Break Me Not (Pétale Auction #3)

Prologue

Liz

“We’ll take everything for one hundred.”

My gloved fingers brushed the hard panes of the frame. I couldn't keep my smile to myself.

Before me was something I had held onto for almost the entirety of my career. A beautiful, emotional, mind-altering painting from a once-unknown, now-turned-breakout artist.

If it weren’t for my dire situation, I would never bring myself to sell it.

I turned around, looking at the two women in front of me.

The tall one who’d just spoken, with honey-colored hair falling to about her shoulders and wearing a well-fitted suit. A businesswoman through and through who had an air about her that told anyone in her vicinity that she was the boss.

At her side was her complete opposite. Dyed silver hair, piercings and tattoos everywhere, and a smirk on her lips. Her outfit was more casual—a silky black button-up that was mostly open with loose dress pants.

Neither was wearing a mask, and for this private sale, I wasn’t either.

Normally, when you were invited to Club Pétale, you needed to use an alias and were required to wear a mask at all times. I was when we entered, but as soon as we reached the private office, I decided to take it off.

“Ax, you and I have been doing this for far too long,” I said, and then looked at her counterpart. “And I think Lillian would be very disappointed if she couldn't place one of her favorite works here in the club.”

Sloan’s smile broke for just a second. We both knew her wife had many favorites. I couldn’t fault her. I was the same. Every single one wormed its way into my heart, making it almost impossible to let them go.

“Two hundred.”

I turned back to my favorite piece. An abstract oil painting with dark figures, sensually wrapped around each other. The colors were muted, except for soft reds and pinks. I felt emotion rise in my chest just looking at it.

This artist had a keen eye for love. Even as the characters in the painting faded, as their souls turned gray and twisted, there was always a spark that brought the tiniest bit of humanity back into them.

That was why I loved it so much.

If they weren't my favorite—and most profitable—clients, I would never even consider selling it. And I needed more than just their paycheck. I refused to let my mind go further, trying to focus on getting this deal through as best as I could.

“This one alone would sell for two hundred at an auction,” I said before motioning to the smaller pieces off to the side. They were all on their own stands, all from different artists I had collected over the years.

This was a specialty showing I had reserved just for them. After so many years of their patronage and a dash of my own desperation, I decided it was finally time to introduce them to the art I’d been hoarding for myself.

“Lil will be so mad if I don’t get this for her,” Sloan whispered to Ax, who gave her a narrowed look.

“Then you shouldn’t have made promises you couldn't keep.”

I had to look away to stop myself from letting out a small laugh.

“Come on, it’s not like we don’t have money.”

I turned to the side, letting them whisper amongst themselves, even though I could easily hear what they were saying.

“But we do have a budget,” Ax snapped under her breath.

Then Sloan dropped her voice so low I had to look at them. She was whispering in Ax's ear, and a light passed through the older woman's eyes.

“Perfect then,” she said. “Okay, you name your price, and we’ll pay it. In return, I think there is something you can do for the club.”

I raised a brow at her. “Something I can do for the club? Isn't selling art enough?”

It was mostly a joke, but I always got a little anxious when the client started switching up on me.

“Not really something you can do… I mean, of course we’ll benefit from it. It would be a lie if we said we won’t, but you can think of this as a little present for you. After all, you've treated us so well throughout the years, so how about we repay you?”

Sloan walked toward me as she said it with that cat-like smile of hers. I could tell that she was scheming something, and I didn't want to be a part of it.

But then there was a little voice in the back of my head reminding me of the one thing I wanted to push away.

You could do with the money. After paying the artists, your commission isn’t enough to make a dent in the divorce lawyer’s fees.

“Five hundred,” I said, looking at Ax. “But I’m not willing to throw in free labor or anything like that. I'm a busy woman and I don't have time for your games.” Or the money.

“No games here.” Sloan swept out her hand toward me. “An auction. Similar to the ones you’ve been to, but in our case, we’re selling a different type of art.”

There was only one thing a BDSM club would sell at an auction, and it had me scoffing at her.

“Sloan, what makes you think I'd ever buy—”

“You would be the piece.”

Ax’s words had my heart freezing in my chest.

Me? They want to auction me off?

A wave of insecurity hit me.

