For Love & Torture_A Submissives’ Secrets Novel

by Michelle Love

  Chapter 22

  Isabel

  Leaving the house, the goosebumps that have pebbled my flesh finally recede. “That was off the chain, Grant.” I slip into the passenger seat of his Jaguar and buckle my seat belt.

  The expression he’s wearing leaves little doubt that he’s wondering how the hell he’s going to accomplish the things he told his mother’s ghost he would. His hands grip the wheel so hard his knuckles are white. “Off the chain… yeah.”

  Reaching over, I place my hand over his. His eyes are drawn to our joined hands, before he slowly turns his head to meet my eyes. “Grant, you can achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. And you have me to help you. I can find the right people to help you. I can. No need to look so grim. We’ve got this.”

  “Do we?” His eyes droop then he drops his head to rest on the steering wheel. “I just don’t know if I can get Dad back to who he was.”

  “Baby, your father will never be exactly the same man he was before his wife died. He lost a piece of himself that can never be replaced. But you can get him the mental help he needs. If he can be proven innocent, that is.” Pulling my hand away from his, I give him a nod. “Come on, let’s get back home.”

  Starting the car, we head that way, but he’s too quiet. It makes me worry that he’s trying to slip back into the shell he’s created, the one he’s been hiding in since I’ve known him. But I’m at a loss for what to say to bring him around.

  Stopping at a red light, I notice a car pulling up next to us. The windows of Grant’s car are tinted so darkly that I know the man can’t see in, but that doesn’t stop him from staring.

  It’s as if he’s looking right into my eyes. And he seems familiar. Then his mouth moves and I think he’s saying my name.

  Blinking, I try to match the face to a name. Grant takes off, leaving the other car behind and the name hits me. “Mason. Bart Mason.”

  “What?” Grant gives me a sideways glance as he moves through traffic.

  “I think I just saw Bart Mason and I think he said my name. But that’s impossible, right?” I shake my head and look back to see if I can spot the car he was in.

  “No one can see through these windows. I mean they can make out shapes, but they can’t recognize anyone.” He zigs and zags between a couple of cars and hits the gas, taking us down the highway.

  Grant loves speed. He doesn’t own a single car that’s not a sports car. So one can imagine my surprise when we’re speeding down the road and a car comes up next to us, matching our speed. I gasp. “It is him, Grant! Look.”

  Bart Mason is right next to us, driving something that’s as fast as Grant's Jaguar, but I can’t make out what kind of car it is. What I can make out is the fact that Bart is looking right at me.

  “Fuck!” Grant shouts as he pounds the steering wheel. “Well, we can’t go home now. I don’t want that cock-sucker to know where we live.”

  “We can take the next exit and go to the club. Should we do that?” I wave at Bart, and he waves back. “How the fuck can he see me?”

  Grant slows a bit, leaving Bart to sail along at his higher speed. Then Grant changes lanes and takes the exit Bart has missed—if he was trying to follow us, that is. “Good, he’s not heading to the club. Did you find out if his background check came back clear?”

  “Betty’s taking care of him, just like you told me to do. I don’t know anything about the man or his status at the club.” I watch as Grant heads to the club even though we’ve lost Bart. “I don’t think we need to go there anymore, Grant. He’s obviously got somewhere he’s going already. We can head home.”

  I look at him, and it’s only then that I notice his face is red and his chest is heaving with deep breaths. “Head home? I don’t think so. I want to get to the club and find out all I can about the man.”

  Sighing, I lean my head back against the headrest. I was hoping to get home and climb into bed and have a somewhat normal night with the man who had just been making such great strides.

  But I’m not getting my wish, thanks to his obsession with Bart Mason. And now I have to wrap my head around the fact that I’ll be going into the club, even though I’ve called in to take a personal day.

  Parking in the garage, Grant gets out with such great haste, he leaves me behind. I jog to catch up, glad I wore jeans and tennis shoes for his little family reunion/séance thingy. “Grant, can you please calm the hell down? You’re acting like a madman for the love of God.”

