“Perhaps. Are you sure you’re ready for this, Willian?” George asked, and I was shocked that he doubted me.
Even so, I knew what he meant. Conjuring this particular spell would not only free our families from a curse, but it would bring great power to all involved.
“Of course, I’m ready.”
George’s eyes began to glow. Moments later, the door to my bar opened, and my best bottle of whiskey flew toward him.
“What?” George asked, grinning. “You didn’t offer me a drink, and I think we need to celebrate.”
“Well, let’s toast to it then,” I said. “To Celine.”
Chapter Four
William
“Don’t worry, they don’t bite,” Madeline said, winking at me. “I just want to show you what you should expect during the auction.”
We were at the large estate on the countryside where the auction house was located. I arrived much sooner than the others. Madeline wanted to see me; she had sent a messenger to tell me that she’d prepared something special for me the night before the main event.
Though reluctant at first, Madeline insisted that I was one of her best clients, and she wanted to please me.
Apparently, this auction was going to be one of the biggest in the province. Yes, the truth was, we needed a virgin, and that was the main priority, but at the same time, I was curious to find the right woman for me as well.
George was arriving tomorrow morning, along with the other members of the party. Madeline was a very elegant lady. She was in her late forties, and still one of the most beautiful ladies in the province.
“There are ten girls, but a few of them are still travelling. Is it true you’re looking for a wife?” she asked, with that secretive smile. Madeline was very petite human woman, with long brown hair that was tied up in an elegant-looking bun. She wore a long, navy dress that exposed her cleavage.
“A wife? No, I don’t think so; it’s too soon. I have much more important things that I need to worry about,” I explained as we walked upstairs. For some reason, I was a little nervous, and on top of that, I was aroused.
Lately, I had been missing the touch of a woman, but I wasn’t prepared to use one of Madeline’s girls. She was running a different kind of business. Her courtesans were special and unique. These women weren’t harlots; they were companions of the highest quality.
“You need a woman of substance and beauty. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life alone,” she muttered.
I couldn’t have agreed more, but an eternal life seemed much more appealing. We walked along the long corridor, heading towards a large room where I could hear music playing. My cock twitched with excitement, and I wanted to laugh. This wasn’t a normal reaction for me. I had never behaved like that before.
“I do, but for some reason, I have been attracting the wrong type of ladies in the past several years. I don’t want to rush anything. Is the woman I’m interested in going to be there?” I asked.
“She’s running late, but she should be here soon. If you let me do the matching, I could truly find someone right for you,” she insisted, but luckily we walked inside the room. I’d worn my best suit and shaved this morning. It was a large elegant party; several girls were standing off in groups talking to one another.
They all glanced at me when I walked in. All of them were beautiful, but I wanted to meet the virgin. I had no doubt that Madeline had chosen a girl who wasn’t afraid of anything, however, I needed to make sure that George and I could work with her.
“I’ll leave you to it. I think you just need to look around,” Madeline whispered to me, and I began my search.
This auction wasn’t just about sex, but there were going to be other lords attending who would be looking for that particular kind of entertainment. Virgins were rare. Most of the ladies in this province were either already married, or they were looking to be matched with men of high breeding and wealth.
As I walked around the house, a few of the girls sparked my interest.
While the courtesans vied for my attention, I had my sights on only one.
The one who smelled of lavender and pulsed with magic.
Word of my involvement with the auction must have spread, for many of the women swarmed toward me, batting their false lashes, and smiling as coy as they dared. Big eyes and full bosoms. Nothing of substance.
That is—until I caught a glimpse of the one woman who stood out from the rest.
The one who I had felt the instant I entered the house. Blonde, fairly tall, and curvaceous; I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was truly a vision, but what she did next caught me completely off guard.
A brow lifted as I watched her edge her way to the diamond box sitting on the table. Then she snatched it, hiding the small item somewhere within the confines of her dress, glancing around to make sure no one had seen her.
I scratched my chin and then excused myself from a group of ladies I was speaking with when she vanished into the other room.
Did she really just steal something?
For a moment, I was outraged that she dared steal from Madeline.
But, as I watched her, something pulled me to her; a magnetic pulse that caused my chest to tighten and heated me from the inside.
“Pardon me, Miss,” I said, taking her by the elbow.
Her eyes widened—blue eyes that I could get lost in. Her cheeks reddened as she licked her lips.
“I don’t think that little box belongs to you.”
Within a flicker of a second, her expression changed, and she pulled herself free from my grasp.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A current of electricity jolted through me at the sound of her voice—a bit husky, yet sweet at the same time. Who was this girl?
I found her looking me up and down, and I resisted the urge to press her against the wall and taste her.
“Is everything all right, William?”
Madeline’s voice echoed in the corridor.
“Indeed,” I said, searching the woman’s eyes as she pled with me to keep quiet about what I’d witnessed. Could I be an accomplice to her crime? “This young lady dropped her handkerchief.”
