Enthrall Him (Enthrall Sessions Book 3) (28 page)

“I warned you I’m too dark for you,” he said. “You’ve always insisted otherwise. Now I believe you, Mia. Want to know why?”

I gave a nod.

“You’ve been trained by a master. You’ve fulfilled the director’s expectations. I expect great things from you.”

“You’ve always been so patient with me.”

“At first I had reservations. I was concerned I might hurt you. Scare you. Damage you. After all you’ve been through I was certain you were too fragile. You’re stronger than I knew. And now I feel comfortable to push you beyond your limits.”

“I know you’d never hurt me.” It came out in a rush.

“I promise to be everything you need me to be. The strictest of masters.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Did you miss me?”

“Yes, I’ve so looked forward to you being here.”

He went to speak and stared off. “Then why did you only call me once? In all this time.”

“They took my phone off me.”

“You could have borrowed Shay’s or Cole’s.”

I turned my face away, full of doubt.

“Mia, we’re close to losing what we had. The promise of what we’re meant to be.”

“You gave me to him…” My voice fell away.

“And he released you from a lifetime of pain. His talent is unmatched. You feel the benefit of him, right?”

Oh, yes.

“Cameron’s seduced you beyond all understanding,” he said. “It’s what he does. It’s part of the process of training a high end sub. It’s happened to numerous submissives before who he’s trained. I’ve witnessed it. You’re no different. Don’t humiliate yourself with a worthless crush.”

“No, it wasn’t like that,” I burst out.

“I’d rather rip my own heart out…”

 “Mia,” said Richard. “Cameron secured you in here for me and walked out. He didn’t even look back.”

My chest constricted as Richard’s raw words sliced through like cut glass.

“Baby, I’m fighting for you because I love you,” he said. “Do you see Cameron fighting for you?”

I met his deep blue eyes.

“You’re mine again,” he cooed. “My job is to protect you. Even from Cole. He’s a rogue. A very enigmatic, loveable rogue. Everyone falls for him. It’s not your fault. But any more time with him would devour you.”

I went to speak but couldn’t.

“Cameron doesn’t love you. He doesn’t want you. You see that, right?”

My thoughts ran over Cameron’s words, fearing they’d disappear into the ether, their meaning gone forever. Their truth lost.

“I should have had the balls to take you where you needed to go,” he said. “I’ll make it up to you. I’ll give you want you need.”

“You’ll go slow?”

“We’re beyond that. You’ve advanced to a higher level of play. It’s the only way I’ll get to keep you. I can’t do anything less than what Cameron has done to you. You told me what you need. I’m going to ensure you get it.”

My thoughts became hazy.

“You know what I think you believe?” He trailed a finger over my left breast, the tip circling my nipple. “You believe Cameron’s the one with the fucked up kinks. You think he’s the only one with a dark side. Well I’m looking forward to enlightening you.”

I held my breath as that pinch of my nipple became unbearable, that pang between my thighs sending a jolt of pleasure.

I gaped in pain and burst out, “Thank you, sir.”

“God you’re beautiful.”

“I’m your obedient servant, sir.”

“Can this be true?” he said, amused. “Is it really possible to prime Mia Lauren to this level of perfection?”

“I hope you deem me worthy, sir?”

He leaned into my ear. “Cameron’s not the only one who’ll make you pass out when you come.”

My body trembled; my breaths came short and sharp.  

“Let’s go over your training,” he said. “What did you learn? Did you cover degradation?”

Oh no
. Since arriving in London, all we’d done was have fun and fuck. Where had been the rounding out of my training as threatened? Cameron’s warning he’d take me the rest of the way had never happened. I couldn’t understand why.

And I couldn’t share that with Richard.

In his eyes was all that pain Cameron had spoken about, that veil of anguish from Richard’s past. His need to control everything was worn as a shield.

“Speak to me, Mia,” he said softly.

I knew his soul. Heard it’s yearning to truly love again. This good, kind, patient, and very scared young man.

“Kiss me master,” I said.

And he did. This fevered fight of lips became his way of drawing me back to him.

Cameron had unlocked within me the ability to see someone, actually see them, experience true empathy and sense beyond their smile, interpret their frown, feel their torment, no matter how much they tried to hide it.

And even though all Richard did was stand there now, solemn faced, trying to see if his kiss had felt the same, the truth spilled out that he doubted I could be the woman he needed me to be.

I’d been a source of pleasure for two very powerful men, but what moved me more was this revelation I’d also been their strength, their place of safety, their refuge.

Their way of forgetting.

Cameron had his demons too. I knew that now. He didn’t need any more regrets. More than anything I wanted to make him proud, please him, give him the peace of mind he deserved and let Cameron see I’d not be a burden to him.

A wave of calm swept over me.

“Sir, please untie me,” I whispered.

“Mia, I need you to list all you’ve learned.”

“Please, Richard, untie me so I can show you.”

First, my left wrist was set free and then my right. Then a tug of this strap around my waist released me.

“Well?” he muttered.

I lowered myself to the ground and bowed before him, my hair spilling out before me. “Master.”

Silence fell in the playroom.

When I finally peered up, it was to see Richard’s serene expression.

I rose to stand before him and cupped his face with my hands. “My darling, Richard. My master.”

“My sweet, slave.”

“This is what the director taught me,” I said. “That being a good submissive is not just about sex. It’s about reading my master’s feelings. Gauging what he needs. Fulfilling him on every level.”

