Perfect Submission (9 page)

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.

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.

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

Thank you to all the readers and bloggers who picked
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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