During meetings like this, I'd always dress my best. Simple but expensive.

Tasteful. Today I was in a deep blue, high-neck dress that hugged my upper body and draped down my legs with a slit.

It was cinched at the waist, highlighting my curves, but the main feature was the open back that showed off one of my post-divorce gifts to myself.

I had carefully put my hair up in a more professional manner, and I wore simple makeup so as not to overshadow the art.

The fine-line inked drawing of flowers crawling up my spine was pretty, but not auction-worthy at all. And neither was I.

I was a divorced, forty-two-year-old with a grown child. I still had stubborn stretch marks from my pregnancy. As much as I tried to fight it with treatments and good skin care, wrinkles were showing. And I was nowhere as fit as all the other girls they had in this club.

Nor was I… experienced.

“We’ve talked about your interest in the club,” Ax explained.

“And I know you've been here multiple times, so you know what we're about. You can say no, but trust us when we say that this truly is a gift for you. We’ve heard about the divorce. It couldn’t have been easy to give him half of everything you worked so hard for.”

“And the house,” Sloan added.

I pursed my lips. Of course they were sticking their nose into things they shouldn’t be.

A gift for me.

I folded my arms over my chest, feeling unsure.

They were right. My greedy bastard of an ex-husband had taken half of everything I worked for because we hadn't signed a prenup.

Back then, I was nothing more than a stay-at-home mom who barely had anything to her name. I’d built my career through hard work and dedication—and he took advantage of that in the divorce.

Over the years, Ax and I had had multiple conversations about the club. Having been here on more than one occasion, I would be lying if I said I didn't imagine myself as one of the girls I saw getting fucked in one of the voyeurism rooms.

But would anyone truly purchase me?

“I don't think you would be suggesting it if you didn't get something out of it.” I looked between them. “What is it?”

“Excited patrons,” Sloan said with a smile. “A new way to bring the club together. A more competitive way for people to match—”

“Commission. Twenty percent.”

Leave it to Ax to be the one to keep it real.

I nodded.

“How much are these pieces going for?”

“Based on our conversations with prospective buyers, they're willing to go up to one million. Some even offered to cover the commission so their… piece of choice would get their full pay.”

I almost lost my balance.

One million?

I’d seen that number hundreds of times throughout my years of selling artwork but never imagined getting it dumped into my bank account. It would cover everything he took and more.

It was almost too good to be true.

It’s also been so long since I’ve been properly fucked.

“One night. You can choose the rules. And if you're uncomfortable with any of it, you can back out. This is supposed to be for you. And your buyer.”

“If I say no?” I asked, shifting on my feet. The small kitten heels I wore often were suddenly feeling very unstable.

“Then you get your five hundred and you leave, but I have a feeling you’ll regret it.” Sloan leaned down to meet me at eye level. “Money aside, you must have a dark desire in there. Now’s the time to let it out.”

I had been in their position one too many times.

Always selling. Always trying to close the deal.

But the longer I thought about it, the more lopsided it seemed.

I was the one who was going to get everything.

For a small commission and the slightly degrading moment of being auctioned off, I would have a night at the club doing whatever I wanted and getting paid for it.

“One night?” I asked.

Sloan stood back with a smile.

“One night,” she confirmed.

The insecure part of me was worried that I wouldn't be purchased. I almost asked her what would happen if I weren’t, but there was one thing I knew about this type of business.

Auctions like this wouldn't happen if the pieces were not in demand. And even then, auction houses had a very sneaky way of stroking the desire of the people in the room. People who thought they'd just go and watch ended up spending.

The question wasn't whether I would be purchased… but whether I wanted to be.

Did I want someone seeing everything I hid beneath my clothes?

Excitement rushed up the back of my spine.

I don’t just want someone to see me. I want—

“Okay,” I said, looking the two of them in the eyes. “Five hundred thousand and a night at the auction. But if I sell for under one million, you forfeit your commission.”

Sloan looked worried, but Ax merely nodded.

“You won’t, so we have a deal.” She twisted her wrist so she could look at her watch. “If that's the case, we better hurry and get you downstairs or you'll miss it.”

Sloan was already lightly grabbing my arm and guiding me toward the exit.

“Tonight?” I asked in a panicked whisper.