She’s in a form-fitting black dress and heels, her blonde hair pulled back. She’s dressed like she is every day when she leaves to go to her office. Everything perfect and in place. Always. I think about how I’m going to get some answers from her tonight. I’ll wipe away that polished look she has right now. I’m going to leave her spent and smelling of me.
Samantha smiles and starts to speak. “Tonight is going to be the last Auction.” A few whispers break out, but I stay stock still. She’s quitting? Maybe that’s why this place is so packed. A last round of contracts to be had?
“Thank you all for coming. Everyone I’ve invited here tonight has been a part of the Mistress Auction in some way.” She smiles and raises an eyebrow as she looks around the room. “And as you all know, I have a few favors that I called in. Don’t worry, your secrets are still safe with me.”
There are a few laughs, but I just feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. What is happening?
“A lot of lovely ladies have graced this stage, and I have to say they’re a hard act to follow. But the reason I’ve asked you all to come here is so that you can help me end the Mistress Auction in the way I thought best.”
You could hear a pin drop in the room with the way everyone is holding on to every word she’s saying.
“There will only be one Mistress up for grabs,” she continues, and I feel the earth start to shake. What the fuck is going on? I can feel it, but I don’t want to believe it. I can see the unease in Samantha as she says the words. Something is wrong, and I start to rise from my chair.
She looks at the crowd and takes a deep breath. “Tonight, I hope that the winner will be kind enough to honor our agreement. The bidding starts at ten million for the Madame of the House.”
I’m out of my chair before she’s said the last word.
“If one motherfucker bids on her,” I bellow as I make my way towards the stage, not giving a shit, “I’ll burn this place to the motherfucking ground.”
Chapter 4
Samantha
Well, that happened quicker than expected.
I watch as Leo storms through the crowd of tables and makes his way to the front of the stage, hopping up and standing in front of me. For the first time, I can’t really read his face. This isn't like him. Leo may not be shy, but he also does not cause scenes. I thought at most he might bid on me. Not go all caveman and charge the stage. Before him I would have hated that, but I have to admit I like him like this. I feel safe with him.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Samantha? No way I’m letting you do this.” I see the panic in his eyes now, and my heart starts to race.
“Everyone here who is eligible to bid has an agreement to not honor a thirty-day contract,” I say, trying to explain the situation, wanting to see his reaction. I know I’m pushing him. He’s made it very clear from the first day he took me in my office that he wouldn't share me. I told him he didn't own me and I'd do whatever I wanted, knowing I wouldn't. He'd ruined me. No one had ever touched me or made love to me like he did. With such caring possession. He’d told me to test him and see what happens. I’d always thought that meant he’d walk away from me. So I didn’t test him until now.
“I don’t give a goddamn if they just bid for a chance to wave at you, no way are you doing it. You’re mine, Samantha. I won’t let this happen. You may not have wanted to admit it, and you may keep me at arm’s length, but this is it. I’m done letting you have your way. You’re taking your pretty ass off this stage and coming home with me. Home. Where we live. Together.”
I feel the tears threaten to come up. My nose burns with the need to shed them. He’s doing it. Claiming me in front of everyone; it’s what I’ve wanted for month.
“You don’t have to do this, Leo,” I whisper, trying to let him off the hook. Giving him one last chance to not shatter me. If he takes me from here, I’ll fall so deep into him I don’t think I’ll ever get out.
“Don’t have to do what?” He reaches down jerking the microphone out of my hand and turning to face the crowd. “I should have done this a long time ago. But if any of you know Samantha, you know she is the most stubborn, hard headed, obstinate, willful, uncompromising woman on the planet.”
“I’d put my wife up against her,” I hear Don shout, and I feel myself smile.
“If you know Samantha, you also know that she’s the most caring, kind-hearted, devoted, thoughtful person you’ve ever met. Which is why I fell in love with her.”
Leo turns back to me, and it’s then I feel a tear slip.
“She’s fought for everything she’s ever had, and she’s fought to keep people out. She’s tough, I’ll give her that, but she won’t keep me out. I’m going to fight for you. For us. No matter how much you push, I won’t ever leave you. And if a big show is what you’re looking for, then here it is.”
My hands go to my mouth as he gets down on one knee in front of everyone and pulls a ring out of his pocket. What the fuck? How does he have a ring?
“I bought this after the first time I came to your office.”
There are a few catcalls from the audience, but I ignore them. I never thought I was good enough for Leo. I always second-guessed myself based on the fact that we kept our relationship a secret, but that was my request. I based it on the fact that he never took me around his family, but I always made an excuse when he begged me to. I based it on the fact that I thought he could do better than me, but that’s because I didn't think I deserved him. I had built these walls around us, not him. I’d staged this whole thing to see if he’d claim me in front of others. How hadn’t I seen this before? It seems I can see everything else so clearly except when it comes to myself.
“Samantha, I love you so damn much, and I want the world to know it. If you’re ready to give all this up, I’ll support that decision. And even if you’re not, I’ll support that, too. I don’t give a damn about anything but having you in my life for eternity.”
He opens the box, showing me the ring. It’s a princess-cut black diamond solitaire on a platinum band. It’s huge and gorgeous, and I’m overwhelmed.
I deserve Leo. A man who has been honest with his feelings from day one. A man who has put my needs before his own. A man who has stood by my side when I didn’t think I needed him. But I did need him. I do need him. I’m tired of pushing him away when all I’ve wanted to do was let him love me.
“Goddamn it, if you don’t marry me, I’m going to take you to bed and fuck you for days without an orgasm until you say yes.”
The crowd erupts into whistles and laughter, but I ignore them as I look into those forest-green pools of love and nod my head.
“I love you, Leo. Yes.”
He gets off one knee, scooping me up in his arms, and the audience goes wild. Cheers and claps echo through the auction house as Leo carries me off the stage and out of the building.
It’s a show the likes of which I’ve never seen, and it’s so over the top I’m shocked it was real. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop smiling for the rest of my life.
When we get outside, his town car is waiting, and he slips us into the back. He’s on me the second the door shuts, taking my mouth in a heated kiss.
“Tell me that just happened. Tell me you said yes. Tell me you’re going to be my wife. Tell me you love me.”
I laugh at his words, hearing the excitement in his voice. “Yes, that was real. Yes, I’m going to marry you. Yes, I love you.”
His lips move down my neck, and I moan at the sensation. God, he knows my sweet spots, I think as he places a few hungry kisses there before pulling back.
“Why did you do it, sweetheart?”
He cups my face, making me look at him. I feel something I haven't felt in a long time. Uncertainty.
“I guess I just wanted to see if you’d pick me. Claim me in front of everyone.” I see the understanding and relaxation fill his eyes, but I cut him off before he can say anything.
“It wasn't until I was up there and I saw you charging towards that stage that I knew it was stupid. Of course you’d claim me. I just…my head is everywhere, and I’ve never felt like this. No one has ever loved me, Leo, and it scares the fucking shit out of me. I’m sorry I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Leaning in, he kisses me hard. I can feel so much in his kiss. What he feels for me.
“I’ll always fight for you. No matter how much you push or things start to scare you, I’ll come for you. Always. I felt like I was made for you. You were dealt a shitty life that left its scars on you, and I was brought to you that night to help put you back together again. To show you that you are worthy of love. And I’m going to pour it all over you for the rest of our lives. I’ll make it so you never have to question it.”
“I love you so much.” The words come so easily now. Words I’ve never said to another person in my whole life.
“I love you, too, sweetheart.”
“There’s one more thing, though.”
He stops kissing me and looks into my eyes, waiting.