Gravity pushed me into my seat and I watched the land shrink as Richard’s words replayed in my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t cycle out of.
“I’ll make it safe for you to come home.”
Cameron sat to my left and I held his hand tightly.
He’d given me the window seat so I could enjoy the view. With Time magazine resting in his lap, he really did seem overly relaxed, like taking off wasn’t a terrifying experience.
I turned to him. “I’d Google cloning and malware if I was allowed to use my phone.” To get his attention, I squeezed his hand. “Safe to come home?”
“Let’s wait until we’re in the air.” He turned another page, seemingly fascinated with some high-tech wizard article.
I peered out the window. “We are.”
“Thirty thousand feet.”
I frowned at him.
“Cruising altitude. You’ll be less tense.”
“I’m not tense.”
“Squeeze my hand any tighter—” he turned the page with his left hand– “and I’ll have an open fracture.”
“Where’s the vomit bag?”
He gave a sigh and looked at me. “There’s an issue back at Chrysalis that Richard’s dealing with.”
“What has that got to do with my f-ing phone? The reason people keep their phones turned off is so they can’t be tracked.”
“I’m the only one who’s allowed to swear, remember?”
“I said f-ing.”
“You meant fucking.”
He made it sound so fricken sexy.
This power Cameron had over me was a love hate relationship that my muse disapproved of and was equally addicted to.
Larissa appeared with a tray and two glasses of ice water. “What other beverage would you like, sir?”
I took the glass from her. “Thank you.”
“Water’s fine for now,” said Cameron. “Thank you, Larissa.”
“Ma’am?” said Larissa. “How about you?”
“I’ll have another glass of champagne, please.”
“Thought you weren’t feeling well?” said Cameron.
Larissa disappeared up the aisle.
“It’s safe for her to walk around but not for you to tell me what’s going on,” I said.
“Lance Merrill,” said Cameron, “that intemperate gentleman you had the pleasure of being auctioned off to, thinks the transaction still stands.”
“But you told him—”
“As far as Lance is concerned, you still belong to him.”
“But you have all that documented evidence on him to protect me? That paperwork Dominic has to prove Lance embezzled from his clients?”
Cameron closed his magazine. “As of this morning, Lance returned the funds to a main account. He cleaned up the trail.”
“Which means?”
“Our leverage is compromised.”
Larissa carried a tray with my flute of champagne resting on it. She handed it to me.
“Thank you,” I said.
Despite it only being 11AM, it was nice to get a taste of how the elite travelled, though I’d never get used to this. I took a large gulp and bubbles burst up my nostrils.
“Fresh baked cookie?” she offered.
Cameron waved it off. “No, thank you.”
She hovered over him, and her flirty pout hinted at membership in the mile-high club. I wondered if she’d flown with Cameron before.
“We have everything we need, thank you, Larissa.” Cameron smiled up at her.
“Great,” she said. “If there’s anything else just ask, sir. Anything at all.”
“We will.” I beamed at Cameron.
Larissa’s catwalk back up the aisle was supermodel worthy.
“Play nice,” he whispered.
“She likes you.”
He looked over at me. “This is my father’s plane. Larissa works for him.”
I wondered how Cameron’s mom felt about that. Larissa wasn’t bashful, and to prove it she’d undone the top button of her blouse. With Cameron’s laser sharp perception, he too would have noticed all buttons had been neatly secured when we’d boarded. This girl was on a mission.
I snapped open my seatbelt so I could breathe better. “Where’s your plane?”
“In its hangar.”
“Why aren’t we flying on that one?”
Cameron leaned over and snapped my seatbelt together. He gave it a hard tug.
“Is Lance tracking my phone?”
“Richard’s dealing with it.”
“That’s why you’re taking me out of the country?”
“Keep your voice down, please.”
“That’s why we’re not on your plane?”
Cameron turned to me. “What did you think this was, Mia? A romantic getaway?”
My gut wrenched.
He might as well have run over my heart on takeoff. Stunned, I stared dead ahead.
This morning, Cameron had announced his ownership of me, right before driving us away from the L’Ermitage. The affection he’d showed back in the hotel had left me breathless: feeding me breakfast, making love to me in the shower, cuddling on the steps of the hotel as we waited for the valet to bring round his BMW. All of it proof he felt the same way about me.
Now he was acting like I was an annoyance.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered.
Cameron took my champagne flute from me and sipped. “Maybe I will have one. Larissa,” he called out. “I will take that drink, after all.”
Trying to read his face, trying to understand his sudden coldness, I asked, “Who is this Lance guy anyway?”
Cameron reached for his magazine. “A successful entrepreneur.”
“Am I meant to be impressed?”
“He’s influential.”
“Why does he want to open another club if he doesn’t need the money?”
“He wants another venue to entertain his predilection.”
“Which I’m not allowed to ask about?”
“Correct.”
“Go to the police.”
“Lance has political connections.”
“Wouldn’t his private activity threaten that?”
