The Swede
Page 40
Audrey’s mother wore a gloating expression.
“Okay, ladies. Going once…Going twice...”
Viggo scratched his right ear.
Grinning triumphantly, Scarlett thrust her paddle into the air and sang, “Twelve thousand!”
Shocked gasps and whispers raced through the crowd.
Audrey’s mother glared at her, then defiantly lifted her paddle and asserted, “Fourteen thousand!”
There was another wave of gasps. Viggo looked torn between incredulity and frustration.
“Humph.” Scarlett’s mother rooted inside her Birkin bag and took out an unfamiliar cell phone. “Time to put an end to this.”
Scarlett stared at her. “What’re you doing?”
“Getting rid of the competition.”
The auctioneer was practically shrieking with excitement. “Do I hear fifteen thousand, ladies?”
All eyes were on Scarlett as she calmly raised her paddle. “Fifteen thousand.”
As more loud exclamations erupted from the crowd, she grinned at Viggo and mouthed, Go big or go home, right?
Audrey threw a panicked look at her mother as if to say, Do something!
Scarlett watched as the distracted woman rummaged in her purse, pulled out her buzzing phone and frowned in puzzlement at the screen.
The auctioneer looked eagerly around the room. “Do I hear sixteen thousand for our hunky hockey superstar?”
Disappointed mutterings and grumblings could be heard from all the women who’d been forced to bow out.
“Going once…”
Scarlett held her breath.
“…Going twice…”
Viggo closed his eyes as if praying.
“Sold to Miss Scarlett Warner for fifteen thousand dollars! What a lucky young lady!”
Scarlett broke into a wide smile as her mom squealed and Viggo gave her a boyishly relieved grin.
Audrey looked livid. Her mother looked confused.
Grinning victoriously, Scarlett watched as Viggo pulled his phone out of his pocket and transferred the funds to her bank account so she could write a check to the cashier.
All in a day’s work, she mused with satisfaction.
Wearing a stiff smile, Audrey stepped up to the microphone to thank the participants and make some closing announcements. Her voice could barely be heard over the buzz of conversations and laughter. The other winning bidders had already claimed their bachelors and were circulating around the ballroom.
“Where do I pay?” Scarlett asked her giddy mother.
“The cashier’s in the back. But first you’re supposed to take a picture with the bachelor you won a date with.” Her mom grinned, hitching her chin toward the stage where a crowd of fawning women had gathered around Viggo. “Looks like you’ll have to get in line, baby. But that’s okay. You’ll have him all to yourself later.”
Scarlett grinned. “Woo hoo.”
“Congratulations,” a brittle voice spoke from behind her.
Scarlett turned and found herself staring into Audrey’s smirking face. Here we go.
“I’m Audrey,” she introduced herself.
“Scarlett.”
“I know who you are.” There was a malicious gleam in the blonde’s blue eyes. “That’s quite a large sum you just paid to go on a date with a man you’re already sleeping with.”
“That’s my Scarlett,” her mother cooed in a voice dripping with sugary venom. “We raised her to be generous and charitable-minded. Going on a date with Viggo Sandström to support a good cause seems like a win-win, wouldn’t you say?”
Audrey’s eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. “Still though,” she said with a veil of saccharine sweetness. “Fifteen thousand dollars is a lot of money, Scarlett. I didn’t realize your little rock band had become so successful.”
“We’re getting there,” Scarlett said with a cool smile.
“They’re going to be on Jimmy Kimmel,” her mom boasted, wrapping an arm around Scarlett’s waist. “That’s big time.”
Audrey smirked at Scarlett, looking unimpressed. “How nice for you.”
“It is. Thank you.”
Sherise smiled sweetly at Audrey. “I hope your dear mother won’t be too disappointed about losing the bid. I’m sure she would have enjoyed spending an evening with Viggo. From what I hear, he makes excellent company.”
Scarlett sighed. “He certainly does.”
