Enthrall

by Vanessa Fewings

  I shouldn’t be in here. Yet my feet remained rigid and stuck to the floor, my gaze meeting that of the masked beauty as she turned her head to the side. Her eyelids fluttered, her lips pouted in wanton ecstasy. Her moaning filled the ballroom, and the whispers of the man holding her wrists demanded her complete submission, which she gave willingly. Her orgasm snatched her breath, seizing her, taking her higher still.

  Her soft sighs of bliss were shared with us all.

  Turning slowly, my own arousal disorientating me, I reached the doorway, pressing my hand against my chest to calm my racing heart. I stepped out into the hallway and found myself once more engulfed in billowing smoke.

  Feeling my way along the wall...

  “What do we have here?” a male voice called out.

  A short, plump man wearing a toga neared me. He wore a leaf crown like a Roman emperor. Beside him stood the guard I’d met at the door.

  “I’m looking for someone,” I murmured.

  Toga lowered, his gaze and it slid over to the Harrington Suite.

  My words failed me and I shook my head, no.

  “Take it off,” he said, gesturing. “Now.”

  I removed my mask.

  “Who are you?” he said angrily.

  “Mia.”

  “Come with me.” His voice was low, threatening.

  The guard grabbed my arm, his ironclad grip cutting off my circulation. In seconds we’d entered a study, a lavishly decorated office. Bookcases went all the way to the ceiling, the vast, neatly lined compendiums an impressive collection of knowledge. Leather and dark wood gave the room an overly masculine flair. A long chain hung from the ceiling in the center. I’d seen something similar back at Enthrall, but here it looked out of place.

  My gaze froze upon it.

  “Find the director. Now,” snapped Toga to the guard.

  There was some relief when the bouncer disappeared, though the thought of what kind of trouble I was in terrified me.

  “What website do you work for?” said Toga.

  “I’m a guest.” I hesitated, nervous to mention Richard’s name.

  “I know everyone here,” he said. “You, I don’t know.”

  I hugged my cape tighter, regretting coming here without Richard’s permission and cursing my desire to try something new. I vowed never to disobey him again. Even my thoughts leaned toward submissive. This place had a way of silencing you.

  “What are you wearing beneath that?” he snapped. “Jeans?”

  I shook my head, wanting the guard to come back.

  “Show me,” he demanded.

  Hoping to calm his glare, I separated my cape and flung it over my shoulders, daring to reveal my corseted attire. His annoyed expression changed to one of astonishment.

  The door opened wide, held by the guard, and in strode a tall, masked man wearing a perfectly fitted tuxedo, his gait confident, his deep brown glare on me.

  “Cameron?” I took a step toward him, reassured he’d tell Toga I wasn’t an intruder.

  Cameron drank me in.

  Slowly.

  Desirously.

  Tension tightened in my throat like a vice.

  “Director,” said Toga, breaking the silence. “You know her?”

  Director?

  I tried to read Toga’s face to see if he’d misspoken.

  “Yes,” said Cameron, hissing the s like a snake.

  “She’s with you?” clarified Toga.

  Cameron gave a nod and gave a thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I caught her enjoying the Harrington Suite,” said Toga.

  “Really?” said Cameron.

  “A lamb to the slaughter?” asked Toga.

  Cameron tilted his head. “Not tonight, Dominic.”

  “Pity,” he said. “Our guests would have enjoyed her.”

  Cameron held out his hand. “Ms. Lauren.”

  It sounded so devastatingly formal, so unwelcoming, and yet I took his hand, allowing Cameron to guide me out and away from the beady eyes of Toga and his disconcerting talk of slaughtering lambs. We made our way farther down the hallway and I remained quiet, no longer trusting myself to understand the etiquette of this place, glancing back to make sure Toga wasn’t following.

  After checking we were out of anyone’s line of sight, Cameron let go and leaned against the wall as though he too was affected by Toga’s creepiness. Even with a mask on I could see Cameron looked fazed. He let out a long sigh through pursed lips.

  “Hi,” I said, trying to judge if he was upset.

  “What the fuck, Mia.”

  “I was looking for Richard.”

  He ripped off his mask. “In the Harrington Suite?”

  I widened my eyes when I thought of it.

  “What did you expect?” he said. “Chess?”

  “Is Richard here?”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “You’re the director?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Why would it matter?”

  “You run Chrysalis?” I said. “This place?”

  Cameron hesitated and his gaze reached into my soul, burning through with an intensity I’d never felt before.

  I crumpled my cape around me.

  “Well now you know,” he said.

  I stepped back from him. “You organize all of this?”

  “With Richard’s help.”

  I broke his gaze. Richard had warned me what went on here was far more serious than what happened at Enthrall, but I’d not believed it, not really.

  “This is my fault,” said Cameron. “I teased you about coming here for my own amusement. You aren’t ready.”

  “I thought it would be all right.”

  “This environment is highly-charged. You can’t wander around like you’re at fucking Disneyland. Especially dressed like that.” His hand shot toward my corset. “Richard will be furious.”

  I bolted, unsteady on six inch heels, the cape billowing behind me, having no idea where I was going or how I’d get out of here without being taken down by a bouncer.

