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

There’s barely any taste when I eat Riggs’s salmon salad and the roll he ordered me to finish. I can only get half the fish down. I’m too nervous about what’s going to happen tonight.

Will this be the last time I’m here?

Will I never see Riggs again?

It’s all too much to contemplate. I blurt out, ‘Why do you have to agree to the club rules? Why can’t you just break them?’

He grinds his molars, pinning his disapproving gaze on me.

My stomach dives. I add, ‘If you want to be with me, that is.’

‘It’s not about what I want, pet,’ he asserts.

‘Then what’s it about?’ I push.

He studies me a moment, then answers, ‘This is how it is.’

‘But you can do whatever you want,’ I insist, in an almost desperate tone that makes me wince inside.

‘I won’t break the rules,’ he firmly states.

The doorbell rings, and a new wave of nerves hits me. I glance at him, asking, ‘Expecting someone?’

‘Your people,’ he claims with a smile.

‘My people?’

He nods, then goes and opens the door. The driver who brought me to the beach house, along with two blindfolded women, stand outside.

‘Come in and take off your blindfolds,’ Riggs says.

They slowly remove them and exchange greetings with him. He makes introductions, stating, ‘Blakely, this is Diana and Nira. They’re here to help you get ready for tonight.’

‘Oh,’ I say in surprise, then remember my manners. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘I’m your hair girl,’ Diana states.

‘Makeup!’ Nira adds.

‘They know everything there is to know about the club,’ Riggs adds.

Part of me feels relieved, and the other part not so much. Both women have a confidence about them, and I wonder if they’ve gotten Riggs’s other subs ready in the past.

Did they help Aria?

I can’t dwell on it long. Before I know it, I’m in Riggs’s bedroom suite, along with several large black cases.

‘Do you have bleach in there?’ I ask Diana.

‘Sure.’

‘Can you turn me back to my normal blonde?’ I ask, no longer debating about my hair color. Since Aria showed up with locks the same as mine, I’ve been dying to switch back.

‘Umm…’ Diana glances at Nira.

Nira smiles. ‘Why don’t we go talk to Riggs first?’

I refrain from rolling my eyes. Of course they’d seek his permission. I insist, ‘It’s fine. I already asked him, and he said I could turn my hair any color I wanted.’

They exchange more uncomfortable glances.

‘Look, I’m his sub. So it’s my fate on the chopping block. I can assure you he’s okay with it. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get punished, right?’ I add.

A tiny laugh comes out of Diana. ‘You’re right.’

‘Unless you like punishments?’ Nira asks.

I shake my head and smile. ‘Nope. Now, can you turn me blonde?’

Diana relaxes. ‘Okay.’

It takes hours to change my hair color, then style it. Diana tells me that Riggs already instructed her on what he wants done. She puts half my hair up and leaves the rest down in long curls.

Nira creates smokey eyes and adds a silver shadow to my lids. Then she applies a matte red lip stain to my mouth.

A short, black slip dress is on Riggs’s bed when I step out of the bathroom. It reminds me of something a woman would wear to bed, not go out in. A pair of black stilettos, with diamonds encrusting the heels, sits next to the dress. They’re taller than what I’m used to wearing.

I tell the girls, ‘I think he forgot my bra and underwear.’

Diana’s lips twitch.

Nira bites on her smile.

‘What am I missing?’ I ask in confusion.

‘There’s no bra and underwear. He just wants you in the dress and shoes,’ Diana states.

My stomach flips. I’ve worn less to Cheeks, but something about not having anything underneath the silk material makes me nervous. It’s barely going to cover my ass.

Nira unzips the dress, ordering, ‘Take off your robe.’

I hesitate.

Diana adds, ‘Don’t be shy. You’re going to the club. I can assure you someone other than Riggs will see you naked tonight.’

My chest tightens. I blurt out, ‘What do you mean?’

She shrugs. ‘It’s normal. Lots of people will be naked.’

Of course they will.

I slowly untie my robe and slide out of it. I step into the dress.

Nira zips it, chirping, ‘You look great!’

‘You sure do,’ Diana adds.