I handed her my aunt’s most precious possession. Her eyes widened with shock. For a second she hesitated, but then took it.
“Thank you, my lord, but please excuse me,” she mumbled, then walked toward the stairs.
“I see you’ve met Celine,” Madeline said, smiling. “My prized courtesan.”
“So, her name is Celine? I like it,” I admitted, not revealing that I already knew a great deal about the heir to the Tyrell family—not knowing why my cock was getting hard at the mention of her name.
Chapter Five
Celine
Nerves filled my veins, mixed with a dangerous dose of fear.
My chair was very uncomfortable. I kept tapping my foot on the floor as this was helping calm my nerves a little. Other girls were too busy chatting amongst one another. They all seemed so relaxed.
Last night, everything had gone terribly wrong. I didn’t want to take that damn figure, but my anxiety spiked. And worst of all, that handsome lord had caught me in the act. Every time I thought of his eyes upon me, my heart skipped a beat.
Other girls were standing in groups, drinking and having a wonderful time. I felt left out, and too shy to approach anyone. The figure was just sitting there; it looked shiny and pretty. The tiny voice in my head told me to take it, to hide it in my dress, so I did.
Everything would have been fine, if that man—that incredibly good looking older man—hadn’t been watching me. Madeline must have invited him in to observe, and he saw me taking that damn figure. This was so embarrassing.
He stopped me, and for a split second I was certain he would tell Madeline that I had stolen from her, that I was just some common thief. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I thought about the situation.
Mum knew about that nasty habit of mi
ne. I fought with it, but sometimes, I just couldn’t help myself. She used to say that I just needed to sort out my head. It was my release; stealing something always made me feel better about myself. Once I had something in my hand that didn’t belong to me, the tension that filled me was gone, but last night I had nearly gotten caught.
That gorgeous man grabbed my elbow, and a jolt of electricity moved down my spine. He stared at me with his mesmerising blue eyes, and my heart pounded in my chest. I instantly felt some sort of strange electrifying connection between us.
He was intense, and there was something special about him that I couldn’t quite place. If only I hadn’t run away, then I might have had a chance to learn more about him.
Several other girls were laughing, and thoughts of last night faded. They acted as if everything was absolutely fine. I was the last one to be auctioned, and I really hoped that some wealthy man would choose me, so my mum and I would never have to worry about money again.
My virginity was for sale, and I knew there were plenty interested parties.
Madeline sent my estranged childhood friend, Irene, to prepare me. I had to admit that she’d done a great job, and I looked absolutely incredible. I was wearing a long blue dress that accentuated my curves, and a little tiara sat atop my head.
Several girls went in, and a few approached the curtain, trying to look through to the other side, but they were quickly turned away by a woman who worked with Madeline. Besides, there was a heavy wooden door that separated us from the auction room, so no one could leave. Madeline had thought of everything.
Moments later, the sound of the doors opening startled me, and by the time the final girl left, I thought I was going to be sick. I had never taken part in any kind of auction before. Normally, Madeline just introduced me to a client, and he explained what was required of me. Now my virginity was about to be up for auction.
“Celine, it’s your turn. I have to place this over your head, all right?”
I turned around, seeing Irene standing in front of me. She must have been talking to me for a while, and I wasn’t even reacting. My palms were damp with sweat when she slid the black silky bag over my head. This only added to the anticipation; my stomach was tying itself in knots. I didn’t know where I was going; she walked me through the door and then intense smells of various different colognes overwhelmed my senses. Snippets and whispers moved around the room, and I waited.
My heart was jackhammering in my chest now.
Irene removed the bag from my head, and I was blinded by the bright lights. The room was full of men, and it took me a while to get used to the lighting. They were all staring at me, whispering between themselves.
“Dear gentlemen, this young woman is our most special guest for the night. The beautiful, Celine. You will be bidding for her virginity. I don’t like time wasters, so be wise. The bidding will start at one-hundred gold coins,” Madeline’s strong voice startled me, but I told myself to keep it together. She stood at the podium to my right.
“One hundred!” a voice instantly shouted from the audience. It was man with a thick beard who smiled at me the moment our eyes met. It was a start.
“Two hundred!” another man shouted.
“Three hundred!”
This was getting a little ridiculous. I had never in my wildest dreams, imagined that anyone would pay such a high amount to sleep with me. Mum needed a lot of money to pay our bills, so this was beyond exciting. The men were arguing with each other; meanwhile the sums of money continued climbing with each and every bid.
It was becoming increasingly hotter as I sat before them, and I felt a bead of sweat rolling down my neck. When the bid went up to a thousand gold coins, I was ready to pass out. My cheeks were on fire, and even more men began joining in. Madeline couldn’t keep up.
