Lust, Lies and Tinsel Ties Read online

  “Goddamn…”

  Chapter Three

  “Get this auction over and get these people the hell out of here.”

  Jake made a bee-line to Carson and hissed out the words in his ear. Turning, his partner studied his face, narrowed his gaze, and dipped his head in agreement. Jake hadn’t intended for the words to come out in such a blunt, angry manner, but they had.

  “My, what a cheery character you are this Christmas Eve,” Carson replied. “You better be careful, Santa may leave you nothing but stones in your stocking.” He backed away, swept a hand in front of him and added with sarcasm, “Your wish is my command, sir.”

  Jake’s stomach turned. He was an ass and knew it. Taking a half step forward, he reached out for Carson, who turned abruptly and stalked off.

  “Shit.” The curse slipped between his teeth.

  He watched as Carson threaded through the crowd and toward the front of the room where Grace Walker was holding court with what was left of the partiers. He whispered in her ear, then took the center stage himself while Grace stepped to the side.

  “Jake and I certainly want to thank each and every one of you for coming this evening, particularly with this unexpected weather,” he began. “Who would have thought? Snow on Christmas Eve in Albuquerque?”

  The crowd chuckled, and he continued. “But the evening is long, and I just heard that law enforcement is recommending people get home and stay off the roads. We want you to use your own judgment. Know that we have guest accommodations here for anyone who would rather not travel home this evening. But for those of you who are eager to leave, we have one more item up for auction.”

  He paused and scanned the room. Jake’s gut tightened.

  “You may have noticed our lovely cocktail waitresses this evening.” He pointed toward the bar at the back of the room; Jake followed his direction and bristled. Bree and her business partner-Ginger? He hadn’t really focused much on her-they were busying themselves behind it cleaning up. Both of their heads lifted, and they nodded as the crowd turned their way. Ginger smiled broadly. Bree gave a slight smile and glanced off. “In case you didn’t know,” Carson went on, “these generous ladies are the owners of Conner & Baker Realty. They volunteered their time this evening. All of the tips they earned,” he glanced back over the crowd, “from all of you generous people, will be donated to the homeless shelter. Let’s hear it for our sexy servers!”

  The crowd clapped madly.

  “Come up here! Come!” Carson waved toward the women.

  Jake wondered what in hell Carson was up to.

  The last thing Bree wanted at the moment was to parade herself in front of all the party-goers and Jake Baldwin and Carson Graham. Could people tell how distracted and turned on she was by him? Them? Shit, yes, there was Carson too, with whom she’d been making eyes all evening…and who had slipped his finger up her dress earlier, taunting her.

  Talk about libido confusion. Seemed like they all had it. At the moment, she didn’t trust her sexual psyche.

  But here she was, being pushed from behind the bar to the center of attention by a giggling Ginger. “Move it, honey. This is the part we’ve been waiting for.”

  Bree stopped and grasped Ginger’s arm. “What are you talking about?”

  “No time now.”

  “Yes. Time. Now.”

  “The crowd is watching.”

  “I don’t give a flying fucking leap! Tell me what is going on.”

  Ginger huffed, her eyes darting back and forth. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Just shut up and follow my lead. It’s for the shelter. We’re getting auctioned.”

  “We?” Panic seized her chest. “Auctioned?”

  “Yes.”

  “The company, right?”

  “No. You. Me.”

  “Fuck.”

  “That’s not part of the deal. Not unless you want it to be.” She grinned slyly. “Seriously, we just donate twenty-four hours of our time to whoever buys us. I’m sure it will be shelter-related, or something like that.”

  “Dammit, Ginger! You knew this ahead of time?”

  “Yes. Now, shut up and smile. You’re on first.”

  Ginger Baker, I will make you freakin’ pay! If the truth be known, Bree was glad for the anger that raced over her at that moment. It replaced the confused sexual crap that was rolling around in her head seconds earlier.

