Page 29 of Guardian
When I get to the line item about spanking, I suppress a shiver and try my hardest to keep my thoughts from wandering.I don’t need to confuse myself any further now, and I definitely don’t want a hard-on in front of the owner of a sex club.I squeeze my eyes shut and picture a bloody scene of lions eating a giraffe before checking “no” that I haven’t tried it and “no” that I definitely don’t want to.
That’ll be easier.I think?
Maybe it’s stupid to want to keep my first and last orgasm with Liam sacred.Maybe I won’t always feel this way.But yeah, for now, easier.
“A word of advice,” Mr.Corvus adds.
I swear my blood flow screeches to a halt.Does he know I just lied on the form?God, imagine if Liam saw this list.Would he be mad I lied?Would he punish me again?
I force another hard swallow.“Yes, sir?”
“For the purposes of this auction, if you’re uncertain about something, check the box for no.You’ll be in an intense situation with an unfamiliar person whom you may or may not trust.I’ve already made it clear to Brennan and to my employees who are handling logistics that there will be no body modification allowed.”
“Body mod—” The heading jumps at me on the list.“Branding.Scarification… Tattoos?People get off on that stuff?”
Hopefully his frown isn’t really as judgy as I’m making it out to be when he says, “You have no idea.”
Clearly, I don’t.
But I’d like to.I make a mental note to look that up later.
My eyes drift shut for a second, picturing the knife Liam always keeps clipped to his belt.Or the long one with the thin blade he uses when he’s interrogating people.
He doesn’t think I know about that, but when I first came to live with him, I didn’t like being left by myself.One night I hid in his back seat, following him to a warehouse in the East End.It was the first time I’d had a response to blood that wasn’t getting lightheaded.Maybe because I knew if Liam was hurting the man, it must have been something he deserved.
My breath hitches when I picture Liam over me with that same knife, slowly and carefully bringing up a line of blood on my chest.
Oh, fuck.That’s… A shiver hits me hard.
I might need some help.
Daniel clears his throat.
My eyes fly open, and I shake myself, trying to clear the thought.“You’re right, I don’t think I’d want to do that with someone I didn’t trust.”
Unpacking the idea of trusting the man who locked me in my room this morning?That’s a problem for Tomorrow Ravi.
“I’ve done plenty of these auctions in the past.For charity, but never before for a person’s virginity.I think it’s a strange obsession humanity has with that sort of thing.Still, this event has the potential to bring in a great deal of money.Mr.Doyle and I are both investing time and resources, with the expectation of a substantial return.It would be unpleasant for everyone if you were to have a last-second change of heart.”
I know it’s the lighting, but I swear his eyes flash with the threat.And I definitely hear a threat.
I think I get what he’s saying.And everything he’s not.If I changed my mind now and walked away, they’d be pissed.If I change my mind after signing this contract when I’m about to go on stage and he’s got this club filled with people who are expecting a show, I’m going to be in a world of trouble.
Probably massive trouble.He’s definitely reminding me more of Liam.And, well, I’ve seen Liam tie a guy up and carve him into pieces for doing something wrong.What would Daniel Corvus do?
With a nod, I roll my shoulders back, lift my chin, and meet his eyes.“I won’t change my mind.”
Saying it out loud, I can hear the nail being hammered into my coffin.In spite of my certainty, it makes my stomach turn.
“Good.”His smile is unsettling.“Then there’s just one more thing I need from you.”
Chapter Eleven
Liam
“Sir, you look like shit.”Bev spins the chair across from me and straddles it, folding her arms across the back.“Same thing still eating you as before?”
I drop the piece of label I’ve been peeling from my beer bottle and meet her curious gaze with a “back the fuck off” glare.
