Perfect Submission

by Roxy Sloane

  “I found a moment, while you were occupying yourself on the flight.” I wink, and she blushes.

  At the table, Keely and Vaughn, Justine and Ash, and Olivia are all gathered. Isabelle looks overwhelmed as she hugs them all in turn.

  “Let’s get some champagne,” Ash announces. “To toast your freedom.”

  Justine shudders. “I can’t imagine being locked up like that. I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “Let’s not talk about it,” I say quickly, worried.

  But Isabelle just smiles. “It’s OK. I made it through, that’s the important thing. And now I have the rest of my life to enjoy.”

  We all get champagne and appetizers, and soon everyone’s having a great time. I love to see Isabelle like this: her face lit up with happiness as she chats with the other women. I remember the snooty ice queen I first met, so used to locking all her feelings inside. Now, there’s nothing detached about her. Her emotions are written all over her face. She looks joyful and free.

  “To Isabelle,” I raise my glass in a toast. “And the future.”

  “To Isabelle,” everyone choruses.

  She beams. “And I want to toast you guys, too. Your friendship means everything to me. You all stepped up to help me through this in different ways. You finding the lawyer, Justine, and you giving me advice and support,” she says, nodding to Olivia and Keely. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Her eyes meet mine. ‘Thank you’ she mouths silently, and I know her gratitude is to me too.

  But I’m the lucky one. This woman has opened my heart, and my life. She wasn’t the only one who was closed off. Before her, I was so focused on keeping total control in my life that I sacrificed the discovery of new relationships. I thought my life at the Underground was something to keep hidden, not to celebrate.

  I didn’t think I could ever find someone who would satisfy my need for domination—and give me the respect and love of a real partner, too.

  But Isabelle is different. She’s opened my eyes to a pleasure that doesn’t have to be kept locked away in a secret room. She fulfills my every desire, and shows me so much more, too. She’s everything to me.

  I clear my throat, about to say something, when a hush falls over the table.

  “Well, well, well.” A familiar sneering voice comes from behind me. “Look who’s enjoying her final moments of freedom.”

  Brent.

  I see red.

  For weeks now, I’ve been holding back my anger, not wanting to make things worse for Isabelle. He has a power over her, a reason to keep my rage in check. But no more.

  In one motion, I push back my chair, spin around, and smash him across the jaw in a hard left hook.

  Another diner shrieks.

  I stalk toward him and drag him up. Brent howls in pain, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

  I want to wipe that cruel smirk off his face forever, and make sure he can never harm Isabelle again. I’ve never hated anyone like this. I feel rage pumping through me, drowning out the yells and noise – everything except one voice.

  Hers.

  “Cam.”

  It cuts through my fury, the soft sound of her voice.

  “Cam, that’s enough.”

  I reel back, panting. Brent slumps to the floor in a mess. He splutters, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

  Rage still burns in me. No amount of pain could ever be enough for the damage he’s tried to do.

  Isabelle steps around me, and slowly approaches Brent’s pathetic body. “Listen to me very carefully,” she begins, her voice clear and calm. The whole restaurant is hushed, watching us all, but Isabelle doesn’t cringe or flinch away from the attention. She stands over him, tall and regal.

  Beautiful.

  “You’re finished, Brent. Done. You have no money, no trust fund, and no friends in this town anymore. I stopped Cam today, but only because you’re not worth the trouble of an assault charge. If you ever so much as look at me again, I won’t hold him back. We will end you.”

  Isabelle towers over him, her words icy clear.

  “Don’t ever set foot near me again. If you see me on the street, walk the other way. In fact, get the hell out of New York, and don’t ever come back.”

  “Agreed.” Keely joins her. “You’re an insult to the Ashcroft name, Brent. You’re done at the company, and I’ll make it known that anyone who does business with you in any way won’t have a home at Ashcroft Industries anymore.”

  “And don’t even think about going into business elsewhere,” Ash adds, moving to stand with them. “My contacts span the globe. You’re so fucking finished.”

  “And just in case you don’t get it,” Vaughn adds, stooping to grasp Brent’s bloody collar. “I know people. The kind of people who can make you disappear for good. Understand?”

  Brent looks between us. “You’re all crazy,” he says.

  Isabelle laughs. “They’re my family,” she corrects him. “Now get the hell out. You’re ruining my party.”

  I give him a look. Brent scrambles to his feet. “I’ll press charges,” he stutters at me.

  “For what?” I spread my hands. “You tripped.”

  “He’s right,” Justine agrees. “You took a nasty tumble. Hit your face on the way down. Several times. We all saw it.”

  With a final curse, Brent slinks off. The whole restaurant breaks into applause.

  Isabelle throws her arms around me. “Is it terrible that I found that really sexy?” she whispers in my ear.

  “Not at all,” I tell her. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat, to anyone who ever hurts you.”

  She smiles. “Good to know. But I think we’ve seen the last of my problems. I’m looking forward to a stress-free, quiet life from now on.”

  “I’ll drink to that!” Olivia laughs, raising her glass.

  So what’s ahead for you now?” Justine asks, when the waiters have cleared the mess away, and we’re all settled back at the table to eat.

  Isabelle yawns. “Sleep, for starters.” She laughs. “No, I was thinking about making an appointment with the Ashcroft Trust next week. I realized that we have all kinds of charitable projects running, so I thought maybe we could set something up to help kids from my background. Programs for foster children, kids in care homes. Something to give them opportunities and support. If that’s OK,” she adds, looking to Keely.

  “Of course, that sounds like a great idea,” she exclaims.

