Intense

“Yes,” I moan. “I’m spoiled.”

He pulls back, a wicked smile on his lips. “I didn’t say you could respond.”

I stare, eyes wide, realizing my mistake. He pulls his thumb from between my legs and moves up onto the bed.

“Now you’ll need to be punished.”

He moves down between my legs, spreading them wide. I practically moan as he looks at my dripping wet pussy, bare and clean for him.

I’m dripping. I’m aching. “Please,” I whisper. “Punish me.”

He grins and when he touches my body, my entire world shrinks down to the pressure of his fingers against my skin, and everything goes light.

1

Ethan

One Week Earlier

I lean back in my large black leather chair and look out the wall-sized window, staring out across the city.

It’s the middle of the day and already I’m exhausted. I’ve barely slept over the last month as my company, World Line Inc., has gone through some enormous structural changes. We acquired one of our smaller competitors, and in the process we’ve had to change things up to fit their new employees and manufacturing.

It’s been exhausting, but the end is almost near. And when we’re finished, World Line will be one of the largest manufacturing tech companies in the world.

I sigh, stretching. I crack my neck and lean back, groaning. I feel like a man twice my age, although I’m only thirty-two. I’ve spent the majority of my life so far, from when I was just a college dropout at the age of twenty to now, building this company and growing it aggressively. I started out with a simple idea, a tweak to the manufacturing process, and grew it into a world-wide conglomerate.

I sacrificed a lot to get where I am. The magazines all like to call me the most eligible bachelor under forty, but I rarely ever feel that way. I fucked my way through the socialite scene, because I don’t have time to spend on getting close to women.

But where has that left me? I can’t help but wonder sometimes if things would be better if I gave a woman more than just one night. Maybe not a relationship, because I’m not interested in getting fucking tied down, but something. I don’t know what. A friendship, a fuck buddy. Hell, I barely have time for anything outside of the business these days.

I lean back and put my hands on the back of my head, sighing. It probably doesn’t matter, anyway. I have enough money to retire and live a rich life at this point, but I know I’m never going to. That’s not the type of man that I am.

Settling down isn’t something I want. I work hard and I play hard when I get the time. I live to win and to dominate everything around me, that’s how I’ve gotten to where I am. Thinking too hard about my life won’t do any good, not at this point.

As I’m about to turn back to my desk and get back to these contracts, my cellphone buzzes. I pick it up and unlock the screen, cocking my head at the message.

It’s from a blocked number. Which is unusual, because I have my phone set up to block all incoming messages from blocked numbers.

But that’s not the weirdest part. As I read the message, I can’t help but think I’ve been transported to some new universe.

Dear Mr. Locks, You are cordially invited to bid on the most beautiful women on the market. This auction is only for men of means and power. It is a private event. If interested, simply respond to this message. You were invited by one Mr. Range. See him for any questions. Respond in twenty-four hours. Cordially, The Syndicate.

I read the message over twice before I start to understand what it’s saying.

It’s an invitation to a human auction. I’ve heard about these things, but only as whispers. It’s said that there are places where only the most attractive women are sold for high prices and long periods of time. It’s a way to buy a wife or a mistress even, or maybe just a girlfriend for a week.

I never went looking for these auctions because I never needed to. I know that some of my peers engage in them, because it’s easier to buy a woman for a week than it is to pick one up, but I usually like the chase. It’s fun to seduce and be seduced. These escorts, they’re just a way to fuck and be done with it.

I have no clue why Mack invited me to this auction. Mack Range is one of my closest friends and the owner of a company we often do business with. We’ve been to several parties together and he knows I have no trouble getting women when I want them.

Annoyed, I quickly call Mack up. He answers on the third ring.

“Locks!” he says. “What do you want? I thought you were too busy to talk right now.”

“I just got a really strange message, Mack. From The Syndicate. Know about it?”