My passion for Cameron was as fierce as ever. After all, this had been the kind of play that had excited me when I’d had a glimpse behind the veil at Chrysalis.
And then I realized…
Cameron was staring at his own reflection in the glass, his face taut with confusion.
I STUDIED MY REFLECTION AND realized that I no longer knew the man staring back.
The gentleman who had once desired his sex with a grand measure of dark was gone. The master who had taken pleasure in ruling a room and owning each crescendo, reveling in every moment, every strike, every flash of pain, every rise.
All I want now is Mia.
Guilt seeped out of my pores over this delay.
I snapped my gaze to Shay, asleep on the bed. I knew all too well how easy it would be to fall prey to this sort of dangerous erotic spell.
I hoped I’d healed him…even here.
Making my way to the door, I tried the knob, hoping to do what I’d come here for and locate Mia. I wasn’t surprised to find that someone had locked us in right after the subs had left. Dreadful thoughts of what might be happening to Mia were almost more than I could bear. I forced myself to sit in the corner, watching Shay sleep.
It wasn’t much longer before they came for us.
We were escorted to our rooms and told that after we freshened up and changed into our tuxedos, we’d be invited to tour the house. No room, no dungeon, no area was inaccessible to us now and no pleasures would be denied. Should we see a submissive we liked, she would be ours in any way we wanted and for as long as we pleased.
We entered the kitchen and shared a look of relief when the waiters left carrying trays of food with them. Shay rummaged around in the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water, handing me one. I watched him shove hors d’oeuvres into his face, which he’d lifted from a tray. I refused to eat until Mia was back in my arms, but I gulped the water.
“Wanna talk about it?” I asked, moving closer to him. “I need to know you’re okay before we step out there.”
He reached for a salmon-topped appetizer. “You gave me what I asked for.”
“Did I push you too far?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“I need to hear it from you, Shay.”
He looked amused. “My balls are still throbbing.”
“It can never happen again.”
He rested his palm on his chest. “How did you know?”
Shay was referring to what I’d whispered to him during his session, the truth that had lain dormant all these years and yet I had known it from the moment we met.
How had I known his father had beaten him? Because that’s what he’d looked for in me. A guardian. And that’s why his desire for a session would never be quenched until I’d delivered him over to the other side. He was free to continue exploring his penchant for a Dom. His body had released all that tension and he’d fallen…finally surrendering.
“It will get easier from here on,” I assured him. “To submit.”
“I never told anyone,” he whispered.
“How do you feel now?”
“I’m glad you know. Makes me feel accepted, like you understand why I am the way I am.”
“I was waiting for you to open up.” I motioned for him to finish his water.
He drained the bottle. “Let’s go get your girl.”
We roamed the chateau freely, searching each room for Mia.
As we moved into the ballroom, joining a thriving cocktail party that was in full swing, we examined the many faces around us. The room was filled with fifty or so submissives and they were all dressed in costume, and all of them were collared. We saw leather-clad kittens, white-tailed bunnies, and angels with outstretched wings strapped to their backs. They mingled politely, some serving drinks, others kneeling beside their masters’ feet, some fucking each other.
I moved slowly about the room, my stiff collar and overly starched shirt making it hard to breathe. Finally, I trapped an angel in a corner and as she stepped back, her feathers bent, making her look like a wanton nymph.
I ran my palm over the edge of her left wing, ruffling her feathers. “What’s your name?”
“Reni.” She was French.
“I need your discretion, Reni,” I said softly.
She peered up at me with the look of an angel who yearned for danger. From the “H” branded on her left wrist, I knew she had to be a member.
“Have you seen a young, blonde American woman?” I glanced around to make sure we weren’t overheard.
She took my hand and led me across the room to a tall, very pretty submissive whose wings were black. If this symbolized seniority and she had any loyalty to Chastain, we’d be screwed.
“He wants an American,” Reni whispered to the other angel.
The black-winged cherub raised her hand to gesture for drinks to be brought over. “What do you want her for?” Her voice carried a tone of protectiveness.
“I have a gift for her.” I thought that sounded reasonable.
She narrowed her gaze. “An American is with Master Chastain. You have to go through him if you want her.”
My mouth went dry with the revelation. He’d seen me with her. He’d know how jealous this would make me. The thought of his hands on her…
Don’t think of this. Don’t allow these poisonous thoughts to ruin your focus.
With champagne flutes in hand, we were led out into the garden. The dark angel glanced back at me with a nod to indicate Mia was this way. I looked around for Chastain, my fists curling. I had to remind myself that violence wasn’t an option here.
My heart beat faster as I searched every face, falling on each alpha with a woman at his feet, scanning the guests until my gaze fell on an empty cage at the end of the garden. Just beyond it flowed the River Seine.
The cage was big enough to hold a human, but it was empty. I’d dabbled in cage play myself, but the idea of Mia being trapped in one stirred my rage.
