Vivian came to get her in the dressing room and led her to the stage as she babbled excitedly about the night. Sadie swallowed the lump in her throat as she stood on the steps and waited for the cue to her entrance. When she heard the call for the beautiful bachelorette, Sadie forced a smile on her face and stepped out to thunderous applause and cat calls. The announcer called out her likes as if it were a dating ad and started the bidding at one thousand dollars. Sadie swayed her hips as she fought a laugh and walked down the added runway for this part of the show. The champagne that she’d enjoyed in her room was doing the trick, and she narrowed her eyes as she tried to see who was looking at her.
Bids were called out throughout the crowd, nothing too far above what the original number started out as until a booming voice rose above the crowd. “I’ll offer five hundred thousand dollars for the lovely lady.” Everyone gasped, and Sadie’s eyes widened as she struggled to stay standing on her stiletto heels.
“What?” She whispered as she looked around to see who the man was in the bright lights.
“Six hundred thousand,” another voice called out as she spun around to try and see any of them.
“Well, well. This is the fastest auction that I have seen in quite some time. Where are we at, gentlemen?” The announcer teased the crowd as everyone waited anxiously for a response.
“Six hundred twenty-five thousand.” It sounded like the first bidder again.
“Seven hundred thousand dollars.” These guys weren’t playing, and Sadie clenched her fists as she wondered what more there was to this.
The bids jumped up in smaller increments as everyone waited to hear the outcome and once it hit over a million dollars, there was the sound of mutual laughter from the crowd. “Gentlemen, let’s do this.”
“We’ll go in together with two million and she’ll get to date the man that she chooses.” The crowd reacted as Sadie stared forward in shock and the announcer brought the crowd to an ear-piercing cheer. Sadie felt someone next to her, urging her off of the stage.
She walked off of the stage right into Vivian’s waiting embrace, who spun her friend around. “We’ve never done this well, Sade! I'm in total fucking shock right now, but you rocked it. I can’t wait to see these men…men. Can you believe it? Two men bid on you. Talk about scandalous!” Vivian chattered on as Sadie let her tense body relax.
“What now?” Sadie asked as Vivian pulled back and looked at her with sparkling eyes.
“We have a meeting room for the new couple to get to know each other. There're appetizers and drinks. I won’t lie. Sometimes they hate each other, but I am looking forward to this one.” Vivian took her hand and led her down a hallway to a door and pushed it open before she poked her head in to look around. “Empty. Come on.”
Sadie fell into a comfortable chair and ran her hands through her hair. “How did that just happen?”
“You’re beautiful. That’s how it happened.” Vivian told her as she sat down across from her. She poured them some champagne, and they toasted with broad smiles. “Remember, no matter how much they gave to the cause, what happens is up to you.”
CHAPTER 2
The women drank and waited as Sadie grew progressively more nervous. When the door opened again, she looked up with curious eyes as two men walked inside of the room.
They were both tall and wearing exquisite suits that were custom fit to their muscular bodies. That was where the resemblance ended.
Jacob Landon was dark haired with seductive whiskey eyes and a full mouth that promised the best of sin to Sadie as he slowly let his eyes rove over her body and she understood the goose bumps that she had on stage at this moment. He looked built, confident and she knew that he was rich just from his appearance.
Brent Taylor was similar in build but with tousled blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He looked to be more of the wealthy surfer boy with all of the traits that Jacob offered and Sadie shared a long look with Vivian, who stepped up with a smile and outstretched hand.
“Gentlemen, I am Vivian Adams. I manage the Berman Art Gallery, which is a primary sponsor of this very event.” They shook hand in turn, and she surveyed them curiously. “I must say, that was a very impressive effort tonight. My girl is worth every penny, though.”
“That was apparent the moment she took the stage,” Brent agreed as he looked Sadie over. His eyes were dark, and they made her shiver as she looked from him to Jacob, both of which had already introduced themselves just after walking into the room.
