Saving My Submission BN (25 page)

Strung out, I paced, packed and tried to find other
ways to deplete my nervous energy, but nothing worked. Trying to force sleep
didn’t either. Staring at the clock, the minutes dragged into hours. Finally I
sat up and reached for the phone. Joshua would be pissed that I’d kept him in
the dark, but I wanted to hear his calm, reassuring voice. My need for his
comfort outweighed the lecture I was sure to receive.

“Mellie? It’s three in the morning there. What’s
wrong?”

The man didn’t even say hello. His first instinct was
to find out why I was awake at the ass crack of dawn. Joshua’s unwavering
concern was the perfect balm for my turmoil.

“Please don’t be mad, I wasn’t trying to keep things
from you. It’s just that… I didn’t want to waste what time we had… I mean,
hearing your voice was more important than… Oh god, Joshua, never in a million
did I ever think—”

“Stop,” he commanded. Hearing the tenor of his potent
Dom voice, I snapped my mouth shut, closed my eyes and winced. “Take a deep
breath and relax. Tell me what you’ve been keeping from me, little one.”

I followed his instructions and took several calming
breaths. “Davis,” I stated flatly.

“What about him? He hasn’t been back to the club since
I told him to leave you alone. He said he didn’t know what I was talking about,
but I didn’t believe him. He’s still bothering you?”

“Yes. But it’s escalated. He’s gone from bullying, to
threatening, and now he’s vandalized my house.” I exhaled a heavy breath as
panic began rising inside me again. “Joshua, he killed a bunny and hung him on
my porch.”

Cringing, I pulled the phone from my ear as Joshua
erupted with a string of curses, damning Davis Walker like a well-seasoned
sailor.

“I want you to tell me every fucking detail, girl.
Don’t you dare hold anything back, do you understand?”

His bark was vicious and if he found Davis before the
cops did, I was certain they’d never find the asshole’s body. Filling Joshua in
on all the details only served to piss him off more. I felt like a kid caught
feeding peas to the dog under the dinner table. I didn’t expect my confession
would earn a tiara and a dozen roses, but I hadn’t envisioned Joshua turning
into Rambo, either… but he did.

“Give me your flight information from LaGuardia to
Phoenix,” he instructed.

“
Wh
…” I bit the question
off. It was not the time to question the man. Pulling out my itinerary, I
rattled off my arrival and departure times.

“I’ll meet you in New York in a few hours, little
one.”

“But you can’t,” I blurted out.

“I can and I will,” he challenged. “You are out of
your pretty little mind if you think I’m going to let you waltz back into your
house alone after what’s happened.”

“But what if it wasn’t Davis?” I began.

“Of course it was Davis…
bunny
,” Joshua spat the nickname Davis had
pinned me. “He hung Thumper from a noose, for fuck sake. It’s as good as
leaving his goddamn business card on the welcome mat. I’m meeting you in New
York, and it’s not up for discussion. And I’m going to be stuck to you like
glue twenty-four seven until you’re ready to come back to Chicago.”

“But the airfare is going to cost you a small
fortune,” I exhaled.

Grateful for his chivalry, I didn’t see a need for him
to shell out a ton of money or play bodyguard. Yes, I was desperate to see him,
but it rankled that he thought me so weak and helpless that I needed protection
to walk inside my own home.

Joshua let out a snort rife with sarcasm.

“Have you forgotten how we met, Mellie? Surely you
don’t think I’m so strapped for cash that I can’t buy a couple of fucking
airline tickets, do you? As I recall,
you
were the one who paid Christian over seven figures procuring my art for Abbas.
I think I can manage a few thousand dollars for some fucking plane tickets.” He
paused briefly and exhaled a heavy sigh. “Look, if I’ve flipped one of your
independent triggers I’m sorry, but right now, I honestly don’t give a shit. I
refuse to allow you to go home alone. If you don’t want
my
company, fine. I’ll call Dylan. He’s been
like a fucking disapproving father since we hooked up. He, Nick, and Savannah
can accompany you back home. But you are
not
going alone. Do I make myself clear?”

Anger surged like a short fuse on a stick of dynamite.

“If it were any clearer, I’d have your pig-headed
declaration tattooed on my fucking forehead,” I snapped. Almost instantly, I
regretted my outburst. “Shit.”

I closed my eyes and bit back a scream. Joshua had
gone silent on the other end of the line. He was either contemplating hanging
up on me, or seething so vehemently he didn’t trust himself to speak.

