But suddenly, a familiar roar rings out, shaking the air around me. The air in the chamber vibrates, making my eyes pop open.
“What–?” But there’s no time for anything. Grayson’s in the room, that big body moving so fast that he’s a blur of speed.
The lights on the booths all go off. Another loud roar reverberates through the room, and then CRASH! Glass breaks as the main door slams open. Even with the spotlight blinding me, I see glass flying across the floor like scattered shards of diamonds reflecting the dim light.
Grayson?
Sure enough, my lover is dressed in the same outfit I saw him in before I was taken. Slacks, shirt unbuttoned at the throat, and shiny dress shoes. But that’s where the similarity ends. He looks frantic with his teeth bared in anger and eyes wild, surveying the room. Incredibly, there’s a giant bulge at the front of his slacks. He’s as hard as a diamond. Did he get excited watching me perform? A red hot flush takes me over from head to toe, his betrayal completely forgotten as I stand there stunned.
But there’s no time to think. Suddenly, he’s on the small stage with me, his blue eyes brilliant and fierce. “Trina. Baby.” Then he kisses me hard on the lips, and there’s nothing I can do but to stare back, eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he growls in a rushed voice. “I was stupid. I shouldn’t have let them take you,” he rasps. His body is hard and fierce and beautiful. “Forgive me, my sweet Trina. Please.”
But we can’t speak right now because vaguely, I hear a cold female voice announcing in the background, “Auction aborted. Auction aborted.”
But it’s too late because masked men are charging us now, ripping my man away. They’ve pulled him off of me, his big form held immobile between two men clad in black. Suddenly unfreezing, I whirl lurch toward him.
“No! Grayson!”
But what am I calling for? Do I want him back? But my body has a mind of its own, and I rush towards Grayson, beating at his captors.
“Let him go!” is my helpless scream, uncaring that I’m small and round and nude, and no match for these burly men. My fists beat down on their muscled arms. “Let him go!”
But two other men appear out of nowhere and grab me, yanking me away from my man and jerking me towards a hidden door in the wall.
“No! Grayson!” I scream his name. My shriek is high-pitched and desperate, the sound of hearts breaking, of lives ending. Oh my god, I can’t lose him again. “Graysooooon!”
But it’s too late. I’m dragged through one door, and my lover through another, his massive, struggling form disappearing from view.
“No!” he bellows. “Get the fuck off her! Don’t touch her, you fucking bastards!”
Grayson’s lion-like roars shake the small room as they wrestle him away. He’s fighting them the whole time. Kicking and punching at his captors, pure rage and violence on that handsome face. My shrieks join his roars, and it’s loud and chaotic and utter madness.
All the booths are open now, the billionaires descending to observe the chaos. They’re dressed immaculately in perfectly-cut suits, all twelve of them handsome, imposing, and powerful. Dark streaks slash their cheekbones as they watch my curvy, naked form disappear. Dispassionately, they watch Grayson too, fighting for his life as he tries to rescue me.
And then they’re gone. The door to the auction chamber slams shut behind me and everything is suddenly silent. My chest is heaving, and my naked body covered with sweat. Was Grayson really just here? Did he really try to fight for me?
In the midst of my frantic thoughts, the Russian woman appears again. This time her smile is gone, and her blue eyes are like ice. She looks displeased, to say the least.
“Well, that was unexpected,” she says in a clipped tone and stands in front of me as the men hold my struggling form captive. “I don’t even think you’re worth all this trouble.” Her thin lips turn downwards in an unhappy frown. “Ridiculous.” She jerks her head down the hallway. “Lock her back in the room. We’ll deal with her later.”
But where’s Grayson? What have they done with him?
“You can’t do this to me! Let me go!” is my helpless shriek. I scream and struggle but it’s no good. The two men drag me down the hallway like I’m no heavier than a leaf. They shove open the door of my room and throw me in. My foot catches on the rug, and I stumble and fall to my knees, crying out in pain.
And then they’re gone. The two guys disappeaer and the door slams shut, trapping me inside the cold, luxurious bedroom.
Tears drip down my face and into my gasping mouth. My knees throb with pain from when they hit the floor. Misery. Sadness. Agony. These emotions twist and scrape inside me, doubling me over. I’m still on my knees but I can’t get up. It’s impossible. I can’t do anything but wail and cry and wish for Grayson and the life we might have had together, even if it was just a pipe dream.