Cameron let out a sigh of frustration. “So you can only imagine how prepared he is to protect himself.”
“So this is bad?”
“Well it’s not good.”
Panic welled in my gut. “Is he coming after us?”
“Richard will persuade him. And my attorneys are working on it as well.”
“Dominic?”
Cameron looked thoughtful. “My entire legal team.”
“I thought the submissive and master contract wasn’t legally binding. It’s more like a gesture.”
Cameron scratched his forehead. “It’s a little complicated.”
“How?”
“Lance has threatened to out Richard’s whereabouts to the press if he doesn’t get you. And he’s stated in no uncertain terms he’s going to get my license to practice medicine revoked.” Cameron measured his words. “Unless I return you to him.”
“I was never his.”
“I’m afraid for those few minutes back in Chrysalis, you were his technically.” He looked over at me.
I was still holding my breath.
“He’ll cool off,” said Cameron.
“You really think Richard can persuade him?”
Cameron brought his hands together and steepled his fingers.
Was that a no? Cause that looks like a no.
Despite Larissa putting on a movie for us, I couldn’t settle. This trip to London was meant to be one of the most exciting adventures of my life. For fricken hell sake, all I wanted to do was ride on a double-decker bus.
Better still, have Cameron’s affection return.
“It’s my fault.”
“No, Mia. It’s mine.”
“Last night, in the hotel—”
“That reminds me. There’s one more issue we need to dis
cuss.”
I turned in my seat to face him. On the small screen on the wall flashed an image of Spiderman swinging off a high rise and onto another.
“Mia, we can’t have sex ever again.”
Someone screamed at Spiderman. Something about a vendetta.
“Did you hear me, Mia?”
“I think it’s a good idea.” I focused on the screen.
And flinched as I bit my lip in the exact spot of that bruise.
“You understand why?”
I gave a nod.
“I must commit to protecting you. There can be no distractions.” He shrugged. “Besides, you’ll soon be reunited with Richard. It’s better this way for all of us.”
“I thought you took full ownership of me?” I regretted saying it when I saw his reaction.
“Fucking you is my prerogative. I choose not to.”
Then what am I to you?
“Glad that’s behind us.” He returned his attention to the magazine on his lap.
I stared at the page he was reading. An article about the Pentagon. He really did look interested in it.
I unclipped my seatbelt. “I have to go to the restroom.”
His gaze followed me as I rose.
Scurrying down the aisle, I followed the sign.
Minutes later, and after several attempts at trying to wash this distressed expression off my face, I almost looked presentable again. My reflection knew this was a lie. My tired eyes revealed the truth. I’d come into Richard’s life as well as Cameron’s and left a trail of devastation. These two men had taken on more than just a naive virgin. They’d taken on trouble. I’d put two of the most important men in my life in danger.
Cameron was right, of course. I was meant to be with Richard again, only it was Cameron who made me feel safe. Even now with this crazy business man chasing me down I had a feeling only Cameron could handle it.
Soon Richard would join us and I’d be back on track with my new life.
Richard required my complete submission. And I still grappled with the idea of daily subjugation. All my thoughts found their way back to him. The man who right now held control over me. The man who demanded my complete obedience.
I struggled with both.
The irony was I’d never felt more loved, and never had I known what it was to be cherished until I’d met these two men who couldn’t be more different. One earthy. The other an intellectual. One emotionally damaged. The other so emotionally in charge and in control at all times that everyone deferred to him.
“You’re going to London,” I told myself. “This is a dream come true.”
I wondered what we’d be doing there while we waited for Lance to cool down. I refused to let him taint my trip.
Nibbling on a fingernail, my thoughts drifted over what we’d be doing in one of the world’s most famous cities. Riding the tube, drinking in a British pub, and riding on a double-decker. Maybe Lance’s big boy tantrum had brought my adventure forward. See, there’s always an upside, my muse comforted.
Worst case scenario, we could go to the police and get them involved. They wouldn’t need to know about Chrysalis. Feeling better, I wiped mascara from beneath my eyes and rallied my courage to face Cameron.
And headed back to my seat.
Larissa was sitting in it.
Cameron offered me a polite smile. “Mia, can you give us a few minutes, please?”
Larissa fluttered her eyelids at him. Her flushed face revealed her attraction. I’d only been gone a few minutes and she’d moved in with supersonic speed. Her cleavage was on show. The flickering of long lashes indicated someone hoping to get laid.
Looking at Cameron and back to her, I tried to work out what was going on. “Sure. Of course.” I made my way back down the aisle, trying to feign I wasn’t going to need one of those emergency oxygen masks.
Hands shaking, I walked toward the back of the plane.
I was relieved to discover a bedroom. It was small, but private at least. The dark wooden headboard and fixed side table were enough to make you forget you were thousands of feet in the air.
I really hoped Cameron and Larissa weren’t going to need this bed later.
Fiddling with the back of my collar, I undid the clasp and removed it, placing it carefully on the nightstand.
I was in-between masters and I felt lost.