Audrey gave them a withering glare.
They smiled angelically.
With a toss of her hair, Audrey excused herself and flounced off.
Scarlett grinned, slanting her mom a knowing look. “Did you distract her mama with a text from your burner phone?”
Sherise blinked innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, right,” Scarlett said with an amused snort. “You really threw that woman off her game. What on earth did your message say?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
Scarlett chuckled, shaking her head. “I still don’t understand why a well-to-do housewife needs a burner phone.”
Sherise grinned. “It comes in handy.”
“Apparently.” Scarlett draped an arm around her mother’s shoulders, kissed her cheek and whispered, “Thank you.”
Her mom winked. “We Warner women always get our man.”
Scarlett smiled as her gaze drifted back to the stage. Viggo was still signing autographs and posing for pictures while Audrey stood off to the side, pouting and seething.
Several women stopped to congratulate Scarlett and chat with her mother. The next time she glanced in Viggo’s direction, he was excusing himself from his group of admirers.
She watched him hop down from the stage with that powerful grace that dissolved panties. His eyes locked on hers as he sauntered toward her, oblivious to the hungry stares and whispers that followed him. The man wore a suit like nobody’s business. She could see the outline of his hard thighs with every step he took. It was all she could do to keep her drooling tongue in her mouth.
He reached her and hauled her into his arms, nearly dislodging her floppy hat. She laughed, looping her arms around his neck as his eyes slid down her body and back up again.
“Look at you,” he murmured, caressing her hip.
“I know,” she grumbled, making a face. “My mother dressed me.”
“Doesn’t she look lovely, Viggo?” Sherise cooed sweetly.
“She does,” he agreed, smiling down at Scarlett. “She looks very lovely.”
“See!” Sherise crowed to Scarlett. “I told you he’d like it!”
Scarlett rolled her eyes, but her lips were twitching.
Her mother fondly patted Viggo’s cheek, then waved at someone across the room and sashayed off to say hello.
Viggo grinned down at Scarlett. “I really like your mom.”
“The feeling’s mutual, believe me.” Scarlett smiled, playing with his silk tie. “So, Mr. Swoonworthy Bachelor, where am I taking you on our date?”
He frowned, as if suddenly remembering what had just happened. “Did I really just buy myself for fifteen thousand dollars?”
“You did,” Scarlett purred, pressing closer to him. “And you’re worth every red cent and more.”
* * *
That evening at his penthouse, they debated the moral egregiousness of the auction over takeout Kung Pao chicken and spicy Szechuan pork.
“I’ve never felt so fucking objectified in my life,” Viggo grumbled.
“Welcome to my world,” Scarlett quipped, straddling his lap at the glass dining table strewn with Chinese food cartons, chopsticks, napkins and unused plates. They were eating right out of the cartons, feeding each other as they sparred back and forth.
“How is it possible to have bachelor auctions in this day and age?” Viggo groused. “Have we not evolved as a human race?”
“Apparently not,” Scarlett said dryly. “Or did I miss the memo announcing the abolishment of beauty pageants?”
“That’s different,” he muttered.
Scarlett’s eyebrow shot up. “Different as in ‘more acceptable’? I hope that’s not what you’re suggesting because last I checked, beauty pageants take place on a much bigger stage than some local bachelor auction. You were only paraded out before a roomful of horny socialites. The Miss Universe, Miss America and Miss USA pageants are televised around the whole world, and I don’t see any men out there protesting the misogyny of those retrograde cattle shows.”
“Are you saying those women have no agency?” Viggo challenged. “Don’t they willingly compete in those pageants?”
“Didn’t you willingly participate in today’s auction?”
“Not exactly,” he retorted. “I was guilted and harassed into doing it.”
“Aww. Poor baby.” Scarlett fed him a bite of chicken with her chopsticks. “You’re so adorable when you’re outraged.”
He chewed his food, glaring at her. “Are you patronizing me right now?”
