Sold Read online

  The Auction:

  Sold

  Jaymie Holland

  Copyright 2011 Jaymie Holland

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  The Auction: Sold

  Christy Clarkson finds herself at an exclusive charity auction where she’s agreed to be one of the participants who will be auctioned off and will share a weekend for two at a resort hotel with the high bidder. There is added intrigue when she learns that members of an elite kink club are participating in the auction.

  Years ago, she broke up with Zach Nikas when she found his pictures of bound women. She was naïve about what his bondage interests meant and she ran from the relationship. Ever since she left him she’s explored the kink only to discover that it intrigued her, though she never actually participated.

  When Zach show up at the auction as a bidder, Christy is exhilarated to see him. No one no one else stands a chance of winning her over Zach.

  Her curiosity about kink is about to become experience.

  He’s hot and sexy, intelligent and successful, and just happens to have a well-outfitted dungeon. A dungeon where Christy learns what Zach and “play” are all about.

  Also by Jaymie Holland

  The Auction Series

  Sold

  Taboo Series

  Taking it Home

  Losing Control

  Alluring Stranger

  Taboo Desires: 3 Tales of Lust and Passion

  Playing Rough: 3 Stories of Sensual Submission

  Paranormal Novels

  The Touch

  Come to Me

  Chapter 1

  “I found a Navy SEAL I want to bid on.” Leslie held her wine glass to her lips as she looked across the room where the pre-auction wine tasting was happening. The small gold triangle pin, signifying she was one of those here with ulterior motives, sparkled in the lighting. “Watch. I’ll get him.”

  Christy set her glass on a table as she followed Leslie’s gaze to see the drop-dead gorgeous man. She’d noticed the SEAL bachelor in the charity auction’s program and he was enough to make a woman’s blood run hot. “He’s not wearing a pin.”

  “Neither are you.” Roni, her other close friend, elbowed her in the side. “You need to put yours on.”

  Christy bit the inside of her lip before continuing. “I’ve never done this kind of thing before.” She’d wanted to, had even been excited about coming tonight. But now she was being a big chicken. Without her pin, she’d probably end up with some nice, boring, vanilla guy. So why didn’t she want to put on her little circle pin?

  The red corsage on the shoulder of her black sequined evening dress was to indicate that she was one of the bachelorettes. The men with red boutonnieres were the bachelors.

  Everyone here who had an ornate triangle pin or a beautifully styled circle pin belonged to a special club of people who enjoyed a certain BDSM kink—K-Club, or KC as members liked to call it. A circle pin meant the wearer was a submissive, the triangle meant a Dominant.

  Christy wrapped a strand of her long dark hair around her finger, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a child. It was something she still did despite being a confident, successful businesswoman. “Being auctioned off to the highest bidder…” She looked at Roni. “This is all your fault.”

  “I accept full responsibility.” Roni looked stunning with her gorgeous red hair and her barely-there little black dress. Her own circle pin, which she wore proudly, winked in the lighting. “I see some hot buyers on the floor. The mystery, the excitement of it all… I can’t wait.”

  Christy loved Roni. She was curvy in the all the right places and her look combined with her personality seemed to draw men in. She dressed to compliment her abundant assets. She had an “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” attitude and she had a confidence about her that she could get any man she wanted. She was right more often than not.

  “This event fits you both perfectly.” The knot in Christy’s stomach grew tighter. “Me, on the other hand…I think not.”

  Because I’m a big fat chicken.

  Leslie touched her hand to her white-blonde hair that was swept up in an elegant knot. She was stunning, sophisticated, and elegant. She wore a silver metallic evening dress that complimented her pale beauty. If she wasn’t such an amazing friend, Christy might have felt overshadowed by her. But that wasn’t Leslie’s style.

  She smiled at Christy as she said, “Relax. You’re going to have fun.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Christy took in the glitter and beauty of the night. Women in evening dresses, men in expensive suits. Only the elite had been invited to this auction where the bidding would get well into the thousands since it all went for a great cause. The entire room sparkled from the crystal chandeliers to the champagne and wine glasses to the diamonds and sequins women were wearing, to the pins on about half of those in attendance.

  Somehow Leslie and Roni’s club had become involved with the auction with the plan to make it a high-level auction for those who were a part of a special community that enjoyed a BDSM lifestyle.

  “Yes, that SEAL is mine,” Leslie was saying to Roni. “I’ve already imagined a few things I would like to do with a man like that.”

  “Not all men like what you like, Leslie.” Roni said with a grin. “SEALs are extremely alpha. If you do win him, I don’t think it’s going to be easy making him your boy toy.”

  “What fun is easy?” Leslie said. “I will just have to explore the possibilities. I have turned a few tough ones, you know. I have my technique.” The devious smile matched her sparkling eyes, a look that Christy always found amusing. “This is a perfect venue for the start of the ideal time together. A quasi-slave auction.” Yes, Leslie was beautiful, sophisticated, and wealthy…and she loved to ensnare men in her traps. Literally.

