“Going once, going twice,” the MC calls.

And I don’t know what possesses me, but I suddenly hear my own voice ringing out

clearly over the throng.

“Twenty-four thousand dollars!”

Every mask at the table turns to me in shocked amazement, the biggest reaction of all

coming from beside me. I hear his sharp intake of breath and feel his wrath washing over

me like a tidal wave.

“Twenty-four thousand dollars, to the lovely lady in silver, going once, going twice . . .

Sold!”

Holy shit, did I really just do that? It must be the alcohol. I’ve had champagne plus four

glasses of four different wines. I glance up at Christian who’s busy applauding.

Crap, he’s going to be so angry, and we’ve been getting on so well. My subconscious

has finally decided to make an appearance, and she’s wearing her Edvard Munch Scream

face.Christian leans over to me, a large fake smile plastered across his face. He kisses my

cheek and then moves closer to whisper in my ear in a very cold, controlled voice.

“I don’t know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you.”

Oh, I know what I want right now. I gaze up at him, blinking through my mask. I just

wish I could read what’s in his eyes.

“I’ll take option two, please,” I whisper frantically as the applause dies down. His lips

part as he inhales sharply. Oh that chiseled mouth—I want it on me, now.I ache for him. He

gives me a radiant sincere smile that leaves me breathless.

“Suffering, are you? We’ll have to see what we can do about that,” he murmurs as he

runs his fingers along my jaw.

His touch resonates deep, deep inside where that ache has spawned and grown. I want

to jump him right here, right now, but we sit back to watch the auction of the next lot.

I can barely sit still. Christian drapes an arm around my shoulders, his thumb rhyth-

mically stroking my back, sending delicious tingles down my spine. His free hand clasps

mine, bringing it to his lips, then letting it rest on his lap.

Slowly and surreptitiously, so I don’t realize his game until it’s too late, he eases my

hand up his leg and against his erection. I gasp, and my eyes dart in panic around the table,

but all eyes are fixed on the stage. Thank heavens for my mask.

Taking full advantage, I slowly caress him, letting my fingers explore. Christian keeps

his hand over mine, hiding my bold fingers, while his thumb skates softly over the nape

of my neck. His mouth opens as he gasps softly, and it’s the only reaction I can see to my

inexperienced touch. But it means so much. He wants me. Everything south of my navel

contracts. This is becoming unbearable.

A week by Lake Adriana in Montana is the final lot for auction. Of course Mr. and Dr.

Grey have a house in Montana, and the bidding escalates rapidly, but I am barely aware of

it. I feel him growing beneath my fingers, and it makes me feel so powerful.

“Sold, for one hundred ten thousand dollars!” the MC declares victoriously. The whole

room bursts into applause, and reluctantly I follow as does Christian, ruining our fun.

He turns to me and his lips twitch. “Ready?” he mouths over the rapturous cheering.

“Yes,” I mouth back

“Ana!” Mia calls. “It’s time!”

What? No. Not again!“Time for what?”

“The First Dance Auction. Come on!” She stands and holds out her hand.

I glance at Christian who is, I think, scowling at Mia, and I don’t know whether to

laugh or cry, but it’s laughter that wins. I succumb to a cathartic bubble of schoolgirl gig-

gles, as we are thwarted once more by the tall, pink powerhouse that is Mia Grey. Christian

peers at me, and after a beat, there’s a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“The first dance will be with me, okay? And it won’t be on the dance floor,” he mur-

murs lasciviously into my ear. My giggles subside as anticipation fans the flames of my

need. Oh, yes!My inner goddess performs a perfect triple Salchow in her ice skates.

“I look forward to it.” I lean over and plant a soft, chaste kiss on his mouth. Glancing

around, I realize that our fellow guests at the table are astonished. Of course, they’ve never

seen Christian with a date before.

He smiles broadly at me. And he looks . . . happy. Wow.

“Come on, Ana,” Mia nags. Taking her outstretched hand, I follow her onto the stage

where ten more young women have assembled, and I note with vague unease that Lily is

one of them.

“Gentlemen, the highlight of the evening!” the MC booms over the babble of voices.

“The moment you’ve all been waiting for! These twelve lovely ladies have all agreed to

auction their first dance to the highest bidder!”

Oh no.I blush from head to toe. I hadn’t realized what this meant. How humiliating!

“It’s for a good cause,” Mia hisses at me, sensing my discomfort. “Besides, Christian

will win.” She rolls her eyes. “I can’t imagine him letting anyone outbid him. He hasn’t

taken his eyes off you all evening.”

Yes, focus on the good cause, and Christian is bound to win. Let’s face it, he’s not short

of a dime or two.

But it means spending more money on you!my subconscious snarls at me. But I don’t

want to dance with anyone else—I can’t dance with anyone else—and it’s not spending

money on me, he’s donating it to the charity. Like the twenty-four thousand dollars he’s

already spent?My subconscious narrows her eyes.

Shit. I seem to have gotten away with my impulsive bid. Why am I arguing with my-

self?“Now, gentlemen, pray gather round, and take a good look at what could be yours for

the first dance. Twelve comely and compliant wenches.”

Jeez!I feel like I’m in a meat market. I watch, horrified, as at least twenty men make

their way to the stage area, Christian included, moving with easy grace between the tables

and pausing to say a few hellos on the way. Once the bidders are assembled, the MC begins.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in the tradition of the masquerade we shall maintain the mys-

tery behind the masks and stick to first names only. First up we have the lovely Jada.”

Jada is giggling like a schoolgirl, too. Maybe I won’t be so out of place. She’s dressed

head to foot in navy taffeta with a matching mask. Two young men step forward expec-

tantly. Lucky Jada.

“Jada speaks fluent Japanese, is a qualified fighter pilot, and an Olympic gymnast . . .

hmm.” The MC winks. “Gentleman, what am I bid?”

Jada gapes, astounded at the MC; obviously, he’s talking complete garbage. She grins

shyly back at the two contenders.

“A thousand bucks!” one calls.

Very quickly the bidding escalates to five thousand dollars.

“Going once . . . going twice . . . sold!” the MC declares loudly, “to the gentleman in

the mask!” And of course all the men are wearing masks so there are hoots of laughter, ap-

plause, and cheering. Jada beams at her purchaser and quickly exits the stage.

“See? This is fun!” whispers Mia. “I hope Christian wins you, though . . . We don’t

want a brawl,” she adds.

“Brawl?” I answer horrified.

“Oh yes. He was very hot-headed when he was younger.” She shudders.

Christian brawling? Refined, sophisticated, likes-Tudor-choral-music Christian? I

can’t see it. The MC distracts me with his next introduction—a young woman in red, with

long jet-black hair.

“Gentlemen, may I present the wonderful Mariah. What are we going to do about

Mariah? She’s an experienced matador, plays the cello to concert standard, and she’s a