Buy Me (Mistress Auctions #1)(24)

I decide to bite the bullet. Just ask what I want to know.

“Do you know they bought me in the Mistress Auction?”

“Yes, it’s my job to know almost everything they do. It’s what makes me good at my job.” She turns and looks at me. “And I love them, that’s also why I keep a good eye on them.”

My heart freezes at her words, but once again her face is warm, not filled with jealousy. It’s like that every time she looks at me. She likes me. Her love for them has to be affectionate and platonic.

“They want you. I see it in the way they talk about you. You're special to them. I think you’ll make them happy. You already have. Since you walked into their lives they seem to have come alive. The past few years have been dull. Something was missing for them, and I think they’ve found it. More importantly, they think they’ve found it.”

The butterflies take full flight now.

“They knew I’d be there last night at the auction, didn’t they?” I say. It’s not a question, really, because I already know the answer, but she nods, confirming what I thought. There was too much in place.

They must have found out I’d be there somehow. In an odd kind of way it’s sweet. Almost like they came in and swooped me away, and were willing to pay ten million dollars to do so. Just to finally get their date with me.

The nail lady comes back in to help me get my shoes back on. I got a color that matches my dress nicely. I wonder if we have plans tonight or something. My make-up and hair are fully done, and it’d be a shame to waste it.

Mandy’s ringing phone draws my attention back to her. She's signing a slip of paper for a member of the spa staff, and she deftly juggles her phone and the pen.

“Ms. Burch speaking,” she says in a professional tone. It seems like the phone is glued to her hand.

“Hello? Hello?” she repeats before canceling the call, a worried look on her face.

“Everything okay?” I ask, seeing that’s she’s somewhat disconcerted by the call.

“Yeah, someone just keeps calling but they never respond when I answer.” Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but I can tell this bothers her.

“You sure you're okay?” I try again, not used to seeing the unflappable and unfazeable Mandy discomfited.

“Everything is perfect. I just need to clear out a few things. I'm sure my Inbox is overflowing by now,” she responds, a mask slipping back into place.

“Yeah, I'm sure you have a ton to do. I'll leave you to it. I know my way back to the room.”

“Are you sure? It's a big casino and it’s easy to get lost. I can walk you.”

“No, it's fine. I remember the way,” I reassure her.

“I had a wonderful time today. I hope we can do it again soon.”

Nodding my head, I agree. “I'd really like that.” It was wonderful. I lost touch with so many of my friends when most of them went off to college. I don't have any girlfriends anymore. My closest friend at the moment is Tim, who doesn't really care to even talk. He more grunts his responses. It's sad when a twenty-year-old girl’s closest friend is a forty-five-year-old man.

I leave Mandy standing in the spa, typing away on her Blackberry. I didn’t even know people’s fingers could move that fast. I make my way back to the elevator that goes up to our room. Warmth floods my stomach at the idea of the room being ours.

I feel like my brain is playing tug of war with itself. One part of me is telling me not to get attached, but the other wants to jump in with both feet. I’m truly starting to think this isn’t a game for Aaron and Justin. Maybe they really want more, and I’m sick of not doing what I want to do, so I’m going to give this a try.

If worse comes to worst, I can cry myself to sleep on top of my ten-million-dollar bed every night. Pushing the elevator button, I can’t help but snort at the idea of sleeping on a ten-million-dollar bed.

“What’s so funny, Lucky?” I turn to see Aaron staring down at me. His eyes are filled with hunger. I’m starting to think maybe that’s just how his eyes always look.

I give in to what I want, doing what I told myself I would do. Jump in with both feet. Wrapping my arms around his neck, thankful for the wedges giving me the extra height, I pull him down closer. “Nothing,” I say, pressing my lips to his. Like all things I’ve noticed about Aaron, he doesn't really need an invitation. He jumps right into kissing me back. He doesn't start slow and try to work his way up. No, he pushes his tongue right into my mouth, demanding entry.

This isn't surprising. Even when both Aaron and Justin were trying to get me to go on a date, I could see their differences. While they were a lot alike, there were small things about them that I noticed were different. Justin always tried to charm me into dates, work up to it before he asked. Aaron kind of just demanded. “We’ll have dinner Friday. I’ll send a car for you at seven sharp.” An order to which I didn’t respond. I let the car show up at seven and promptly told the driver he wouldn't be taking me anywhere.

I hear the elevator ding behind me, and I pull my mouth from his. “Where’s Justin?” I ask, looking around for him. I wonder if they were both headed up to the room and that's why I ran into them. Still seems a little early for a date, but maybe they have something special planned. I look around to see if he is nearby, and I spot him all the way across the casino.