Perfectly Too Far (19 page)

The
Masters rose like a gentle wave, coming to crash down upon all of
them. They strolled around the stage, leaning close and talking to
themselves. It was humiliating, yet still, it sent a rush through
Judith's blood.

That
feeling grew ever higher when Onyx appeared before her. Staring down
into her face, locking her with his fierce gaze, he spoke under his
breath. “So, little Sparrow. You felt you were wiser than I,
ready to auction yourself off in spite of my instructions?”

“
No,
no, I didn't think—”

His
finger tips gripped her chin, squeezing until she gasped. “Yes,
you didn't think. I actually debated with myself, you know. Thought
about purchasing you.” Those words made her heart throb. “But,”
he went on, letting her go. “Now I know better. You are too
defiant, too keen to break the rules.”

Onyx
spun away, striding past her shoulder. She hung her head, sorrow
welling up, chilling her blood and blackening her mood.
He might
have chosen me, if I had just listened.

Behind
her, she suddenly heard a sound of wild disbelief. Baffled, she
straightened up until she could peek at the back of the stage. There,
standing only a few feet away, was Master Onyx. His gloved palm was
covering his mouth, his attention focused on her entirely.

Judith's
hair stood on end, but she didn't know what was wrong. For a second,
he met her eyes, before wrenching away to head back to the chairs.
Watching him, turning to the front to see him sit, the red-head was
more lost than ever.

What
was wrong with him just now?

The
Masters conversed among themselves, snippets traveling to Judith's
ears.

“
Oh
yes, that one, her breasts are fantastic...”

“
Not
her. I saw them reprimanding that one last night...”

“
A
shame, maybe Helm will claim her after all.”

Looking
down at her hands, Judith worked to smooth her breathing.
They
talk about me so casually. The way I want him to.

And
only him.

“
So
then,” Helm bellowed, getting all the attention. “Let us
begin the bidding. You should all recall how it works, simply raise a
finger to bid. If we have multiple bidders, the price doubles for
every digit. I don't expect anyone to lift a whole hand, but if so,
you should make sure you're willing to spend that money.”
Climbing the stage, he gestured across the first girl. “Let's
start with Roseli.”

Judith
gazed over the seated Masters. In their masks, with their stony
mouths, it was impossible to see their expressions. The subtle way
they moved an arm, to wave a finger, showed a few wanted the tall
woman.

Glancing
over, she glimpsed the proud smile Roseli didn't bother to hide.

By
the end, three of the seven men had lifted fingers, but the final one
held up three. Helm grinned hungrily, sharing a look with Onyx. He
seemed disappointed when the other man didn't look as delighted.
“Well, there we go. Roseli, go join your new Master.”

Easily
she stood, entirely comfortable in her nudity, and in her place.
Walking down the steps, she bent like a flower in the breeze at the
feet of one of the sitting men. Reaching down, he touched the back of
her neck, whispering into her ear. Whatever he said, it made the girl
beam.

The
flicker of jealousy Judith felt left her baffled.

Helm
was near her, his presence so close it made her skin itch. He touched
the top of her head, eliciting a flinch. “Now, let us talk
about Sparrow. As I said, she's been a bit of trouble. However, she
was
so very, very eager during the sessions Onyx put her
through last night.” He chuckled, making her remember the show
she'd been a part of. How she'd cum multiple times for the crowd.

Her
blush was furious, sweat blooming across her lower back.

“
Who
would like to bid on her?” he asked the crowd. Judith raised
her chin, staring out at the emotionless sea of faces. At first, no
one moved. On the nape of her neck, he gripped tighter, triumphant.
“No one?”

Truly,
no one?
Peering at Onyx, she
tried to read his mind.

“
Then,”
Helm murmured, stroking the back of her ear. “I believe I'll
happily—”

“
No,”
Onyx cut him off. His hand was up, a finger pointed. “I'll bid
on her. The little Sparrow is mine.”

Judith's
heart swelled, her lips a relieved smile. Oddly, he still didn't seem
pleased. If anything, she thought his tense mouth hinted at something
furious.

Above
her, Helm gave her a squeeze, then stepped away. “As you say,
she is yours.” Moving around, he eyed her with petulant
longing. “Go to him, girl. You belong to Master Onyx now.”

I
belong to Master Onyx!
Standing
on wobbly legs, she was proud when she made it down the steps, all
the way to Onyx, without stumbling.
I'm his, I'm finally
his.
Staring into his face,
Judith dropped to her knees in her first display of fluid grace.

Onyx
placed his hand in his lap, but he didn't touch her. He didn't even
try. Unsure what was wrong, the red-head's smile broke.
Why
does he seem so angry with me?

For
the rest of the auction, Judith knelt there in heavy silence. It
wasn't until everyone began to stand, began to stride from the room,
that Master Onyx spoke to her. “Come, little Sparrow,” he
whispered. “We need to talk.”

