Ivy: The Ties That Bind (Auction Night Book 4)

by Ellie Masters

  “You do?”

  “To a point, but then I like something else.”

  I want to ask him what that might be, but the hunger returns to his eyes. I drop my gaze and wiggle in my seat desperate to soothe this burning ache he creates.

  “I’m in over my head.” My admission is as honest as it is surprising. Of course, I’m over my head. We both know this.

  “You’re a natural, sweetie. You need to give yourself permission to let this happen. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

  His pronouncement takes me by surprise because I’m not sure I understand what he means. Like I said, I’m no saint, but I’m no sinner either. I’ve heard of places like this before. Everyone who follows recent book and movie trends knows about stuff like this. I just never thought I would land right in the middle of what can only be described as a dream come true.

  He picks up the papers Michelle had me sign; the NDA.

  “How adventurous do you feel?” he asks, gently placing the papers back on the table. “Did Michelle have you fill out your list?”

  “My list?”

  The grin on his face is fascinating. It transforms the power of his presence from harsh and disciplined to smooth and soft. I’m not sure which I like better. His smile captivates me, and brings an answering grin to my face, but there’s something in his stony looks which makes my senses come alive. I’m cautious.

  “You’re going to need a list of the things you like and don’t like, but I think it’s a bit too soon.” He reaches into a drawer and pulls out another wristband. This one is white. “Put this on.”

  I take it from him without hesitation, like I’m compelled to obey him. He parts his lips and runs his tongue over the lower row of his teeth.

  “Yes, you’re a natural.”

  “You keep saying that. What does that mean?”

  “Only that The Ties that Bind might be the perfect place for a woman like you. Tell me,” he demands, “are you currently in a relationship?”

  “I’m not.”

  “We tend to be a little more formal in here. How about we try that again? Only this time you answer No, Sir or Yes, Sir when answering one of my questions.” He leans back and crosses his arms over an impressive display of muscle spanning his chest. His biceps flex and the network of veins popping out from beneath his skin have me entranced. The man could break me in two if he wanted. His strength terrifies me as much as it excites me.

  I squirm in the seat again because the tone of his voice turns me on. There’s a power and hunger there which I find irresistible. That’s never happened before.

  “Are you currently in a relationship?” He cocks his head and waits for my response.

  I don’t know why, but I sit up a little straighter in my seat. I clasp my hands in my lap and I look down. Not at the floor, but most definitely not in his eyes.

  “No, Sir, I am not.”

  “That’s good,” he says. “I like to know if there will be any jealous boyfriends I have to dispose of.”

  Dispose of? Holy hotness! His possessive growl lifts the fine hairs on my arms until they stick straight up. The skimpy lace thong Michelle gave me is not going to hold up at this rate. I can feel my juices coating my thighs. That’s never happened before either.

  “No jealous boyfriends, Sir.”

  He smiles at my use of the honorific and that only makes me want to keep using it.

  “When was the last time you had a boyfriend?”

  His questions are oddly personal for a stranger. Yet, I don’t see Edge as a stranger; not anymore. I’m seeing him as something much different. He’s in control of this conversation and I’m happy to let him take the lead.

  “It’s been some time, Sir.”

  “And in any of your previous relationships have you explored kink?”

  There’s the word I’ve been waiting for all night. It’s silly and I know it, but now that the word is on the table, I don’t have to pretend anymore. I get a choice in what happens next.

  “No,” I say, staring right into his eyes. I give a jerk, lower my gaze, and correct myself. “No, Sir.”

  “Good,” he says. “You’re naturally obedient. That’s what I mean when I say you’re a natural. Are you aware you’re a submissive?”

  “I’ve never considered it. I’ve never done something like...this.”

  “Like this?” He arches a brow. “Be more specific with your words. Hiding your desires does nothing to help your exploration.”

  “I’ve never been to a club like this before.” I blurt out the words, pushed by a desire to please him with my honesty. I’m terrified. I’m horribly turned on, and getting more so by the minute.

  “Are you interested in exploring more?”

  I nod vigorously. “Yes, Sir.”

  “With me?”

  I bite my lower lip. This time I drag my gaze up to meet the steel in his eyes. My answer is a breathy response.

  “Yes, I’d like that very much.”

  "I would love to be the one to show you how wonderful this can be. As you're new, there are no preconceptions between us. We're not building on a pre-existing relationship, but rather beginning our journey in the purest form. I'm not, nor will I ever be Edge to you. Instead, you will call me Sir, maybe something more in the future, and we both know who is in charge from the very beginning." He cups my chin. "Is that something you can accept? Me being in charge of what comes next?"

  "I think so…" I give a slow blink.

  He arches his brow.

  "Um…Sir. I think so, Sir."

  "Good, the power flows naturally between us. This is promising."

  He points to the white wristband I have yet to place on my wrist. I’m fiddling with it. It’s a nervous habit of mine.

  “The white wristband tells the members you have a sponsor for the evening. Put that on.”

  “And what happens next?”

  Like are we dating now? What does it mean that I'm calling him Sir?

