Page 48 of Stolen Vows
This will not be a repeat.
Tonight, I’ll be the one rejecting Leo.
It’s exactly what he deserves for ruining my evening and making me miss the flower.
And maybe there’s still a chance for me to secure the item, even if that means tracking down the winner and bargaining mylife for it. In the meantime, my husband will pay for being an ass—tonight, seven years ago, and all the alone time in between.
Even if he’s the one who manages to buy me, I’ll make him pay before he’s able to get me naked.
I press my hands to my thighs and scramble out as quickly as possible, rushing to Reaper before he can finish his sentence. He’s shirtless, and as he turns toward me, his tongue darting to the piercing in his lip, his dark eyes rove over my form with a lazy heat I feel in my bones.
“I’m afraid all rides must wait until after the show.”
My jaw falls open. “Oh, n-no. That’s not… I’m not here to service you, Mr. Reaper.”
Amusement dances across his handsome face. “It’s just Reaper, sweetheart. And if that’s not what you’re up here after, I hope you have a good reason for interrupting my show.”
I steal a glance at the crowd, which is completely hidden by the stage lighting. They’re specks of dust out in a sea of black, and I feel a little relief at the thought that maybe no one saw Leo with his hand between my legs ten minutes ago.
Not that it would’ve stopped either of us, I don’t think.
“Weren’t you about to end things?” I ask.
Reaper scans my face, then lifts his brows. Waiting.
I blow out a breath and rock forward, shifting my weight to my toes. “Right, well, I was hoping you could extend it for a few extra minutes?”
“Do you have an announcement?”
“No.” My face burns, embarrassment scorching my cheeks. “I’d like to, um, enter the auction.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have anything else to bid on?—”
“Iwant to be auctioned off,” I rush out. My fingers tingle. “You know, like those other girls I saw earlier.”
He stares at me silently for several beats. Someone calls out for him offstage, and he holds up two fingers in their directionwithout removing his gaze from mine. I squirm slightly, feeling undone by the intensity of his eyes.
“A little unorthodox to add items after the last one has gone up, but I suppose stranger things have happened. You’ll need to sign a contract. House rules.”
“Okay.” I take the stack of papers and pen he hands over, scanning the legalese and signing quickly.
Reaper takes the contract back when I’m finished. “Might want to sweeten the pot a bit.”
“I…I didn’t bring anything valuable with me.” A thought occurs to me, though I’m not sure how viable it is. “I’ve never, um…been with someone. Like this. Or, like…you know.” Shame stains my entire body, and I know without looking that I’ve probably broken out in hives. “Maybe that could work?”
Now he smiles. Takes a step toward me, his clean scent taking over my senses. His long fingers come up, sweeping a stray piece of lint from my bare shoulder and making me shiver. “Stella Ricci’s virginity. What a fucking treasure.”
My jaw drops. “I’m not—I mean, I didn’t think… How?—”
Reaper laughs, stepping away again. He slides his hand over my lower back and shoves me forward into a bright spotlight with a wink. “I know everything. Now put your chin up and shoulders back. You want to be somebody’s toy for a night or two? You’d better make them believe it.”
19
LEO
My fist raps against the restroom door, the sound echoing down the mostly empty hallway.
Nothing happens, and I knock again, harder this time. Every muscle in my body tenses and strains, like I’m on the verge of a panic attack. “Stella, it’s been several minutes now. If you don’t exit by the time I count to ten, I’m coming in.”
