My head is spinning as I sit in the back of Wes’s limousine on the ride home.

We’d kissed!

We’d actually kissed!

It was heaven. It was the most delightful moment of my life. I feel like standing up, putting my head out of the sunroof, and screaming at the top of my lungs.

I tell myself not to get too excited. Rich, handsome men like Wes Eastwood probably take advantage of pretty young women all the time. He probably has an army of secretaries and he probably sleeps with every one of them. Why shouldn’t he? He’s rich. He’s powerful. And he’s so incredibly, mind-numbingly, heart-stoppingly sexy.

I feel my pussy getting wet as I think of him.

His tongue was in my mouth. His hands were in my hair. The way he took control of me, pulled me toward him, gentle but at the same time powerful. In fact, the entire day was like that. Everything we did together, from walking in the park to eating at his apartment was a strange and intoxicating mix of power and gentleness.

I was putty in his hands and he must have known it. He must have known I’d do anything for him, anything he wanted. If he’d asked me to go into his bedroom with him, I would have. I’d have given him my body and soul. I’d have stripped naked for him and let him by the first man to see my fully naked.

I’d have given him my virginity.

And that’s when I remembered.

The virginity auction. The stupid website. I still didn’t even know it was real, but I already had a terrible sense of guilty about it. How could I be out, kissing a man like Wes, while I was listed on a crazy website like that where every pervert in the city could see me!

I had to call Kelsey and tell her to delete my profile. She’d set it up. Only she knew how to get it down.

And then my phone rings.

I look at the screen to see if it’s Wes, my heart leaping in my chest at the thought.

It’s an unknown number.

I hesitate for a second before picking it up. I usually hate to answer unrecognized numbers. It’s always bill collectors or credit card companies or telemarketers. But then I think of my grandfather and worry that it might be the doctors calling.

The limousine is outside my building and I thank the driver as I answer the phone. I step out of the car and say hello, my heart beating as I think about all the things that could be wrong with my grandfather.

“Is this Cherri Beverly Madison?”

“Yes?” curious as to who it could be.

“This is Prestige Virgin Auctions. Congratulations, you’ve been selected.”

“What?” I stammer, unable to believe what I’m hearing.

“Yes, we went through all the applications and yours is the one we’ve chosen for the next auction. Your pictures are extremely impressive.”

“Pictures? What pictures?”

“The ones on your profile. You can see them for yourself on the bidding site. And you’ll see that your price is set to start at five thousand dollars. Extremely high. Very nicely done.”

“What? Take it down. You’ve got to take it all down.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. The auction’s already begun.”

“But I don’t want it. I got a job.”

“You can’t back out now sweetheart. That’s not how it works. You entered a contract when you submitted the form. It’s a done deal.”

“How can it be a done deal when you only just put me up? Take me down this second.”

I’m beginning to panic. Just yesterday I’d have been all over this, even if it scared the crap out of me, but after the night I’d just spent with Wes, the last thing in the world I want is to be listed on a sex website.

“You entered a contract,” the man says again.

“That’s a pile of bullshit,” I spit. “You can’t enforce this. It’s prostitution. You try to force me to go through with this and I’ll go to the police.”

That got his attention.

“Ms. Madison, please calm down. There’s no need to get carried away. I’m sure we can sort this all out if you really have changed your mind.”

I’m about to tell him to delete my profile immediately when I receive another call. Exasperated, I glance at the screen and this time, I very nearly drop the phone. It’s my grandfather’s hospital in Iowa.

“Can you hold for a second,” I say to the virginity auction guy. “I’ve got another call. It’s an emergency.”

“I can call you back if you prefer.”

“You stay right on the line, mister. We’re not done yet.”

I press the button to accept the other call and already know that the dread in my stomach is justified. This is it. This is the call I’ve been dreading.

“Cherri Madison, this is Doctor Hildegard.”

“Yes?” I say, tears already beginning to form in my eyes. “Is he alright? Is my grandfather all right?”

“He’s all right. He’s stable.”

“Stable?”

“He had an incident. He had to be brought in by ambulance.”

“Can I speak to him,” I gasp, my voice breaking.

“I’m afraid he’s not conscious.”

“Is he going to be all right?”

“He has a good chance, but only if we can operate immediately.”

“Then do it. Yes. You have our consent. I’m his next of kin, right? Please operate.”

“It’s not that simple, Ms. Madison.”

“What do you mean? I have the power to consent, right? We went over all this before I left.”

“That paperwork is all in order. Yes. It’s just the billing details that I’ll need.”

“Right. Of course. Here. Let me read you my credit card.”

“Eh, we’ve done a credit check already.”

“I don’t care. Here’s my credit card number.” I’m already crying. I know this is hopeless. I know they don’t take medical payments over the phone like you’re ordering a fucking a pizza, but somehow I can’t stop myself. The tears are streaming down my face.

“It’s five, zero, zero, five.”

“Ms. Madison, please stop. We need to operate within the next seventy two hours, and in order to go ahead with it, we need the certified funds to be paid through our billing department. This is all paperwork that you received weeks ago.”

“But, but, it’s twenty thousand dollars,” I stammer.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor says, embarrassed that it’s come to this.

“What can I do?” I say quietly.

“I’m very sorry, Ms. Madison. I’m just calling to say if there’s anything you can do in the next three days, please do it. Call in favors. Get help from family. Because unless the billing department gives me the all clear, I can’t operate.”

I’m numb. I’m not even breathing. I’m just standing there like a statue.

“I understand,” I say. “I’ll sort this out.”

I switch the call back to the virginity auction guy, praying he’s still on the line.

“You still there?” I say.

“Ms. Madison. I was about the hang up.”

“Don’t hang up. I’ll go through with it. What do I have to do?”

“You’ll have to submit to a virginity exam. One of the potential bidders has requested it.”

“Can he do that?”

“Yes, he can. And we need you to show up for it as soon as possible.”

“Where?”

“Have you heard of the Avalon? It’s on Fifth Avenue.”

“I’ve heard of it,” I say, wondering for one brief, magical second, if the bidder could possibly be Wes.

I prayed it would be.