“I’m sorry, Joshua. I didn’t mean that…. Well, I did,
but… not out loud. Yes, I want to see you. I’ve missed you so much it hurts.
I’m so damn exhausted I don’t know which end is up. My head hurts. My eyes burn
and instead of coming home to rush to you, I have to deal with the mess Davis
left behind. I’m scared to death that he’s going to do something even more
violent and stupid, but I gave that prick eight years of fear; I refuse to give
him a second more.”

Joshua didn’t utter a word. It rubbed me raw; so raw
it burned.

“Say something please?”

“I want to take you to bed, wrap you in my arms, and
stroke my fingers over your beautiful face while you sleep beside me for days.”

His words were low… an alluring, sensual whisper. I
quivered.

“Then I’m going to slide you beneath me. Savor the
feel of your sinful cunt as it ripples and milks my aching dick… bite those
sensitive hard candy nipples of yours as you whimper beneath me. And I’m not
going to stop until your screams are worn to nothing but strained cries of
silence; then I’m going to take you again, and again.”

“Oh,
godddddd
,” I moaned.

“Spread your legs, bare your cunt, and stroke your
clit for me, little one,” he purred into my ear.

Wedging the phone against my shoulder, I slid my hands
below the covers. Spreading my legs, I tugged my nightgown up over my hips.
Jerking, I gasped as my cold fingertips fluttered over my wet, hot folds. I
circled my clit while dipping deep inside my slick, soft center.

“Tell me how
my
fingers feel on your tight little cunt, girl. They’re not your hands, they’re
mine.”

“Wet. Hot. Soft,” I murmured, finding it hard to
concentrate on his question.

“Yes, you’re burned into my brain. I can feel you,
too. Smell your spicy, sweet scent… taste your tart nectar sliding over my
tongue. Rub your fingers all around that pretty little cunt for me, girl.
Imagine it’s my tongue gliding past your swollen folds, lapping up all that
sweet cream spilling from you. You’re slick and oozing aren’t you, my pet?”

“
Yesssss
,” I hissed.

“Dip your fingers in deep. That’s my tongue fucking
you, baby. Dragging in and out, so soft and slow… making those tingling nerve
endings sing.”

I moaned softly.

“That’s it. Feel that sizzling arc of fire slide up
your spine? The sexy kitten noises you make when I touch you still echo in my
ears. Fuck. The moaning music you make has my dick so hard. Deeper, little one,
roll your fingers as you slide all the way in. Can you feel my tongue rasping
over your walls? Feel me drinking down your silky syrup as it slides over my
taste buds?”

I had no trouble imagining my fingers being his
persuasive tongue. Strangled whimpers of need burned in the back of my throat.

“Harder, little one. My tongue is fucking you so
deeply. Feel me… feel me stabbing inside you. The width flicking side to side
against your velvety walls… Snaking deeper, so much deeper inside your
fluttering cunt.”

With each coaxing phrase, his voice grew rougher;
harsher. I envisioned his fist wrapped around his turgid cock, stroking
ruthlessly as he fed my fantasy.

“Faster, little one. Fuck that juicy little cunt for
me.”

With a whimper, I did as he instructed. Soaring to the
cusp of bliss, I clung to the edge, waiting for his permission to plummet over
and shatter.

“Now pull your fingers out. Now!” he bellowed.

“
Noooo
,” I wailed.

“Do it. Pull them out.”

Begrudgingly, I drew my hands from beneath the covers
and exhaled a huge sigh of frustration.
 

“Good girl. Now paint your lips with your juices,
baby. Coat them nice and thick. Breathe in deep. Can you smell your essence?”

“Yes,” I groaned as I coated my lips with my own warm
cream.

“I can too. My lips and chin are covered in your
glossy warmth. Now lick your lips, let my tongue inside your mouth as I kiss
the heady spice from you. Can you taste yourself on my tongue, precious?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “Please, I need more.”

“Drive three fingers into your cunt. Stretch yourself
for me. Rub your clit with your other hand,” he demanded with a bellicose
growl. “That’s my cock filling you... my fingers strumming your swollen little
nub. Go to the edge, little one. Ride my dick hard and fast.”

Whimpering and moaning, I did as he commanded. I could
hear his heavy breathing in the phone, practically feel his warm breath upon my
neck.

“Louder,” he bellowed. “I want to hear your hunger,
girl.”

Zipped to the crest, I cried out. “
Pleaseee
.”

“Stop,” he thundered. “Remove your fingers and place
your hands above the covers.”

“What?” I wailed. “
Nooooo
.”

“I said stop, girl. Put your hands on the outside of
your blankets this instant.”

Howling in frustration, I withdrew my fingers. My
whole body quaked with need.

