Enthrall Him (Enthrall Sessions Book 3) (2 page)

Despite the fact Richard expected a well trained submissive back, guilt wedged firmly in my chest. I was betraying him. I was meant to be Richard’s again and moving forward into the life we’d planned.

Caressing my chest, I tried to soothe this ache uncertainty brought.

The consequences of separation from Cameron loomed ever closer.

He pulled out his iPhone. “Hey, Baxter, how are you?” Cameron leaned low and peered out through a window. “Yes, fantastic. Did catch it, yes. Great game. Look, sorry to spring this on you but I have a friend heading through terminal three. Yes. That’s right, gate thirty-one. Richard Booth. You remember Richard? Can you expedite him through? Thank you. Boeing 727. Send my regards to Deidre. How did Randall’s graduation go?” After a few minutes of catching up, along with pulling some pretty impressive strings, Cameron slid his phone back into his pocket and turned to the pilot. They resumed their conversation.

I tucked my feet beneath me, hugging myself, fearing how Richard was going to react. The last time I saw him was outside Chrysalis when he’d demanded I get out of the car. A few seconds later, Cameron had driven away with me still in it.

Taking in deep, steadying breaths, I reassured myself Cameron could handle Richard’s fury. Though after he’d stolen me away from Richard and put us up in L’Ermitage for a night, he too would have to face Richard’s temper.

I didn’t need to pinch myself to believe all this craziness was real. My fingernails were digging into my palms and keeping me focused. Despite the inevitable heartache waiting on the other side of this adventure, I tried to hold onto the best advice I’d ever been given. To live in the now. Ironically, advice given by Cameron.

It still amazed me a man so smart could also win the Mr. Eye Candy award for the twenty-first century. And that grin—

The one he wore for someone approaching the ramp.  

Richard burst onto the plane, all blond locks and sun kissed skin, his smirk not reflecting the pain he had to be feeling. Surely having your girlfriend whisked off by your best friend was anger worthy? Yet Richard merely embraced Cameron, their conversation friendly, their voices low, both men at ease. Their gestures of affection were endearing.

Richard’s face lit up when he saw me.

I leaped from my chair and ran to him, burying my face against his chest.

Richard planted kiss after kiss on my forehead and eased me back “Looks like you’re going to London.” He sounded a little too happy for me.

“Yes,” I said, my excitement squished by his imminent disapproval.

“Lance did this?” Richard ran his thumb over the bruise on my lip.

I flinched at his touch. My lip hurt. “Sorry about last night. I couldn’t get away from him.”

His expression became tense. “What a mess. Forgive me. I’m an ass. I fucked up.”  

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“It was, Mia.”

“Me punching him in the face didn’t exactly help,” said Cameron.

“I’m the one who arranged the auction,” said Richard. “I put you in danger, Mia.”

Cameron gave that sympathetic nod he always offered when one of us had messed up, that twist of his lips, that kind expression.

“Lance was too strong,” I said, haunted by last night when I’d been sold to the highest bidder.

A charity submissive auction gone awry.

Lance Merrill, a formidable member of the Chrysalis’s lion’s den, had bid a million dollars on me, despite the fact Richard was supposed to have won me. Lance had taken it all too seriously. In a sea of confusion, he’d dragged me out of the ballroom. If Cameron hadn’t saved me, I’d have been taken off to goodness knows where.

A shudder traced up my spine.

Richard cupped his face in despair, as though he too was seeing it play out in his mind’s eye.

“I don’t blame you.” I brushed a wayward lock of hair out of his face. “It all happened so fast.”

“I’ll take care of everything,” he said.

“Is Lance still angry?” I asked.

Richard looked surprised. Cameron gave a subtle shake of his head. That all too familiar silent communication. The sign of a long friendship.

“What’s going on?” I said warily.

“What is that?” Cameron stared at the makeup bag Richard held.

“Oh, yes.” Richard handed it to me. “Sorry, your toothpaste was confiscated by the TSA.”

Cameron looked incredulous. “You have a Hello Kitty makeup bag?”

Richard looked amused. “I bought her a Louis Vuitton but she still uses this one. You should have seen the looks I got carrying it.”

I unzipped it and peered in, happy to see my contraceptive pills, my comb, toothbrush, and a spare lipstick. “It’s sentimental. Bailey gave it to me for my birthday.”

