3. Talia

The white chiffon robe was lighter than the wind, draping over Talia's shoulders and coming to rest mid-thigh. It concealed little, placing her pale pink nipples on show for the world to see, hiding just beneath the transparent fabric—along with the rest of her body.

She chewed her lip, watching her reflection in the dressing table mirror, sitting in one of Lux's teeming dressing rooms, being pimped and pressed by its harried stylist, whilst the rest of Lux's female employees readied themselves in front of their own dressing tables.

Half an hour remained until Lux opened—and her auction began. The room was packed with gold chiffon robes, but Talia alone was dressed in white.

White. Because she was a virgin.

If she was being honest with herself, it disgusted her that men would perceive her value as greater because she was untouched.

But she needed the money more than her morals.

"Will it hurt?" she asked quietly.

"Mmm?" the stylist, Anna, pulled the hairpin out from between her lips. "Sex?"

Talia nodded.

"People aren't going to buy a diamond necklace only to smash it to bits, darling," Anna replied with a smile that didn't meet her eyes. "You'll be fine." She slid the hairpin into Talia's hair, the finishing touch on the side plait restraining her red curls, oddly reminiscent of a bridal hairstyle. "All done."

Anna moved on to the next girl, a curvaceous blonde with jet black roots, striking up an immediate conversation. Neither of them attempted to include Talia. Nor did any of the other girls in the room. It was clear they all knew each other well.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. It's only one night. One night and then she would be free to move on with her life. She would never have to tell Dad or Darcy how much she'd fucked up.

She was exchanging one indignity for another.

A cold hand on her shoulder made her jump. "Are you okay?" Quinn asked, peering down at her with his dark brows drawn down.

Not trusting herself to speak, she resorted to a nod.

Looking as though he knew exactly what she was trying to avoid, he inclined his head towards the door and held out his hand. "Come on."

Talia let him lead her through the building, eventually going through a back entrance into a dingy, dimly lit courtyard. The acrid smell of cigarette smoke hit her nose, but the breeze was like a wave of arctic water against her exposed skin. "It's freezing," she juddered.

Quinn unzipped his overcoat, beckoning her closer. "Come in."

The frosty wind drove her into his coat. He was toasty warm beneath, and Talia attempted to absorb every ounce of heat, clinging to his front. Even his overwhelming scent of cigarette smoke failed to bother her. "I feel like a baby monkey," she snorted. "And you smell like smoke."

He laughed, a deep rumble against her cheek. "I've just been out here on my break." He closed the jacket behind her. "You looked like you could use one too."

A cigarette or a break?"I'm scared," Talia admitted, honesty swirling in her eyes. It was nothing she hadn't said last night just before their tutoring session had turned into a movie marathon. She twisted her hands together beneath his jacket, attempting to share what little warmth she had. "When I first signed up, it seemed so simple. A night with a rich stranger in exchange for my tuition fees. Now it's here I can't help but think of how it could go wrong, how he might not give a shit that I'm in pain, how he might like to inflict pain, and what if he—"

Quinn laid a frosty palm against her cheek. "Everything will be fine."

She bit her lip. "Will it? I haven't even kissed a guy before, let alone—"

Quinn blinked. "Wait, what?" He gave her a searching look. "And you're going to give that privilege to a stranger?"

There was a pause as Talia deliberated. She worried her bottom lip beneath her teeth. She'd been intending to save up all of her boldness for later, but perhaps she could cash in early. "Not if I give it away now."

The realisation dawned on him instantly, the shock widening his eyes.

"The winner of the auction is going to buy my virginity. I have no control over that. But he's not buying my first kiss; that's still mine to give away."

His palm touched her cheek again, his thumb dancing across her bottom lip. "Then let me accept."

Talia let out a faint murmur as he kissed her. Her first thought was the softness of his lips against hers—before the shocking heat of his tongue came. He angled her head, deepening their embrace. A hoarse groan rumbled through his chest. Before she froze to death, Talia pulled away, holding her hand against Quinn's broad chest.

