Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
She shivered violently as the cool air struck her skin, goosebumps rising across her breasts and belly. Bright and Burn immediately shifted their bodies to shield her from view, but the alien tsked sharply.
“Oh no, no, don’t hide her. I must see what the buyers will be bidding on.”
Burn growled, low and savage.
“Touch her and I’ll—”
“You’ll do nothing unless you want a full collar discharge,” the alien said sweetly, waving the remote.
Noelle slipped quickly into the shimmering green gown… and gasped.
“Blessed Virgin, no! I can’t wear this in public!”
The dress didn’t cover her at all.
Two perfectly round openings were cut in the top, leaving her breasts and nipples exposed. Below, the long skirt of the gown had a deep slit up in the center that opened right over her pussy, baring her completely.
Heat rushed to Noelle’s cheeks as she tried instinctively to cover herself…
Only to feel a sharp jolt that snapped through her fingers and down her arms.
“Ouch!” she gasped, snatching her hands back. “That hurts!”
“None of that now—no covering the goods,” the alien chided. “You must wear it as designed. Or…” she wiggled the controller again, “You’ll wear pain.”
Noelle forced her hands to her sides, her fingers squeezing into helpless fists. She’d never felt so naked…so vulnerable…so violated.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Bright stood stiffly at her left side, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. Burn looked ready to tear the entire dressing room apart with his bare hands, his massive body coiled with fury, eyes flaring red at every exposed inch of her.
But they couldn’t touch the alien. She—if it was a she, Noelle still wasn’t quite sure—had the remote to all their collars in her webbed hand.
So all three of them were stuck and unable to do anything but follow orders.
“Get dressed,” she said to Bright and Burn. “Hurry now—we need to get moving!”
The two exchanged a glance and then, reluctantly, began pulling off their flight leathers and putting on the tiny leather loincloths instead. At least they got to keep their boots—Noelle was still barefoot.
“Now then,” the alien said briskly, circling the three of them, the better to examine their outfits, “do any of you have special skills?”
“Special skills?” Burn echoed, incredulous. “What the fuck do you mean?”
“Oh, you know — useful talents.” She gestured idly with one elegantly webbed hand. “Culinary expertise…gardening knowledge…mechanical aptitude…household service…things like that. Rich patrons like to know what they’re buying. It helps with pricing.”
“I’m a teacher,” Noelle said hesitantly, arms held stiffly at her sides because she could not risk touching her own body again. “I…I tutor kids. I’m bilingual.”
Bright shrugged.
“I’m good with numbers. Accounting and logistics.”
Burn just grunted, massive arms folded across his chest. Clearly, he didn’t feel the need to share any “special skills.” Not that Noelle blamed him.
The alien nodded grandly.
“Very well. Let’s see—an accountant…” She pointed at Bright. “A heavy laborer…” She pointed at Burn. “And a maid.” She pointed at Noelle.
“What?” Noelle blinked. “A maid? No — I just told you, I teach. I could help someone homeschool their kids, or—”
“My dear,” the alien said with gentle condescension, “Do you honestly think anyone here wants to buy you for your academic prowess? They’re far more likely to want you dusting their fireplace in a skimpy uniform with no panties on.”
Burn’s growl shook the air and Bright’s hands curled into fists at his sides. But the alien just smiled, unfazed.
“Come! Now that you’re dressed, we mustn’t waste another moment.”
With a flourish, she spun toward the far end of the dressing room, where a tall curtain hung from an arched metal frame. She grasped a corner of the fabric and swept it aside dramatically.
A stage lay beyond the curtain — broad, circular, and blindingly bright with harsh overhead lights. Noelle could hear the low murmur of a crowd. Alien voices were speaking and people were rustling and shifting impatiently in their seats.
Waiting for the auction to begin, she thought dismally.
“Hurry,” the alien hissed over her shoulder. “You’re up next. Let’s go!”
Bright leaned close to Noelle.
“Stay between us, my lady.”
Burn stood at her other side, his huge frame radiating heat and fury.
And with nowhere else to go, Noelle took a shaky breath.
“Madre de Dios,” she whispered.
And stepped toward the stage.
31
NOELLE
The moment her bare feet crossed the threshold of the curtain, Noelle felt the world open beneath her like a trap.
Bright lights blasted down from above, so strong and white they felt metallic on her skin, turning every exposed inch of her into a glowing, vulnerable target. Burn was at her left and Bright was at her right—two towering walls of heat and muscle—but even sandwiched between them, she felt naked. More naked than she had ever been in her life.
Her hands instinctively lifted to cover herself—her breasts, her sex. She couldn’t touch herself but at least she could hide herself from prying eyes.