  But it was Cameron who caught me. Reaching around my waist, lifting me and slamming me back against the wall. All air left my lungs as I was stunned into silence.

  “Enough,” he said.

  I stilled, grateful that oxygen had finally found its way back into my lungs. Panicked, I struggled again.

  “Calm down,” he said, fixing me with a stormy stare.

  Breathing way too fast, my legs almost gave way.

  He held me there. “You’re not going anywhere unaccompanied. Am I clear?”

  I tried to push him off.

  He leaned against me, his grip tightening. “You make it worse when you fight me.”

  I grasped his arms, feeling his muscles taut beneath his jacket. My fingernails embedded in his flesh.

  “Give me a moment,” he said, his head down, his hands trembling with rage.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Silence.”

  Shaking in his arms, I tried to read his face and make out what he was thinking. Grasp what was happening.

  “This is a dangerous place,” he said, his tone severe, deathly cold. “There are people here whose predilections threaten you in every conceivable way. Do. You. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “If they so much as lay their eyes on you they’ll devour you.” His grip tightened. “Like I want to right now.”

  My sudden gasp made him shudder.

  “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and until now I’ve been able to give you up to Richard.” He slowed his breathing. “Until now.”

  “Oh, Cameron.”

  “Stop fucking moving.”

  Weakening, I gave myself over to him.

  “I need a moment to think,” he said, holding me firmly against the wall and pressing his body against me, his face full of passion, his erection hard and ready, digging in and threatening to find its way in
to me. His breathing was frantic. The no going back kind. Gripping my wrists on either side of me, burying his face into my neck, he nuzzled into my curling locks.

  Stunned with how much his power alighted my desire, blood roaring through my ears, my clit pulsed with pleasure. His cologne reached me, and the scent of sex and danger heightened my arousal. A moan escaped my lips, an aching to be free and yet also taken by him, but I fought this conflicting urge to surrender. He thrust up against me again, ablaze, growing harder still. My cheeks blushed brightly, the burning spreading to where his lips kissed my throat. This was a scorching heat of passion, and his breathing fell heavy and labored upon my chest.

  “You liked what you saw in the Harrington suite,” he said huskily.

  “Yes.”

  His grip tightened around my wrists. “And you like this.”

  “Yes.”

  It was impossible to think straight, think rationally. Clouds of mist wrapped around us, enveloping us, shielding us, edging us on.

  “Dr. Cole,” I made his name the softest plea.

  He squeezed his eyes shut.

  Cameron was impossible to fight, too strong to push off, and I had no choice but to soften in his arms.

  Submit.

  Gradually, his hold lightened and his sternness dissipated. “Very calmly.” He chose his words carefully, as though beneath each one lay a landmine. “We are going to head out into the garden. Get some air. Find Richard.”

  I gave a nod.

  He let go and stepped back. “This never happened.”

  “No.”

  “Say it.”

  “This never happened,” I said breathlessly.

  He gave a nod of acceptance. “You okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He gave my corset a tug to straighten it. “I must warn you.”

  “What?”

  “You may not like what you see.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Cameron ran his fingers through his dark black hair. “Richard’s not alone.”

  MY WRISTS SMARTED where Cameron had held them.

  I surrendered to him now as he pulled me along the longest hallway that must have stretched the entire length of the house. Daring to glimpse at the occasional gathering we past, I feared catching someone else in the throes of passion. I wasn’t sure if heading away from the front door was a good idea.

  When we stepped out into the cool night air, there came a wave of panic for what I might see. My gaze scanned the crowd, hoping not to see Richard in the arms of another woman.

  Cameron’s grip refused to ease up. I teetered behind him, balancing on these high heels he’d bought me, their straps digging in and making me wonder why anyone would have a thing for pain.

  Masked, well-dressed men and scantily clad women had gathered here and there, and much to my relief no one was having sex, though it was dark back here. The only light came from the pool that was lit from beneath and bathed in a deep red. Around me wine glasses clinked and conversations were heard over the music. Ripples of laughter proved everyone was having a good time.

  Everyone except me, who was trying to keep up with Mr. Intensity here, and by the look of things Richard wasn’t enjoying himself either.

  There he sat with his legs soaking in the pool, his jacket off and shoved behind him, his trousers rolled up to his knees and his legs dangling in the water. His mask lay discarded beside him. Sipping from a tumbler, he ignored the two pretty naked women swimming close by, kicking his legs forwards and backwards through the water.

  “Let me do the talking,” said Cameron, yanking me toward him.

  Richard looked our way and his narrowed stare fell on me and then settled on Cameron with a glare. Cameron pulled me beside him to the edge.

  “Richard, I want to explain--” A tug on my arm, Cameron’s way of reminding me he wanted to handle this.

  “Dominic found her,” said Cameron. “Luckily he sent for me. He assumed she was press.”

  Richard cringed and shot me a wary look.

  The naked women stopped swimming and trod water, eavesdropping. Cameron waved them off, his hand a commanding sweep through the air. They responded immediately, swimming to the edge of the pool and climbing out. Both of them strolled unabashedly toward two loungers where their towels and clothes awaited them.

