She wasn’t ignorant enough to think this kind of event didn’t exist. She knew that women and girls all over the world were seen as commodities, objects to be owned, rather than human beings to be respected.
She tried to think through her fear as the auction moved through each girl and woman. Once they had been “won,” they would pass through a curtain with the guidance of a security guard. Perhaps they went off into some secluded room to be with their highest bidder.
That was it. She had to get the fuck out of that Kubrickian isolation and get into a room, then she could fight her way free to find Rux.
Then somehow, get the hell off of the island.
The last woman before her had been auctioned to a man in a tight top suit who looked like he was only a kid himself. It was her turn, and she found that she couldn’t step forward. Her feet were frozen to the spot.
“Item number 10,” the voice said. “Please step forward.”
Even though she was scared to death, she refused to be a part of this shit. She wrapped her robe tighter around herself and lifted her chin. She was about to tell them where they could shove their auction when she heard …
“One million.”
Dana felt her body surge with excitement. She knew that voice. She would have known it from a thousand miles away, so rich, calm, creamy.
Rux was bidding on her.
“Her robe stays on,” he said confidentially. “I want to unwrap the beautiful package myself.”
Dana found that she could finally breathe. There were murmurs throughout the viewing room, but no one spoke up to outbid him. When the auctioneer announced that she was sold, Dana gasped out loud.
“Thank you for attending tonight’s events, ladies and gentlemen,” the voice said over the PA. “Please follow the previously given routes to your private rooms where you can enjoy your purchases.”
Dana was guided out of the room and led down a hallway lit by small sconce features adorning the walls. She was taken to a room with a large 6 on it and felt herself almost disintegrate into a puddle when she saw Rux sitting on the bed.
She held her tears in as he nodded at the security guard, then he closed the door, his chin and mouth trembling beneath the mask.
Rux shot up and ripped the mask off of her face, then pulled her into his big arms. She had never felt safer in her entire life.
“Dana, oh my god!” Rux said frantically. “I was so worried about you. I’m so sorry that I’ve been a dick, my god. I was so scared.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her back, and Dana let out a few quiet tears onto his shoulders. He was squeezing her tightly, and Dana felt like she was going to burst into the most wonderful puddle on the ground.
“Rux,” she said through tears. “I’m the one that should be sorry. I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t. I’m so sorry.”
They held each other in the room silently, with Dana sniffling and Rux moving his hands up and down her back delicately. She felt like she could fall asleep from all the adrenaline that had been surging through her body, crashing comfortably in his arms, but she also knew that there was work to be done.
“I have a hard time with all of this,” Dana whispered.
“Hmm?” Rux said.
He had his head leaning against her shoulders, lightly kissing her neck.
“I feel overwhelmed sometimes,” Dana said into his body. “Just having to deal with this Dennis thing and falling for you too.”
Rux pulled away from her neck and held her by the shoulders. With a look of complete adoration, he lifted his hand to her face and began thumbing away the tears that had streaked her mascara,
“Falling for me?” he repeated.
Dana hadn’t realized she had said it, but she knew she had meant it.
“Yes, really, Rux,” she replied.
Rux held her face in his hands, his big green eyes taking all of her in. Her heart was pounding again, but in the way she preferred.
He brought his mouth to hers, and with the ease of a feather in the wind, Dana relaxed her body and gave into him.