oversized posters anchored the piece of furniture, set up on a two foot tall bed frame, also made of solid oak. The headboard was the crowning jewel, with ornate carved gargoyles, animals, and nude figures, cutting deep grooves into the wood.
A red fur bedspread with gaudy six-inch gold fringe was draped over the mattress. Low lights were scattered about the room lending shadows and a golden glow. Candles flickered in the off places where the lamp light didn’t reach. The sweet smell of roses and the spicy hint of patchouli met her nose.
Still grasping her hand, the butterflies in her stomach flapping wildly now, Carson led her across the room to the gigantic bed. His large hands went to her waist, and he hoisted her up on it.
“Carson…”
“Just one second, love.”
Before she realized it, he’d nestled her back into the fluffy pillows on the bed, and had grasped her left hand firm in his own. In a flash, that wrist was bound with a leather strap and he reached behind her to thread the other end through a large eyebolt embedded in the wood-something that she had not noticed before this-and pulled it taut and secured it with some sort of knot. Still moving swiftly, and reaching over her, he quickly bound her right wrist, as well.
All Bree could do was look up into Carson’s eyes in wonder and imagine the puzzled look on her own face.
“Um, Carson. I don’t believe this is necessary. I’m not exactly sure what you have in mind for the next twenty four hours, but… Normally I’m pretty much of a pushover when it comes to sex so, you know, I can be a sure thing. Of course, I know that we’ve not even talked about that, but…”
“My apologies, sweetheart,” he pushed back from the bed, hands on his hips, “but I can’t risk you slipping away on me while I tend to something.”
“You’re asking an awful lot for the thirty grand, aren’t you?”
He snickered. “Sorry honey. I’m not asking for anything. I didn’t buy you for me.”
“What?”
Stepping back from the bed, he said, “Wait here.” Then starting for the door, he came up quick, snapping his finger.
“Like I have a choice?”
Turning and tossing back that oh-so-sexy grin of his again, he replied, “No love, you don’t. Not for the moment. But remember, I did buy you, and the deal was twenty-four hours to do my bidding.”
“I didn’t sign any deal.” She tugged at the leather strap with her right hand. Hm. Pretty darned secure.
“No, but your lovely business partner did.” He glanced at the door. “Remember, it’s for the shelter. I’ll be right back,” he added.
For the shelter.
Somehow, she didn’t think Grace Walker had this in mind when she proclaimed her sold for thirty thousand dollars.
Bree wiggled against the straps and curled her upper body toward the foot of the bed. “Wait!”
But he was gone, although only for a minute. He returned with a handful of tinsel garland, obviously snatched from the Christmas tree down the hall.
“Here love.” Working to untangle the tinsel, he wove them into the leather straps at her waist. Then stepping back and admiring his handiwork, he must have decided she needed to look even more festive than she already did, for he draped tinsel over her body, her arms, breasts, thighs…
“I am not a Christmas package, Carson.” When would this charade be over?
Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against her cheek and moved to her ear. His body heat radiated, warming her from chest to her toes. The caress was nearly her undoing. Since she couldn’t resist much, or push him away, it only excited her more.
Her chest lifted and fell and the bed shifted with his weight. The tension between the two of them was palpable. The fine hairs on the side of her cheek were erect and sensing his nearness. Finally, ever so slowly, Carson pulled back far enough to fasten his gaze into hers and hold. She watched the deep blue depths of his eyes flicker and reflect the gold hues of the room.
“Damn…” he said, then abruptly pulled back. His steps toward the door were assured and quick.
“Carson.” She let his name slip off her tongue, not sure why or what she wanted from him.
With a sigh, he halted with his hand on the doorknob and dragged his gaze back to her. “Yes, Bree?”
“So are you going to tell me what your bidding is?”
He studied her for a moment, and then calmly replied, “Not yet.”
Chapter Four
The wind nipped at his cheeks but Jake didn’t care. He needed air. Fucking, frigid air. Standing out on a breezeway, which led from the main house to the casitas, he was sheltered from the fine falling snow, but glad for the sting of cold to numb his brain and still his pounding heart.
The crowd had left, thank God. The last cocktail waitress was auctioned off to her bartender boyfriend, and he’d swooshed them out the door telling them not to worry about cleaning up, given the snow and all. She didn’t bring in the dollars that her partner had, but it didn’t matter. Damn Carson. He’d forked over thirty thousand dollars of his savings. It was a good cause, of course, but…
What in hell was he going to do with Bree?
Everything that had rolled around inside him for the past few months was coming to a head tonight. He hadn’t seen it coming. His entire world could come crashing down around him in one fell swoop. He feared that. He could lose it all.
Carson.
Bree.
Though, he never really had Bree. He simply lusted after her, loathed himself for it, and lied about it. But he did have Carson. And he didn’t want to give him up. They had been together for eight years. How can one throw away that many years? He couldn’t, which was why he felt so conflicted. The sexual encounter with Bree had changed everything, since he and Carson had devoted their lives to each other. That commitment was a life-changing event.
They had both lived bi-sexual lives and were quite open with their sexual and promiscuous selves. Sex was part of their lifestyle. But then, they were young. Carefree.
And stupid.
A little age on both of them caused them to think about their lives and futures. They had been good friends for years then discovered they were more than that-they were in love with each other. Once that realization hit, and they knew they wanted to meld their lives, they made plans and set out to live the dream.
Together.
Eight years ago they made that commitment. And now, on one Christmas Eve, it was all going to hell.
All due to his indiscretion and lack of self-control.
He wasn’t sure what worried him more. Letting the notion and fantasy of Bree go forever? Or losing Carson.
Or perhaps, what truly frightened him was the look in Carson’s eyes as he stood in their living room looking up at Bree while he bid on her.
That’s when he’d had to walk away. For several seconds, he held the notion that he should buy her, talk to her, figure this out. But he couldn’t pull it off. He couldn’t bear any of it, any longer.
Was he out to get even? Had he known about Bree all this time?
Behind him, he heard a door open and close.
“So there you are.”
Jake closed his eyes at Carson’s voice. Perhaps this was it. Was she with him? Slowly, he turned to face the