  What kind of power did these two rogues have anyway?

  “Didn’t you get my text?” said Richard. “The one telling you not to come?”

  This had gone from the best evening of my life to the worst and I turned to leave, trying to get out of Cameron’s grasp.

  He held my hand tight, his attention focused on Richard. “She was found coming out of the Harrington Suite.”

  Oh, I’d forgotten about that. I’d been so mesmerized by Richard’s frown my mind had sought refuge by going blank.

  Richard crunched on a chunk of ice. “You see what we are, Mia?”

  I gripped Cameron’s hand and leaned into him.

  “We are hedonistic,” said Richard. “Want a tour?” He pulled his legs out of the water and stood. “Bet you’d like that.” He bowed low to grab his jacket, whisking it up.

  “Take her home,” said Cameron.

  “And ruin her fun?’ said Richard. “Let’s go back to the Harrington.”

  “You can’t drive. You’ve had too much to drink,” Cameron warned him.

  “I don’t really want to see anymore,” I muttered.

  “What was that?” said Richard.

  Recoiling, I hid behind Cameron.

  “What exactly did you see?” Richard flashed a devilish smile. “I’m dying to know.”

  I tugged on Cameron’s hand for him to let me go and he glared back at me.

  “I have a great idea,” said Richard. “I’ll have Dominic show her the dungeons. If you like the ones at Enthrall, you’ll love these.”

  Cameron pulled me toward him. “You drive. Take Richard home. Talk. Open up.” He looked over at Richard. “That goes for both of you.”

  I was grateful my way out loomed close.

  Richard went to speak again.

  “Shut the fuck up,” snapped Cameron. “You’re scaring her.”

  “Why else would she be here?” slurred Richard.

  “I came to find you,” I told him.

  Richard looked surprised. “Please warn her off me.”

  Cameron glanced around us to check our conversation was still private. “Time to go home, buddy.”

  Richard rummaged in his jacket pocket and removed a valet ticket. “Think you can drive a jeep?”

  “What about my car?” I said.

  “I’ll take care of it.” Cameron lifted my chin with his fingertip. “We will discuss this tomorrow.” His gaze swept over the crowd. “You will never talk to anyone about what you’ve seen here. You do not phone anyone. You do not text anyone. Am I clear?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  Richard chuckled and ambled toward us barefoot, his shoes and socks in his left hand.

  “Mia, if I find out you have told anyone about this house I will spank you,” added Cameron with a glint of amusement. “With a paddle. Do. You. Understand?”

  “I’d say no if I were you.” Richard burst out laughing and grabbed me out of Cameron’s grip. “You’ve been a very naughty girl. Maybe I’ll spank you.”

  Cameron called after us. “Stop freaking her out. She’s had enough scares tonight.”

  Richard cringed, mouthing my way, “Sorry.”

  For the first time I felt my shoulders ease lower, my heart soften, and my legs find their stride again. We made our way through the same door I’d come through with Cameron, down the long hallway, and past the Harrington Suite.

  Richard paused before it to ease his socks back on and slid into shoes. He studied the door as he grabbed my hand again.

  I tried to pull my hand out of his.

  “Couldn’t resist.” He led me onwards down the hallway.

  We soon neared the guard who’d ac
costed me earlier. Though he was too busy respectfully bowing towards Richard to notice me.

  Within minutes the valet had brought Richard’s Rubicon round. He jumped into the passenger side and I hoisted myself up into the driver’s. With a quick adjustment of the seat and familiarizing myself with the dashboard, along with a tweak of the rearview, I had the car rolling away from the grand house and heading down the driveway.

  “Yeah.” Richard motioned toward the gear stick. “That low hum right there is the car’s way of asking you politely to switch up gears.”

  “Sorry.” I shifted it into second.

  “More of scream, really,” he mused. “Third would be good about now.”

  Within a minute or so I really felt I had the hang of it.

  I sensed his stare.

  The revelation that Richard might have instigated any part of what I’d stumbled upon here tonight stunned me into silence. I too stole glances his way, trying to believe this sweet young man would approve of any of it. His upper-class demeanor clashed with what Cameron had told me. He seemed so proper. They both did.

  If Richard was impressed with the way I drove his car he didn’t say. He merely rested his feet on the dashboard, taking in the view along the Pacific Coast Highway.

  I was relieved when I parked the Rubicon in Richard’s driveway, and from his wry smile I’d impressed him with my ability to get us back in one piece. He hopped out and trotted around to my side, opening the door wide and reaching for my waist, lifting me safely to the ground. He grabbed his jacket from the backseat and ambled toward the front door.

  I had no way of getting home unless of course I borrowed one of his cars. Richard held the front door open for me, his furrowed brow revealing he too mulled over what to do with me.

  Feeling a little lost, I followed him into the living room and onward into the kitchen. He knelt and patted Winston, and then topped up his water bowl.

  State of the art appliances were all black including his oven, refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker, offset only slightly by the central granite counter. There was so much room in here it seemed wasted on one man. Still, by the way he moved around he was comfortable here. He opened the fridge and took out two bottles of water and handed me one.