  The crowd cheered and clapped wildly again, and suddenly Bree found herself being catapulted forward into the throng, and before she knew it, was standing on an ottoman and Grace Walker was saying…

  “May I have five thousand, please?”

  As they used to say back home in Southern Ohio, What. The. Hell?

  Five thousand!

  “I’ll give you seven.” Bree’s head whipped to a voice in the corner. She couldn’t see from where it came.

  “Eight.” She jerked to the left. A woman’s voice. Crap.

  “Ten thousand.” Back to the right. Carson.

  Carson?

  He grinned at her. Her chest heaved. Oh, fuck…

  “Twelve,” came the voice from the shadows again.

  Sonofabitch !

  Grace Walker twittered in delight beside her. Bree scowled and clenched her fists. What in the world was she going to have to do to earn this much money?

  “Fifteen thousand.” Carson put in.

  “Twenty.” The woman again.

  “Twenty-five,” came from the corner.

  The crowd jittered, individual heads rotating back and forth, straining to see the man in the shadows who was topping every bid made. After a moment, they all turned their attention back to Carson.

  As did Bree. Her guts trembled.

  Carson grinned. “Thirty thousand,” he said coolly and winked.

  The room fell silent. Waiting. Anticipating the countering voice from the back of the room, or from the left. But one never came.

  Her chest was tight from holding her breath for too long.

  Grace Walker stepped between Carson and Bree, and it seemed the entire room exhaled. As did Bree. Finally. “Thirty thousand dollars! Oh, my! Going once. Twice. Sold!”

  The dizzying thought Bree had at that moment, was that her roughly seven hundred dollars in tips seemed mighty paltry. Why in the hell had she spent all night on her feet-in these heels!-to bring in tips if this was going to happen?

  I’m killing Ginger…

  Grace hugged Bree who stood stiff and unmoving, eyeing Carson, who appeared quite pleased with himself. He stepped up and shook Grace’s hand, then reached for Bree’s elbow. “Come with me,” he whispered.

  The crowed oohed and clapped. Bree tried to shut them out.

  Behind her, she heard Grace begin the bidding on Ginger. She hoped Ted had deep pockets, if he expected to get any tonight.

  Her hand felt small and warm in Carson’s as he led her out of the room and into a low-lit hallway. Immediately, she felt flushed. They walked in silence for a few seconds, the only sound was Bree’s boot heels making a soft click on the tile floor.

  “Where are you taking me,” she finally said. Her tummy was filled with a thousand butterflies. What was in store for her?

  “Just down here. So we can talk.”

  They passed a fully decorated Christmas tree, a few artsy structures, and some pottery on their way to…wherever. She supposed they needed to iron out the deals of her twenty-four hour servitude. “Okay, so what is it you have in mind for me, boss man?”

  He didn’t answer. They turned a corner and faced massive, carved, double oak doors. They swung open with ease as he turned the knobs and led her into the room.

  Bedroom. A very large bedroom.

  A very large and masculine chamber of love was more like it.

  She stopped short. “Um, Carson. I don’t think this is what the shelter people had in mind when they thought of this slave auction thing…” Although she had to admit, glancing about, that the room intrigued her.

  “No worries,
love,” he said, “We’re just in a holding pattern here for a moment, so to speak.”

  He led her further into the room.

  A huge oak bed, which echoed the carved design of the doors, sat regally in the center of the room. Four oversized posters anchored the piece of furniture, set up on a two foot tall bed frame, also made of solid oak. The headboard was the crowning jewel, with ornate carved gargoyles, animals, and nude figures, cutting deep grooves into the wood.

  A red fur bedspread with gaudy six-inch gold fringe was draped over the mattress. Low lights were scattered about the room lending shadows and a golden glow. Candles flickered in the off places where the lamp light didn’t reach. The sweet smell of roses and the spicy hint of patchouli met her nose.

  Still grasping her hand, the butterflies in her stomach flapping wildly now, Carson led her across the room to the gigantic bed. His large hands went to her waist, and he hoisted her up on it.

