The Marriage Auction: Book One(30)

I walked to the room assigned to me for the contractual part of the evening. Madam Alana exited a door farther down the hallway and approached me with a smile.

“Mr. Goodall, it’s lovely to meet you in person.” She held out her hand.

“The pleasure is all mine.” I shook her hand with both of my own, smiling warmly.

She lifted her chin primly and clasped her hands together in front of her. “Shall we, then? I understand your intended is waiting beyond this door.”

I sucked air between my teeth and tipped my hat. “Well now, herein lies the problem. Once I go in, there is a very real chance she will not sign the contract.”

Madam Alana’s sleek brows furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“We have a bit of a history, me and Dakota. I’d like for you to ensure she signs the contract prior to me entering.”

Her pretty smile disappeared and her lips twisted into a thin, flat line. “I do not coerce candidates into signing marriage contracts, Mr. Goodall.”

I waved my hand in front of us. “Nah, I understand that. Believe me, I do. However, if I read through the materials correctly, they each had the opportunity to mark off an individual that they didn’t want to marry. Isn’t that right?”

She lifted her chin as if thinking about the very specific parameters each of us bachelors had to accept prior to attending the auction. It was a lengthy and very detailed agreement.

“True. She had the chance to mark you off based on your image alone.”

I smiled wide and removed my hat. “Well, I feel as though I’d like to surprise my bride. And since she didn’t mark me off, there shouldn’t be any issue with me surprising her.”

I watched as Madam Alana clenched her teeth.

“It feels as though you have something up your sleeve, Mr. Goodall,” she stated flatly.

I grinned. “That’s for me to know, and my bride to find out.” I winked.

“Fine. I shall expect your appearance within the next five minutes,” she said in a haughty manner I’d come to expect with these razzle and dazzle types. She sauntered into the room and closed the door behind her.

I waited a solid eight minutes before entering with my hat on and head down. I went straight to the table without so much as a glance at the two women. I picked up the pen lying there, noted her signature scrawled over the section labeled ‘Candidate,’ and added mine to the space indicated for the Bidder. Then I picked up the document, folded it, and finally looked up as I handed it to Madam Alana.

She took it and coolly stared at the two of us as though waiting for something to happen.

A few beats went by, then she gracefully announced, “I’ll just leave you two to get acquainted,” and took her leave.

Dakota’s gaze was like warm pools of melted chocolate as she took me in. I didn’t say a word as I removed my Stetson and set it on the table, letting her look her fill.

“Hello, wife,” I murmured, appreciating every inch of her lengthy form. The purple dress hugged her athletic curves perfectly, highlighting an already beautiful woman the way black velvet showcased diamond rings. And, in this dress, she definitely sparkled like a rare gem.

In a matter of seconds, a myriad of her feelings presented themselves in a wild display of physical expressions. Her mouth dropped open in pure shock before what I assumed was fear made her skin pale. Then as I watched in stunning magnification, her eyes blazed while her cheeks turned pink and a pretty, rosy color appeared across her chest and crawled up her neck.

Fury.

Anger.

Hatred.

All three of those things spread across her exceptional features until her arm arched back suddenly and her fist shot out, clocking me in the jaw so hard I stumbled back.

“How dare you!” she roared as I rubbed at the burning fire searing my jaw. The woman had a mighty right hook. Mike Tyson would have been proud.

I held up my hands. “Dakota…darlin’…”

“Don’t you darlin’ me, you bastard!” she sneered and shoved me with both hands.

Once again, I took a few steps back, but she continued to approach until I was up against a wall.

Her righteous anger was nothing short of a raging inferno contained inside an unbreachable steel box.

She was magnificent.

Her soul on fire.

And I had a front row seat.

It was breathtaking.

I basked in her beauty for a second before I captured both her wrists in one hand, her waist in the other. I twisted, using the leverage of my much larger size until I planted her back against the wall and used my chest to keep her there. I lifted her arms and held tight .

She snarled and snapped her teeth like a raging animal. But I was used to taming wild things and bringing them to heel.

“You’re going to regret this,” she spat.

I nuzzled her neck and inhaled her amazing scent. Wildflowers with a hint of country hay. I took in a lungful before sliding my jaw along hers until my lips were next to her ear.

“The only regret I have is not making you mine sooner.” I nipped at her ear, and she jerked away.

Her pupils were dilated, lips pink and glistening, while her chest heaved with the exertion of trying and failing to get away.

“I loathe you,” she growled.

I grinned.

“You won’t forever,” I whispered, bringing my lips to hover over hers, just barely touching. I could taste her minty breath on my tongue. It made my already hard cock tighten further behind my zipper.