  I want to ask the question, but we’re clearly not dating. What happens here has nothing to do with dating. We’re going to have sex and I can’t wait.

  “I introduce you to a whole new world, if that’s what you’d like.”

  I want that very much. “What about the auction?” He told Michelle to give me the pink wristband. “Won’t others be bidding?”

  “With the white wristband, no one else will bid on you.” His face cracks into another stunning grin. “Like I said, I’ll be the only one bidding. Tell me does the idea of belonging to me excite you?”

  The directness of his questions is staggering. My impulse is to deflect, but instinct tells me he won’t allow that. I take in a deep breath and give my honest answer. “It does, but are you sure you want someone like me. I have no idea what I'm doing.”

  He’s quiet for a moment, studying me. I squirm in my seat, uncomfortable beneath his scrutiny.

  “You have no idea, do you?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You have no idea how desirable you are. Or how possessive a man like me can be with you. Do you?”

  I don’t have an answer to his question. The pink wristband grabs my attention. He told Michelle to give it to me, therefore, he wants this auction.

  “I’m really confused,” I say, picking at the band.

  “Well, if you want other Masters to bid on you for the evening, then you can request that, but I’m not inclined to share you with any of my friends. I saw you first and in this world laying claim to something trumps all other interests. You belong to me.”

  I gulp with the promise laced between his words, but I still need answers. I’m not brave enough to really think about what he means about me belonging to him and him claiming me.

  “If others aren’t bidding on me then what’s up for auction?”

  “What’s at stake is how far you’re willing to go, and for how long you're willing to let it happen. How much control are you willing to surrender and for how long?”

  “I
don’t get it.”

  “It’s simple. You decide what you’re worth for one night, one week, one month, and one year. I bid to own the rights to you. You will then belong to me for that period of time”

  “The rights?”

  “Yes, you’ll be my submissive for whatever time I win with my bid.”

  “I still don’t get it.”

  “You set a minimum bid you’re willing to accept for each period of time, and I submit what I’m willing to pay. It’s a silent auction with closed bids. Neither of us knows what the other has bid. At the end of the evening, I find out how long you agree to be mine.”

  “What happens if you don’t meet my minimum bid?” I pinch myself, because this surely is a dream.

  “That won’t be an issue. Like I said, you already belong to me. We only need to decide the particulars, and I'm feeling highly motivated right now.”

  Chapter 7

  It turns out I’m not selling my body. Edge returns me to Michelle and several other women getting ready for the auction.

  Michelle explains the process much better than Edge.

  I’m sitting with her in a semicircular arrangement of couches. It’s a special place only submissives are allowed. That’s what I am, a submissive, and I’m excited as hell to give to the cause.

  All proceeds of the auction go to a local charity, a shelter which helps women escape abusive relationships.

  It does more than offer shelter. Michelle tells me all about it, and I’m impressed.

  I’m also in shock.

  When Edge mentioned coming up with my minimum bid, I had in mind fifty bucks for the night, a couple hundred for a week. I’ve been informed that is not acceptable. I think Michelle nearly passed out when I mentioned what I thought I was worth.

  She introduced me to her friends. There’s a community of submissive women who help one another out. I’ve never had this before. I don’t know what to do with female friends.

  Katy is the oldest. She’s in her mid-forties and has been in the lifestyle for decades. She’s an old pro at this. She’s also recently widowed.

  I feel sorry because she lost not only her husband but also her Dom. I’m learning what that means, and how devastating it can be.

  Right now, the other Doms of the club have gathered around her to offer support. They’re sheltering and protecting her, bridging the gap until she decides what to do next.

  There’s no doubt she’ll chose another Dom. Katy says she’s simply wired for this way of life. Her biggest problem is that she knows all the Doms at The Ties that Bind. None of them are a suitable fit. She tells me the other Doms are vetting potentials before introducing her to her new Dom.

  “So, they’re choosing for you?” I lean back and settle into the plush couch.

  We’re gathered while the men attend to last minute details. The auction is first and none of the submissives know what the men have in store, except they like to make a spectacle of it. Anything will be a spectacle for me. I’ve never done this before.

  “You seem shocked.” Katy sips from her bottle and wipes at her chin where a little water dribbled out.

  “I thought you decide who your Dom will be.”

  “They know what I need. Andy, God rest his soul, formed this club twenty years ago. He vetted each and every one of the Doms here and trained most of them. They know what I’m looking for and will do Andy proud. I trust them to get it right.”

  “But what if they don’t?” I glance at the others, looking for support, but they’re all nodding in agreement.

  “They will,” Penny says, joining the conversation.

  Penny is my age, mid-twenties, a couple inches taller with a full figure. She’s comfortable in her skin, whereas I am not. I keep adjusting the leather straps of the outfit Michelle put me in.

  Penny has two men in the club who claim her as their own. I’m not familiar with alternate lifestyles, but she says they’re all in a relationship together. It makes me wonder what it would be like to have two men to please; two men to obey, two men who adore me. Penny is a really lucky girl.

  Sitting beside Penny is Alexa, short for Alexandria. I love that name, it has a fancy feel to it. Alexa is a doctor and is in her residency to become a surgeon. She’s really quiet and hasn’t said more than two words while we’ve been waiting.