  “Carson…”

  “Just one second, love.”

  Before she realized it, he’d nestled her back into the fluffy pillows on the bed, and had grasped her left hand firm in his own. In a flash, that wrist was bound with a leather strap and he reached behind her to thread the other end through a large eyebolt embedded in the wood-something that she had not noticed before this-and pulled it taut and secured it with some sort of knot. Still moving swiftly, and reaching over her, he quickly bound her right wrist, as well.

  All Bree could do was look up into Carson’s eyes in wonder and imagine the puzzled look on her own face.

  “Um, Carson. I don’t believe this is necessary. I’m not exactly sure what you have in mind for the next twenty four hours, but… Normally I’m pretty much of a pushover when it comes to sex so, you know, I can be a sure thing. Of course, I know that we’ve not even talked about that, but…”

  “My apologies, sweetheart,” he pushed back from the bed, hands on his hips, “but I can’t risk you slipping away on me while I tend to something.”

  “You’re asking an awful lot for the thirty grand, aren’t you?”

  He snickered. “Sorry honey. I’m not asking for anything. I didn’t buy you for me.”

  “What?”

  Stepping back from the bed, he said, “Wait here.” Then starting for the door, he came up quick, snapping his finger.

  “Like I have a choice?”

  Turning and tossing back that oh-so-sexy grin of his again, he replied, “No love, you don’t. Not for the moment. But remember, I did buy you, and the deal was twenty-four hours to do my bidding.”

  “I didn’t sign any deal.” She tugged at the leather strap with her right hand. Hm. Pretty darned secure.

  “No, but your lovely business partner did.” He glanced at the door. “Remember, it’s for the shelter. I’ll be right back,” he added.

  For the shelter.

  Somehow, she didn’t think Grace Walker had this in mind when she proclaimed her sold for thirty thousand dollars.

  Holy shit! He’d paid thirty thousand big ones! For her.

  Bree wiggled against the straps and curled her upper body toward the foot of the bed. “Wait!”

  But he was gone, although only for a minute. He returned with a handful of tinsel garland, obviously snatched from the Christmas tree down the hall.

  “Here love.” Working to untangle the tinsel, he wove them into the leather straps at her waist. Then stepping back and admiring his handiwork, he must have decided she needed to look even more festive than she already did, for he draped tinsel over her body, her arms, breasts, thighs…

  “I am not a Christmas package, Carson.” When would this charade be over?

  Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against her cheek and moved to her ear. His body heat radiated, warming her from chest to her toes. The caress was nearly her undoing. Since she couldn’t resist much, or push him away, it only excited her more. Shit. He lingered, his hot breath on her ear. “Oh, but sweetheart,” he sexy-slurred the words, “you are just that. A beautiful Christmas present all wrapped up and waiting.”

  Her chest lifted and fell and the bed shifted with his weight. The tension between the two of them was palpable. The fine hairs on the side of her cheek were erect and sensing his nearness. Finally, ever so slowly, Carson pulled back far enough to fasten his gaze into hers and hold. She watched the deep blue depths of his eyes flicker and reflect the gold hues of the room.

  “Damn…” he said, then abruptly pulled back. His steps toward the door were assured and quick.

  “Carson.” She let his name slip off her tongue, not sure why or what she wanted from him.

  With a sigh, he halted with his hand on the doorknob and dragged his gaze back to her. “Yes, Bree?”

  “So are you going to tell me what your bidding is?”

  He studied her for a moment, and then calmly replied, “Not yet.”

  Chapter Four

  The wind nipped at his cheeks but Jake didn’t care. He needed air. Fucking, frigid air. Standing out on a breezeway, which led from the main house to the casitas, he was sheltered from the fine falling snow, but glad for the sting of cold to numb his brain and still his pounding heart.

  The crowd had left, thank God. The last cocktail waitress was auctioned off to her bartender boyfriend, and he’d swooshed them out the door telling them not to worry about cleaning up, given the snow and all. She didn’t bring in the dollars that her partner had, but it didn’t matter. Damn Carson. He’d forked over thirty thousand dollars of his savings. It was a good cause, of course, but…

  What in hell was he going to do with Bree?