“They’ve left.” The dark angel pointed across the water. “She was selected.”
“Where did they go?” Even as I spoke the words I knew…
Mia had been plucked out from amongst these submissives to take part in the hunt. As my horrified gaze swept out over the river, I sensed it had already begun.
Across the water, the five small yachts tethered to the other side had been used to transport Mia and the men who would chase her. Beyond the bank stretched a dense forest and I could see thirty or so men heading into it.
It was a cruel irony that the game Danton and I had created all those years ago continued today, a chase so dark I cringed when I thought of it. The submissive wouldn’t make it far.
My submissive.
The rules had since changed. After Mia was caught she’d be brought back here, and what followed would be witnessed by everyone.
I stared up at the angry sky, threatening rain.
Yes, please wash this day away.
Across the water, a smaller crowd straggled behind the others. They, too, were about to disappear into the trees.
Mia.
She turned to look back at the house and her gaze found mine. I saw relief flash over her face and she began struggling, trying to break free. The two men on either side of her quickly overpowered her.
“Cameron!” she screamed.
Ripping off my jacket, I sprinted toward the edge of the river. A strong hand yanked me back.
“It’ll look suspicious,” snapped Shay.
“She’s right there.” I pulled my arm out of his grip.
“There’s a strong current.”
“Don’t care.”
“They won’t let you leave with her,” he added. “It’s too dangerous.”
I sprang up onto the wall and dove into the river. With strong breaststrokes, I swam toward the other side, fighting the drag of the water. “Mia!”
I’d lost sight of her.
The sound of yelling came from behind me, and I heard
men diving into the river. Ignoring them, I kept my gaze set on the line of trees where Mia had disappeared.
Violent hands suddenly grabbed me, forcing me under the water.
I TRIED TO WALK LIGHT-FOOTED on the forest floor. Every step threatened to give me away, every branch crunching underfoot, every breathless gasp I made when there was a noise.
The tracker wouldn’t come off.
Alone now, my heart pounding, I turned around and around trying to remember which direction I’d run from, finally admitting to myself I was lost—though far away I could still hear voices and music.
I wasn’t leaving without Cameron.
Gritting my teeth in the cold night air, feeling completely chilled in this skimpy corset and thong, I hated every second. I was never coming back to Europe. Never leaving Cole’s side.
He doesn’t want you. He wants her…that girl with a flair for music and a gift for submission.
I had to find the riverbank.
I couldn’t waste any time. Seeing Cameron was safe was more important than my own life. He’d looked like he’d wanted to dive into the water after he saw me.
I slapped my hand to my mouth when I heard my name called, followed by a string of foreign words.
The men were closing in.
Kneeling, I tugged at the tracker on my ankle, trying once more to rip it off. My hate for Chastain would never fade. The next time I saw him I’d kick him in the shins and scratch his eyes out.
The other women at Hillenbrand acted like they wanted to be here. Though I’d been kept apart from them for most of the time.
The screams that had carried down the dungeon hallway had sounded real. I’d glimpsed their flushed faces when we’d moved from room to room. Had they been kept here against their will this would have been a nightmare for them, too.
I breathed in a steadying breath and hurried toward the river, following the twinkling lights of the chateau through the trees. The sound of dogs barking sent a jolt of fear through me as I scrambled toward one of the tethered yachts. It was smaller than Cameron’s back in L.A., so I hoped it would be easier to control.
After clambering in, I unwound the rope that anchored it to the shore and soon felt the boat begin to drift with the current. I scanned the control panel and quickly found the ignition switch. When I turned it, the boat roared to life.
Glancing back, I saw a man burst out of the trees and sprint toward me.
I steered the boat in the direction of the house, the air chilling my bones as I picked up speed. Lights flickered from the other side of the river and music blared down on the fancy partygoers mingling in the garden. I estimated there were over one hundred privileged men in attendance, all of them wearing tuxedos. The women were dressed in skimpy costumes.
A blast of cold air froze my hands and I blew on them to ease the stiffness.
In a moment of panic, I questioned whether I should turn the wheel and let the current carry me down the river…carry me away from this torment.
MY HEAD WAS POUNDING.
At some point it had exploded and someone had been kind enough to put it back together—that’s exactly how it felt. My damp clothes clung to me like failure.
I lay on a bed in a darkened room with no idea how much time had passed. “Mia?”
“Steady.” A light shone in my right eye and moved to my left.
When my vision cleared from the blinding flashlight, I made out a man in a white coat. I pushed myself up. “Am I still in Hillenbrand?”
“Take a breath.”
I tried to climb off the bed, but a wave of dizziness washed over me and I fell back onto a pillow.
“You have concussion.”
“How?”
“You were hit with the butt of a pistol.”
“I have to get out of here.” Have to get to Mia.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I slapped his hand away and dragged my feet over the side of the bed. “What time is it?”