“It’s adorable,” said Cameron dryly. “We’ll get you a new one in London.”

“I like this one.”  

Larissa, who was enjoying our conversation a little too much, earned herself an alpha frown from Cameron. She scurried off toward the cockpit.

“Two minutes,” said Cameron. “We’re close to lining up for takeoff.” He headed off down the aisle.

I grabbed Richard’s hand. “You’re not coming with us?”

“Let’s sit.”

“Can’t Scarlet watch over Winston?” I sat beside him and grasped his hand.

“Yes, of course. She’s always up for dog sitting. But I have some business to attend to. Urgent details that have to be taken care of.”

“What kind?”

Richard’s gaze followed Cameron up the aisle.

“You’re still angry with me?” I said.

“Why would I be angry?”

“Last night. Cameron taking me away from Chrysalis.”

“I didn’t give him any choice.”

“Because of Lance? Cameron took care of it. He told Lance he was no longer a member of Chrysalis. It’s over now.”

Richard frowned and reached into his pocket. “I have your phone. But don’t turn it on.” He handed it over. “Not until Cameron gives you the go-ahead.”

“I know I can’t use it on the plane.”

“Keep it turned off for now.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I never meant for any of this to happen. Cameron training me, you falling out with him.”

“We haven’t fallen out.”

“Your argument last night? On the phone?”

“We scream at each other and the next day we’re best buddies again. Well, I scream at him. It’s how we’ve always been.” He arched a roguish brow.

Richard really did seem okay with everything.

It had all happened so fast, with me being handed over to Cameron to train, his genius at unlocking painful secrets, and all of this intensity leaving me spellbound.

Richard sat calmly, as though there was nothing unusual about his friend stealing me away again and continuing this, whatever this was.

None of it made any sense.

“Something’s wrong,” I whispered.

“Shush.” Richard caressed my face with curled fingers. “Please, relax. Enjoy your trip.”

A heaviness sat on my chest over leaving him behind.

“I want something of yours.” His fingers traced the edges of my bracelet. “This is new.” He ran his thumb over the tiny diamonds. “When did you get this?”

Richard knew. I could see it. I’d never have bought something this expensive. His eyes rose to meet mine.

“I’m not meant to take it off.”

This delicate bracelet had been given to me that first night I’d surrendered to Cameron in his Beverly Hills mansion. That evening sent me reeling in a sensuous spin of discovery.

My cheeks flushed wildly as my mind desperately tried to focus on something else.

That dimly lit bedroom. Cameron pulling me astride him. That terrible fullness morphing into blinding pleasure. Unbound ecstasy like no other. Screaming into Cameron’s palm as I came.

And came again.

Minutes later, while still lulled in an erotic daze, Cameron had placed this bracelet on my wrist. This gesture of ownership only now I understood. As though the collar wasn’t enough.

Richard fumbled at my wrist to unlock the catch.

Cameron strolled back up the aisle, his intensity proving we were against the clock. He frowned in realization as he watched Richard fumble.

Broken.

The chain rested in Richard’s palm. “I’m sorry…I…”

Cameron held out his hand. “I’ll take care of it.”

Richard tucked the bracelet into his pocket.

I caressed my wrist. “Why aren’t you going with us?”

“He’ll join us in a couple of days,” said Cameron. “You brought her phone?”

Richard took it back from me and held it up. “Shay checked it for malware. No sign of cloning.”

“Malware?” I said.

Cameron stepped forwards. “I’ll take it.”

Jeez, these guys were controlling
.

Cameron tucked my phone into his jacket pocket.

Larissa appeared in a flurry. “Sir, we’re set for takeoff.”

Richard took my hands in his. “Be a good girl. Do exactly as Cameron tells you. Stay by his side at all times.” He forced a smile. “This will be fun. I’ll see you in three days, okay.”

Larissa stepped forward. “Sir, one more minute and you’re coming to London.”

Richard pulled me into a kiss, the press of his lips against mine a welcome touch, the pressure against my bruise a needful ache.

He pulled back and stared into my eyes. “I’ll make it safe for you to come home, Mia. I promise.”

CHAPTER 2

THE LOS ANGELES skyline fell away.

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.