  Everything that had rolled around inside him for the past few months was coming to a head tonight. He hadn’t seen it coming. His entire world could come crashing down around him in one fell swoop. He feared that. He could lose it all.

  Carson.

  Bree.

  Though, he never really had Bree. He simply lusted after her, loathed himself for it, and lied about it. But he did have Carson. And he didn’t want to give him up. They had been together for eight years. How can one throw away that many years? He couldn’t, which was why he felt so conflicted. The sexual encounter with Bree had changed everything, since he and Carson had devoted their lives to each other. That commitment was a life-changing event.

  They had both lived bi-sexual lives and were quite open with their sexual and promiscuous selves. Sex was part of their lifestyle. But then, they were young. Carefree.

  And stupid.

  A little age on both of them caused them to think about their lives and futures. They had been good friends for years then discovered they were more than that-they were in love with each other. Once that realization hit, and they knew they wanted to meld their lives, they made plans and set out to live the dream.

  Together.

  Eight years ago they made that commitment. And now, on one Christmas Eve, it was all going to hell.

  All due to his indiscretion and lack of self-control.

  He wasn’t sure what worried him more. Letting the notion and fantasy of Bree go forever? Or losing Carson.

  Or perhaps, what truly frightened him was the look in Carson’s eyes as he stood in their living room looking up at Bree while he bid on her.

  That’s when he’d had to walk away. For several seconds, he held the notion that he should buy her, talk to her, figure this out. But he couldn’t pull it off. He couldn’t bear any of it, any longer.

  Was Carson attracted to her?

  Was he out to get even? Had he known about Bree all this time?

  Behind him, he heard a door open and close.

  “So there you are.”

  Jake closed his eyes at Carson’s voice. Perhaps this was it. Was she with him? Slowly, he turned to face the piper. Carson stood alone, framed by the door.

  “Needed some air.” Lame excuse, he knew. He’d been avoiding this party all evening.

  “Come with me.” Carson held out his hand. He voice was mellow, his face sporting a
serious look.

  “We can talk out here.”

  Shaking his head, Carson returned, “No. I don’t want to talk; I want to show you something.”

  Not in the mood for games. Impatience was eating at him. “If you are going to end our relationship,” he told him, “just tell me now, and let’s get it over with.”

  Stepping closer, Carson looked deep into his eyes. “Jake,” he said softly, “I don’t want to end our relationship. I want to save it. Now please, come with me.”

  * * * *

  Waiting gave Bree time to study the room in which she was being held captive. It also gave her time to think about what might be coming next.

  Panning the room, it was obvious the scene was set for seduction. And more. A thought niggled that Carson had planned this…but how could he? He wouldn’t have known she would show up tonight. Right?

  Oh crap. Was he out for just anyone who would fit the bill? Not her? Was he some perverted sex fiend, and she had willingly fallen into his trap? For that matter, what did she really know about either of them? Jake or Carson?

  Not much.

  Rich, handsome, and two of them. That’s all she knew. And that Jake had a cock made to please.

  So, what about this den of seduction? And why her?

  Certainly her mind was just spinning scenarios. Jake and Carson were harmless. Right?

  But honestly, what seduction would be needed, when one was shackled to a bed, laying in wait? Frightened, intrigued, and confusingly turned-on all at the same time, she waited.

  Hell, the waiting alone was practically foreplay.

  Her body was growing hot in anticipation. What was in store for her? The yearning… thinking about Carson and Jake…

  Carson. Jake.

  Shit!

  She wanted them both. Now, that, was a new twist to her sexual repertoire.

  Tugging at the leather and tinsel ties that bound her to the bed, she glanced backward at the sturdy headboard and studied the carvings there. The bed was truly a work of art. She found it extremely interesting how a series of antiquated, but quite sturdy, eye hooks dotted the wood.