The Auction: A Dark Romance (Club Indulgence Duet Book 1)

Istep out of the shower, and Riggs orders me to come to bed. To my surprise, his hair is wet.

‘Did you shower?’ I ask.

‘In the other one,’ he reveals, and motions to the pulled back covers.

I slide under them, and he follows, then turns the light out. Dark silence ensues. He stays on his side, away from me, and I finally can’t handle it anymore.

I whisper, ‘Riggs?’

‘Hmm?’

‘Is this still considered playtime?’

Tension builds between us. He finally answers, ‘No.’

I move closer and wrap my arm and leg around him.

He freezes, asking, ‘What are you doing, Blakely?’

‘What do you think I’m doing?’ I retort.

He turns on his back but keeps his arm around me. He accuses, ‘Did you forget rule seven again?’

I taunt, ‘No. Did you forget what the contract states? Or maybe you didn’t read it?’

He grunts. ‘I can assure you I know each word by heart. Are you trying to get punished?’

I take my finger and drag it between his pecs. ‘Nope. I haven’t broken any contract rules.’

He grabs my hand and through gritted teeth, demands, ‘What’s rule seven, pet.’

I recite, verbatim, ‘Rule seven. The sub will not touch the Dom unless granted permission. Failure to obey will result in a punishment.’

Riggs twists my hair around his fist and asks, ‘What part of that rule don’t you understand?’

‘I understand all of it,’ I claim, sliding my foot against his inner calf.

His body tenses. He releases my hair, stating, ‘Seems to me like you don’t.’

‘Oh, I can assure you I do. The one who doesn’t comprehend what they read is you,’ I chirp.

He sighs. ‘Okay, Blakely, I’ll bite. In what way do I not understand the contract?’

I slide on top of him and run my fingers over the side of his head. I state, ‘It’s under the section titled, Rules of Engagement During Playtime. You just stated this isn’t playtime. So the rules don’t exist. I can touch you all I want.’

He holds his breath, his eyes turning to dark slits as the whiteness disappears.

I widen my legs so my knees hit the mattress next to his hips. I graze his shaft with my wet pussy, slowly teasing it, leaning into his ear and whispering, ‘Do you know what I thought about while restrained to the cross?’

His breath turns ragged. His hands move to my hips, and his fingernails dig into my skin. He tries to hold me still, but I still manage to shimmy over his hardening erection.

‘Tell me then,’ he demands.

I lean closer to his mouth, wanting to kiss him but deciding I can play his game. I murmur, ‘Since you brought another woman into our relationship, tossing in my face your intimacy, we can return to enforcing your rules.’ I try to roll off him, even though I still need a release after everything that happened tonight. I don’t understand why I got turned on by everything in the playroom, but I did. I assumed Riggs would continue whatever lesson he was trying to teach me when he returned from taking Aria away, but he didn’t. And I don’t know why he refused to shower with me.

He surprises me and flips with me, pinning his body over mine.

My mouth turns dry, and my heartbeat increases.

He shifts his hips so his cock’s directly on my clit, sliding back and forth. He scowls at me, grinding his molars, keeping his face two inches from mine. He warns, ‘You should realize who you’re playing with, pet.’

‘We’re not playing right now, remember?’ I remind him.

His eyes turn sinister, his lips curving in arrogance. He states, ‘We play when I say we’re playing. It seems to me you want to play.’

‘I don’t,’ I state.

‘I don’t believe you,’ he claims.

I glare at him.

He warns, ‘If you want to let your jealousy rule your actions, instead of being mature enough to understand why I need to do what I do, then that’s your choice.’

‘Jealous? I’m not jealous,’ I declare.

He grunts. ‘Sure you aren’t.’

‘And this isn’t about maturity!’

‘Yes, it is.’

I fire, ‘I told you no other women!’

‘You missed the entire lesson, didn’t you?’ he seethes.

I continue, ‘And you didn’t bring just anyone. You brought someone close to you. Someone who still has it bad for you!’