Slumping down on the edge of the bed, I cupped my face in my hands. This was mortifying.
For some reason, I struggled to get ahold on my life. There always seemed to be some drama unfolding and always of my own doing. This all too familiar ache burrowed into my heart. I cursed myself for opening up and becoming vulnerable.
Back at L’Ermitage, I’d seen a new side to Cameron. An affection that stole my breath along with my heart. But that tiny crack in his armor had resealed and it was as though all that intimacy, all that closeness, that gentleness, that connection had never happened.
Had I imagined it?
A knock.
I stared at the door, hoping it wasn’t Cameron asking me to give them both some alone time in here.
“Hey.” He sat next to me. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
My body ached for his arms to wrap around me.
“We’ve got this,” he said, his hand caressing my back.
“Why did Richard stay behind and not you? You’re the one who’s good at talking.”
“You would rather it be Richard here?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Lance and Richard are old friends,” he said. “Richard invited Lance to join Chrysalis way back when. It seems like the best strategy for now.”
“Do you like her?”
Cameron frowned.
I couldn’t look at him.
“Larissa?” he said. “She’s an excellent employee. Very reliable. She dropped everything to serve our flight.”
“She was sitting in my seat.”
“I invited her to. She asked to talk to me.”
“What about?”
“There’s no attraction there. It’s you—” He ran his hand through his hair. “My focus is on you and your safety. Your needs.” He stared towards the door. “Larissa was sharing her concern for her younger brother. He’s bi-polar. He’s been taking this new prescription and his moods still aren’t leveling out. I recommended she mention this FDA newly approved drug that’s just come out of Europe to his therapist. I’ve seen firsthand its efficacy. I also gave her the name of a great professor who specializes in persistent hypomania.”
“You didn’t offer to take him on as a patient?”
“He lives in Oregon.”
“You taught me the art of observation.”
“I’m not attracted to what I can have.”
Cameron had revealed the mother of all revelations.
He smirked. “Push back. Fight back and you have my attention.”
“That’s me,” I whispered.
“It most certainly was before the sanctions,” he said, amused.
Funny how when you can’t have something you want it all the more. Like his strong hands on me, or his full lips on mine, or to feel his powerful body on top of me.
Him riding me.
He broke my gaze, and his eyes closed for a moment. “Why don’t you take a nap? All this is probably a little overwhelming.”
And last night we’d not gotten much sleep. Those tussled bed sheets back at the L’Ermitage were proof of that.
I pushed myself to my feet and swiped a stray hair out of my face. After unzipping my jeans, I eased them off.
“Do you need to undress?” His eyes swept over my body.
I threw my sweater onto the floor and pulled back the comforter. “I’ll keep my panties on.” I climbed in, unhooking my bra as I went, and flung it over the chair. Then I burrowed under the covers.
Cameron rose off the bed and headed for the door.
“I’m sorry about all this,” I said.
His hand slipped
from the handle and he came back and pulled the comforter up over my shoulder.
I turned on my side, willing myself to slip into oblivion.
“This is not your fault. Far from it. ” He sat on the edge of the bed. “None of it is.”
How could I tell him that more devastating than being hunted down by a man from Chrysalis’s lion’s den was never again being touched by him? This new reality was more torturous than I’d ever imagined. His cologne did crazy things to me. His fingers caressing my scalp were meant to soothe me, but they failed miserably.
“How can I bear it,” I muttered.
“Nothing bad will happen to you. You have my word.”
I stared into his chestnut eyes, trying to convey what I dared not speak.
“Ah,” he said.
I buried my face in the pillow.
“Mia, listen to me.”
“That’s all you do. You talk. You control. You tell me what’s good for me. What about what I want?”
“Irrelevant.”
“My feelings are irrelevant?”
“I’m trying to protect you.” His expression changed to defiant. “I know what you need.”
I rolled onto my back and stared up at my only comfort.
Him.
Cameron’s expression changed. “You are petulant. Disobedient. Insolent.” He yanked back the comforter. “Take off your panties.”
A thrill washed over me.
Raising my hips, I eased off my underwear. I needed this, needed his firmness with me.
“This is your punishment for removing your collar,” he said. “Have I not instructed you on the importance of obedience? Trust?”
Covering myself with my hands, I shivered from the sudden chill of nakedness.
“Despite your continued need for training, I must proceed with wisdom. Foresight. Restraint. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“Then I will make you.”
A shudder of excitement crawled up my spine.
“Mia, you remember that first night you slept in a bed in Chrysalis? The first evening I freed your from my dungeon? The night you rebelled and trespassed into my room?”
“Yes.”
“Remember how I punished you?” He arched a brow. “Good girl. Now show me.”
With my gaze locked on his, my hand reached over my belly and my fingertip rested on my clit. “Like this,” I whispered. “You touched me like this.”
He reached over, his firm fingers resting on my labia as he eased it apart. “Show me exactly.”
Enthrall Him (Enthrall Sessions Book 3) Page 2
