Chased (Savage Men 3)

She clutches tightly to the bars surrounding her. She’s not looking at us, yet I still feel watched. As if she can hear us. Or like she’s trying to.

“Fifty thousand, going once, going twice. Sold!” The bidder on the far right hands a check to Graham who inspects it before shaking his hand. “Thank you.”

He walks back to the center and says, “Okay … next one is a female. She’s ripe, of age, and perfect for any party or gathering. She’s very sociable and listens to commands well. Also has an implant for ultimate pleasure.”

Graham presses another button on the wall, making her squirm in her cage. She jumps to her feet without him having to say a word. The buzzing stops … but he reaches into his pocket and takes out a device, clicking it on.

She clenches her legs, and her cheeks flush. A slight mewl leaves her mouth.

The men chuckle, throwing glances at each other, gloating like crazy.

I swallow and loosen my collar, then stare at my hands. They’re covered in marks from my nails digging into my skin.

“Bidding begins at thirty thousand.”

The men bid again, but I can only focus on one thing.

The girl on the right … Her eyes and how they rise to meet mine, only for just a second.

They’re so … clear. And beautiful.

In her cage, she sinks to the floor and lowers her head, hiding her face among her curly hair.

I have to focus on her and only her.

If not, I’d probably outbid every man in this room until I won all three.

But that would only make things harder for me.

I have to be patient. Have to be wary. Have to fit in.

So I wait and wait until the bidding finishes at seventy thousand, after which another check is exchanged.

Finally, it’s time.

“Lastly, we have a short but spicy female. This one particularly gave me a lot of trouble.”

The men in the room snigger.

But I don’t find it funny. Not one bit.

“She’s spunky, but with a bit of training, she’ll make a wonderful pet. However, there is a small defect … she is blind.”

Blind? No wonder her eyes are so … pretty.

A grin spreads across my lips.

This couldn’t be any more perfect.

Graham presses another button. She’s crippled with fear and pain, crawling in her cage, but she doesn’t give up. Doesn’t stop clutching the bars, doesn’t get up.

“Up!” Graham yells.

I clench my fists, watching her struggle. She refuses to give up the fight even though she’s already lost by a long shot. She’s in a cage, yet her spirit never fails her.

I admire her.

But I also wish she’d just surrender.

“Please …” I mutter to myself, biting my lip.

Only after a grueling minute has passed does she finally relent.

She’s light on her feet, but oh so unsteady.

“Bidding starts at fifteen thousand.”

I run my fingers along my jaw, staring at the girl, while the men start to bid.

For a moment, I stop breathing and focus entirely on her feeble body, which seems to be able to withstand so much pain. It’s incredible.

When the men stop muttering their bids, I raise my hand.

“One million.”

Everyone looks at me with gaping mouths. As if I’ve lost my mind.

But they don’t know what she’s worth. They can’t see it … but I do.

To me, she is everything.

Her existence will be my downfall or my only salvation.

I have to know which one it’s going to be.

I have to have her.

“Any other bids?” Graham asks, hoping someone will bid more.

Of course, not. They don’t want her. They don’t see the use in a blind, defiant girl.

But I do.

“Okay … going once. Going twice. Sold!” Graham says, and he approaches me.

I narrow my eyes at him and cock my head while I take my sweet time rummaging through my pocket to conjure up a checkbook. With quick scribbles, I write everything he needs. I don’t look twice before tearing it off and handing it to him.

“Thank you,” he says, greedily snatching it away from me. Then he directs his attention toward the rest. “Well, that was all. I’ll have more for you next time.”

Everyone gets up and leaves, but not me.

With careful steps, I approach the glass and place my hand on top of it, wishing I could already touch her. I wonder what I’ll feel. What I’ll want. What she smells like. How she’ll taste.

I close my eyes and imagine all those things.

Riveting.

“I’ll bring her to you in a moment,” Graham says. “You bid quite a lot.”

I smile and look his way. “I know what I want. And I always get what I want.”

He smiles back awkwardly and then clears his throat. “All right. Well, if you will please wait in the other room like the others, I’ll get to work.”

I nod and take my hand off the glass, saying a mental goodbye before turning around and walking back outside.