Chapter 51

Chapter 51

He made a hasty dash into an even larger area that was filled with enormous circular tables, crystal, glass, and an abundance of fresh flowers. The perfume of the fresh flowers was powerful, but not strong enough to cover the yearning scent of an alpha who was primed for mating.

With resolve, Derrick moved, and I found it difficult to keep up with his lengthy strides. He strolled easily to a table at the back of the room and then pulled out a chair for me, putting his hand around the frame as I took it gingerly. He then sat down next to me. I looked like I shouldn't have been here, and he sat as elegantly as a monarch should, his posture at ease and reflecting his exalted status.

The table in front of us was furnished with glasses and drinks, but in place of the plates that would have been used for dinner, there was a bow-wrapped paddle with a number printed on it.

The identical thing was in front of Derrick, but he didn't seem as interested in it as I did. Rather, he made his way to the large ice bucket in front of us, took out a bottle of champagne, and poured each of us a glass. I took a moment to look at the bubbling liquid before picking up the flute's stem. Perhaps a small amount of alcohol could calm my nerves more effectively than I could.

"What happens now?" Seeing more individuals begin to take their seats, I asked.

Before anyone moved to our table, the front of the room filled up first. The woman who had spoken to me earlier, the one with the shimmering gold dress, sat down across from me and fixed her sharp eyes on my partner, who was hardly looking at her.

With his arm resting on the back of my chair, Derrick reclined in his chair.

"If something catches your interest, let me know." While we watched Sammy and Clara make their way onto the stage, he added in jest.

They gave their guests a broad smile as I sat up straight in my chair.

I was experiencing a rush of joy despite everything that had transpired before, as I marveled at the magnificence and excitement of the occasion. I pondered whether this auction would resemble anything I had seen on television and whether it would get as contentious as my imagination had.

"My husband and I have organized these fundraisers for over a decade now with a promise to help orphans and disadvantaged youths." As she stated the reason we were here, my spine straightened and my heart skipped a beat. "I've always wanted a house full of kids, but when my body couldn't support my own aspirations, Sammy and I founded this charity, and as a result, we have assisted millions of children nationwide. Today, at this auction, you will all be helping millions more children. So tonight, don't be embarrassed to write zeros on your checks." I looked in shock at Derrick and the crowd erupted in laughter.

Though I already knew he was a good and fair man, my perspective of him had completely changed. Remembering what Sammy had said, that Derrick was their most generous donor to a cause near and dear to my own heart, made my heart pound unceasingly in my chest.

As the night wore on, the warning tape around my heart began to come off, the urge to get nearer to him growing increasingly stronger. I moved closer to him, pushing my chair against the carpet, lifting his hand off the table and settling it in my lap, rubbing my palm against his while I fidgeted with his fingers. I could sense the bond being pushed upon by his yearning to look after me.

Sammy said, "Let's bring up the first item," and the entire audience burst into cheers.

I released his hand, and he shot forward. Taking his bidding paddle from the table, he shifted his arm away from my chair and positioned himself well to place his hand on my thigh. I sighed sharply as his thumb touched the exposed flesh from the cut in my garment.

I watched with my eyes fixed on the platform, my pulse pounding in my chest, as the first thing was mentioned. The vibrant colors of the scene captured my heart and gave me a feeling I hadn't had in a long time. The painting was stunning, looking like something from a museum.

This is the kind of place I had dreamed about as a child, locked up in a chamber.

Before the bidding had started, Derrick chose to raise the paddle when I inadvertently moved my hand to cover my heart.

"Bidding starts at ten thousand dollars." As I turned to face my partner, my heart fell to my stomach since he seemed to be able to perceive everything around me, especially me.

To me, $10,000 was a significant amount, even though it wasn't much to others around me.

"What are you doing?" With hardly enough time to ponder, the auctioneer kept raising the price, which terrified me, and Derrick raised his paddle each time the price went up.

He continued to play the same game as everyone else, ignoring the inquiry. Rich people were playing a game of response and pride, trying to get their hands on what other rich people had, but Derrick wasn't like them; he was bidding on this artwork because he was paying attention to what I had to say.

