"What's your name, little one?" Gregory ran his hands down my arm, pressing himself against my back.
I went as rigid as possible.
"None of that now. There's no reason to be unfriendly." His hand wandered down to my hip, and I pushed him off.
"Feisty one, huh? The boys are going to love you."
I kept silent, knowing anything I said would just make me an easier target later.
"Have you lain with many men before?" He pressed himself against me, physically revealing his desire in a way that terrified me further.
I stood silent.
"There are ways to make you talk," he whispered in my ear. "Ways that will be fun for me but maybe not for you."
I shivered while he laughed.
"Relax. You're safe for a while. I have to give you to my boss first."
Did that mean he wouldn't touch me on our journey to the city?
"That doesn't mean I can't sample the merchandise a little though, does it?" His lips brushed against my neck. I recoiled.
"Still uptight. We'll have to find ways to loosen you up then."
I tried to quiet my shaking.
"It's going to be a long trip, so I think we'll find a place to stay tonight." He opened the door of the vehicle. I expected it to be empty but I found two men sitting in the back. One was Bolton, the young trader.
Gregory noticed my surprise. "He's petitioning for membership. He seems stronger than half the new system boys." The word 'system' was one I'd heard a few times. It was what they called the organization that raised the male babies born in Central.
The other man in the back grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a seat next to him.
"A real nice young one," he called to Gregory.
"We barely paid half of what she's worth. The boss is going to be very happy."
"The whole club will be happy. Have you seen this hair?" He picked up a few strands. "Have you ever seen anything like it?"
"I've seen it, but not in a long time."
Everyone seemed to be making a big deal out of my light hair. I hoped that wasn't going to give Quinn more trouble too. I assumed Central wasn't concerned with appearance.
The vehicle lurched forward, and I was catapulted onto Bolton's lap.
"Don't worry, I've got you." He wrapped his arms around my waist as though they were a seat belt.
I struggled to move off him, but he held tight. I felt his body respond to me. "You'll be more comfortable right where you are."
"Leave the girl alone. You're lucky you even get to look at her," Gregory yelled back. "If you want membership you need to fall in line."
Bolton reluctantly let go of me, and I fell into the empty seat beside him. His eyes raked over me longingly, and I devised a plan.
Bolton was desperate. He'd do nearly anything to get with a woman, and it would take him months, if not years, in the Reine. But he was ambitious. He'd had less than twenty minutes to make his petition to the Reine during the auction.
I caught him staring at me again. He was my chance. He'd get me where I needed to go.
I returned his stare, and he moved his head back a tiny bit in surprise.
I forced a smile, hoping it looked friendly and not terrified.
He grinned back, reaching out a hand to touch mine. He was awkward about it, and I knew how inexperienced he was. I wondered if he'd even talked to a girl his age before me.
I didn't pull my hands back, and he took it as an invitation to move his hand onto my leg. My dress was long, but the fabric was thin. He rested his hand just above my knee.
"We're stopping soon. This storm's going to be a bad one. There's no way we'll make it," Gregory called back.
"All right," Bolton replied absently. He was running his fingers over my leg and trying not to grin like a fool.
"What are you so happy about?" Gregory looked back and noticed Bolton's hand.
"What? You'll play nice with him?" His expression darkened.
I needed to respond. I couldn't stay silent forever. "He's my age."
Gregory laughed. "Your age? Don't you prefer men with experience?"
"She understands skill is about more than age." The other man next to me grinned. He touched my other leg, and I tried to resist recoiling.
"Both of you stop touching her. If I can't have her yet, neither can you imbeciles."
"Imbeciles?" The unnamed man seethed. "I'm going to be higher than you on the chain before you can blink an eye."
"Is that what you think?"
I let the two men argue. I didn't care what they said. I needed to find a way into Central, and I knew that meant somehow reaching the city.