  Grant stops so quickly that I take another three steps before I even notice. I turn to find him shaking with his anger. “You don’t get it. I don’t see how you don’t get it, Bell. The guy wants you—wants to do things to you that only I’m allowed to do. And he’s not right. Something isn’t right about him. I can’t see how you’re so completely blind to it. It’s as obvious as the nose on my face, yet you can’t see it.”

  “I can admit he’s dark. But fuck, so are a lot of men who come here. That’s kind of the draw of this kind of place—allowing people a way to let their darkness show.” I reach out and take his hand. “Can you at least calm down. I’m going to help you find out all you can about him. And you know I’m not about to share myself with anyone but you. I promise you that.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, he steadies himself. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to think I’m nuts? I mean you saw what happened at my parents’ place. I never realized it until Mom came to me and I was the only one who could hear her voice, but I think I have something most people don’t. A gift. And I knew the moment I looked into that man’s eyes that he was hiding something. A very sinister something.”

  Okay, so he doesn’t want me to think he’s nuts but he tells me something that makes him sound absolutely nuts. But he’s my man, although technically we’re still keeping that on the down low. “Okay, baby. Come on inside and let’s see what comes up on the guy.”

  With my support, he calms down, and we proceed into the back entrance where the offices are. Just as we get inside one of the other owners, Tad Johnson sees Grant and smiles. “So you have decided to join us tonight. We were all wondering about you, Mr. J.”

  Grant gives me a sideways glance. “See to what I told you to please.”

  I head off down the hall to go to Betty’s office to see what she’s got on Bart Mason, leaving Grant to talk to Tad. Passing one of the other owners, Frank Devine, I give him a smile. “Hello, Mr. D. How’s the evening going for you?”

  He looks me up and down, noticing my informal attire. “Did you just come from playing a game of baseball, Isabel?”

  If he only knew what I had just come from, he’d call the men in the white suits to pick me up and take me away to the nut house. “I was taking the night off, but Mr. J. asked me to look in on the process of our latest applicant for membership.”

  One dark brow arches. “That Mason fellow?”

  “That is the one.” I start to walk away.

  But what he says stops me. “He was here a bit earlier. I’m surprised Betty hasn’t called you. He was accepted and paid his dues for the entire next year up front. And he put in a request. A request that was accompanied by a hefty sum of money that was put into an escrow account. An account with you named as the payee.”

  “And why would that be?” I feel utterly confused and know I probably have a goofy look on my face as my hands find my hips.

  “Because he wants you as his sub for this entire year.” His arm goes around my shoulder. “The sum he’s going to pay you is unheard of. You will be a billionaire when your year with him is up.”

  “A what?” I find myself shaking. My head is spinning. I can’t do it. I just can’t.

  “A billionaire, Isabel,” he reiterates, giving my shoulders a squeeze. “And he’s going to allow you to maintain your job with us. I told him you were in a five-year contract that can’t be broken. He said you could keep your job. He’ll come here to see you anyway. But he did say that at least three times this year, he’ll want
you to take a two-week vacation for the two of you to go places together. He mentioned Transylvania of all places. Funny, huh? You know, it being so close to Halloween and all?”

  “I can’t take his offer.” I wrap my arms around myself as I grow cold.

  “You should really think about it. It’s not as if you don’t know how to be a submissive. You’re fantastic at it. A natural really.” He lets me out of his hold and takes a step back. “So my advice to you is to give it some serious thought. You don’t have anyone in your life. Why not make some money? Enough money to change your life forever.”

  Because I’m in love with Grant, that’s why.

  With a nod, I walk away, heading to Betty’s office. But the weight of what he told me is sitting like a brick on my chest.

  No one will understand why I’m turning down something so life-changing. They’ll all think I’m insane.

  Why does the man have to want me?

