

Guy took the empty glass, patted my shoulder. “Think of it as a life experience, Peyton. It’s only onenight.”

He moved off stage, but I’d heard the falseness in his voice. Guy was a shifter and knew what I faced. The crowd tonight might look refined and elegant, but they were wildinside.

Norm barked out an order. “Auction’s starting late. Twenty minutes. Free drinks on the house for the clients. Tell them there’s someone special on the block. That will cool theirjets.”

He turned to me, his expression businesslike. “First you’ll have to undergo a physical exam. The doc will certifyyou.”

Exam? I nearly backed out again. This was so beyond my experience and toohumiliating.

“Necessary for the opening bid,” said the auctioneer in his high, nasal voice, as he consulted his owntablet.

He glanced up. “Of course it will be by my own personal physician, andprivate.”

What choice did I have? I accompanied him to the Rose Room, where a portable exam table had been set up. The auctioneer told me all the women had been “inspected” by the physician for their physical health and to make sure they were notpregnant.

He closed the door behind me. Clutching the red satin robe, I climbed up onto the paper-coveredtable.

A sigh of relief fled me as a women in a white lab coat entered the room. She held a pair latex gloves and blinked insurprise.

“You’re not a shifter. You’rehuman.”

I flung out my arms. “Surprise!”

She shook her head. “And I gave up watching Hallmark Channel for thisjob.”

“Better than AnimalPlanet.”

Her bark of laughter was short and hyena-like, even though I detected she was a tiger shifter. She stuck out a hand not covered in latex. “I’m Dr. ElaineHart.”

“PeytonJackson.”

We shook hands. I liked herimmediately.

“Before I examine you, I need your permission to proceed. I refuse to do this to a woman without herconsent.”