Richard’s frown deepened.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I gave him a well needed hug. “You fretted during that entire flight here,” I scolded him playfully. “Whatever Lance told you put you in a spin. Within seconds of arriving, your true feelings poured out. Your fear you’d lost me. You haven’t, Richard. I’m here.” I stepped back, took his hand, and pulled him across the room. “We’ve cooked dinner in celebration of you arriving. So, let’s get you freshened up and ready for Stephen’s arrival. We have an evening of eating and drinking and celebrating you being here.”

Richard pulled his hand from mine.

“Let me serve you,” I said, reassuringly. “Make you a drink.”

He hesitated by the door.

“You’re still very much in charge, sir,” I said. “This is just me taking care of my master. Me giving you what you need.”

Richard held his hand out and he looked like he was studying the meaning of the way I took it. I planted several kisses to his palm.

We walked hand in hand out of the playroom, and up.

Cameron and Shay chatted by the kitchen isle. They smiled as we past them.

“Everything okay?” said Cameron.

“Everything is wonderful, sir,” I told him.

“You tamed the beast,” said Richard dryly. “Looks like Ms. Lauren’s well trained after all. Quite promising.”

Cameron gestured across the room. “You remember Stephen.”

Dr. Finley stood close by and he was holding a box. “Hello again, Mia. Richard.” He held up the box. “I made a trifle.”

“You’re early,” Richard muttered.

Stephen peered over his round rimmed glasses. “By the look of things, I’m right on time.”

I let go of Richard’s hand and stepped towards Stephen. “We’re so happy you’re here.” Carefully I took the box from him. “I have no idea what a trifle is, but I for one can’t wait to taste it.” I beamed back at Richard, Cameron, and Shay.

Their faces were locked on me with fascination.

“It goes in the fridge,” said Stephen.

“May I get you a drink?” I asked him. “An aperitif perhaps?”

“I would love that.”

“I’m on it,” said Cameron, pouring Stephen a tall glass of champagne.

“Richard, why don’t you go and freshen up?” I said. “We’ll finish dinner off. I’ll bring you up a drink in a minute. How about that?”

Richard was staring at Cameron.

Cameron was staring at me.

And my inner muse was gaping at my convincing performance.

“We have Christmas crackers,” I told Stephen.

He looked amused. “The evening is saved.”

Cameron gave a wry smile and handed Stephen a flute of champagne.

“Thank you,” said Stephen. “I’m thrilled to be here. I’ve been looking forward to spending this evening with my delightful Americans,” he said. “Richard, I hear you’re Winston Churchill’s great, great grandson?”

“One of them, yes.”

“Then the honor is all mine,” said Stephen.

“Same nose,” said Cameron.

“You told me I have Churchill’s ears,” said Richard.

“Nose, ears, it’s all the same,” said Cameron with a smirk. “You’re still as handsome as him.”

Richard smirked, shaking his head as though used to Cameron’s ribbing.

Stephen stepped forwards and raised his glass. “My favorite Churchill story is when he was serving as prime minister.” He beamed at us. “It was back in the 1950s. Churchill was woken up by a staff member and informed of the scandalous event that had occurred in Saint James’s Park during the early hours of the morning. The staff member solemnly told the prime minister that a guardsman was found having sex with a male member of parliament in the bushes, by the police. ‘I’m afraid the scandal has already hit the newspapers, sir.’” Stephen pulled a face and mimicked Churchill, saying, “‘Last night? Wasn’t it damn cold last night?’ ‘Yes, sir, replied the assistant, it was one of the coldest February nights in Britain in over forty years.’” Stephen stood tall. “And Churchill replied, ‘Makes you proud to be British.’”

We all laughed, and what was left over of our tension lifted.  

And I fell in love with Dr. Finley.

Richard excused himself and headed on upstairs.

“How was the ride over?” asked Shay.

“Lovely,” said Stephen, turning to Cameron. “Quite the drive in your Rolls Royce Ghost. What a car. It turned up at 6PM, though. Didn’t want to keep the driver waiting. That’s why I’m so unfashionably early.” He looked at me. “Hope I didn’t interrupt anything important?”

Cameron avoided my stare.

CHAPTER 22

VIEWING MY LOW cut, red chiffon dress in the mirror, I congratulated myself on handling this so well.

I really was flourishing as a submissive. Everything I’d ever dreamed of was coming true. This was really happening. If I could just nudge this nagging voice of resistance back in its box. Let go.  

Completely hand myself over.

Fluffing my spiraling blonde curls, I used the full length mirror to adjust my cleavage, tugging my lace bra and admiring the way this dress swept over my curves and showed off my waist.

Cameron liked to put his hands around my waist, I mused, and it made me feel so feminine, so wanted, so beautiful.

“
You’re the sacred feminine
,” he’d wooed me.

Reassuring me time and time again this was what a woman represented to her dominant.

Don’t think of him.

I admired these strappy shoes complementing my outfit.

Richard would soon be out of the shower. Having changed my clothes for the third time, I now felt ready for this evening.

I’d found this exquisite dress in my wardrobe…

It’ll be okay.

You’ll be okay.

And so will Cameron. He had a career, those high society clubs, that privileged life to sustain him, and he also had all those beautiful subs waiting for his return.

He was right about Richard. He’d been through too much heartache for any man to bear--his father’s betrayal and the cruelty that followed, his girlfriend’s suicide, and him subsequently closing down his ability to feel,
to love.
 

I’d been brought in to save the day.