  Chapter 23

  Grant

  Two days later

  As Tad and I finish our conversation about getting together later in the week to finalize the plans for the Halloween Ball, I see a young man who joined our club when it opened. Owen smiles at me as he pulls along a pretty little thing. “Is that you, Mr. S.?”

  “It is.” Owen lets go of the girl’s hand to shake mine. “Asia, this is one of the founders of this prestigious club. You may call him, Mr. J.”

  Taking her hand, I leave a kiss on top of it. “Asia, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I heard you’ll be entering into a contract with this man here.”

  “Yes, sir.” She looks from Owen to me. “You’re a founder of The Dungeon of Decorum?”

  Pushing my hand through my hair, I smile with a sense of pride. “I am the primary founding father.”

  Asia’s expression lets me know she’s curious. “What made you want to start a business like this?”

  I’m a bit surprised by her question, and by the look on Owen’s face, so is he. “I had a need that wasn’t being fulfilled. It’s not easy to find partners to do the things we do. One can’t simply head out to one of the local taverns and pick up a girl, take her home and string her up, then flog her until she’s going into another state of mind.”

  “No, I suppose one can’t do that.” Asia nods then looks at Owen. “You won’t string me up, will you?”

  He grins at her. “I’m not into that kind of play, it’s too time-consuming for my tastes. You’ll find out what I like, and I’ve read your list of acceptable kinks—you’ll be fine, I promise you that.”

  I can’t help but notice the hesitation that fills her face. I find myself wondering if the girl is all in or if she has reservations about all of this. “Asia, this is a thing you want to do, isn’t it? I mean, the reason we have this club is to make sure all the members, male and female, are doing things they want to. Have you read up on BDSM at all?”

  With a shake of her head, I find myself frowning. She should’ve read up on this at the very least. “No, sir. I thought it best to let my Dom teach me what he wanted me to know.”

  He leans in to whisper, “Great answer. And I’m glad you thought that way.”

  I’m still not convinced she’s up to this. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I look into her eyes. I want to be sure she wants what she’s about to get. “We don’t want you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with. If you feel like you’ve jumped into something that is over your head, please let your Dom know. He’s not out to hurt you in any way.” I look at Owen to make sure he knows he has a woman who’s not the norm for this club. “She’s not a typical sub. You go easy on her.” I give Asia my attention once more. “If you’re absolutely positive that’s what you want.”

  Her smile is sweet. Innocently sweet. “It is what I want. I feel safe with him, Mr. J., and Isabel told me I just need to make one phone call if I ever want out of the contract. I’m not worried at all. I want to do this with him. Thank you for your concern, sir.”

  Owen beams as she’s just said all the things he wants to hear. “There you have it, Mr. J., she’s ready and willing. And I’ll treat her very well, you can rest assured of that.”

  With a clap on his back, I send them in to see Isabel to make their contract. It seems she’s giving Betty a break for a little while since she’s already up here. Bell smiles and greets them. “You two look like you’re already getting along well.”

  With a nod to the couple, I leave them in her care, watching as they take the leather seats in front of Bell’s cherry wood desk. I give Bell a smile and speak quietly to her, “Did you get the information we need?”

  Her eyes dart to the left of me, and I can read her like a book. “Um, we’ll have to talk about that. I’ll come to your office as soon as I’m done with these two.”

  “I need a drink. I’m going to the bar in the lounge to get one before I head to my office. See you soon.” Leaving her to her job, I head out to the small lounge area to grab a drink there.

  Mike, the bartender, gives me a nod as I come up to the bar. “A Scotch on the rocks, coming up, boss.”

  I nod and look around to see what’s going on. A handful of people are sitting at the small tables, chatting. Their voices filter through the mostly empty room. And that’s when I hear a name that catches my attention.

  Isabel.

  Trying to listen even harder, I hear one of the men say something about an amount that’s astonishing. And how she’d be a damn fool to pass that up.

  Mike places my drink on the bar and I take it, looking over at him before he takes off. “Mike, what’s this I hear about Isabel? Is this about our Isabel?”

