Chapter 5

April

I wake up to find myself in the front seat of a car. I'm still wearing the lacy lingerie, so the auction must have really happened. That part wasn't just a bad dream. But now I'm also wrapped in a thick, warm sweatshirt that's miles too big for me and zipped up to my chin with the hood tucked up over my hair. I'm strapped into the seatbelt and have a moment of panic as I try to tug the sweatshirt further down my bare legs.

"Easy there," a deep, soothing voice says. "You fainted. Give yourself a second to breathe."

I don't. With a gasp, I jerk my head to the left to see a big man with his hands firmly on the steering wheel while the world whizzes past the window beside him. City lights, street signs, people. This must be the man who won me, even though I could swear I saw…

He turns to face me with a reassuring smile on his beautiful face. It's him. The angel I saw in the crowd before everything went black from exhaustion, terror, and lack of food over the last few days because of my nerves.

"You don't have anything to fear," he says. His eyes are such a clear, dark blue they shine even in the dim light of the car, and his voice washes over me like a comforting caress.

"You bid on me?" I ask, sitting up a little straighter.

"That's right," he says. His hand lifts from the steering wheel like he wants to reach for me, but he places it back where it was and faces forward.

Am I disappointed he didn't touch me? I belong to him now, after all. I know I'm disappointed not to fully see his handsome face anymore, but he's driving. I concentrate on the strong line of his jaw, where a muscle works under the slight stubble as he grips the steering wheel.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, a fresh wave of dizziness rushes over me and makes me close my eyes again.

"Home," he tells me.

I force my eyes open, the fear of turning up at the apartment too early and facing Uncle Harris's wrath making me gasp. "I can't—he'll—"

My angel shakes his head. "My home, April. Like I said, you don't have anything to fear. Close your eyes and rest if you want to, little one."

I do as he says, letting the motion of the car racing through the night lull me back to sleep. Maybe I never woke up, and this is a dream where the angel rescues me. If it is, I don't ever want it to end.

"Are you really an angel?" I murmur, drifting away from my hunger and fear.

I'm out again before I hear his answer, but I think I hear a very nice, warm laugh as I let myself sink back into my dream.