Aphrodite

CHAPTER 9

3 hours later 

I'd watched Logan's fight sitting between Jacob and Dave, Raul a fewseats away from me. This wasn't the typical underground dirty warehouselocation. No, Raul had an actual ring and seating. He obviously had beenorganizing these fights for a while.Logan defeated his opponent, but it'd been brutal and tough, and I'dbeen in perpetual anxiety the entire time. I knew if he lost I'd be sold, but itwas more than that. A small part of me worried about him. Maybe it washuman nature. Maybe love couldn't be stopped, or maybe I was justthinking irrationally.I wore his collar, and noticed Raul's nod of approval when he saw mewith Logan. Or was it my state of dress he approved? Or rather lack ofdress. I tried not to think about it, but it was hard considering there wasnothing beneath it. It dipped so low in the front that my nipples wereexposed. When I first put it on, I tore it off again then threw it across theroom.I even went and put on the nightgown and waited beside the bed forLogan to come back and see me not wearing what he put out for me. Thenpanic set in as I realized that he'd be back any second and I wasn't dressed.Tonight wasn't an option. I had to do this. So, I put on the dress, and mybreasts spilled out of the tight material, and I waited for Logan whilekneeling on the floor.When he saw me, it wasn't like I'd expected. He was angry as his eyestook me in, and then that cold, expressionless face pulled down over him.He never spoke a word to me as he got changed then took me to his fightwhere I tried to ignore the stares of the men as they panted over my bodylike animals.

"Emily." Logan had changed from his fighting shorts into a pair of blackslacks and a white button-down top. He looked different, contained, formal,and I didn't like it. He grabbed my hand then chin-lifted to Dave who'dstayed with me until Logan came back. "Three days."Dave nodded."That last shipment ... two were dead.""I heard," Dave said. I didn't even want to imagine what they werereferring to, but I remembered when Logan told Alfonzo not to crate andship me."Something goes wrong ..." Logan began."Yeah, man. I know."Logan gave an abrupt nod then we left Dave as we made our way backto the main house where Raul was holding the celebration. Not once did helook at me, almost as if he couldn't—like he was disgusted. I was disgustedin myself, humiliated being emotionally degraded in front of the other men.I was an object to them. That had become my reality.I wanted to scream and hit and freak out, but stupidity had no place inmy life. I had to be harder than them, unaffected and colder. Like Logan.All my self-control vanished the second the sounds hit me. The moansof pain, the groans of pleasure, the grunting, the crack of the whip, thelaughter, and then the sobbing.I hesitated at the doorway, and Logan's hand tightened on my arm."Block it out," he whispered in a harsh growl. "Keep your eyes closed ifyou have to."

He yanked me forward, and I stumbled further into the room. My chestheaved in and out as I tried to control the panic. There was no escaping this,but I did squeeze my eyes closed until I heard Raul's voice."There he is." A chair scraped over the stone tiles. "Sculpt. My prizedfighter." There was a loud applause. Logan stopped, and despite having myeyes closed I knew Raul was near me from the scent of garlic andcigarettes. "I made a lot of money tonight. That is reason enough for acelebration. You fight better than I expected.""I won because my opponent can't control his temper, and I wasfighting for something I wanted—a slave who is a damn good fuck. I nowrealize why they are in such high demand." His voice was strained, and Icould feel the tension in his body."Ahh, yes. She is your first slave. You've done well with her. I wasn'tcertain you had it in you, Sculpt." I opened my eyes just as Raul put hisfinger under my chin and forced me to look at him. I swallowed. "She isvery beautiful. When you tire of her, I will find a buyer for her whoappreciates a woman with—spirit.""That won't be for a while."Raul laughed as he stared at my breasts. "No, I suspect not." He slappedLogan on the back. "Enjoy your evening. I look forward to many more ofthem as should you."Logan nodded and then led me away to a table in the far corner of theroom where four men were sitting. I cringed when I saw there were twogirls kneeling beside their owners; both wore collars and were naked. Theother man had a male slave standing behind his chair wearing a blackleather collar with studs and then a leather bra type thing that had crisscrossed straps and metal rings. When we approached the male slave lookeddirectly at me and smiled. There was nothing in his handsome young facethat said he didn't want to be exactly where he was.