He hums against my lips, his mouth tipping into a smile. “Same, love. The butterflies usually make me hard, though.” I giggle and playfully smack his chest. He grabs my hand and holds it against his chest. “It beats for you,” he whispers for only me to hear.
We’ve been through so much, and here we are. Happy. I’ve never been happy like this in my life. I didn’t realize it was possible. His father still refuses to speak to him, but I keep hoping maybe one day he’ll come around. I never would havethought Nix and my father would become so close. They’re in business together now. My dad helps him with the fights and has helped oversee the different properties that want to host auctions.
It’s surreal. The man he thought of as his enemy all these years has become like a father to him. We pull up to the new property, our property, he’s been working on for the past year, and I’m practically jumping in my seat. This is the first time I’ll see it since it has been finished. He’s brought me up here a few times, but once the major things started getting done, he told me he wanted to surprise me.
He promised he wouldn’t make it look like a museum, and that was all I needed to hear. Rex pulls up into the driveway and I marvel at the trees arching over the gravel as we drive under them. “This is going to be beautiful in the fall,” I whisper. Anna and I both have put our windows down so we can get a better look.
There are lights in the trees, but it’s still daylight, so it’s hard to get the full picture of them. I bet it will look gorgeous tonight when we leave. Unless we’re staying the night. Nix never told me. The driveway loops around a huge water fountain. Rex stops in front of the stairs that lead to the entrance. There are two sets of stairs, one on the left, the other on the right.
“We’ll have the left staircase closed off, so everyone will have to come up the right. There’s also a canopy there so people can stand under it and not get wet if it’s raining,” Nix points out.
“I’ll park and be in soon, sir.” The valet are already here setting up, so one of them walks to the SUV and opens the door. Phoenix has already gotten out on his side and walks around to take my arm. Anna chooses to stay with Rex, so it’s just Nix and me. We walk up the stairs as I take in every detail.
“It’s beautiful, Nix.” The house is white. There’s two stories, the top story has a wrap-around porch. He sees me eyeing it and smiles.
“People can come out and look at the stars.”
I smile at him. “I love it.”
When we walk in, my mouth gapes open. It’s like we’ve stepped back outside. It looks like a courtyard. There are circular tables throughout for people to sit at, and to each side there is a buffet table with a bar off to the corner. Straight ahead is a stage.
“That’s where the auction will be held. We’ll eat, then the auction will happen,” Nix explains. I glance up and he chuckles. “You can see the stars here as well, but if it’s cloudy or any chance of rain, there is a motorized canopy that will cover the area so we don’t get wet.”
“I don’t even know what to say. It’s so different and beautiful.” We continue through the courtyard and he shows me where the room is to be watched if people want to be watched. Except for this one, people have to stand outside and look through a window. If the couple in the room want others to join, they can, but only four people can be in a room at a time.
After he shows me everything and we make our way back to the courtyard, I turn to him and clap my hands. “Where’s our room?” He told me he had a room made just for us, but he hasn’t shown it to me.
He smirks and grabs my hand, leading me back to the front door. “I’ll show you that later, wife.”
I groan, but follow him. Tonight is going to be fun. It’s the first auction we’ve hosted since the modifications and while all of them have been a lot of fun with the new changes, I know tonight will be different because it’s on our territory.
Chapter 43
Phoenix
We greet each guest as they arrive, but I can’t keep my eyes off of McKenzie. She’s in her element. She’s learned everyone’s name. The women and men that come to be bought, she asks them questions, making sure they’re there willingly. I love that she cares so much. Even though we have vigorous requirements for someone to be considered to be put in theauction, she still wants to make sure they haven’t changed their mind.
“I saw you at the last auction,” McKenzie greets the woman before us.
The woman smiles and nods. “Yes, I went to see how things worked to decide if I wanted to participate.”
She’s wearing a silver cuff, so people know she will be up for sale later. Instead of only allowing the buyers to put who they wanted, we also allow those who are selling themselves to put their likes and dislikes. What age they want, their experience, if they’re willing to have sex, or if they just want to go on dates and see how things go.
“And you liked it?” McKenzie asks.
The woman nods. I didn’t catch her name when she said it. “Yes. I got divorced last year and my ex husband he…”
McKenzie grasps her hand. “You don’t have to tell us, Wendy.”
I know she said her name for my sake, so I give her a grateful smile. She smirks at me before giving Wendy her full attention.
“I feel like I need to tell someone,” Wendy says, taking a deep breath. I make sure I’m giving her my full attention because this is important to her. “He never wanted me. He never touched me. He treated me like a roommate or his mother; it depended on the day. I want to feel sexy.”
I tilt my head at her and finally force myself to really look at her. She is pretty. She has curly brown hair that stops at her waist. She’s wearing a green dress that hugs her curves and makes her green eyes stand out. I lean down and take her hand, kissing her knuckles.
McKenzie smiles at me, and Wendy’s face turns a light shade of pink. “You are sexy. I’m positive you’ll find someone here tonight that will make you feel that way before you leave and after.”
Wendy gives me a grateful smile. “I hope so.”