She gave him a faint, if not slightly underwhelmed, smile.

So that was what kissing was like.

Hopefully sex would be as uneventful and painless as that.

"Shall we go inside?" she murmured, not knowing what to say. Was thanks an option? "The last thing I want to do is miss the auction." And she was pretty sure her toes were in danger of becoming frostbitten.

Back in the dressing room, Anna was furious. "You stink of cigarette smoke," she muttered, taking the white gown from Talia's shoulders and giving her an identical replacement. "Go to the bathroom and brush your teeth. There's disposable toothbrushes on the shelf. Who said you could have a cigarette?"

"I didn't have a cigarette, I was just standing near—" Talia motioned to Quinn.

He stood in the doorway, his eyes zipping upwards from their leisurely pursuit of her breasts. "Hmm?"

Anna rolled her eyes, flicking her chocolate brown hair behind her ear, revealing the strands of grey hiding at her temple. "Goddammit Quinn, get out of here."

Quinn sent Talia an apologetic look, retreating in the direction of the manager's office.

"If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times," Anna grumbled under her breath, frogmarching Talia to the bathroom.

Talia expected Anna to leave, but she watched with a beady eye as Talia dutifully brushed her teeth and spritzed her hair.

"Ready?" Anna said, looking at her watch.

The jumpy movement of Talia's head wasn't quite a nod, but she took it as one anyway.

"Now remember," she said as they walked, leaving the hustle and bustle of the dressing room behind, "there's perineal numbing spray and throat numbing spray in the bathroom if things get too painful with your client. There's also your usual Tylenol and ibuprofen for afterwards, plus there are condoms and lube dotted around the room. But if you're in the mood for like an edible or something, give us a shout and we'll get on it. Oh, and don't forget to pee after sex."

Talia shot her a questioning look as they traversed the long corridor Quinn had taken her down previously. She began to hear voices up ahead; the low murmur of male chatter.

She swallowed. Was the man who was going to buy her already in the building?

"Gets all the germs out," Anna continued, ignorant of Talia's internal panicking. "Trust me, you do not want a UTI."

The backstage area was far removed from the dressing room's flurry of activity. It was empty except for a mirror—and, more importantly, a set of stairs leading up to the first floor—where her auction would begin. Bright lights from above left her in the shadows, but it was the noise that wilted her.

The man who would take her virginity was just out of view. He was one of those countless voices, deep and rich and probably drunk, just waiting to bid.

The full length mirror projected her reflection back at her, and Talia gave herself one last inspection. Her vibrant curls were still kept firmly in check, her body was still on show to an alarming degree, and her expression only projected a marginal amount of terror.

Considering the circumstances that had led her here, to a tiny room beneath a billionaire's playground, as Quinn had called it, Talia thought she was doing admirably.

After tonight, all of her problems would be over.

Talia listened to Anna's instructions of where to go, how to walk, how to smile, how to open her gown, but at no point did Anna mention how not to fucking puke all over herself.

Because all she could think about as the host's disembodied voice boomed through the room above, officially opening the auction, was that she was going to be sick.

With a shove from Anna, Talia slowly made her way up the steep stairs. A stage stretched out before her, but spotlights blinded her from seeing beyond it. Drunken jeers and wolf whistles hit her, thrown by the occupants hidden from view.

Obediently, she went and stood on the ‘X' painted on the centre of the stage, her shoulders thrown back.

The host's voice blared out from the speakers above. "Gentleman, please welcome our English rose to the stage." Whoops and heckles and shouts came from every direction. Talia wanted nothing more than to run back down those stairs, but she opened her gown, just like Anna instructed.

After tonight, all of my problems will be over, she recited to herself, baring her naked body to a room full of men she didn't know, hoping they couldn't see her shaking.

After tonight, all of my problems will be over.

The host's voice drowned out her thoughts, and the catcalls and whistles only got louder. "Are we ready to bid?"