Enthrall Her

by Vanessa Fewings

  “This is just one of many privileges I’m going to miss,” he whispered.

  “Oh, God,” I cried out at the fullness of him, my pussy flinching with jealousy, the pleasure rippling through me.

  Relief followed when that burn inside dissipated, leaving nothing but pulsing bliss. He smiled down at me when he saw how I swooned.

  “Let’s pretend you and I will never end,” he said, pushing all the way in.

  “Yes,” I said. “This moment is ours forever.”

  “This place is our sanctuary,” he said huskily.

  “You’re my sanctuary.”

  He gave long, hard thrusts in and out, his rhythm steady, his eyes locked on mine and telling me everything I needed to know.

  The world fell away. Time was finally ours.

  That steady rise, that growing need, my climax nearing.

  “Together,” he warned.

  “Yes, Sir.” I lifted my head to watch his erection sliding in and out, his fingers strumming my clit in unison to his thrusts.

  I flung my hands above my head, wanton, desperate for this never to end, all this decadence, all this power, all this pleasure.

  Nothing would ever be the same again.

  Screaming, I came hard, my head slamming against the table, though I didn’t care. My hair spilled around me. His warmth filled me.

  “See? I am yours,” I said breathlessly, lifting my head. “You have conquered me.”

  He withdrew and cupped his face in his hands. “What you do to me.”

  “Cameron?” I whispered.

  In a flurry of passion, he grabbed me and pulled me upright into a hug and we held each other tightly, still and quiet, soothed.

  Never had I felt closer to him. I held onto every moment, my heart aching that these were our last.

  Hand in hand, we toured the house, moving from room to room as he showed me what had always been a private haven for him. Each space held a reflection of who Cameron really was. A man who appreciated fine art. Simple colors. Unpretentious décor.

  The grand foyer had been a ruse, it seemed.

  “There’s something I want to show you,” he said, leading me into what looked like a study.

  The room was smaller, yet no less impressive then his one back in Chrysalis. I gasped, my eyes taking in that mug I’d painted for him at Pottery Play. He’d placed it on its own shelf.

  “You kept it?” I said.

  “Of course.”

  “I’m speechless.”

  “I’m speechless that you’re speechless,” he said. “That’s a first, surely?”

  I beamed up at him, thrilled that day seemed to mean something to him.

  One of the upper rooms served as an observatory of sorts. There was book after book on astronomy and a long telescope pointed out of the window at the stars.

  “You’re not spying on the neighborhood, are you?” I said in jest.

  “Trust me, anything they get up to out there would pale in comparison to Chrysalis.”

  “That’s true.”

  It had been Cameron’s idea for Richard to take me to the observatory all those months ago. The planetarium, where I’d made love for the very first time. I realized now that it had been Cameron’s way of sharing a private piece of himself, a glimpse into his secret world.

  “This is the aperture.” He twisted the end of the telescope. “It improves the focus of what you’re looking at. Want to see the moon?”

  “Yes please.” Peering through it, Cameron’s hand guided the direction.

  Awestruck.

  The moon’s ridges could be clearly seen, its grayish light clearer than ever. It was beautiful.

  “The night sky reminds us how small we are, Mia,” he said. “We are nothing compared to the magnificence of the universe. That view keeps us humble.”

  I stepped aside and he peered through the lens. “Amazing that we landed a man on there, isn’t it?” He raised his head and stepped towards the window, grabbing my hand to join him.

  We peered out at the night sky.

  He pointed skyward. “Do you know that we have more technology in our phones than the astronauts had on Apollo Eleven when they first landed on the moon?”

  “Seriously?” I said. “Maybe they should have waited.”

  He burst out laughing. “And spoil all the fun?”

  “A few more years and it might have been safer.”

  “Never wait for anything or anyone.”

  I closed the gap between us and buried my face into his chest, wrapping my arms around him, squeezing my eyes shut.

  “I know,” he whispered, dipping his head to kiss mine.

  Feeling the comfort of his arms around me, I willed myself to remember every second, every moment with him here.

  “Let’s add astronomy to your classes.”

  “I think my head might explode.”

  “Think about it,” he said cheerfully. “Hungry?”

  I broke away and looked up at him. “Shall we order in?”

  He tut-tutted. “Not when we have a master chef in the house.”

  “Your chef’s here?”

  “I am the chef,” he said. “Everyone else is banned.”

  I liked the sound of that. “What are you going to cook?”

  “What would you like?”

  We made our way down the stairwell. “What kind of ingredients do you have?”

  “Let’s see, shall we?”

  Simple and elegant appliances made his large kitchen homey. Here and there, a touch of Italy. Warm blue tiles covered surfaces and dark wood furnishings finished off the room.

  Watching Cameron move around the kitchen was surreal. He knew how to cook. This was a revelation. A man who’d grown up so privileged knew how to prepare Beef Bourguignon.

  Sipping this delicious red wine while sitting at his kitchen counter, I savored not only the aroma of tomatoes and thyme bubbling on the stove but also the eye candy of my token chef. Cameron wielded a knife like a pro.

  “Where did you learn to cook?” I said. “And don’t say Paris.”