The dress covers a few inches of my thigh. I step into the stilettos, and my legs seem even more exposed.

‘Time to go,’ Diana states, clapping.

‘Have an awesome night,’ Nira says.

I’m too nervous to respond as they lead me out of the bedroom.

Riggs is on the phone. He wears all black. His designer trousers, T-shirt, and sports coat fit his body like a glove. A hint of his tattoos peeks out of the V of his shirt.

My heart stammers. His dirty-blonde surfer hair seems wilder than when he leaves for work. I love it when he wears it like that. Something about it seems a bit taboo compared to his normal buttoned-up work look where he’s hiding his ink.

He catches my eye and freezes. His eyes dart down my body, then back to my face. He hangs up. He states, ‘You look perfect.’

‘She does,’ Nira beams.

Diana glances at her watch. ‘We should get going. We have one more stop tonight.’

‘Sure. I’ll get Luke.’ Riggs goes to the door and motions for the driver to come inside. He hauls the women’s black cases outside, then returns and blindfolds them. He leads them to the SUV, which takes off just as another SUV backs into the driveway.

‘Why do you blindfold them?’ I ask.

‘So they don’t know where I live,’ Riggs replies.

‘Isn’t that a bit extreme?’ I question.

He shakes his head. ‘No. I like my privacy. They don’t even know what town I live in.’ He pins his blues on me.

I stay quiet as a new burst of anxiety fills my belly.

He steps forward and reaches around my neck. He unfastens my gold collar and states, ‘This is the wrong one tonight.’

‘Oh?’

He sets the old one on the counter and picks up a flat box. He holds it out. ‘This is for you.’

‘What is it?’

‘Open it.’

I remove the lid and gape. A new choker glitters back at me. It’s a black and platinum mix, with metal rings and diamonds floating around it. ‘It’s gorgeous,’ I gush.

He picks it up, attaches it around my neck, then adds, ‘There’s something else in the box. Underneath the first layer.’

I glance down at the satin and lift it. A matching leash is folded and stuck in the insert.

My pulse skyrockets, and my mouth turns dry. I slowly glare at Riggs, snarling, ‘A leash? Like I’m a dog?’

His lips twitch. ‘A dog, no. My pet, yes.’

I look away.

He moves my chin so I can’t ignore him. ‘You don’t want to be my pet?’

I snap, ‘Did Flower get a watering can?’

Riggs chuckles, which only infuriates me further. He answers, ‘No. She got a leash too.’

‘Well, at least you know how to make a girl feel special,’ I seethe.

His amusement doesn’t falter. He takes it out of the box, unwinds it, and snaps it on my collar. He states, ‘All auctioned subs will have one tonight. It’s a rule, but so you know, you’re my only pet.’

More anger rolls through me. ‘What does that even mean, Riggs?’

He wraps the leash around his fist until there’s no slack. He tugs so my face moves closer to his, and he says, ‘It means every sub I have, I give a name to that no one else has ever had. So you know, flowers quickly wither and die. Brats I easily get bored with, and stars eventually fade into the morning sky. And I can go on and on about all the reasons no one was ever my pet until you.’

I hold my breath and tilt my head, almost scared to ask, ‘Why me?’

He glances at my lips, then drags his knuckles from his leash-wrapped fist over my jaw, answering, ‘Pets are a responsibility. You can’t just play with them and run. You must choose wisely, so you pick the one you can’t get out of your head, the one you can’t walk away from.’

Silence grows between us. Like always, Riggs confuses me.

He picks up a lock of my hair and confesses, ‘I always loved you as a blonde.’

I blurt out, ‘And I don’t look like Aria anymore.’

He freezes.

My pulse beats loudly between my ears.

‘It was only for training. Stop comparing yourself. There’s no comparison,’ he declares.

I stay quiet.

He declares, ‘It’s time to go.’ He steps back, unwinds the leash, then guides me out of the house and into the SUV.

The divider window is up. The SUV pulls through the gates, and Riggs slides his hand between my thighs.

He leans into my ear. ‘Let’s test how ready you are for tonight.’

I arch my eyebrows.

