Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
I walk around the room, drinking my glass as fast as I can, and then set it down where the other empty glasses are placed. The waiter thanks me and collects them.
Just then, the emcee approaches with a smile, takes my hand, and gives it a gentlemanly kiss. “You look incredible. There are going to be so many offers for you tonight,” he says. There are twenty women on the auction block. Each of us is wearing a Christmas-inspired dress. Mine is a typical red dress with a thin white strip at the top.
“Thanks, but I have very stiff competition. Every woman here is sexy, and we’re all going to be getting offers,” I say, trying to downplay the enthusiasm.
“Yes, but you’re special,” he says, giving me a wink.
“Thank you.” That is when I feel someone’s eyes on me from the corner of the room. My eyes gravitate toward the feeling, and I see a man standing there with a drink in his hand. He brings it to his lips without taking his eyes off me. I should be scared, intimidated, or bothered, but I’m actually curious.
“See what I’m talking about?” the emcee mentions. He’s being a little too forward and I wonder if he has some ulterior motive.
“Who is that?” I question while staring at the stranger. The emcee doesn’t answer, and when I turn to look at him, he’s gone. Damn it. I walk to the back staging area, and I find it cleared out.
The dressing room is empty, so I go to my bag and grab my phone. I’ll text my roommate because my anxiety is getting the better of me at the moment, but she doesn’t answer instantly like she did before I left. It was her idea to get me into this event, but now she refuses to return my messages.
I call her, and the phone goes to voicemail after two rings. “Damn it, why aren’t you answering me?” Ugh. This is ridiculous. I need to get myself together, but I need some air. I spin around and nearly slam into someone. “Oh my God, you frightened me.” My hand goes to my chest to stop my heart from popping out. My eyes look up, and then I let out another gasp because it’s the man who was staring at me from across the room.
He’s blocking the doorway with his large frame, so I’m forced to stay put.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me, ever.” I stare into his icy blue eyes and know immediately that he’s insanely dangerous, but I believe him.
He’s taller than the host, with medium brown hair that has a tinge of gray in it. It’s cut short on the sides but longer on the top to just part on the side. Not a single hair is out of place. He’s panty-melting gorgeous and tiger-like dangerous. I’m not a fool, despite my current situation. Life kicks you one too many times and sends you down paths you don’t expect.
“Isn’t that what someone tells you before they kidnap you?”
He releases a soft, yet deep chuckle that reverberates from his chest almost mockingly. “I suppose that’s true, but in this situation, it’s not really kidnapping because I’m just saving the time and trouble of the auction.”
I take a step back, banging my thigh into the chair behind me. “I can’t just go with you because you’re picking me, Mr.—”
“King,” he says, taking my hand in his with the slightest of touches, holding it as if it’s precious. The sensation is too powerful to pull away even though he’s not using all his strength.
I do my best to fight the racing pleasure shooting through my fingers and up my arm. “Interesting. So you think you rule everyone,” I challenge, hoping to resist the automatic magnetic lure he is having on me.
He chuckles, which I find strangely appealing. Still, I try to ignore it. “Not everyone. However, it’s not the only reason you’re leaving with me. It’s because I’ve made it so. You won’t need to worry about your finances, Magnolia.”
“You know my name?” I ask, wondering how he learned it so quickly.
“Of course I know the name of the woman I’m going to marry.” My head moves side to side, shaking because that’s not what I’ve signed up for.
“Marry?” I choke out. He must be so freaking mistaken because this Christmas auction has nothing to do with marriage. I didn’t sign up for that, no matter how hot he is. “You’ve mistaken this event for something it’s not.”
“I assure you I have not mistaken anything. However, I’m known to get my way, and I’ve decided that I want you as my wife.” He waves his hand as he continues speaking, but my ears begin to ring. “It will be temporary, of course, but only after you’ve produced an heir for me.” And that’s where he loses me, and I lose consciousness.