Her full, rosy cheeks, shapely painted lips, and small chin were perfect for her oval face, but that figure, oh God, that lace bodice she wore promised a flawless form existed underneath. He watched them until they walked under the overhang and disappeared out of sight.
Sebastian then glanced down at his tuxedo, cursing the visible stretch of his erection. He’d known her presence in his home would affect him in this manner. He and Wyatt had talked about it. They’d known he would be the weaker link of the two because he had kept his distance. Wyatt had not.
For years, Sebastian had waited. He’d wanted. He’d yearned. God, he’d needed. Now, there she was, downstairs in his home.
Strolling to the bedside table, he picked up the receiver and dialed a number he’d known from memory since the first threat had been made years earlier. Neely’s group of friends had taunted him with Kimberly. One minute, they wanted him to believe he could have her—for a price—and the next minute, they threatened his life if he so much as attended the same function she was scheduled to attend.
Listening to the annoying ring, he tapped his fingers against the smooth wood. Eyeing the four-post bed, he couldn’t help but hope. He wanted to see Kimberly sprawled across his mattress by the end of the night.
“Yeah? Who is this?” A dreadfully troubled voice filled the line.
“Is this Jason Neely?” Sebastian asked.
“Yeah. Who is this? What do you want?”
“Who I am isn’t important. You can assume I have your number because some of your people call when they are interested in selling photographs, pictures of a young woman in her mid-to-late twenties.”
“Go on.”
“Mr. Neely, I want you to pay attention.”
“Is this some kind of prank?”
A soft buzz hummed in Sebastian’s jacket pocket and he retrieved his cell. He smiled as soon as he confirmed the picture received, but he felt that smile widen after he keyed in a number and hit
send
.
“This is no prank,” he assured him, watching the blue bar zip across the facing of his phone before the word “sent” verified Neely had received the transmitted image. “I just forwarded a picture to you.”
Wyatt was in the photograph, which would only add to Neely’s angst. Sebastian and Wyatt had discussed how they planned to handle Jason Neely. They weren’t concerned with any sort of retaliation because they understood what Neely was capable of and knew what cards he held in his hand before he played them. Their advantage was secured by the fact that he knew virtually nothing about them.
“Is this Wyatt?” he grated out.
“Sebastian Ketchum.”
“Do I know you?”
“You should. We’ve attended many of the same functions and as I said, I have your number because I’ve received phone calls from you and your people. I’ve even purchased some photos from you in the past.”
“What do you want?”
“Did you get the gift I sent you?”
“I don’t know what you’re boasting about,” Jason said. “This picture shows Kimberly Cartwell with Wyatt Clanton. Did he ask you to send the text message?”
“He’s aware of it.”
“I see.” There was a long pause. “What is it that you want me to know? I’m sure there’s a reason for your call, Mr. Ketchum.”
“We’ve met on several occasions. I remember a specific function when you arrived with Miss Cartwell on a leash. She was blitzed out of her mind and asked for a drink of water. Do you remember which function I’m referring to?”
“We attended a lot of affairs together. Miss Cartwell and I have a very special relationship. She’s mine. Wyatt Clanton is aware of this. Then again, I’m sure you’re aware of the fact, too.”
He started to argue the point of Kimberly belonging to him. Instead, he said, “The event I’m referring to is where Miss Cartwell didn’t realize she was even on the planet, much less at an auction. She wore a red collar and you kept her on a short leash. She wore a tacky gold see-through jumpsuit and went on the charity’s auction block without shoes, I remember that much. Do you?”
“Ah yes,” Jason replied, laughter in his voice. “A great benefit. Wasn’t it?”
“I purchased her time at the auction.” He stiffened as he recalled the night. He’d been taken aback when Kimberly Cartwell had been paraded around a public arena, scantily clad in a designer fashion showcasing her high, perky breasts and exposed bottom.
The Doms there had been appalled. Neely had crossed the lines of trust between Dom and sub, yet no one could do anything about his presence there. Those in attendance were scared for her.
“It was obvious she’d been drugged.”
Jason clucked. “Nope. Doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry.”
“You must remember speaking with Martin McPherson and demanding a recall on the winning bidder’s ticket. Don’t you?”
“If that happened then I feared for my sub’s safety,” Jason said. “I’m sure you weren’t a good match. Otherwise, the bid would’ve gone through. You know how these benefits operate. Our submissive women are congenial and willing to do anything for a good cause, but they always let their Dominant partners know when they feel uneasy.”
“I was a perfect match and you knew it. What you didn’t like was how well she had responded to me. She was nearly drooling when she found out who had won the bid for her time.”
“A million dollars was a lot of money to spend for a few hours with a submissive woman. You did all right for yourself that night from what I remember. Your money was refunded and you were given a submissive young woman to train, one who had never been introduced to our way of life.”
Sebastian loosened his bowtie. “I didn’t contact you to argue about past events.”
“Why did you call, Mr. Ketchum?”
“Tonight, we’re having a party, Jason. You weren’t invited for obvious reasons, but I didn’t want to leave you out entirely. I wanted to send the photo so you would know beyond reasonable doubt, Kimberly is in good hands.”
“You may have her for one night, but Kimberly Cartwell is mine. You’ll never keep her. She loves me. Ask her. She’ll tell you. She belongs to me. I own her soul.”
“I’m sure you believe that, Jason, but you’re as delusional as you were the night you addressed your peers at Lynx.”
Sebastian sneered at the memory. Jason had stood before thirty-five Dominants and explained why he couldn’t sell his submissive woman’s time.