When Derrick's name was called and he was the last man standing on the battlefield, the auctioneer had reached fifty-two thousand dollars for the artwork. He gave me a passionate kiss on the forehead. The public display of devotion caused my cheeks to flush, and when the auctioneer's list eventually went on to the next item, I grabbed Derrick's wrist and forced the paddle from his grasp.

I looked at him, and he scowled.

"I thought you liked the painting."

"That doesn't mean you spend fifty thousand dollars on it!" He leaned in toward me, seemingly amused by what I had said.

"I would tear the stars from the sky for you, Kylie—fifty thousand dollars is barely a dent." I gave him a fierce look, and he moved his fingers to my chin, his thumb grazing my lips. "Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you—always and forever." My scowl faded, but it remained carved between my eyebrows.

"I don't want you to spend your money on me."

"What is the point of my money if I can't spend it on my mate? Besides, you seem to have forgotten that this is all for a good cause." As I returned the paddle to him, I realized that I had forgotten and had no idea why I felt worse.

Before the emerald necklace showed up, Derrick continued to place his own bids on a number of items during the course of the auction. Starting at a quarter of a million dollars was the bid. Several hands sprang up around the room, one of them the woman in the gold dress, but I knew that none of them would be able to compete with him, not after I'd made it clear earlier in the evening that I was interested in the piece.

My heart pounded tensely in my chest as I reached for his leg and dug my fingers into the fabric of his pants. I could no longer stand it as the price progressively increased until it hit half a million dollars, and there were only four of them left in the game. Derrick didn't have to do this for me; even if he hadn't won the necklace auction, the proceeds would have still gone to the children's charity.

With a beseeching look, I reached out to grab his wrist, pleading with him to give up. I attempted to pull his hand down, but he peered down at me with a determined expression. I bent over him and met his determined gaze, curling my hand around his wrist until he had enough of the way I was hanging off him.

I yelled in astonishment, and Derrick pulled me into his lap in the two seconds it took the auctioneer to announce the new price point.

"You're distracting me." As I moved against his legs, he spoke softly and with a tinge of humor.

You would have thought it would have been simple for me to return to my seat because one of his hands was already occupied, but instead he wrapped his other arm around my waist like a twisted piece of iron, tying me to him.

My hold on his wrist was looser now that we were closer together. He was staring at me with his eyes narrowed, his focus divided between the necklace and me. Just as his lips approached mine, I realized that I had completely forgotten my intentions. As I pressed my hips against him, his body collapsed beneath me, his eyes narrowed, and his hand kneaded against my side.

"That necklace is going to be yours whether you distract me or not." I leaned closer to his lips, and his hand slipped to the base of my neck. "Do your worst." He dared me, but I didn't want to offer him my worst.

I muttered, "I want to kiss you," and briefly noticed his fingers fluttering in the air.

"You made me a promise, Kylie—"I know." I reached over to rub my fingertips across his stubble.

I didn't intend to break the vow I had given him the last time I started a kiss, because I was well aware of it. Right now, this was what I wanted to do, and this was what I wanted. I wanted to give him something back because he had spent the bulk of the night demonstrating his love for me.

He glanced down at my lips, then met my eyes once again.

"There is only one thing I must accomplish prior to accepting your offer, angel." His response took me by surprise until he explained what he intended to do.

His words reverberated throughout the spacious room.

"One million dollars." The room gave a collective gasp, and he repeated it flawlessly. I sat on his knee and stared at him for a long moment during the long stillness.

His features exuded a resolute purpose; the necklace was both what he desired and a barrier to obtaining another item.

The auctioneer repeated his asking price into the room, watching for a response, but this time, nobody objected. Before the man holding me in his lap had the necklace, he called out the million dollars once, twice, and then a third time. Before turning back to face me, he let the paddle drop on the table.

"You're insane." As he held me, I heard myself exclaim, "The audience's eyes prickled against the back of my neck."

"Only for the things that I want, and if I remember correctly, you promised me a kiss a moment ago." His thumb was pulling at my lower lip, and I was startled as his eyes were locked on my mouth. As I watched him, I felt my courage starting to fade—it was either now or never.

I pushed his back against the chair with a swift motion, my hands tracing up his neck and up his shoulders until I was holding his chin.

I tipped back his head and met his lips with mine.