****

One
of the woman handed her the clothing she'd arrived in. Redressing,
sliding her feet into her shoes, Judith rushed to tag along after
Onyx.

Together
they walked down the hall. Judith stayed just behind, watching his
heels as he walked. His whole body seemed tight, a rope about to
snap. It scared her, truthfully.

She
expected them to head off to a private room. What she didn't predict
was that Onyx would lead them to the main area, and once there,
continue on through the curtains.

Pulling
up short, Judith gaped after his vanishing back.
Oh, no.
Suddenly,
she knew what had happened. Staring down at her flats, then back at
the curtain, she grasped the situation firmly.
He saw the bandage
on my foot. When he walked behind me on stage, he...

He
knows.

Inhaling
till her lungs ached, Judith walked through the drapes, the stiff
stride of someone heading to their death.

Upstairs,
pushing past the red door, she looked around. She didn't see
anything, not at first. Then, he spoke from her left. “No
regard for my rules, in the end, hm?”

She
spun, finding Benedict sitting on the couch in the foyer. His legs
were crossed, one arm on the back of the furniture. In his other
hand, he held that black mask. Lifting his head, he rolled his cold,
sapphire eyes over her.

Shaking
like a leaf, Judith reached up to remove her own facial covering.
Pointless to hide behind it now.
“That isn't it. I
just—I was just curious.”

Tilting
his head, a cruel smile grew. “And was your curiosity sated,
Ms. Flight?”

“
It
was.” Hanging her head, she reached up to untie her hair. The
elaborate curls fell in waves.
The game is over.

“
Why
did you keep going back?” Standing languidly, his emotion
restrained, Benedict approached her. “Why, if you had been
sated, did you return so many times?”

Flushing
crimson, the girl looked away.

He
glowered at her, raw fury finally leaking into his hot words. “Corbin
will take you home.”

Though
she had once expected such a reaction from him... she was still
shocked. Her hair whipped when she twisted back. “What? What do
you mean? I haven't finished—”

“
I
don't care!” His features creased, a rage that had been below
the surface exploding. “I
do
not care
anymore!
You broke my rules, Ms. Flight. You put myself, my clients,
everything at risk! Do you understand what a contract means? Did you
even read it?”

She
had no response, his anger had stolen her voice.

He
ripped the mask from her fingers, causing her to squeak. “If
you have anything, gather it up. I don't need you coming back here, I
don't
want
you coming back. Do you hear me?”

She
was amazed she could answer. “Yes, I... I do. But, please, I
need that letter. You told me I could have it.”

Eyes
that were colder than ice looked her over, unblinking. “You'll
have it. That, and nothing more. We're done here.” Turning
away, he stalked down the nearby hall. “Good evening, Ms.
Flight.”

Judith
watched him go, her world officially falling apart.

****

The
drive was tense, the lights of the city going unseen.

Judith
sat in the back, brooding back and forth over whether to be angry, or
to be sad.

Both,
I'll just be both.

“
I'm
sorry this happened,” Corbin mumbled over the sound of the
engine.

Sitting
up, she leaned forward, trying to catch his eye in the mirror. “Did
you know about it?”

“
About
you sneaking in? Yes, of course I knew,” he chuckled sourly.

“
But
you never told him.”

“
No,”
he agreed somberly. “I did not.”

Biting
her lip, she gathered her confidence. “Can you explain to me
why he was so angry? It can't possibly matter so much if I know about
that place, about what he does.”

“
Of
course it matters,” he sighed, turning around a curve in the
road. “Mr. Vance runs a private event, a place people can go to
be someone else entirely. Secrecy is the utmost importance to him,
and you risked exposing him by returning beyond that red door every
night.”

She
shook her head, not understanding. “How can they not know he's
Benedict? Isn't it obvious?”

“
Was
it obvious to you?”

Blushing,
she sat back in her seat.

Corbin's
eyes softened in the mirror. “Even if they knew, they would
never say. He knows who they all are, and that is much more powerful.
It's part of the condition of joining that place, they must sign over
their identification and a privacy agreement to him. They never meet
Benedict Vance, they only ever meet me. Yes, it's obvious I work for
him, and it is obvious the event takes place at his home. But any who
would get as far as that have already signed away their right to
privacy. They'd risk scandal by stirring trouble.”

She
put her head on the window, closing her eyes.

“
Don't
be too offended,” he said gently. “Mr. Vance is a unique
man. I admit, I've never seen him so enamored with anyone before. You
really left an impression on him.”

“
Too
bad it ended like this, then,” she laughed bitterly.

“
Yes,”
he admitted. “It is too bad.”

The
car pulled up outside her apartment, lighting up the garbage cans and
chasing off rats. Climbing out of the door, Judith glanced back at
Corbin. “Tell him I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to mess
everything up.”

The
driver just smiled, nodding his head. She watched the car until the
glow of it vanished around the street corner. Turning, she glanced
back at the garbage, spotting a dead roach. The sight made her guts
squeeze, killing any appetite she might have had.