“I suppose I should leave the three of you to get to know one another.” Vivian winked at Sadie as she prepared to exit the room. “See you later, Sadie. Treat her well, gentlemen. She means the world to me.”
Sadie swallowed the last large sip of her champagne and set the glass down as they each took a seat across from her. “So you like long walks on the beach, hiking and dancing. Tell us more, Sadie,” Jacob told her as his eyes rested on the generous cleavage that the tight shimmery dress provided as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“That sounded like such a generic dating ad. I didn’t know what to say.” Sadie pressed her lips together and looked at both of them again. “I do love all of those things; it’s true. I am also a writer, an avid reader, and I love experiencing life to its fullest. I love feeling things to my core.” Her voice was shaking as Brent gave Jacob a look. “Do you know each other? I mean, you seemed so comfortable with the mutual bid, and I am told that’s never happened before now.”
“We are best friends and partners in one of the most successful architecture companies in the world. We have done work in every country and just happen to be based in the Los Angeles area.” Brent responded with a twinkle in his eye as he looked into her eyes. “To my knowledge and the past years of attending this event, it is the first double bid. What are you going to do with both of us, Sadie?” She gulped at the insinuation and the men shared a long look.
“It was for dinner. The auction?” Sadie inwardly groaned as she heard her own words. Even her body was telling her that she’d be a fool to stop at dinner with these gorgeous men that clearly had a different idea of their night. She wondered if the after party would be with one of them or…holy shit…both. That was new to her.
“Technically, yes.” Jacob responded as he took her in with his intense gaze and leaned forward. “I’d like to get a drink out there with you, get to know you. We can enjoy the rest of the event and go from there.”
“Yes, I’d like that,” Sadie agreed. The heat in the room was overbearing and she knew that she’d lose all willpower if she continued to be alone with these men. She was only twenty-two and though there had been some sex in her life, it was nothing like these men were going to give her. They couldn’t be that much older, thirty at the most, but they held the world in their hands. Brent seemed to be a bit more relaxed but that quality also made him extremely appealing next to Jacob’s arrogant confidence. They stood and offered their hands to help her up as she felt warmth heat her cheeks. She was feeling that same heat in places that needed to be touched and Sadie licked her full lips slowly.
“Cherry blossom. I love that scent. Does it taste as good as it smells?” Jacob leaned close and murmured in her ear as Sadie’s knees buckled. They opened the door and the three made an impressive entrance into the event as she held both of their arms between the men, something that surely got the tongues in the room wagging. They found a private table and in between people coming up to congratulate them or thank them for their generous bid, the men peppered Sadie with questions about herself as she stared at them.
They complimented her skin, her bright eyes and surprisingly, her curves. The men had never been driven to bid before with the skinny mindless women that were offered in the past and they had honestly arrived separately due to work. The fact that they were both bidding surprised them and they playfully went against each other until they decided to join forces with the big donation.
Sadie could tell that it wasn’t a lot of money to them as she sipped her second drink after sitting with them, feeling lightheaded and shamefully pumping with lust deep inside of her core. The night was coming to a close and groups and couples left the room to go home with their drivers or up to their rooms for the night and she gave the men a curious look. “It appears as though everything is coming to a close. Would you like to have a nightcap with us upstairs?” Brent asked her as he reached across the table and stroked her hand as Jacob stared at her with a hooded look.
Sadie nodded.
Once inside an elevator alone, Sadie felt her body turn to jello as she looked up at Brent before he leaned down and kissed her. It was demanding yet gentle and she clung to his thick arms to hold herself up as their tongues danced together with heavy desire. Sadie had felt it all night between the three of them and as she felt her hair lifted and another pair of lips on her neck, her tiny lace thong dampened between her legs in a rush of need. She was barely aware of the elevator opening and they all stumbled out into a room as she clung blindly to Brent before hitting something soft. Her dress was falling forward and Sadie wondered when it had been unzipped when she saw Jacob kneeling before her. He kissed her hungrily.