  “You are over the top, Leslie. I think I’m glad that you don’t like women.” Christy said.

  “Don’t speak too soon… When the light hits you just right.” Leslie had up her hands in a rectangle as if framing Christy in it.

  Leslie was so fun and Christy knew her friend too well to know she wouldn’t spend time with a woman.

  “Funny you, Leslie,” Christy said with a smile.

  Leslie looked around the room. “So many hot men here tonight to bid on, but I need to meet that SEAL and see if he’s a candidate for my proclivities. If he is, a weekend away with someone like that would be perfect.”

  “Yes.” Christy’s insides fluttered and she held her palm to her belly. “The weekend at the resort does actually sound nice.”

  A tall, almost intimidating man came up to them. He looked like he did some major working out, had a goatee, and was bald—a seriously sexy bald man—and he wore a triangle pin. “Hello, ladies.”

  “Well hello, Garth.” Leslie went up to the man, a seductive look on her features. “Have you changed your mind? I would love to have a little time alone with you.”

  Garth laughed. “Only if that alone time involves you on your knees, Les.”

  Leslie gave him a little pout. “You know I love them strong... And at the end of a leash. You wouldn’t do that for me?”

  “Not for a moment.” He smiled at Roni. “Good to see you here, Veronica.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” She smiled and touched Christy's shoulder. “This is our friend, Christy Clarkson.” She turned to Garth. “A
nd this is Garth Mason, one of our board members.”

  “A pleasure to meet you.” The big man took her hand and his grip was firm as he greeted her. “No pin?”

  Her face heated. “Not tonight.”

  “She’s a little bashful right now,” Leslie said.

  “Too bad.” His eyes held sensual meaning. “I think I’d be doing some bidding.”

  Christy’s face grew hotter and he winked at her. She decided to change the subject in a hurry. “I’m a little confused on how this all came together.”

  “The Uptown Charity has put on this auction for the last five years,” Leslie said. “Garth is on the board and he is also a part of KC.”

  Roni nodded. “The charity needed more participants for the auction so Garth thought it would be a great idea to quietly put the word out to the kink players to participate in a high-level auction. A number of kinksters from KC have been discreetly incorporated into the auction for charity.”

  “He said nothing to the charity board, of course,” Leslie said. “He privately approved any participants so that he would know they would be safe. So the charity board isn’t aware of our group’s participation.”

  Roni tucked a stray lock of red hair behind her ear. “We could help a good cause while having a little fun at the same time.” She touched the circle pin on her dress. “It was Garth’s idea of giving these pins to club members so that we could recognize each other. Not everyone goes to all of the meetings.”

  “And everyone who doesn’t have a pin is a vanilla.” Christy nodded in understanding. “Vanilla meaning they’re not into kink.”

  “KC members can choose to wear the pin or not,” Garth said. “There are a few who are too discreet to wear them. The pins are meant to help each of us ID each other for those who choose to wear them.” Garth gestured to Christy. “I am pretty good at reading people. Let me guess, you have a circle pin with you.”

  A hot flush swept over Christy. She hurried to avoid the question. “But people in the club can still bid on vanillas.”

  “As long as they understand the rules. It’s all about consensual,” Garth said.

  “We’re supposed to mingle.” Leslie smiled and set her wine glass on a server’s tray. “I intend to do some serious mingling.”

  “I bet you do,” Christy said with amusement.

  “Go get him, girl,” Roni said.

  Garth shook his head. “Be easy on the vanillas tonight, Les.”

  “Now what would be the fun in that?” Leslie gave a sensual smile. “See you later, ladies. Gentleman,” she added before turning and moving gracefully through the crowd, in the direction of the SEAL.

  Christy looked at Roni who said, “The guy won’t know what hit him.”

  With a smile, Christy said, “So true.”

  Garth was still looking in the direction Leslie had disappeared in the crowd. “Someone seriously needs to give that woman a spanking.”

  “I’d love to see the man who could do it.” Roni grinned. “I really, really would.”

  “I need to move on and talk with some of the other buyers and bidders.” He touched his triangle pin. “Make sure everyone is ready.”

  Christy smiled. This guy was friendly but had such an intimidating presence about him. He would scare her to death if he bought her tonight. But she said, “It was nice to meet you.”

  “See you later, Garth,” Roni said.

  He gave each of them a nod before turning and walking into the crowd.

  “Isn’t he hot?” Roni pointed to Christy’s purse. “You really should dig out that pin. If Garth wasn’t like a big brother to me, I’d be all over him. You would get quite the introduction to our kind of fun if he bought you.”

  Christy swallowed at the thought of being that big man’s sub. “I don’t think so.”

  Roni gestured around the room. “There are some hi-profile bidders from K-Club who have been involved with members of The Uptown Charity and are wearing pins. A couple of congressmen, a senator, and other politicians from the D.C. area.”

  “They’re into it—bondage?” Christy asked.

