Free My Secret Master (A Dark Billionaire Romance) by Nora Flite

nervous to watch anything but his calm expression. With a wordless nod, I rushed through the curtains.
    On the other side, I breathed easier. My skin was melting from the flush of adrenaline.
    I don't think he knew it was me. How could he, with this mask?
    Right. If he'd known, he'd have stopped me.
    That gave me some solace.
    The main room was busy, I was sure there were far more people here than last night. Winding through the group, I observed the women, the men, trying to get a grasp on the social cues. Before I had time, a voice rang out over the crowd.
    “Attention, everyone!”
    Instantly, there was silence. I followed the stares, spotting someone standing by a hallway. He was tall, built like a Greek statue, and wore the familiar pair of black gloves that had kept me from sleeping.
    That's Onyx.
    “I have the list,” he said firmly, waving some papers. “These girls will step forward and kneel by me.” He pointed to the floor in front of him.
    There was a pregnant pause, everyone waiting anxiously. I figured this must be an important moment, but I wasn't sure why.
    In his elegant mask that revealed his delicious lips, Onyx grinned. “Good. The first girl is Tara!”
    There was a pleased murmur. I watched as a woman with short, curly brown hair moved forward. Her hands were linked nervously, like she wasn't sure what to do with them. Onyx smiled at her, and she returned it weakly, kneeling down by his feet.
    “Next, I need Roseli!”
    A woman who challenged the black outfits—her long dress pale yellow and almost transparent—moved with confidence from the crowd. Gently, she folded to the floor, bowing her head obediently.
    I blinked, turning to tap the woman beside me. “Excuse me, but what are they doing?”
    The lady pursed her lips at me, then looked back to Onyx. “Ah, you've never seen the new girls get collected? Master Onyx is gathering all the women who signed up to be trained as submissives. It's always exciting to see who they'll be, so you'll know if you're interested when they're auctioned.”
    I clenched my teeth, afraid I'd say something foolish. Girls being trained to be submissives.
    Slaves.
    I didn't know how to feel. It was absurd... it was crazy...
    It was exciting.
    And what was this about an auction?
    Onyx was still calling out names, he soon had four girls at his feet. Looking at the list, opening his mouth, he hesitated.
    That slow smirk brushed my heart.
    He lifted his head and looked out over the crowd, speaking with clear delight in his voice. “And the last girl I'm looking for, is Opal .”
    At first, hearing the name, I didn't register it as my own. Standing there blankly, I watched Onyx looking around, seeking the girl he had named. The crowd mumbled, a hushed noise, and he said it again.
    “Opal?”
    Like a punch to the temple, I was nauseous and stunned. He just called me, why did he call me? How...
    The people around me moved, spreading apart in confusion. Onyx was frowning, a break in the crowd revealed me to him.
    The second he recognized me, his voice went silky. “Opal, come here and kneel.”
    What do I do, what do I do?
    Everyone was staring. My legs were waterlogged. I thought, if I took a step, I'd simply crumble. Maybe cracking into a million pieces was better than acknowledging the man staring at me.
    He pointed with a gloved finger, his tone low and without negotiation. “Here. Now.”
    His voice was powerful, tugging at my most vulnerable places. Strangely, I was compelled. Was it from fear? Pressure? Curiosity? I didn't know, and I didn't have the power to think about it.
    I began to move.
    Pulled forward, I was suddenly standing within reach of that magnificent man. Here, I was so close, I could almost see behind his mask. The eyes are the window to the soul, and in my terror, I desperately wanted to know what Onyx's soul looked like.
    His fingers reached out, gripping my jaw tightly. His words were low, cutting. “I was hoping you'd be on this list. I'm