  “They would kill themselves if it doesn’t,” Katy says. “I have absolute faith in them all.”

  I like Katy’s confidence. I need it right now, especially now that Michelle has returned.

  “Everyone ready?” Her bubbly personality is infectious and I’m happy to see her. I’m not as certain about the pieces of paper clutched in her hand.

  I’m to put in a reserve bid. It’s not technically a minimum bid. The Reserve will be the minimum price I’m willing to take as a donation to the charity. If Edge meets my Reserve he’ll have me.

  I don’t know exactly what that means, although it’s not hard to guess. He’s buying my obedience. There’s a list of limits I’m supposed to fill out, but I’ve been told to do that after the auction. It’s something Edge and I will do together.

  As for coming up with Reserve bids? I’m out of my depth.

  Michelle hands out the papers to the five of us gathered and plops down beside me. She’s holding five pieces of paper whereas I only have four.

  “Why do you have an extra one?”

  Her cheeks flush and Katy snorts beside me.

  “It’s an old bet between Michelle and Tank. He wants to take things to the next level, but she’s said no for years.”

  “The next level?” I swear these people talk in code. I’m like the newbie who doesn’t understand the language. That should bother me, but it doesn’t seem to be an issue for Edge. He seems to like the fact that I’m new to all of this.

  I try pumping the girls for information, hoping they won’t be as tight-lipped as they have been most of the evening.

  After Edge put the white band around my wrist, he gave me a quick tour of the club. He steered me through a central aisle lined with velvet ropes, the kind you see at movie premiers.

  Red carpet lined the center aisle, while wood floors extend out from there. These play spaces are all filled with contraptions I’ve never seen before. To my untrained eye, what’s beyond those ropes looks like different versions of torture chambers. This place puts the infamous Red Room to shame.

  “So, how much should I put on this?” I’m holding the piece of paper for one evening. This is the one I thought to mark as fifty dollars.

  Katy glances over and smiles. “Make him work for it, hun. If he outbids your Reserve, you belong to him. That’s the contract. Considering you and Edge have never played together, I’d set the price rather high. Doms like to feel like they earn it.”

  “And he can do whatever he wants to me for a night?”

  “Whatever is on your limits list and for whatever bid he secures,” Penny says. “By agreeing to enter the auction, you’re giving him that right. Whatever he wants. It could be nothing more than a dinner or a full-on scene. He can demand anything of you, and these Doms like to push us when they can. Be very careful what you put on your limits list.”

  “Thanks,” I say with a nod. I’m definitely going to be very careful with this list.

  It’s pages long and extraordinarily detailed, mentioning every variation, and more, of various sexual acts. Some I’ve never heard of. Others are more tame.

  There are protocol levels I don’t understand; agreements from simple submission to full enslavement. I’m too inexperienced to fully grasp everything on that list. I express my concerns and the girls reassure me Edge will walk me through the whole thing. I’m not sure what I think about having such a frank discussion about fingering, blowjobs, and anal sex with him.

  Those are on the top half of the first page.

  Below that are variations of sensation, impact, and deprivation play. The last page I don’t read. I barely scan it. The things there terrify me. Some
turn my stomach.

  I still have no idea what to put as a Reserve bid.

  Katy isn’t participating in the auction tonight. She’s the event hostess and will be overseeing the Reserves, bids, and payments to the charity. I kind of think it’s cool I get to help unfortunate victims of abuse.

  All I have to do is surrender control of my body and mind to a stranger. It sounds like fun. My sister would say I’m crazy and acting irresponsibly, but I don’t care what she thinks.

  On impulse, I jot down five-hundred dollars for an evening.

  “I’m still a little confused.” I hand the slip to Katy.

  She gives it a quick glance and tilts her head. “You’re underselling yourself, hunny.”

  Katy is older than me. I guess that gives her a right to call me hunny.

  “Five-hundred is reasonable,” I say.

  “You could easily fetch over a thousand.” Alexa pipes up for the first time. She scribbles on her paper. “I’m putting down fifty thousand.”

  Michelle whistles. “Want to take bets on whether the professor pays for that?” She turns to Katy and Penny who grin. There’s a secret joke here that I’m not getting.

  Alexa looks troubled, but she says nothing.

  I turn my attention back to the scraps of paper.

  “How does this work? Is Edge bidding one at a time or all together? Like if I put five-hundred for an evening and a thousand for a week and he makes a bid of a thousand, does he get me for a week? Or for a week and a night?”

  Michelle laughs beside me. “If you ask for only a thousand for a week of your time, I’m going to personally throttle you. It takes a lot to keep that shelter in business. And don’t forget the financial assistance, work readiness, and job placement services they offer as well. The Ties that Bind is one of their major supporters and we don’t raise that kind of cash asking for a measly thousand dollars for our time.”

  Penny glances at me. There’s a twinkle in her eye. “Hunny, you won’t know how long he has you.”

  “Well, unless he tells you,” Katy pipes up.

  “What?” This is not what I’m expecting. “What do you mean I won’t know?”