  I squeeze Isabelle’s shoulder, proud.

  “Why don’t we get together for lunch tomorrow?” Keely suggests. “I can dig out some of the paperwork so we know what we’re dealing with.”

  “Not tomorrow,” I interrupt. “I have plans for us.”

  “Sure you do,” Keely smirks.

  “Not that,” I chuckle, even though it’s on the agenda too. “I have a surprise planned.”

  “Another one?” Isabelle looks confused. “You’re already spoiling me.”

  “It’s only what you deserve,” I reply, looking around for the waiter. “Now, how about we get dessert to go, before you fall asleep right here at the table?”

  “Sorry,” Isabelle says. “It’s been a long day.”

  “Don’t worry,” I stroke her hand. “We have plenty of time.”

  Tomorrow. And all our tomorrows, if my plan goes right. Because coming so close to losing her has made me realize the one simple fact: I need Isabelle in my life permanently.

  And I always get what I want.

  ELEVEN: ISABELLE

  I sleep like a rock, so exhausted from our day. I can’t believe Cam planned that surprise dinner with everyone – and finally getting rid of Brent, too, was the cherry on top. Now that I know nothing can stand in my way, it’s an incredible feeling.

  I could lounge in bed forever, but Cam fixes us breakfast and hustles us out the door into his Jag.

  “Where are we going now?” I ask, curious. “It’s not like you to turn down a morning in bed,” I add.<
br />
  Cam chuckles. “You’ll see. And believe me, I’ll be taking a raincheck on that lie-in.” He drapes an arm over my shoulder, looking relaxed as he drives us out of the city.

  I examine his hand. “You’re a little bruised,” I say, tenderly cradling it.

  “You should see the other guy.”

  Watching Brent finally get what he deserves was a relief, and even though I don’t usually agree with violence, it was amazing to feel so protected. All Cam’s power and focus channeled into teaching Brent a lesson. For me.

  Knowing that he’ll be too afraid to come after me again is a blessed feeling.

  It’s a beautiful day, and soon we’re speeding through the countryside in lush Connecticut. Cam turns off the freeway, driving through a quaint, upscale town, the kind of place with a picture-perfect Main Street, and little local stores.

  “It’s so pretty,” I remark, happily drinking in the sunshine. There are kids playing in the town square, and everything about this place is safe and warm. “I can’t believe it’s so close to the city, but it feels like another world.”

  Cam smiles a secret smile, turning down a street lined with big old oak trees. The houses here are amazing: old mini-mansions, with character and cute details. He pulls up in a driveway at the end of the street.

  “What is this place?” I ask, getting out and looking up at the house. It’s a big old Victorian-style house, with white shutters and a red tile roof. There are roses growing around the door, and wide front porch with a rocking chair, looking out on the neat front lawn that’s edged with a white picket fence.

  “Home,” Cam replies.

  My heart stops.

  “What do you mean?” I whisper, turning. He stands beside me, his eyes full of emotion.

  “It’s our home,” he says. “Just like the one you always wanted. A place for us to live, and raise a family of our own one day.”

  Then, like something out of a dream, he gets down on one knee, right there in the front yard. Cam pulls a ring box from his pocket, and opens it to reveal a perfect diamond ring. He takes a breath.

  “I’m never letting you go again, Isabelle, not as long as we both live. You’re everything to me. I love you more than anything, more than life itself. You’ve shown me the kind of joy I never thought possible. You accept everything I am, without question. Without limits.” Cam looks choked up, but he keeps talking. “Be my wife, Isabelle. Let me show you a lifetime of love, and pleasure. Whatever you want, it’s yours, you just have to say yes.”

  My heart pounds. I feel so happy, I could float away right now. I nod, unable to find the words, until finally, I manage to speak.

  “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”

  Cam slides the ring onto my finger, and then sweeps me into his arms. “Say it again,” he demands, his eyes flashing with hot possessive passion.

  “Yes.” I grin, loving the way this ring looks on my finger. It’s a promise. A mark of ownership. “Yes, Master.”

  THE END

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  NOW OUT, THE COMPLETE SERIES:

  THE INVITATION

  "A woman's orgasm is an art. It takes finesse. And I'm the world-class master of making women come."

  Hot, English businessman Ashton made a pact not to screw up his friendship with Justine 'JJ' Jenkins over a cheap one-night stand. Now, two years later, he's going out of his mind with wanting her -- but she's still off-limits. Now school is over, and his control is wearing thin. They've got one last night together, and he's determined to make it an experience she'll never forget.

  The one girl he swore off is going to have the night of her life. And with a sexy game of dare on the table, it won't take long...

  THE INVITATION

  THE INVITATION 2

  THE INVITATION 3

  ALSO BY ROXY SLOANE:

  THE SEDUCTION

  All women look the same on their knees with their lips wrapped around my cock.

  You like to think you're different, special somehow. But trust me, I'll have you wet and begging for it before you can think of all those bullshit, good girl reasons why not.

  I'm your darkest secret. Your dirtiest fantasy.

  Who am I?

  The Seducer.

  And I've never lost a case.

  Until her. Keely Fawes. My mysterious new target.

  Someone wants to destroy her -- and I'm their weapon of choice.

  Her secrets could be my undoing. Her innocence will ruin me.

  But I don't care.

  I'm going to show her how fucking good it feels to be bad. She'll come screaming my name if it's the last thing I do.

  THE SEDUCTION

  THE SEDUCTION 2

  THE SEDUCTION 3

  THE SEDUCTION 4