Enthrall Him (Enthrall Sessions Book 3) (21 page)

I’d never seen him tipsy before. There was a boyishness to him, a vulnerability. He squinted, raising his hand to protect his bloodshot eyes from the glare of the lamp. That five o’clock shadow was sexy.

“Please tell me you didn’t ride that bike like this?” I said in a panic.

“Came home in a cab.” He raised a finger. “Taxi.”

“Where’s the bike?”

His gaze found mine. “Nothing happened at Enslave. I didn’t stay long. I want you to know that.”

“Well as we’re not dating, Cameron—”

“I had drinks with Stephen.”

“Dr. Finley?”

“He’s almost as annoying as you.”

“Why is that?”

He frowned at me. “Because you’re annoying.”

“Shall I get you some water?”

“I’d never hurt you, Mia.” A delayed sweep of his hand declined the drink. “Never intentionally.”

“I know.”

“Something’s happened.”

I pushed myself up farther.

“Something unspeakable.” He held his hand over his heart. “Here.”

Reaching out, I pressed my hand over his, waiting for him to say the words we both needed him to admit.

He stared off. “This room’s very small. Why do we have you in here?”

“I like it.”  

“I’m sorry you saw the playroom,” he said. “I should have thrown away the key.”

“What happened in there?”

“Me.”

I frowned at him.

“That earring,” he said, shifting uneasily. “Your expression when you found it. I can’t bear to see you sad. Nope. Can’t do it.”

“Oh Cameron,” I said. “I understand there were women before me.”

“I want to protect you from the world,” he said. “Hard to believe I know after that surprising way I behaved in front of Lance at dinner. He’s set on having you and I’m not sure of the length he’ll go. I wanted to scare him off you.”

“I understand.”

“He knows what you mean to me. It’s that knowledge that puts you at risk. This is all my fault.”

“Richard auctioned me off. Lance bid higher. You weren’t there.”

“I was.”

“But I thought—”

“I’m a fast driver, Mia, but I’m not that fast.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “I came to Chrysalis and hung out in my office. Just in case you might need me. I never really believed it would go wrong.” He sighed. “I should have stopped the auction, but Richard was intent on proving to everyone…”

“Please forgive him. I have.”

He traced a fingertip over my cheek. “Because you’re the sweetest, the most beautiful, the most extraordinary woman I’ve…” He looked horrified. “Did I say that out loud?”

“Said what?”

He gave a crooked grin. “I’m a bit drunk, apparently.”

“My sweet Cameron.”

“You’re not really mine,” he muttered.  

“Just tell me I’ll still see you.”  

He caressed his brow. “What the fuck have you done to me?”

My breath caught in my throat.

He pressed his hand against his chest, as though trying to rub away an ache.

I patted the bed. “Climb in.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Surprise?”

“How are you with heights?”

“Cameron.” I swung my legs round, climbed out of bed, and reached for his jacket. I gave it a tug. “It’s 3AM.”

He pulled me to him and buried his face in my chest. “Forgive me. I don’t deserve you. That’s why you can never be mine.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The way I spoke to you in front of Lance.” He peered up at me. “I did it to protect you. You understand that, right?”

“Your ways are a little unconventional.”

“It’s like playing chess with the devil. You must be prepared to do the unthinkable to protect the ones you—” He nuzzled in farther. “Care about.”

I weakened in his arms, my legs wobbling, my heart aching for him even though he was right here.

Safe in his hug, I melted into him. “Maybe we’ll find a way?”

“Impossible.” He pushed me away and stood up, towering over me. “I need coffee.”

“You need sleep.”

“I usually only get four or five hours a night anyway… unless I sleep with…” His gaze lingered on mine.

“Shall I tuck you in?”

Confusion marred his face. “I’d waste what little time….”

I reached for him.

He avoided my hand. “We’re going out. Wear underwear. Only. You’ll find a coat in your wardrobe. It has a fur lining. Not real fur. I still have some decency left in me.”

“Well that’s a relief. Are we going to Enslave?”

He stepped towards the door.

“Cameron?”

He turned to look at me.

Say it.

“Have you noticed how low the doors are?” He looked up at the frame. “Any lower and I’d be rendered unconscious.”

“You’re the bravest man I know,” I said. “Why can’t you—”

“You’re banned from the playroom.”

I rested my hands on my hips at his avoidance. “You know talking is the only answer—”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

I lowered my gaze, shaken by his sudden fierceness.

“Black lace,” he said. “Garter and stockings. Heels.”

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

He swept his hands wide “Above all this.”

CHAPTER 17

A SMILE LIT up Cameron’s face when he saw me.

I dressed in matching black lace bra, panties, and stockings beneath this fur lined coat, adding a hat and scarf before meeting him downstairs. He stood in the kitchen with his fingers wrapped around a coffee mug.

Seconds later, trailing behind a tipsy Cameron, who was finding all this highly amusing, I tried to keep my giggling low. I’d never seen him so playful, and with a mischievous grin.

His fingertip pressed to his lips warned me to stay silent. We sneaked out of the house, trying not to wake a sleeping Shay.

When the taxi arrived, we’d locked the front door and headed out into the night. The air so chilly I had no choice but to snuggle next to him. We both breathed out puffs of cold until we’d reached the warmth of the cab.

Bleary eyed, I stared out at the passing scenery, too tired to be nervous over where we were going. Being with Cameron made up for this tiredness.