He slides me onto his lap, and I reach for him, but he stops me, asserting, ‘Rule seven must be obeyed at all times tonight, pet.’

‘It’s a stupid rule,’ I state.

His lips twitch. ‘It’s not your call.’ He orders, ‘Palms flat on the ceiling.’

I obey, and he slides his hands over my arms. Tingles burst under his touch. I struggle to keep my hands where they are, and he moves to my breasts, rolling his thumbs over my nipples until they’re rock hard and I’m whimpering.

His hot breath hits my neck. He murmurs, ‘I can already smell your arousal, pet.’

Flames burst onto my cheeks.

He chuckles and asks, ‘What do you want right now, pet?’

‘I want to touch you,’ I blurt out.

‘What did you forget?’

‘Sir. I want to touch you, Sir.’

He moves his face in front of mine and taunts, ‘Where? And use your manners, pet.’

I swallow hard. It’s felt like forever since Riggs gave me any attention. Since Apartment Thirteen, I’ve felt alone, craving him more and more. The longer he ignored me, the worse my obsession to have him touch me got. I admit, ‘On the lips. I want to kiss you, Sir.’

He glances at my mouth, and I think he’s going to let me, but then his features harden. ‘Permission not granted.’

I push my hands against the ceiling, trying to somehow rid myself of the angst.

‘Where else do you want to touch me?’ he asks.

‘Your cheek,’ I admit.

The fire in his eyes brightens. He answers, ‘Permission not granted.’

For the hour ride into the city, he tortures me, never permitting me to touch him, moving me on his lap in different positions, making me kneel on the floor and lie flat on the seat across from him with my ass in the air, and other things. None of which I would have believed I would do only a few weeks ago.

By the time we get to the club, I’m angry, hot and bothered, and unsure if I love or hate Riggs.

The SUV pulls up to the curb and Riggs gets out. He reaches in for me and helps me out. He leans into my ear and asserts, ‘You obey me and only me, pet. Understand?’

‘Who else would I—’

He puts his fingers over my lips. ‘Only me.’ He locks his blues on mine and releases his fingers, waiting for me to answer.

I nod. ‘Yes, Sir.’

He smiles and guides me into the club, then past the bouncer. The hostess leads us through a hallway and to a private room. It’s dark, with dim lights and one wall made entirely of glass.

On the left, men sit in chairs, drinking and studying the women. On the right are eleven women. I recognize them. They were at the club the night Riggs bid on me. They all went on stage before me.

Now, they kneel with their leashes attached to rings on the wall. Their outfits range from leather to lingerie. Some only wear panties, their breasts fully exposed. Others are bare, their nakedness glowing against the dim light.

It occurs to me that others might see Riggs and me do intimate things. I can’t say the thought never crossed my mind, but now, it feels very real.

The need to flee hits me. I spin into Riggs, but he slides his hand on my cheek and leans into my ear, ordering, ‘Breathe, pet. Just do what I say. I want you coming home with me after this is over.’

It’s another piece of reality. For the last ten days, all I’ve thought about is making sure I do whatever I have to in order to go home with Riggs. Even when he wasn’t speaking to me, I still wanted to be his. I’ve never had a wavering thought about staying with him.

He points to the last remaining spot and orders, ‘Kneel.’

I obey, and he attaches the leash to the wall. Then he crouches in front of me, lifts my chin, and studies my face, saying nothing.

My butterflies go crazy in a mix of nervous apprehension. Riggs demands, ‘Return to your position.’

I bow my head, and his feet disappear.

Too many songs pass, with women on each side of me slowly disappearing until I’m the only one still chained to the wall.

More time passes. My body aches, but I continue holding my position, wondering why Riggs hasn’t come to get me.

A man’s shoes appear in front of me. He barks, ‘Look at me!’

I almost lift my head but hesitate. It’s not Riggs. I fret about what to do, but all I hear in my head is Riggs saying, ‘You obey me and only me, pet.’

The man reissues his order.

My pulse skyrockets. I stay in my position, silently willing the man to leave.

Riggs finally comes over and snaps, ‘Don’t even think about touching my pet.’