  “Paris.” He took a sip of wine.

  “No, seriously.”

  “I was a student, Mia. It was either this or starve,” he said dryly. “My dad thought it best I live off a limited budget to develop my character.”

  “And quite a character it is.”

  “Careful.”

  “Looking for a reason to punish me?”

  “With a feisty Mia in the house, I never have to look far.”

  I laughed and took several sips of wine, melting into this intimate mood.

  “Do you own Charlie’s Soup Kitchen?” I said.

  He went to speak, yet said nothing.

  I pointed at him. “I knew it.”

  “I may own the property they utilize.”

  “Bet you loved playing monopoly as a kid.”

  “I was more into the board game Operation.” He looked sad. “I knew then I’d never make a surgeon. Kept ringing the buzzer and making his nose light up. Had to come to terms with it.” He winked at me.

  I giggled; he really was cute when he wanted to be.

  “So how did you guess about Charlie’s?” he said.

  “Your body language when you talk about the place, your tone, the sub-text, that little twitch in your left eye.”

  “I’m not sure whether to be delighted or disturbed.”

  “You taught me all this, Cameron, so you only have yourself to blame.”

  “The most important question is, are you happy?”

  “I’ve never been happier.”

  He pulled me into a hug and rested his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. Slipping into this loving pose, I wished it was possible to read his mind. Cameron broke away and returned to the stove. He set the heat to simmer.

  With dinner cooking, he rejoined me by the central countertop and topped up my glass. The richness of dark red fruits along with mocha danced on my taste buds. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zi
nfandel had been blended together in an award winning wine. It was delicious.

  This buzz soothed my soul.

  Our conversation flowed easily.

  The time it took for dinner to be ready passed with the ease of old friends spending time together and talking incessantly. Our laughter never ended. Our precious moments unfolded ever more richly for knowing they would soon end.

  Those two days were everything I needed them to be and more.

  We played tennis, and he won every match, of course. We hung out by the pool, swam, read our Kindles, and made out. We bathed together.

  Slept together.

  Ate every meal together, and watched movie after movie. We binged on season after season of TV shows at a time.

  And made love in every room of the house.

  Never had I felt closer to him in these unfolding moments. He was an obsession I never wanted to end.

  This was more than goodbye. It was us paying homage to love.

  CHAPTER 40

  VOICES CARRIED UP from the foyer.

  In the haze of waking, I rolled onto my side and slid out of bed. I pulled on one of Cameron’s shirts, pressing my nose against the cuff and sneaking in a delicious sniff of cologne.

  After making my way out of the bedroom and along to the top of the balcony, I peered down. I took in the foyer, still wiping the sleepiness from my eyes. I jolted awake when I saw Richard. He was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, his hair disheveled. Cameron was standing close to him, his arms folded across his chest. He’d not made his morning run.

  “Is she here?” said Richard.

  “Yes,” said Cameron. “You look good.”

  “You too,” said Richard. “You look… different.”

  “I was going for a run—”

  “You took her out of Chrysalis?” said Richard calmly.

  “I thought it best.”

  “On the weekend, she’s due to come back to me.”

  “We’re returning tonight. That was always the plan.”

  “Are you and Mia engaged?”

  “What? No.”

  Richard’s face was marred with confusion. “Then why did your sister tell me—”

  “No, Richard. It’s a misunderstanding.”

  “Can you imagine how it made me feel hearing that?”

  “God, I’m sorry,” said Cameron “Where did you see Willow?”

  “Rodeo Drive. She was with your aunt.”

  Cameron flinched. “It was a miscommunication.”

  “One you never corrected, apparently.”

  “I was being a rogue,” he said. “Want some coffee?”

  “No. Thank you. You were about to explain.”

  “We’re not engaged. Have I ever let you down before?”

  “No you haven’t. Never. Why tell them you’re engaged?”

  Cameron ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Willow was being incorrigible and I went along with it.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you.”

  Cameron shrugged. “I fucked up.”

  “You expelled Mia from Chrysalis yesterday and brought her here?”

  “Your reservations about the Harrington —”

  “I need her back.”

  “She never left you.”

  “You and I both know that’s not true.”

  “You asked this of me.”

  “And I’m grateful. From all accounts, her therapy was effective. She’s calmer. More at peace.”

  “Please lower your voice,” muttered Cameron. “She’ll hear.”

  “You’re right. Perhaps I should hide her away.”

  Cameron flinched. “I fulfilled my promise to you.”

  “I never asked you to fall in love with her.”

  My breath stuck. I was half terrified he’d admit it and half terrified he wouldn’t.

  Cameron turned to go. “I’ll go get her.”

  “You didn’t deny it,” said Richard.

  “I’m desperately fond of her,” said Cameron. “She’s a beautiful, vibrant, smart, kind woman. What man wouldn’t be enamored?”

  “I’ve never seen you like this, Cole.”

  “Please, let’s not do this now.” Cameron raised his hand in a gesture of insistence. “We must do what’s best for Mia.”

  “Is this where you tell me she must decide? After an intensive weekend with you here?”

  “There was no S & M.”