“Please, let me come,” I begged.

“No. You don’t get to come tonight, little one. You may
not get to come tomorrow night either.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” Sounding like a
petulant child, I clenched my jaw in anger.

“You tell me why,” Joshua whispered.

Frustration bubbled into a cauldron of fury. “Oh, I
get it. You’re punishing me.”

“You bet your sweet ass I am,” he chuckled.

“You can’t do this. I told you the reason why I kept
Davis’ threats from you. But I guess that doesn’t count for anything when
you’ve got your big, bad Dom pants on, does it?”

“Careful, little one. Watch your tone.”

Joshua’s warning dripped with such a patronizing tone
I balled my hands into fists. So infuriated, I wished he was in the room so I
could punch him… hard.

“Fuck my tone and fuck you. Don’t bother coming to New
York. I’ll call Sanna. Dylan can pick me up and escort me back to Phoenix. With
all the shit I’ve got to deal with, the last thing I need is some son of a
bitch trying to mind fuck me. Good-bye.”

I disconnected the call, covered my face with the
pillow, and screamed long and hard.

CHAPTER TEN

Disembarking the plane at LaGuardia, my heart ached.
Sanna and her Masters would be waiting for me. After I’d calmed down from my
furious explosion with Joshua, I called Dylan and asked for their help. I
should have felt a spark of excitement to see my sister and feel her loving
arms around me again… but there wasn’t. The only arms I wanted wrapped around
me, giving me comfort, were Joshua’s. But he wouldn’t be there. No, I’d let my
pride and temper fuck that up royally.

Tears stung my eyes and I swallowed the lump of
sadness burning my throat as I walked up the ramp and into the crowded
terminal. Scanning the faces of strangers, I couldn’t find Sanna, Dylan, or
Nick.

Maybe their flight was
late.

Trudging toward the digital display of arrivals and
departures, I searched for their flight and frowned. They’d landed thirty-five
minutes ahead of me.

“They’re not coming to meet you, little one. I am.”

Joshua’s calm, deep voice blanketed me from behind. I
spun around, my belongings sagging to the floor. A muffled cry of relief and
remorse vibrated over my lips as I stepped into his open arms. Holding him
tightly, I tried not to cry as I breathed in his familiar scent and absorbed
the strength of his warm body. Thank god, he was a tenacious, hard-headed man.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I clung to
him in a desperate hug.

I knew I’d pay a high price for my behavior over the
phone, but trailing my fingers through his soft hair… enveloped in his sturdy
embrace, was worth any punishment he deemed to give.

“I’ve got you, girl. I know you’re scared, but
everything’s going to be okay,” Joshua murmured as he held me tight.

“I’m so sorry I acted like such a bitch to you.”

“We’ll talk about that after we get Davis and your
house sorted out.”

“But…” I shook my head. “I need to apologize to you. I
shouldn’t have lashed out like that.”

Joshua inched back, cupped my cheeks, and smirked. “I
said we’ll discuss it later. We have to catch our flight, but first I need
this.”

Slanting his lips over mine, Joshua drowned me in a
blistering kiss suffused in passion. Wrapped in his blanketing arms, a feeling
of absolute contentment settled through me.

“There, I’m much better now,” Joshua smiled.

He bent and lifted my computer bag from the floor and
slung it over his shoulder, then handed me my purse. With his strong arm firmly
wrapped around my waist, I floated ten feet off the ground while my head swam
in the clouds as we hurried to our departure gate.

After take-off, Joshua raised the armrest, unbuckled
my seat belt and stretched out in first class. He pulled the blanket from the
seat pouch in front of him and opened it before draping around and pulling me
across his lap. Nestled against his sturdy chest, I wrapped my arms around him
and issued a sigh of contentment.

“You’re exhausted. Sleep, little one,” he instructed
with a soft kiss to my forehead.

“I am. Thank you,” I replied with a weary smile.

Snuggled tight against his hard chest, I closed my
eyes. Joshua provided me with the medicine I so desperately needed: compassion,
strength, and understanding. I focused on his soft, even breaths as the tempo
lulled me off to sleep.

The feel of his long fingers threading through my hair
rousted me from the darkness.

“Wake up, my sleeping beauty. We’re getting ready to
land.”

“
Mmm
,” I purred. “I don’t
want to. I want to stay wrapped in your arms forever.”

He issued a low chuckle. “That can be arranged, little
one.”