“One thousand gold coins, the first time—”
“Two thousand gold coins!” someone else suddenly cut her off, shouting from the other side of the room, and my jaw dropped. This was a fortune, and I had no idea what I would do with that kind of money. I turned around, hearing as a wave of whispers passing through the room. After a moment, I realised it was the man who’d stopped me in the corridor last night, the same one who’d just shouted the last bid. Now his eyes were penetrating me, and I was frozen in the chair. Another man who was hidden in the shadows, whispered something in his ear, and he nodded, smiling.
“Well, if we don’t have anyone else who is willing to outbid Lord Rochester, then the lovely Celine is going to be sold! Last chance, gentleman.” Madeline smiled.
This money would change everything.
“I’m matching the bet: two thousand gold coins for the girl!” another voice shouted from opposite side of the room.
A very tall man stood, flashing me a smile. He had red fiery hair and was dressed in fine silk. I glanced back at Lord Rochester who noticed the stranger. His expression became angry and tense. It seemed the two men knew each other.
Then silence stretched for a long moment. Madeline looked just as confused as I was. It was a triple tie, and it seemed no one was willing to go any higher with their bid.
The man who stopped me yesterday leaned over and said something to the other one, still keeping an eye on the stranger. My heart pounded in my chest, and heat rushed through me. I had never seen this much money.
“Gentlemen, I’m afraid we have a tie. Are any of you willing to bet more?” Madeline asked, finally finding her voice.
There was even more silence, and it seemed everyone was waiting for the outcome.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to sort this out between ourselves,” a man with sharp blue eyes spoke and the man next to him shook his head in agreement.
“I think you’re right, William. Madeline, I apologize. Please, let’s move this to a more private setting,” the one on the opposite side said. He had very deep voice that sent chills down my spine.
Madeline approached me.
“All right, gentlemen, the auction is now over,” Madeline said. “I have prepared a small banquet in the ballroom.”
I wanted to get out of here, but the anticipation left me torn. I wanted to meet the men who were willing to pay so much money for my virginity.
“Come on, Celine. Let’s speak to the lords. I have never witnessed anything like this before,” she muttered.
A few minutes later, we entered a small room where I’d waited earlier on for my turn to be auctioned. A strong wave of energy hit me, and my breath caught in my chest.
Three incredibly handsome men were there—all wearing suits—their eyes watching me as I entered the room. My gaze met William’s. He winked at me, and my heart leapt into my throat. He kept his hands in his pocket with a cocky smile on his face.
“Celine,” he said, “Meet Lord George Willingham.” He gestured toward the dark-haired lord with a moustache.
“Gentlemen, I hope the three of you have come to some sort of agreement,” Madeline said, clasping her hands before her.
“I think this is very simple; she will just have to live with each one of us for some time, giving her the opportunity to get to know us. This way we can all enjoy her,” the red-haired lord said, and then glanced at me smiling. “What do you think, love? Would that work for you?”
Feelings of burning sensations jolted through me again. They were all staring at me with the same intensity, like they were attempting to strip me down to the last layer of my self-control. My throat was dry, and I didn’t know what to say, or how to react.
“Hold on,” William said, his brows furrowing. “You want Celine to live—let’s say for a month with each one of us—and in the end, decide as to whom she will choose?”
He obviously didn’t like this proposition, or maybe he didn’t like the idea of sharing me. This enigmatic power was reaching out to my every cell within my body; there was something about them. Their energy didn’t seem human.
“That’s not bad idea, William,” the other darker man said. “What do y
ou think, Celine. Fancy a month with each of us, and then make your decision?”
I chewed on my bottom lip, unsure of what to say or do. The tension between all the men was palpable, but the truth was, I did want to get to know them.
“I think this is a fair proposition,” I said, carefully. “I could live with each of you for a month at a time.”
The redheaded man’s eyes flashed with lust, and I could have sworn that I saw the figure on the bookshelf behind him move.
“All right, so the matter is settled,” William said. “George and I are willing to wait. Thomas, you can take Celine to your castle.”
“Fabulous, gentlemen. Celine you can go to the banquet room,” Madeline said, ushering me out of the room, a big smile plastered across her face. “I just need to discuss financial matters with the lords.”
“Have a drink, darling, and I will be by your side before you know it,” Thomas said, whispering in my ear, and another cold chill moved down my spine.
Once the door closed behind me, I found myself leaning against it, trying to catch my breath.
Three men—three wealthy lords who were each more handsome than the next.
A smile came to my face.
Perhaps my luck was about to change.
Chapter Six
Celine
A carriage awaited just outside. I hadn’t a moment to change my mind, for my bags were already packed and sent ahead to the lord’s estate.
Thomas sat across from me, his red hair glistening under the moonlight that spilled in from the window. He watched me, bright green eyes resting on my heaving bosom.
The time for playing coy had passed. The lords had paid thousands of coins to win me. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and met the lord’s gaze. Despite my nerves, I fought them, and tried to appear confident—worthy of their time and attention.
The Courtesans Bargain: The Courtesans Harem Book 1 Page 2