Last night I’d fallen asleep alone and miserable, assuming he’d gone off to his club to play with some young sub. My imagination had run all over the map with what he might be doing and who he might be doing it to.

Though now, here in this taxi with him, my emotions steadied out a little, reassured by his recent confession that nothing had happened last night, and he really did seem sincere. Something told me he’d gone to Dr. Finley’s for more advice. I wondered if our current adventure had anything to do with Stephen and his outrageous ideas, or if Cameron had thought it all up by himself.

Everything was different now.

If there was a line not to be crossed by a master and submissive, Cameron and I had crossed it. Despite him pretending otherwise, we’d allowed our true feelings to rise to the surface, and we’d broken all the rules set to prevent this. Those guidelines on how to conduct yourself when loaned out to another master were pretty much useless when it came to us: Submit entirely. Don’t fall in love. Do as you’re told.

Those rules had probably been made by a man.

As I’d fallen asleep on my pillow last night, I’d promised to brave these final hours with Cameron and take what I could from them. Learn as much as possible and guard my heart fiercely. Only all my defenses came crumbling down when he hugged me into him in the back of the taxi and rubbed his hands over mine to warm them.

We arrived on the South Bank of the River Thames within half an hour, and when I caught sight of the London Eye towering above I was again reminded Cameron knew how to woo a girl.

With my hand in his, he pulled me safely into the pod behind him. This all felt so dreamy. I had to pinch myself to believe this was happening and we were really on the best adventure ever.

He kissed me eagerly.

Pushing my back up against the glass, raising my hands above my head, his welcome affection only just took my mind off the fact we were suspended in the air.

His grip on my wrists tightened and his mouth pressed against mine. A graze of teeth then his tongue lashed mine. Arousal sparked with intensity.

God, what he did to me.

Getting over him was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever done.

But I didn’t have to give him up just yet. There were still a few more hours left of him.

He hugged me into him. “At the highest point, we’ll be four hundred feet up.”

A panoramic landscape opened up around us. My heart skipped a beat as I looked down at the shrinking view.

“I could live in this little pod,” I said. “If you were with me.”

Cameron gave an endearing shake of his head. He looked so relaxed, so calm, and when he stepped back and beamed at me it wasn’t just the view of the city that left me breathless.

Taking in all the other pods, I realized we were the only ones on the entire wheel. Ours was the only one not lit up. We were surrounded by a curved wall of glass providing a fantastic vantage point of the River Thames below and the stars above us. Each pod was spacious and could have easily carried twenty people comfortably.

Cameron stared off into the night. “The rotation takes thirty minutes.” He lowered his line of sight to take in the cars and a few pedestrians, who looked as small as ants.

I let out a long contented sigh, happy to be trapped in here with him, both of us leaving the world behind in our glassed capsule of escape. All of the drama from the last few weeks was left behind.

Time promised to stand still at least for awhile.  

It seemed such a long time ago I’d been standing in Enthrall’s coffee room, left speechless from my first meeting with him. Cameron’s presence was disarming. As the days dissolved into weeks, I’d gotten to know him. At first, intimidation had ruled our every interaction, but as time went on I’d glimpsed behind his sexy façade. I’d seen his kindness, the way he was with people, and all those things he did without anyone knowing, like putting his housekeeper’s son through school, or making sure his other employees had everything they needed.

Yes, Cameron really was my sexy, sensual superhero.

And superheros always went it alone.

Not once in all the time did I ever imagine I’d be here in London with him, looking out at a spectacular view of a foreign city.

Through the blue fluorescent haze of the wheel, we stared out at the sweeping nightscape. We could see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. And over there, far off in the distance, was Buckingham Palace. Memories of our visit came flooding back, making me tingle in all those delicious places all over again. Cameron chuckled to himself and I wondered if he too was recalling yesterday.  

Raindrops splotched onto the glass and those small beads of water made it shimmer.

Grateful for the warmth of the faux fur lining, I marveled at how anyone could survive being outside during a British winter in just their underwear. Luckily for us, the pod was heated. I slipped off my gloves and scarf and placed them onto the bench then returned to the edge and settled into the now, savoring every second and wanting to remember every detail of these profound unfolding moments. Cameron’s playfulness, his serenity, this new side to him I was fast falling for.

The dizzying height above the city was merely a backdrop to my out of control emotions.

Cameron threw a surreptitious glance at the central wooden seat. I’d never seen him like this before. He was always so sure, so confident, so bossy, yet up here I was seeing him anew.

He’d warned me in no uncertain terms what his intentions were before we left the house. Only now he blinked into the dimness with what even might be mistaken for reservation.

“Cameron?” I said.

“I’m taking a mental picture.” His gaze settled on me. “I want this soldered onto my brain.”

I nuzzled in for another hug, his body firm and warm, his strong arms wrapping around me, his kisses so affectionate.

“London’s such a romantic city,” he said wistfully. “Don’t you think?”

He walked over to the seat, removed his coat, and threw it onto the bench. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone, resting it next to it.  

“How long have you been planning this?” I asked.

He continued to scroll across the screen. “It all came together last minute.”

“Was it the same contact that got us into the Palace?”

“The Palace was easy,” he said. “This took a little more effort.” He pointed toward a panel. “The security cameras are disabled for thirty more minutes. And with the lights turned off in our pod, we’re invisible to the public.”