‘Shh. Keep your voice down,’ he orders.

‘Why? So your piece on the side can’t hear?’ I accuse.

He covers my mouth.

I shriek, but it’s muffled.

‘Enough of this outburst,’ he demands.

I push at him, but he’s too heavy.

He doesn’t budge, except to lean into my ear. He states, ‘I’m not telling you this again. I’m not a Dom who plays around. She’s here for your benefit…for you to learn. And if you don’t trust me soon, your days in my bed are limited, understand?’

Fear fills me. I hate everything about the possibility of what he threatens. Yet I can’t stand the thought of him and Aria together.

She’s beautiful. Her body is smaller than mine, which normally I wouldn’t care about, even though I’m in L.A. and would be considered bigger by many people’s standards. Yet it suddenly makes me feel insecure. And the worst thing is that she has something with Riggs I don’t. The intimacy between them was undeniable. Watching them together was like taking a knife and stabbing my heart over and over.

Disappointment washes over him. He slowly bobs his head from side to side. ‘You don’t get it, do you?’

I stay quiet, my insides quivering with anger and swirling with hurt.

He traces my lip, admitting, ‘I kind of like your jealous streak.’

‘Not funny.’

‘I’m not laughing.’

I claim, ‘I’d rather not be with you than see you with her.’

He holds his breath, studying me, finally saying, ‘I know you don’t mean that.’

‘I do,’ I insist, then add, ‘And that goes for any of your other women.’

‘It’s to help you,’ he reiterates.

‘No, it’s not.’

‘It is!’

‘Do not bring her or anyone else in front of me ever again, Riggs. I mean it. If you do—’

‘You’ll what, pet? What exactly are you threatening? And be very clear before you open that pretty little mouth of yours.’

I swallow hard, my eyes locked on his, my pulse beating so hard, it feels like it’s going to push through my neck.

He lowers his voice even further, stating, ‘If you can’t see that I’m doing everything in my power to make sure you stay with me, then you’re blind.’

‘By bringing her here tonight?’ I seethe.

‘Yes. Exactly that. And you admitted you learned a few things tonight, so get off your high horse. Now, go to sleep,’ he orders, rolls off me, and turns away.

His words do nothing to calm me. I’m more frustrated than before we began. The jealousy never dies, and I toss and turn all night, listening to Riggs breathe, unsure if he’s asleep or awake.

When dusk hits, I get up and creep out of the room. I close the bedroom door, walk down the hall, and find my clothes. I put my shorts and sweater on.

‘Oh, sorry to disturb you,’ Aria says quietly. She moves toward the door with a bag slung over her shoulder.

‘Where are you going?’ I blurt out, my heart racing faster from just looking at her.

She spins, and I suddenly feel bad for her. Black circles darken the skin under her eyes. They’re swollen, and she looks super fragile.

Is this what being with Riggs does to you?

I push the thought away and close the space between us. ‘Aria?’

She keeps her voice low. ‘I need to go. Tell Riggs I’m fine.’

‘You don’t look fine.’

She closes her sad eyes briefly, then pins them on me. ‘He’s right, you know.’

My stomach flips. ‘About what?’

She asserts, ‘If you don’t get your shit together, they’ll enforce rule fourteen.’

‘Wouldn’t you like that?’ I snap.

Her eyes widen, then she scoffs. ‘You have it all wrong, Blakely.’

Rage builds within me. I cross my arms. ‘Oh? And what do I have wrong?’

‘He brought me here for your well-being and only yours. I’m not here for him.’

‘Bullshit.’

She shakes her head. ‘The contract between Riggs and me is over.’

‘Then why are you here?’

‘Like I said, because you need help.’

‘No, I don’t,’ I claim.

We stare at each other, not saying anything until she breaks the silence. ‘It’s not your business, but I’m in love with someone else. Not that you should fall in love with Riggs. He’s not long-term. He’s a contract.’

