Say You Love Me Read Free Page B

in the first place is he gets no satisfaction from his wife. Hell, some of them ain’t never seen their wives naked, believe it or not. Anyone will tell you—well, anyone of my acquaintance will tell you—that a man likes looking at a naked woman. Just give him what he don’t get at home and he’ll adore you.”

    And now it was time. Kelsey was nearly trembling with dread. Lonny had given her an approving look—a very approving look, actually—when he’d opened the door and seen her in the ruby-red gown with its deeply scooped neckline. That he felt she looked more appropriate for the occasion did nothing to bolster her courage.
    Her future, for better or worse, was going to be decided that night by the man who would be willing to pay the most for her. He didn’t have to be to her liking, she understood that. May had made it clear that she might even despise him right from the beginning, if he were old or cruel. She could only hope that that wouldn’t be the case.
    Lonny led her downstairs. He had to do a bit of tugging to get her to move when she heard just how crowded it was below simply from the level of noise, and worse, he didn’t take her to the parlor, where she could have met the gentlemen and conversed with them.
    Instead, he escorted her into the rather large gambling den, whispering when she halted completely, “Most of these gents aren’t here to bid on you. They’re here to gamble or for other pleasures. But I have found that the more present, the more active the bidding from those seriously interested. The others, well, it gives them a rousing good show, which is very good for business, don’t you know.”
    And before she knew what he meant to do, he’d hefted her up onto one of the tables, andwarned in a hiss, “Stay there, and do your part to look enticing.”
    Enticing, when she was paralyzed with fear and utter mortification? And because most of the men in the room weren’t there to bid on her, as he’d said, and so had no idea why she was standing up on that table, Lonny made a little announcement to enlighten them.
    “A moment of your time, gentlemen, for a very unusual auction.”
    The word auction had a way of gaining immediate attention, and this was no exception. Lonny had to wait only a few more seconds for the room to quiet down completely.
    “For those of you pleased with your current ladyloves, please continue your gambling, this auction is not for you. But for those of you in the market for something new, I offer this vision of—blushing loveliness.” There were a number of snickers because Kelsey’s face had, in fact, turned nearly the color of her gown. “Not to sample, good sirs, but to call your own for however long you care to. And for such a privilege, bidding will begin at ten thousand pounds.”
    The amount, quite naturally, caused an immediate uproar, raising the volume in the room much higher than it had been before Lonny’s startling announcement.
    “Ain’t no female worth that much, even m’wife,” one man called out, generating laughter around him.
    “Can you loan me ten thousand, Peters?”
    “Made of gold, it is?” someone else sneered.

    “Five hundred, and not a pound more” was called out in a drunken voice.
    Those were just a few of the dozens of comments that Lonny wisely let run their course before he put an end to them by stressing again, “Because this little jewel will go to the highest bidder, the option will belong to her new protector of how long he wishes to keep her. A month, a year, indefinitely…the choice will be his, not hers. This will be stipulated in the bill of sale. So come now, gentlemen, who will be the lucky one to be the first… ever …to sample this luscious young morsel?”
    Kelsey was too shocked to hear much of what was said after that. She had been told she would be “presented” to the gentlemen, misleading her into believing that she would meet them and have a chance to speak with each of them, and that then