  “One and the same.” Mike leans on the bar, the ever-present white bar towel he always carries is tossed over his shoulder as he grins. “You know that man who Isabel took on tour the other night?”

  “I do.” I have to sip my Scotch and pray it cools the heat that’s flowing through me.

  He smiles at me like that’s a good thing and he goes on, “Well, he’s made a request for her.”

  “A request?” I’m seeing red already. “He’d have to be a member to do that. Did his membership already come through?”

  “Yeah, he’s put up over a billion dollars for her if she accepts a year-long contract to be his sub. Everyone is speculating if Isabel will accept his offer or not. You know, being that she’s single and free of any ties to anyone, why the hell wouldn’t she? And we’re all wondering how much longer we’ll have her around the place. Not that she’s out here often, but everyone adores her.” He stands back up and goes to wait on another man as I sit and fume over what I’ve just heard.

  Over a billion dollars is a ludicrous amount to pay for anything, much less a sub. And who the hell makes an offer like that without the woman asking for a submissive contract?

  I mean, Bell isn’t in any auctions. Hell, she’s not even listed as a potential sub for anyone. The woman is off limits, and I thought everyone understood that.

  Everyone does understand that, except, apparently, this asshole who’s barely asked to join our club.

  A hand moves along my shoulder, and I turn to find a woman with a black mask who’s clad in a leather bustier. No collar hangs around her neck, meaning she’s open to anyone. And I think she’s after me.

  Time to get the hell out of here. “Sorry, honey. I’ve got business to attend to.”

  “Business?” She licks her plump ruby red lips as she tries to run a finger over mine.

  “Yes, business.” I take her hand, holding it so she can’t touch me. “And touching a Dom without his permission can get you into trouble. This isn’t a place where women should invite such trouble.”

  “Well, I am inviting it. And I’m inviting you to administer the punishment.” She leans in close as I lean back to avoid her.

  But her hand is quick as she snakes it out and grabs the back of my head, pulling me to her. I find out she’s astonishingly strong and our lips collide. Her tongue thrusts into my mouth, and she m
oves her body so quickly, I don’t have time to stop her.

  Straddling my lap, she humps me as she holds on tightly. I’m more pissed than I’ve ever been and force her off my lap. She meets my eyes with a smile as she sighs, “I guess I’ve overstepped my bounds, Daddy. Time to teach me a lesson.”

  Grabbing her by the wrists, I yank her after me, striding towards the hallway to get her to a private room to show her who she’s just fucked with. My steps slow as I realize what I’m doing.

  I made a promise not to do this anymore. I promised Isabel that I’d stop doing this. That I’d become the man she deserves. “You just got lucky, bitch.” I let her wrist go and turn to walk away. Just as I look up, I catch the fleeting sight of Isabel, the only person here wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She’s sprinting away from me as fast as her little feet will take her.

  Hauling ass after her, I find her disappearing around a corner. When I get to it, I see her running, and I don’t think she sees the man standing in front of her. The man who’s watching her with a wry grin on his face.

  The man who’s holding out his arms and grabbing her. She looks up at him, and that’s when she finds out she’s run right into Bart Mason’s arms. She turns and sees me coming after her. With one middle finger extended, she says something to the jackass who has so conveniently blocked her path. Then the two hurry away.

  I nearly stop in my tracks—I’m shocked she’d do this to me.

  But I can’t stop. I can’t let him take her anywhere. I know he means her harm. I know it with everything inside of me.

  As fast as I’m going, they’re maintaining their distance from me, and I’m gaining nothing. Out the door they go and into the night. Frantic to get to her, I find some more speed and turn it up.

  I push the door to the employee entrance open. And I find nothing on the other side. Not a soul and not a sound.

  The wind picks up, sending leaves spinning through the air. The sound of heels hitting the sidewalk has me walking around the side of the building, and I see that the little slut who kissed me is leaving.