Free Temptation at Twilight: Lords of Pleasure by Jo Carlisle Page B

unstoppable.”
    Reaching onto the table, he grabbed a couple of napkins and cleaned himself off. He tossed the napkins onto the table again, and a server quickly whisked them away. Returning his attention to the stage, he saw that the handler had tucked himself away and was just finishing with cleaning the woman. He spun the platform around so she faced the audience again. She was slumped, expression sated but weary.
    His heart tugged, but the beast intervened. Do not feel sorry for her, and do not soften. She will be yours to fuck and let others fuck, as is your right. Even the law is on your side, and your brothers cannot refute that.
    He shook his head, trying with minimal success to clear the seductive voice. Beside him, Leila placed a possessive hand on his thigh, and he let it stay. He was more interested in the auctioneer, who had stepped up to the podium that was positioned off to the side and was ready to start the bidding. Soren didn’t want to miss his chance.
    The portly man began his pitch. “That was quite a show, wasn’t it? Nowhere else are you going to find a slave of such fine quality to warm your bed! What a lovely creature, and so responsive. Let’s start the bidding at fifty thousand credits!”
    And so it began. But no bastard in this room was going to outbid Soren, no matter how hard he tried. One black-haired, black-winged demon across the room did try, though Soren could swear by the twinkle in the demon’s eyes that he was driving up the price on purpose, with no intention of winning. Why the hell would he do that?
    In the end, it didn’t matter. Soren finally placed a bid the demon wouldn’t top.
    “Sold! To the gentleman in the booth there for one hundred fifty thousand credits! Sir, if you’ll come see my assistant about settling up.”
    With a nod, Soren slid from the booth and went to do business. Honest elation warred with that darker side of him that was quickly taking over, merging with his old self. How long until the Soren he and everyone else knew and loved disappeared? The idea scared him to death, as did the idea of his hurting the woman, his brothers, or anyone else. He’d have to talk to Aldric tomorrow. And, luckily, the beast didn’t respond to that last thought or attempt to dissuade him. Hopefully, it hadn’t heard.
    While Leila waited in the club, the assistant led Soren to his office, where the credits were paid. For the first time, he wondered what had landed this woman in circumstances dire enough to be sold on the block. Yes, she was incredibly responsive, but was she happy about her new circumstances? Or afraid? He was ashamed he hadn’t considered her feelings before now.
    Transaction completed, the assistant pointed. “You can take possession of your slave now. Just go right and continue down the hall to the second-to-last door on the left. That’s where she’s being held for transport.”
    “Thank you.”
    With every step down the hall, he felt as dirty as if he’d rolled on the ground. People shouldn’t be possessions. He and his brothers had always believed that, and the only reason he was doing this was to rescue his mate, if Leila was telling the truth and that’s who she turned out to be. Except the witch called herself his mate, and the other woman a toy.
    Leila is your mate, and the woman our toy, the beast reminded him.
    “Shut up,” he muttered.
    Somehow, he wasn’t surprised to see the big demon that had participated in the bidding war standing outside the door to where the woman was being held. He halted a few feet from the other male and held out a hand, cautious.
    “I’m Soren Fontaine,” he said in greeting. Now that the demon was close, he believed the male looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place him.
    The demon shook hands with him. “I’ve heard of you and your brothers and I’ve seen you around. But, then, who hasn’t? Your eldest brother sits on the Council, and the three of you run the infamous resort.”
    The