“Yes.” She bit her twitching lip. “How does it feel?”
“Like shit.” He speared a piece of pork out of the carton and popped it into her mouth.
She grinned while she chewed. “Here’s the thing. Women are objectified every day of their lives, whether on their jobs or just walking down the street minding their own business. I bet you and your teammates objectify women all the time, rating them on their looks and bodies and overall fuckability.” She put her finger on his lips when he opened his mouth to protest. “I’m sure even you’ve done it a few times. So I’m sorry, baby, but I just can’t muster up too much outrage over the existence of bachelor auctions.”
He sulked.
She heaved a sigh. “C’mon, Viggo. You should be used to getting treated like a piece of meat. Puck bunnies are constantly throwing themselves at you and propositioning you for sex. And sometimes you even take them up on their offers.” She arched an eyebrow. “So tell me. Who’s exploiting whom?”
He glowered at her another moment, then took the carton and chopsticks out of her hands and put them on the table.
“I was still eat—” She broke off when he slid his hands around her hips and pulled her into him, pressing her crotch against the monster erection straining his suit pants.
“Oh my,” she purred in delighted surprise. “Where’d that come from?”
“It never went anywhere. Arguing with you just makes it worse.” His hands crept under the hiked-up hem of her dress. “At the risk of objectifying you, can I just say how amazing you look in this red dress? The hat was pretty hot, too.”
“Yeah?” she breathed, reveling in the feel of his hands on her. “So are you saying I should let my mommy dress me more often?”
“I wouldn’t mind. Not that there’s anything wrong with the way you dress yourself.” His strong hands kneaded her thighs, urging them farther apart as she let her head fall back. “Of course, I prefer you naked.”
She grinned. “There you go objectifying me again.”
“Sorry.” He nuzzled the hollow of her throat. “Can’t seem to help myself with you.”
“Excuses, excuses.” She looped her arms around his neck and lowered her head, leaning down until their lips were scant inches apart. “So what do I get for all the money I just spent on you?”
He grinned. “Isn’t that what I should be asking you?”
“Nah.” She licked his bottom lip. “As far as the public is concerned, I bought you.”
“Yeah?” He slid his hands up higher to palm her ass, a look of such wicked intent on his face that her breath stopped in her throat. “So what you’re saying is that I belong to you now?”
“Umm-hmm.” She took his mouth in a slow kiss. “For one night, at least.”
“Hmm.” He ground his erection against her, massaging her pussy and making her ache. “I think I can live with that.”
“What?” she whispered between kisses. “Belonging to me?”
“Yeah.” He licked deeply into her mouth. “We can belong to each other.”
Everything inside her melted. God, how she loved him. It was scary. Truly frightening.
Dragging her mouth from his, she stared deep into his eyes.
He stared back at her, heavy lidded and lazy. “What’s on your mind, Lady in Red?”
“You are. Always.” Smiling, she climbed off his lap, pulled her dress over her head and dropped it on the floor beside her. She’d splurged on new lingerie from Victoria’s Secret. She knew her body was banging in the lacy red bra and barely there thong, and her spiked red high heels made her legs look longer than ever.
Viggo slowly looked her up and down, his gaze so hot and ravenous it set fire to every molecule of her skin. “Jesus, Scarlett.”
She gave him a sultry smile. “You like my new lingerie?”
“Hell yes.” His voice was gravel. “Come here.”
“Not yet.” She turned away, giving him an eyeful of her red thong and exposed ass cheeks.
His loud rumbling groan made her grin as she sauntered into the living room to pick up her floppy hat from the sofa. She settled it on her head, slanting the brim over her eyes at an alluring angle.
Viggo eye-fucked her as she strutted back across the polished wood floor, the tap of her stilettos echoing in the penthouse. He’d made her keep them on because he loved the way she looked in heels.