Peeking up at him from beneath my dark lashes, the
sincerity of his statement reflected in his eyes. It was both heart-warming and
crushing. In a perfect world, we’d be in Chicago, tangled in the sheets until
this manic connection binding us died. But in the real world, the stirring
fantasy could never exist. Mentally adhering bandages to the bleeding wounds
impaling my heart, I sat up as we prepared to land and steeled myself to face
the ugliness Davis Walker had left in his wake.

After retrieving both my luggage and car, I could feel
Joshua’s stare as I drove down the Interstate toward my house.

“You’re making it hard for me to concentrate on the
road. You know that, right?”

“I’m not doing anything, little one,” he smirked.

“Yes, you are. You’re undressing me with those
gorgeous eyes of yours.”

“Perhaps, but I’m not following through with my
thoughts… at least, not yet.”

Carnal images flitted through my brain and my body
quivered. Reaching over, Joshua rolled his finger and thumb around my erect
nipple.

“What were you thinking that got my sweet berry buds
so nice and hard?”

Glancing over, I shot him a sultry smile. “I’ll show
you when we get home.”

Joshua tossed back his head and laughed. “No, little
one. You’ll show me if I
let
you.”

“There’s always a catch, isn’t there?” I pursed my
lips in a fake pout.

“Not when you finally learn to behave yourself,” he smirked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you straightened out… against the wall, on the bed
beneath me… over my knee, whatever it takes.”

“Stop. You’re going to make me wreck the car.” I
laughed nervously. My imagination didn’t need his encouragement; it was doing just
fine on its own.

Anxious to get home to live out the scenarios making
my girl parts wet and tingling, I finally pulled into my driveway. Pressing the
garage door opener, I frowned when nothing happened.

“That’s weird. Maybe I need a new battery for the
remote,” I mumbled.

Glancing around, Joshua held out his hand. “Turn off
the engine and give me your keys.”

Curious about what he was up to, I did as he asked and
followed him to the back of the car as he opened the trunk. Zipping open his
suitcase, Joshua withdrew a metal lock box with a series of numbers taped to
its top. He punched in a series of buttons and when the box opened he pulled
out a small pistol.

“You brought a gun?”

“Of course I did,” he replied, tucking it into the
waistband of his pants. “If Davis is unstable enough to kill animals, he’s
capable of doing anything. I’m not taking any chances with you, Mellie. I won’t
lose…”

Joshua paused, pinched his lips together then nodded
toward the house.

“Come on, we’ll get the luggage later. Let’s go inside
first. Stay behind me, understood?”

“You’re scaring me,” I whispered.

“You should be scared. Nobody’s been able to locate
him back home. He’s not been at work, his neighbors haven’t seen him… he’s
vanished.”

“How do you know he’s not been at work, or his house?”

“I called. His secretary said he was out of the
office, but offered to take a message. I asked her when he’d be back. She was
evasive, and I got the feeling she didn’t know where he was. Of course she
might have been holding back after I sidestepped her trying to screen my call.
Ian’s been doing some surveillance at his house for me.”

“Maybe he’s out of town working.”

“Oh he’s out of town working all right—working on
stalking you.”

Something felt wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on
it. Davis wouldn’t throw away his career to terrorize me. His title as senior
manager with the pharmaceutical company he’d been with for years meant more to
him than anything in the world. He wouldn’t mess that up for something so petty
as revenge.

When Joshua unlocked my front door, a heavy sense of
foreboding filled me. Dropping my gaze, I noticed drops of blood on my porch.
An icy chill slithered up my spine. Pushing the door open wide, I followed him
into the foyer. Standing still and silent, I listened for movement inside the
house, but it was as quiet as a morgue. Shadows filled the recesses past the
entryway. Reaching up, I brushed my palm over the three light switches, but
none of the lights came on. My electricity was out.

“Back outside,” Joshua instructed as he gripped my
elbow and pulled me back out the door.

He yanked out his phone, and I watched as he dialed,
nine-one-one.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m calling the cops. I want them to do a sweep of
your house. I’d do it myself, but if something happened to me, there’d be no
one to protect you.”

“Joshua, don’t you think you’re…”

“Hello, yes. I’d like to report a possible break-in.”
Pausing for a moment, he arched his brows. “What’s your address?”

I rattled it off, then cast a wary glance back at the
house. It no longer felt like the safe haven I’d once loved; the massive
structure seemed to hold a malignant, tainted aura. Anger spiked. Davis Walker
had chosen to steal my power, like a thief in the night. Pacing, I tried to
keep fury from consuming me. As if sensing my struggle, Joshua kept his
distance but watched me like a hawk.