Kimberly had been drugged. Her appearance there went against every guideline the lifestyle club had in place to ensure the safety of submissives in attendance. The number one rule had been shattered when Jason brought Kimberly to a function against her free will. Even if she’d been willing to attend, submissive women weren’t supposed to participate in charitable events if drugs or alcohol were in play.
“I don’t remember the Lynx incident.”
“Let me refresh your memory. You said, ‘I take beautiful women and make them into satisfied ladies. I can’t, in good faith, turn my sub over to another man based on that premise alone,’ and you arrogantly snubbed everyone there while refusing to vacate the premises.”
“I wasn’t asked to leave.”
“You were expected to go on your own accord.”
Jason released a heavy breath. “I’m bored, Mr. Ketchum. Why are you calling again?”
“I wanted
you to know.
Wyatt and I will take one beautiful woman and do everything in our power to make sure she is a satisfied lady. We, the two of us, want you to understand that Kimberly Cartwell will never return to Fletcher unless she is accompanied by one or both of us.”
“Is that supposed to be a threat? If so, you have no idea who you’re threatening. Do you?” He released an evil laugh. “You don’t even know the woman you’re using as a weapon against me. Do you honestly think I’m the only man who’ll stand in your way? You’re wrong. Kane Cartwell hates men like us. He detests arrogance and you clearly have plenty.”
Neely was one to talk.
“Kane Cartwell?”
“Her father,” Jason bit out.
“Funny you should mention Kane. As luck would have it, I have his blessing.”
Kimberly entered the foyer as a skeptic. She couldn’t fight the anxiety welling inside her which only intensified once they were greeted by the butler.
“Jaelon, this is Kimberly Cartwell. Kimberly, this is Jaelon Rouse.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kimberly said, reaching for his hand.
“We’re pleased you could make the party, Miss Cartwell,” he said. “If you need anything while you’re here, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Jaelon was dressed in white, as were several other staff members, fanning around with drink trays. Her gaze followed one of the waiters into a large open room off to the left.
Immediately, she gasped.
A runway was assembled down the center. Chairs were placed on either side of the stage and men were taking their seats.
This was a benefit, an auction.
Stilling at the sight, Kimberly couldn’t stop the clock from turning back time. She vaguely remembered another function. Her memory was foggy, the details nothing more than a blur.
“This way,” Wyatt said, placing his hand on her back and steering her down a hallway.
Once they reached the end, he pointed to a sitting area. “Let me explain what will happen tonight.”
Before he could speak, she said, “I’m not naïve. I know what this is.”
“Why don’t you tell me about your experiences?”
“Don’t you think you should’ve mentioned you were bringing me to a lifestyle charity auction?”
“I assumed you wouldn’t be opposed,” he said. “Neely took you to several from what I understand.”
“How would you know that?”
He didn’t respond.
“Mitch? Did Mitch tell you?”
“No.”
“Who then?” And why the hell couldn’t she remember much about them! She hadn’t even considered some of the functions she and Jason had attended in the past, which greatly disturbed her now.
Wyatt sat on a burgundy settee, the only piece of furniture in the small room, a sitting room that would’ve better served the homeowner as a coat closet. “I want you to do this.”
“You want me to do this,” she muttered, processing. “And why would I even consider a benefit auction on the first date? I know very little about you. I’ve never met the guests in attendance here.”
“You aren’t intrigued?”
Kimberly set her lips in a deliberate tight line. She couldn’t deny her interest. Her submissive nature was singing as the excitement practically whispered indulgent promises of a night to remember.
“Sit with me,” Wyatt said, nodding his head at the vacant spot beside him.
Reluctantly, Kimberly complied. About that time, a feisty redhead entered the room. She was wearing a flamboyant royal-blue dress with tassels hanging from the cone cups concealing her breasts. “Are you at auction?”
“I—”
“Don’t just sit there!” She held out her hand. “Come on! It’s for a great cause!”
“I don’t even know why I’m here.”
“Cherie, can you give us a minute?” Wyatt asked.
“You have exactly one,” she teased, strutting away.
Wyatt turned to Kimberly.
Before he could say anything, she stopped him. Turning her palm outward, level with her waist, she jerked her hand in a slicing fashion. “Wyatt, I’m open. You should know that because of Clink, but it would’ve been nice to know what you had planned for this evening.”
“Is it too late to explain now?”
“No, but I may not agree to this,” she said, unclear why he didn’t mention their plans during their two-and-a-half-hour ride.
“You’re afraid?”
“I’m reluctant, but not scared.”
“What don’t I understand?” Wyatt asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Kimberly crossed one leg over the other. A stark look of admiration followed her every move and a sudden shiver ran up and down her spine.
“You’re bidding for my time,” she said, positive of the fact.
His lips curved in a smile. “If you think I’d ask you out on a date and leave you in another man’s care, you have underestimated my interest in you.”
“What if someone bids higher?”
“They won’t,” he said confidently, stretching his legs forward. “And it’s for a good cause—Feeding South Carolina and Beyond.”
She was familiar with the foundation. Her family supported their benefits. In fact, Trixie and Brock had recently attended one of their functions. Now she wondered if her older sister had participated in a similar auction. Right. Like Brock Sheldon would’ve let Trixie stand before a crowded room and place herself on the auction block.
“What do I have to do?” she asked, conceding.
“You didn’t answer my questions. Why are you reluctant, Kimberly?”
Had she nailed this man or what? He wouldn’t let anything die.
“It’s a long story.”
“I don’t think they’re in a hurry to get started out there.”
“Tell that to the redhead,” Kimberly said, thumbing the doorway.