“Will you listen?”
I was so close to her.
“How’s the patient?” The familiarity of Lucas Chastain’s South African accent made me look his way.
Carried in my glare was a tsunami’s worth of hate.
“I was impressed with your session in the dungeon,” he said. “Quite the spectacle.”
“Where’s Mia?”
Chastain glanced at his watch. “The hunt is on. Pity you’ll miss it. I was considering inviting you to take part in it, but that performance in the garden ruled out any chance of that. You must follow the rules, Cole.”
If I could just get over this vertigo.
I was hit with an onslaught of emotions…feral panic and an escalating fury. I knew the cruel futility would overwhelm me if I didn’t guard against it.
“She’s quite the treasure.” Chastain walked toward me and then turned his gaze on the doctor. “Will he live?”
“As long as he doesn’t make any sudden movements. He’s concussed.”
“I’m fine,” I snapped.
“You were out for an hour.”
Jesus Christ. This kind of injury ended footballers’ careers, shortened lives and ruined relationships. It messed with minds.
And I was already fucked-up so we were all in for a real treat. “Where’s Shay?”
Chastain stepped closer. “You boys are quite entertaining.”
“If you hurt him—”
“He’s not opposed to a little pain, apparently. But you know this.”
My fists curled into balls as I readied to fight.
“Your submissive is quite the pet.” Chastain gestured to the doctor. “Leave us.”
The man reached for his medical kit and headed out. “You don’t pay me enough.”
Chastain’s gaze found mine. “He’s a vet.”
My jaw dropped. “As in veterinary surgeon?”
“He takes great care of my Doberman.”
“And I didn’t think things could get any worse.”
“Oh, they can.”
My lips tightened. “What did you do to her?”
“She is divine in every conceivable way.”
“If you laid one hand on her—”
“I can see the obsession.” He inhaled a sharp breath. “She’s complex and yet not high maintenance. Beautiful, but not vain. Feisty, but compliant.”
I tried to think of the best way to reason with him. “How much?”
“To buy her back?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think any amount would be worth more than watching her being taken by our eager guests.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
He removed a hand from his pocket and opened his palm to show me a tracking device. “Just in case.”
I leaped off the bed and sprinted toward him, throwing a punch.
He ducked and twisted with an expert move and hit me in the stomach.
I doubled over, gasping for air.
Chastain went for me again, smashing his fist against my jaw and snapping my head back. When he tried another strike to my abdomen, I blocked him and landed a kick to his groin.
With him stunned and writhing on the floor, I rummaged in his pocket for the GPS tracker.
But he recovered faster than I expected, shoving me backwards, knocking the tracker out of my hand. He straddled my body and wrapped his hands around my throat.
I fought him furiously, managing to loosen his hold on my neck. “Why?”
He eased up. “What?”
“Tell me…why?”
“She was given to me.”
I shook my head. “Galina kidnapped her. This is Helete’s doing.”
“A gift I happily accepted.” He glared down.
“You’re a psychopath.”
“Flattery won’t work.”
“Is this because of Danton?” I snapped.
“You betrayed me.”
“It was Danton’s decision.”
�
�Mia belongs to me now.”
“Did you hurt her?”
“Why? Do you love her?”
I gritted my teeth. “Yes.”
“I had a submissive like her once. She was everything to me. I found her. I trained her.” He broke my gaze. “I hadn’t loved anyone else like I loved Danton. Not until her…”
I sensed his grief and I understood it. If anything happened to Mia, I’d become as messed up as him. “What was her name?” I whispered.
“Does it matter?”
I gripped his hands and held them to the side. He didn’t resist.
“Mia reminds me of her,” he muttered to himself. “Not in the way she looks, of course, but in her sweetness, her purity, her trust.”
“Did you break it?” I snarled. “Her trust?”
“Mia requires careful handling.”
Feeling nauseated, I tried to push away thoughts of what he might have done to her. “I can see why your sub left you.”
He sat back, pulling his hands free. “I treated her well.”
“Sure.”
“My dabacsanaan.” It was barely a whisper.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I had a spark of intuition. “What language is that? Somali?”
He looked ready to finish me, and I knew my hunch was correct.
“What was Helete’s relationship to your submissive?”
“This conversation is over.”
“You’re talking about Omani?”
He got off me, kneeling nearby. “You knew her?”
“I think I’ve met her. I may know where she is.”
“How?”
Then I realized…Chastain had been in New York looking for Omani.
“Helete lied to you,” I seethed. “What is even more interesting is that you believed her.”
Lucas stared at me. “Why should I believe you?”
“Call The Dionysus Club in New York. Omani was told you didn’t want her anymore. She thought the email was from you.”
“I will end you if you’re lying.”
“Make the call.”
Dragging myself up, I climbed onto the bed and lay still, feeling dazed. Her face flashed into my consciousness.
Enthrall Climax Page 24