Four minutes later the street was lined with patrol
cars. Joshua stood by my side as several officers walked the parameter of the
house, while several more drew their weapons and stormed inside.

A man in a dark tailored suit approached, wearing a
tight smile. “Ms. Carson?”

“Yes?”

“Hi. I’m Detective Pruett. We talked on the phone
yesterday.”

“Oh yes. It’s nice to meet you.” I forced a polite
smile.

“I think the ballsy bastard came back. Well, someone
did. He cut your electricity along the wall of the foundation in the back. The
power company is on their way to fix it.”

“Great.” I sighed in disgust.

“Look, I’m not telling you how to live your life, but
until we get this son of a bitch locked up, I don’t think it’s a good idea for
you to stay here.” The detective raised his gaze to Joshua. “I’m not implying
that you can’t protect her, sir, but Ms. Carson has a full-blown, very brazen
stalker on her tail.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Joshua interjected.

Turning toward me, the detective continued. “I’m
worried. The fact that you’re with another man might set this fuck knuckle on
an even more unpredictable path.”

The foundation of my independence and self-reliance
cracked, crumbling like dust beneath my feet. Not since the loss of my parents
had I felt so helpless and angry. I may have been powerless over my mom and dad
being from ripped from my life, but I sure as hell wasn’t about to roll over
and let Davis Walker strip my pride a second time.

“That prick hasn’t seen rage yet,” I hissed.

“Mellie,” Joshua warned. “Think with your head and not
your heart for a minute. Detective Pruett has had a lot more experience dealing
with this kind of thing than we do. I think it would be wise to take his
advice.”

“I know that. But what am I supposed to do? Just walk
away from my house, my life, my freedom because some
dipshi
…”

“
Dipshitiot
,” Joshua
smirked.

“Thank you. Some
dipshitiot
thinks he owns me again?”

“No, ma’am,” Pruett chuckled. “I’m simply suggesting
you two take a vacation. Go someplace tropical, sit on the beach, sip drinks
with little umbrellas in them, and get the hell out of Phoenix until we arrest
this joker.”

“I have a business to run… out of there,” I railed,
pointing toward my house.

“We’ll be glad to escort you back inside so you can
gather up whatever you need.”

“How the hell am I supposed to fit my whole house into
a couple of suitcases?” I hissed.

Strung out, and on the verge of hysterics, I wanted to
snag Joshua’s gun and hunt Davis Walker down. Put a bullet in his head to end
this surreal nightmare.

“I know it’s not ideal,” the detective commiserated.

“Fine. I’ll do it,” I snipped.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Joshua whispered. Pulling out
a business card, he handed it to Pruett. “Here’s my number if you need to reach
us. As soon as she gets her things, we’ll be heading back to Chicago tonight.”

“Davis Walker’s from Chicago. I don’t think it’s wise
to take—”

“She’ll be safe. Trust me. That prick won’t get
anywhere near her,” Joshua informed him with stony reassurance. Turning toward
me, his brittle veneer softened. “Go on, get what you need. I’ve got a couple
calls to make. I’ll be inside to help you shortly.”

Turning, I issued a heavy sigh. Pruett and two other
officers followed me toward the house. Glancing over my shoulder, Joshua
pressed his phone to his ear. “Ian. It’s me. We need a lot more help, man.”

Climbing the stairs to my office, I wondered what Ian
did for a living and why Joshua was asking for his help. It would be nice if
the dude was a hit man… that idea thrilled me entirely too much.

Tearing into the files in my office, I filled two
briefcases with necessary paperwork. All the while fluctuating between rage and
fear, wanting to scream one minute and cry the next. Being forced from the
comfort of my own home and having the safety it had always provided yanked out
from under me. Giving up wasn’t in my vocabulary, yet that’s exactly what I was
being forced to do.

With the waning sun spilling in through my bedroom
windows, I stuffed my clothes into a couple of suitcases. Darting a glance at
the three strange men keeping an eye on me, I nixed the idea of snagging my
vibrator. With a huff, I opened my panty drawer, snatching my hand back; I
recoiled in horror and let out a scream.

Ropes of thick, white come glazed my under garments.
My stomach rolled and the room spun. The motherfucker had jacked off all over
my panties, and by the looks of his revolting calling card, it had been done
recently.

“Mellie!” Joshua’s cry echoed up the staircase.
“Mellie.
Goddamnit
, where are you?”

Backing out of the room, shaking like a leaf, I
gripped my arms against my chest. Violated and repulsed, I turned to run, but
Joshua was there and clutched me to his chest. Panting from racing up the stairs
and probably the surge of alarm from my scream, he squeezed me tight.