“Scarlett—”
“That’s my name.” Feeling playful and deliciously naughty, she turned her body to the side and began winding her hips, seductively twerking for him.
Another deep groan rumbled out of his chest. “Fuck, Scarlett.”
“Watch me work, baby.” She winked and dropped into a squat, shaking her ass like a seasoned stripper.
Viggo sat utterly mesmerized as she looked over her shoulder at him and licked her lips, then slowly undulated back up again. When she bent over and grabbed her ankles, he shot out of his chair.
“Holy shit,” he rasped, his eyes blazing at her. “Never, ever do that in public.”
She straightened with a breathless laugh. “Why? Was my twerking that bad?”
“Look at my fucking boner and ask me that question again.”
Her eyes had already dropped to the massive erection tenting the front of his pants. “Oh, wow,” she breathed, mouth watering. “Easy there, big fella.”
He lunged and yanked her roughly against him, running his hands up and down her half-naked body as his hard cock dug into her belly. His out of control reaction was a huge turn-on.
“Such a fucking tease,” he grumbled.
She slanted him a coy grin from under the brim of her hat. “I’ll have to twerk for you more oft—”
He grabbed her face and slammed his mouth over hers in a hard, greedy kiss that left her shivery and gasping. And wet. So wet she was dripping.
She broke the orgasmic kiss and backed away from him, grinning impishly. “Last one to the Jacuzzi has to put away the leftovers.”
Viggo laughed as she turned around and took off running toward the staircase. She was wearing heels, so of course she didn’t get very far before he caught up to her. She squealed and giggled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her off her feet in one swift move.
Grinning broadly, he began carrying her up the stairs like a conquering Viking. “When are you gonna learn you can’t outrun me?”
“I don’t know,” she said breathlessly, wrapping her arms around his neck, “but I hope you never give up the chase.”
Chapter 27
Scarlett
Oh Father
* * *
Two days later, Lennox Warner turned twenty-seven.
As a little girl, Scarlett used to get almost as excited about her brother’s birthday as her own. She would help her mother bake him a cake and wrap his presents. Then she’d make a big production of singing “Happy Birthday” to him while he groaned and pretended not to enjoy it. But everyone knew he did, and it became their special little tradition.
When they arrived at the gym, the bubbly receptionist told them that Lennox was in his office. They made their way to the back, grinning from ear to ear.
The door to Lennox’s office was ajar.
Grinning harder, Scarlett pushed the door open and then froze in her tracks at the sight that greeted her.
Lennox and Cooper stood behind the desk kissing intensely, their palms caressing each other’s faces.
Scarlett heard a shocked gasp behind her and almost dropped the cake box.
“WHAT THE HELL?” her father thundered.
Lennox and Cooper sprang guiltily apart and whirled toward the door. A look of absolute horror came over Lennox’s face when he saw his family standing there.
Lavell advanced into the room, his features twisted with disbelief and fury. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?”
Sherise whimpered and clutched Scarlett’s free hand.
Cooper nervously smoothed his hair back. “Dr. Warner, I can exp—”
“Get out,” Lavell barked.
Cooper frowned. “Sir—”
“GET OUT!”
Cooper shot an apologetic glance at Lennox, whose horrified expression had turned to one of grim resignation.
“It’s okay,” he mumbled. “I’ll handle it.”
Cooper met Lavell’s murderous glare and gulped hard, then lowered his eyes and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
Lavell rounded furiously on Lennox, a thick vein throbbing on his temple. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Please keep your voice down,” Lennox said through clenched teeth. “This is my work—”
“You didn’t seem to give a damn about that a minute ago!”
Sherise placed a restraining hand on her husband’s chest. “Lavell—”
He swatted her hand away and took a menacing step toward the desk. “How long has this abomination been going on?”
Lennox folded his arms across his chest, a defensive posture. “I think you need to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I get some damn answers!” Lavell stopped in front of the desk, thrumming with anger and impatience. “Well? I’m waiting.”