  “But you still fucked her, right?” Richard closed his eyes in frustration. “You told me you could handle her. I never once thought to ask if you could handle it.”

  “I have. Everything is fine. You’re reading too much into this.”

  “Have you used these final hours to remove all trace of me from her mind?”

  “That was never my intention.”

  I scurried along the balcony and down towards them, these endless steps taking forever to reach them.

  “Mia,” said Richard, his eyes lighting up.

  Cameron closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  I’d given away my eavesdropping, but didn’t care. “I’m going back to Chrysalis.” I ran to Richard and took his hands. “Cameron’s always been clear about me returning to you.”

  “You still want this?” Richard’s tone was shaky. “After all this?” He swept his hand in a gesture. “I can never give you this.”

  My hands slipped from his. “It was never about—”

  “Richard, that’s unfair,” said Cameron.

  “Then what is it about, Mia?” asked Richard. “You let him remove you from Chrysalis? You left there willingly.”

  Cameron’s glare was locked on me. As was Richard’s, and in that moment my thoughts fractured into a thousand pieces of confusion.

  “This is my doing,” said Cameron. “She’s innocent. I took advantage—”

  “No,” I said. “I wanted this. All of it. Cameron, you’ve helped me so much. Richard, you were right. My time at Chrysalis has been cathartic.”

  “I didn’t let you down?” asked Richard. “Pushing this on you?”

  “No. I like the person I’ve become.” I smiled over at Cameron. “I’ve never felt more empowered.”

  “Are you coming back to me?” said Richard.

  I managed a nod, knowing it was what Richard needed to hear and having caught that subtle blink from Cameron.

  “Kneel,” ordered Richard.

  I hesitated, my hands dropping from his.

  “Mia,” soothed Cameron, “kneel for him.”

  I sunk to my knees and bowed my head.

  The silence that followed served its purpose and stunned me into submission.

  Cameron approached and he knelt before me. “Go back with him. Your master will take good care of you now.”

  “But what about the ceremony?” I said, despite having once feared it, now it was all we had left of what we had been.

  “Postponed for now,” said Cameron.

  “Have I done something wrong?” I said.

  “Not you, Mia,” said Richard. “Cameron’s making this harder on everyone.”

  “Not true,” said Cameron, rising to his feet. “It’s a case by case situation.”

  “See, Mia? You’re just a case to him.”

  Again that silent language shared between friends, a relationship seeming more fragile than it ever had been.

  “That is correct,” said Cameron with a confident nod. “This particular submissive has been one of my more interesting cases.”

  My hand shot to my mouth to stop a gasp.

  Those black and white tiles were flawless. Polished to perfection. Not one smudge on any of them. The glint from the chandelier reflected.

  Cameron looked down upon me. “I am thrilled with your progress, Ms. Lauren. Your response times are excellent. Your ability to obey your master exceptional.” He paused, his brows raised as though deep in thought. “Richard, I do believe you’ll be happy with her training. She enters subspace quickly upon comman
d. Her aural skills are exquisite. My work is done.”

  A wave of lightheadedness overcame me.

  The realization that all this had been part of the process caused my insides to curl into a tight ball. The terrible torment of a truth that had been glaring all this time.

  I’d believed this delusion of my own making.

  “Mia, rise,” said Richard, and he held his hand out to me.

  On my feet now, though a little unsteady, I reached out and took Richard’s hand, dazed by his ocean blue eyes. I didn’t want to look at Cameron. Couldn’t cope with seeing that what we’d shared meant nothing to him.

  “Go and get dressed,” said Richard. “We’re leaving.”

  “Yes, Sir,” I said, and trotted up the stairs, shoving down this hurt where it belonged. A familiar ache that I knew so well. A familiar place that I’d long ago learned how to deal with.

  Returning to the bedroom, I quickly pulled on my jeans. Those bed sheets were still tussled from a morning of lovemaking. There sat an empty bowl once filled with fresh fruit that Cameron had fed me for breakfast. This, his bedroom, where I’d never known a deeper sleep. My master’s sanctuary that I would never know again.

  Refusing to remove it, I tucked Cameron’s shirt into my jeans.

  I headed on out.

  Back in the foyer, only Richard was waiting for me. I looked around for Cameron and didn’t see him. Richard told me it was easier this way.

  The journey back to Chrysalis in the front passenger seat of Richard’s Rubicon Wrangler felt dreamlike. A surreal mixture of pride that I’d completed my training, but also a lingering sense that Cameron and I still had shadows to throw light upon. More time with him was a luxury I’d never know.

  Leaving him was gut wrenching.

  Despite Richard’s accusation that all this decadence had drawn me towards Cameron, he couldn’t be further from the truth. Cameron’s blinding brilliance had been all it took. What we’d had was clung to and hidden deep inside where no one could ever reach it. It was mine to cherish.

  Richard drove the jeep hard, as though each thrust of the gear stick represented his frustration that my thoughts were still in that house.

  As though he knew.

  “Cameron’s not capable of love,” said Richard, finally breaking the silence. “That’s why this was a safe decision for us.”

  His words stung. “I was never part of the decision.”