Her words cut me. I hate that I know she’s right. But I don’t want her to see that, so I huff and say, ‘If you love someone else, you shouldn’t be allowing Riggs to touch you.’

Her face hardens. ‘Grow up, Blakely. Good luck at the club.’ She spins and opens the door, slamming it behind her.

I take a few breaths to calm myself, then turn.

Riggs leans against the hallway wall, his arms crossed, scowl pinned on me.

I walk past him, then go into the bedroom. I step into the empty closet.

‘What are you doing?’ he asks.

I spin. ‘If you’re keeping me here, where are my clothes? I want to put something clean on.’

‘Maybe that’s all you get.’

I smirk. ‘Rule twelve states you have to provide clothing.’

His face hardens. ‘Ah, yes. And I believe that’s under the Rules of Engagement During Playtime, isn’t it?’

My gut drops.

He adds, ‘Besides, it looks to me like you’re wearing clothes. It seems I’ve fulfilled my duty.’

‘Don’t be a dick,’ I hurl.

He lunges toward me, and I step back until I’m against the wall. He slides his hand in my hair behind my head and grasps it tight so I’m unable to look anywhere but at him. His hot breath hits my lips as he states, ‘Do you think you’re the first brat I’ve broken in?’

My breath hitches, my pulse skyrockets, and the red rage I’ve felt since he brought me here reignites to an all-time high. I retort, ‘I’m not a brat.’

‘No? You sure are acting like one.’

‘Maybe you should look at your actions.’

His eyes turn to slits. ‘Let’s get something straight right now.’

I glare at him.

He threatens, ‘I’m in charge, not you. And you’ll speak to me respectfully, or there’ll be consequences.’

‘Respect is earned. Maybe you should learn that.’

Hot tension escalates as anger flares on his face. His chest heaves with every breath, and he grinds his molars, shooting darts at me with his pinned gaze.

I swallow hard, not wanting to back down but wondering if I’ve pushed him too far. And every time that thought crosses my mind, I reprimand myself.

He chose to bring Aria into this, not me.

He steps back and sneers, ‘Let’s go.’

‘Where?’

‘Does it matter?’

I don’t say anything and don’t move.

He steps out of the closet and warns, ‘Get in the car, or I’ll lock you in this apartment for days.’

I debate only a few more seconds and realize he’d do it. The last thing I believe is that Riggs bluffs on his threats. I quietly follow him through the apartment and get into the Porsche.

He maneuvers the L.A. streets and then the expressway through the thick smog and traffic. I stare out the window, lost in my thoughts, not sure if I’m overreacting about Aria or if Riggs was right to have her help train me.

As much as I’d like to think I know what I’m doing, I don’t. I know nothing about what I’ve gotten myself into, every day seems to bring up a new issue I never contemplated, and Riggs is so hot and cold it keeps me in a constant state of confusion.

This business with the club should have been explained to me. I feel tricked. Then again, they do it for my protection, according to Riggs. Yet I don’t know what to expect when I get there, nor do I know why he thinks I’m not submitting during playtime.

Haven’t I?

As upset as I am with Riggs, I still can’t fathom having to move somewhere else and not have access to him. No matter how much time passed, I still thought about him over the years. He never just faded away. I doubt after everything that’s gone on the last few days he would now.

By the time he pulls through his Malibu gate, I’m more confused than ever. He reverses into the driveway, turns off the car, and pushes the button. The wood closes, and neither of us moves.

He finally turns and states, ‘There are ten days left. But I don’t think anything I do with you will matter.’

Panic fills me. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You want to believe what you want to believe, pet. And that’s on you, not me.’ He gets out and shuts his door. He walks around and opens my door but doesn’t reach in for me.

I get out, and he motions for me to go inside. My gut says not to fight him. I obey, and he goes into the bedroom.

I sit down at the piano but don’t play it. I’m lost in my thoughts when he comes into the room, freshly showered, wearing a suit. A new wave of anxiety fills me. I blurt out, ‘Why are you dressed up?’