  “Oh, yes or at least some form of dominance or power exchange as we call it.” Roni lowered her voice. “KC is a very elite group kept highly secret. There are different levels of the group due to discretion. I would not have known about some elite parties for the members if I had not been invited into KC. That includes exclusive private dungeons, and the like.”

  “How did you become involved?” Christy asked, but figured she knew the answer as she added, “The congressman you dated.”

  “That’s right.” Roni rolled her eyes. “That’s one thing I can thank him for. Other than that, he was just a selfish, egotistical SOB.”

  Christy laughed. “So even after he got booted out of office, you kept coming to the club.”

  Roni nodded and swept her gaze around the room. “Not long until we each go to the highest bidder.”

  Christy took a deep breath. “Not long at all.”

  “Try the pin, Christy,” Roni said. “Everything is safe. Board members have screened the participants and Garth knows everyone from KC. It’s a class act.”

  Christy looked around the room. Why stick with vanilla when she could have so much more?

  Because I really am a big chicken.

  “The pampering is going to be amazing. You can have a facial and massages at the resort, not to mention the wonderful dinners out.” Roni gave Christy a quick hug. “You’ll have fun. Promise.”

  “A little pampering does sound good,” Christy said. And maybe some fun that didn’t involve a relationship outside of playing around. After Ted had cheated on her… She wasn’t ready to jump into another serious or exclusive relationship. She would really have to trust the next man she gave her heart to and know that he wouldn’t hurt her.

  Roni handed Christy her drink she had set on the table. “You never know what you might find out there.”

  Christy smiled at her always-enthusiastic friend. “I suppose you’re right. We should follow Leslie’s lead and do the mingling thing.”

  “Oooh, this is going to be fun.” Roni pushed her bouncy red curls behind her ear. “I’m ready.”

  Christy took a deep breath. “Here we go.”

  Chapter 2

  Christy smoothed her short black sequined dress as she looked at the crowd. Then she raised her chin and headed into the mix. She put on a smile, doing her best to look elegant and appealing to prospective bidders. Normally she sold trinkets in her boutique but this time she was selling herself.

  She nodded at people she knew and she smiled, doing her best to act natural. She put her hand up to the red corsage and took a deep breath, telling herself she was ready for anything. Maybe she should put on the little circle pin. After all, wasn’t that why she was here? She’d been excited, thinking of being bid on by someone who was into BDSM.

  Yes, she should put on the pin, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  A man touched her elbow and caught her attention. He was several inches taller than her, had an adorably boyish smile and baby blue eyes, and he wore a white boutonniere, indicating he was a bidder.

  No gold pin.

  A dimple appeared in his cheek. “I’m Jeff.”

  She held out her hand and he took it. “Christy.”

  “I saw you in the program.” He released her hand. “You’re even more beautiful in person.”

  Pleasant warmth went through her as he paid her the compliment. He said it so genuinely that it would be difficult to not take him seriously.

  “Thank you, Jeff.” She started to ask him a question about himself when another man joined them. Another man with no pin.

  “Larry Schmidt.” He shook hands with her and then with Jeff. Larry had a little bit of a receding hairline, but he had the air of a playboy to him. He looked like he’d be fun for a weekend. Not the kind of guy to write home about, just pure fun—if you didn’t mind his eyes wandering to every pretty gir
l who walked by. Which he was doing even as he spoke.

  Amused, she said, “I’m Christy.”

  “I know you are.” Larry held up the program. “This is my little black book for the evening. A sexy brown-eyed brunette with a cute figure—you’re at the top of the list.”

  “Looks like there will be some competition.” Jeff smiled at Christy again. “Hope to see you later.”

  “Not possible.” Larry shook his head. “Christy will be mine.”

  The two men started arguing in good humor over who would win Christy. She’d never been fought over by anyone. Did this count?

  The more the men talked, the more she realized she didn’t want to be won by some vanilla guy. They couldn’t give her what she really wanted.

  She reached into her purse and pulled out the circle pin. She pinned it on her dress, beside her corsage then straightened her spine and raised her chin. Now she was ready for the real fun to begin.

  A groan rose up within her and she had to fight it down as she glanced away from the two men and saw the CEO of one of her major suppliers, Henry Hawthorne. She’d had no idea he would be here tonight or she might have backed out of the whole thing. He’d been trying to get her to date him for years. And if he wanted to bid on her, he had the money to make sure he would win.

  The heavyset man pushed his thick black glasses up his nose. Using his bulk, he bumped other guests out of his way as he headed in her direction.

  Not Henry. Please not Henry.

  She wanted to put her face in her hands and hide like a toddler who thinks that if he can’t see you, you can’t see him.

  She looked at Jeff and Larry as if they might rescue her, but they were now embroiled in a conversation about the upcoming World Series playoffs. Baltimore was in this year, playing the Yankees, and from what she could tell by the tiny bit of conversation she overheard that Jeff was a diehard Orioles fan, and Larry a Yankees fan.