‘She’s beautiful,’ the man states. ‘Let’s share.’

My belly quivers. Would Riggs put me in that position?

Arrogance fills Riggs’s voice as he asserts, ‘She’s mine. Now, fuck off, Dooley.’

The man grunts and leaves. Relief washes through me, and Riggs unlatches my leash. He wraps it around his hand, tugs me to my feet, and slides his hands over my cheeks. His hot breath hits my lips, and he praises, ‘Good girl.’

I realize I just passed a test. Rage flares through me. He left me here for how long, chained like a dog, and for what?

But I can’t dwell on my anger. He leads me to another room where there’s a stage. A woman hangs, suspended in the air, her feet spread as wide as possible on raised blocks, her arms stretched and cuffed.

Two men surround her, whispering things. Her chest rises and falls faster. Her lips quiver, and her skin already glistens.

A song plays with no words, just multiple artists moaning in ecstasy. The air crackles with electricity, and everyone from the previous room is here.

Subs kneel at the feet of their Doms. Some of them get stroked by their Doms. Others suck their Dom’s cock. Some haven’t been released from their position and bow their heads.

I cringe, not wanting to kneel again, but Riggs surprises me, taking a seat and patting his lap.

I begin to straddle him, but he swings me around so my back is against his torso, my face toward the stage. He takes his hands and widens my thighs so they rest on the outer part of his.

The air hits my pussy. I move to cover it with my hands, and Riggs grabs them. He moves one behind my head, then pushes my fingers, lacing them into his hair.

I smile, happy he’s allowing me to finally touch him.

He takes my other hand and holds it on my lap.

I glance at him, and he murmurs in my ear, ‘Your eyes stay on stage, open at all times, and you don’t come without my permission.’

Don’t come? There’s a room full of people. He doesn’t have to worry about that.

A man in leather pants and carrying a black flogger steps on stage. He nods to the other men.

The chains lower by a few inches, releasing a tad of tension. A floorboard rises between the woman’s feet.

The second man steps in front of her and drags his fingers down the inside of her thighs.

She shudders.

Riggs murmurs in my ear, ‘That’s the Dom in leather. Those are all his subs.’

My heart races. How many subs does a man need? And why does he have men and women?

The Dom snaps his fingers, and the music turns off. Silence ensues as new tension crackles through the air.

Riggs moves my hair over my shoulder and kisses the curve of my neck. Tingles erupt down my spine, traveling right to my core.

I squeeze my thighs together, and he moves our hands between my legs.

The Dom announces, ‘You’ve been a good girl, princess. You deserve a reward. Where do you want his cock?’

‘My ass, Daddy,’ she breathes, then adds a desperate, ‘Please.’

The Dom locks eyes with the man behind the woman. ‘Prepare her.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ he says, then slides his finger past her forbidden zone.

She cries out, her eyes fluttering.

‘Don’t make a sound,’ Riggs orders, then he shoves his finger and mine inside my pussy and pushes the butt of my palm on my clit, rotating it with the perfect amount of force.

I inhale sharply, trying to stay quiet.

He kisses my ear, murmuring, ‘No coming.’

The Dom gives the woman on stage a minute, then questions, ‘And what about him, princess? Do you want his mouth or cock?’ He points to the man in front of her.

She takes two anxious gulps of air, and her voice cracks when she says, ‘His mouth. Please, Daddy.’

The Dom orders, ‘Kneel!’

The man in front of her obeys, replying, ‘Yes, Sir.’ He puts his face in front of her pussy, bows his head, and waits.

The Dom questions, ‘Should I go easy or hard on him for his punishment, princess?’

More excitement fills her eyes. She answers, ‘Hard, Daddy. Please flog him hard.’

The Dom nods and instructs, ‘Wrap your hands around the chains, princess.’

She winds them twice around her and locks eyes with the Dom.

‘Good girl,’ he praises, then says, ‘No coming until I permit you. You don’t have to stay silent.’

Adoration fills her expression. She pins her gaze on her Dom, replying, ‘Thank you, Daddy.’

He barks, ‘Now!’