‘I’m going to work. Don’t wait up,’ he states, moving toward the door.

I get off the bench and follow him. I grab the back of his arm. ‘Riggs, what does that mean?’

He shrugs me off him and doesn’t look back, answering, ‘Just what I said.’

‘Riggs!’

He freezes, still not looking at me. ‘Work on your music, Blakely.’

I step in front of him and slide my palms on his cheeks, which twitch under my touch. ‘Don’t leave like this.’

He grabs my hands and holds them away from his face. ‘Review the contract, pet. From now on, consider every second playtime since you want to get technical.’

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

He steps to the side of me and says, ‘Keep your phone on in case I need to get ahold of you.’ He walks out the door, gets in his Porsche, and opens the gate. He pulls out, and the wood closes once more.

I shut the front door, more perplexed than ever.

And I’ve always been more of a loner. I normally can get lost in my music, but all day, the loneliness only grows, taking me by surprise. When darkness sets in, he’s still not home.

I try calling, but he never answers. I pace until I can’t anymore. I try calling again, but it goes to his voicemail.

I text.

Me: When will you be home?

I never get an answer.

Around eight o’clock, I open a bottle of red wine, fill a glass, and take both to the deck. The sound of waves crashing against the shoreline is louder than normal. Goose bumps pop out on my skin from the cold wind, but I don’t go inside for extra clothes, letting the wine heat my insides.

I finish my glass and refill it, tug my knees to my chest, and start humming one of my songs. The gust of wind blows harder, and I shiver.

More time passes, but Riggs never shows up. I’m a few sips shy from finishing the bottle when Riggs’s voice tears me out of my thoughts.

He booms, ‘What are you doing?’

Another blast of wind roars across the deck, and the bottle of wine falls and rolls across it.

Riggs lunges, grabs it, and scowls. ‘Having fun?’

‘Oops.’ I giggle, finding his angry face humorous.

‘What’s so entertaining?’ he seethes.

‘You,’ I state, then finish the wine in my glass.

He studies me, the wind gusts again, blowing his hair to one side, and everything about it makes me laugh harder.

It only irritates him. He snarls, ‘Want to expand on that?’

‘Not really,’ I say, then put my feet on the ground. I try to get up, but my balance is bad, and I slip.

Riggs grabs me.

‘Sorry.’ I giggle again, pressing my palm against his chest. I add, ‘You have nice pecs.’

His eyes narrow. ‘You’re drunk.’

‘Nope!’

‘Yes, you are,’ he insists, his voice full of disgust.

I tilt my head, grinning at him. ‘Prove it.’

His jaw twitches. He slides his arm around my waist and leads me inside.

‘I can walk,’ I cry out.

He stays silent, putting the wine bottle on the counter as we pass it, and leads me down the hallway.

‘You passed the bedroom,’ I point out.

He doesn’t respond, continuing to move me down the hall.

I lean closer, wiggling my eyebrows. ‘Let me guess, you have a playroom here too?’

More silence ensues as we get closer to the last door.

I slur, ‘Are you going to bend me over and do what you did to your girlfriend? I’m sure you loved sticking your fingers up her.’

He opens the door to another bedroom.

‘Where’re the toys?’ I tease.

He takes me to the bathroom, turns on the shower, and pushes me into it.

Cold water hits me. ‘Riggs!’ I scream.

His blues turn to flames. He fumes, ‘You want to act like your drunk mother, do it somewhere else!’ He spins, steps out of the bathroom, and slams the door.

I step out of the shower and grab a towel, my teeth already chattering. I open the bathroom door and try to follow him, but the bedroom door won’t open.

‘Riggs!’ I shout, slamming my fists on the door.

But it’s useless. Just like the entire day, he never answers. And once again, I’m all alone, with no one to decipher any of my confusion, frustration, or pain. Only this time, I’m confined to the bedroom suite, intoxicated, and wondering if he’s ever going to let me out.