The man behind the woman pulls out his finger and grips her hips, thrusting his cock inside her in one move.

She shrieks as the man in front laces his fingers between the other man’s, gripping her hips, and latches his face on her pussy.

Ecstatic sounds fly out of her, and she grips the chains so hard her knuckles turn white.

The man behind her bites on her neck, and the Dom takes the flogger and slams it on the back of the man eating her pussy.

I gasp, unable to take my eyes off the scene.

The man being flogged grunts, his back arches, but his mouth stays planted between her thighs. The man from behind pins his hands over the other man and thrusts into the woman’s ass faster.

Riggs moves our fingers inside me at the same pace, rubbing my clit with an intensity that pools adrenaline in all my cells.

I whimper, shift my hips, and Riggs orders, ‘Don’t move, pet.’

It takes everything I have to still myself.

Riggs kisses the curve of my neck and removes his hand from mine. I try to move my hand, and he demands, ‘Play with yourself.’

I start to turn my head, but he moves his cheek against mine so I can’t. He adds, ‘Eyes on the stage.’

I obey.

He repeats, ‘Play with your pussy, now. Permission to move your hips. I want to see it, pet.’

My heart beats so fast I think it’s going to explode. I’ve never done anything like this in front of anyone, much less a room full of people.

‘Now, pet,’ he demands and helps me start, then removes his hand from mine, stating, ‘Keep going.’

I do as he says, continuing to watch the scene as the Dom slaps the man again.

The woman begins begging. ‘Please let me come, Daddy.’

‘No!’ he declares.

‘Please, Daddy, I need to come,’ she screams as the man behind her tugs her hair so hard her face parallels the ceiling.

‘Not yet,’ the Dom orders, distributing another flog on the man’s red back.

‘Please, Sir,’ I beg, my body already trembling, needing to come and no longer caring who sees me.

‘No,’ Riggs states, then adds in my ear, ‘If you come right now, it’s over, pet. Rule fourteen will be enforced.’

‘Please,’ I plead, not understanding why he won’t let me if he doesn’t want rule fourteen enacted.

The scene continues, and the man behind the woman begins begging the Dom, ‘Please, Sir. Let me come.’

‘Not yet,’ he repeats and flogs the other man.

The room becomes an echo chamber of the man and woman on stage begging to come, the sound of other subs, including myself, pleading with their Dom to come, and the man getting flogged, grunting louder and louder.

The Doms are all ruthless, denying everyone’s request.

Riggs is no different, making me bring myself to the edge, then putting his hand over mine and making me retreat. It’s enough to stop me from flying into a full-blown orgasm before he makes me return to the same excruciating situation.

‘Sir, I…please, I’ll do anything,’ I cry out, still facing the stage, with Riggs’s mouth all over my neck, ear, and cheek. And my body won’t stop shaking, yet I’m not experiencing the high I need.

The Dom on stage orders, ‘Come!’

All three of the subs erupt in euphoria. The man eating her pussy shoots his load all over the stage. The other Doms in the room order their subs, ‘Come!’

‘Please,’ I beg Riggs, expecting him to let me now that the scene is over and the room is full of women crying out in pleasure. But to my surprise, the Dom on the stage, as well as the others surrounding me, are nicer than mine.

Mine’s just cruel.

Riggs moves my hand to my mouth and makes me suck off my arousal, then murmurs in my ear, ‘Turn to the left, pet.’

I slowly turn my head, and horror fills me.

Another Dom is staring at me. His sub is sucking him off. He’s controlling her head, but his eyes fixate on me, moving over my body and legs, then pinning them on my pussy.

I turn back to Riggs, trying to process all of this and close my legs, but he doesn’t let me.

The darkness in his eyes scares me. I don’t know what to make of them. Is he upset with me? Did I do something wrong?

He pushes me to my feet and rises. I’m unable to stand on my own, my knees too wobbly. He slides his arm around my waist, grabs my collar, and leans into my ear, ‘Your pussy is mine, pet. No one else’s, do you understand?’

‘I-I didn’t—’

He puts his fingers over my mouth. ‘I think it’s time for your punishment.’