them and take her arm. “It’s time to go.”
The man with her takes one look at me and quickly excuses himself. Smart guy.
Isabelle gives me a stubborn look. “Maybe I’m not ready to leave.”
Does she really want to go flirt with that guy some more? I’m jealous as hell, but I know I have no right to be. Still, I’m not going to stick around and watch it.
“I’m leaving,” I say sharply. “You can do whatever you want.”
Isabelle blinks, startled at my response, and right away, I feel shitty for snapping at her.
“I’ll come with you,” she says quickly. Then she pauses. “Is everything OK?”
“I’m fine!” I insist, turning away. What is it about her that gets me so worked up?
I walk briskly to the exit. I wonder if I should have left her here to her own devices, but no, just the thought of her turning that million-dollar smile on another man makes me tense with rage.
The ride home is strained and silent. Isabelle sits on the opposite side of the backseat, pressed against the door. Even with the space between us, her presence is overwhelming. Her spicy, floral perfume, the glow of the streetlights on her soft skin. It’s torture being inches away from her sexy body, naked under that clinging dress, and knowing I can never do anything about it.
She’s off-limits. Completely.
I’m angry at myself for the way I behaved toward her earlier, but the anger does nothing to curb my desire—and my internal struggle only succeeds in making me even more tense.
By the time we reach the house, I’m at the limits of my self-control. I tell Isabelle I’ve got work to do, and head for my office to get some escape, but she steps in front of me, blocking my path.
“You still haven’t told me what you were doing at the Underground.”
I flinch at the question. “I told you, it’s none of your business.”
But she seems determined to wring an answer out of me.
“It’s members only,” she presses. “So that means you were someone’s guest, like me, or that you’re a member. Which is it?” Isabelle demands.
She’s breathing fast now, her chest heaving against the draped silk fabric with every breath. Dammit. Can’t she see she’s playing with fire? I clench my fists at my sides to keep from reaching for her. “What I do in my private life is not your business,” I scowl. “We are not going to discuss it. End of conversation.”
“It’s not the end of a conversation until I agree,” she says stubbornly.
“Dammit, Isabelle!” I explode. “If you don’t stop pushing me…” I stop, dangerously close to losing control.
“Then what?” she asks. “What are you going to do? Bend me over your knee and spank me?” A sexy little smile plays across her lips. Or am I imagining it? Either way, it’s too late.
The image she’s painted slams through my mind. Her round ass, mottled red with my handprint. Her whimpers of pleasure as I take her over the edge.
It’s too much.
The animal in me takes over. Growling, I push her up against the wall and claim her mouth with mine. I expect her to push me away or hold back, but instead, she meets me hungrily, her lips searching and bold. She melts against me, moaning. Ready to be taken.
Dominated.
The kiss in the bathtub was steamy and sensuous, but this is wild and hot. I devour her, crazed by a hunger I can’t hold back any longer. I yank her dress down to her waist, squeezing and palming her ripe breasts.
“Cam,” she moans, her head falling back, her back arching, thrusting her body closer.
I tear my lips from hers and lower my head, sucking one tight nipple into my mouth and grazing my teeth against the tender nub. Her body flinches, but another moan slips from her lips and I’m certain now: she wants this, wants me. I feel a sharp rush of lust. I need her.
Isabelle writhes against me. She reaches for my cock, but I grab her hand before she can touch me. I’ll explode, and I refuse to show such a pathetic lack of self-control.
“Put your hands over your head,” I snarl. She obeys immediately. Her body trembles, eager and ready for my touch. Craving release.
I keep my gaze fixed on hers as I slide a hand between her thighs and cup her pussy. She gasps, her eyes flooding with desire as I press my finger against her clit. I stroke it teasingly, lightly then harder, faster before pulling away.
She keens beneath me, panting and moaning with pleasure. Every whimper from those juicy lips makes me harder. God, she’s so responsive. So willing to surrender to me. It’s like she wants me to take control of her, command her to do my bidding.
With a jolt, I realize: Isabelle would make the perfect sub.
No.
I tear away from her with a growl. It’s impossible. Every moment I spend with her will only make it worse when she turns away. I can never give her what she needs, and she’ll only hate me when she discovers the truth.
“This was a mistake.” I force myself not to look at her. “I’m sorry. Forget it ever happened.”
I walk away before she can say anything to change my mind.
NINE: ISABELLE
What just happened?
I sink back against the wall. Every part of me throbs with a deep longing I’ve never known before. I stumble down the hallway to my guest bedroom, feeling dazed. I don’t understand it. One minute we’re in each other’s arms, locked in a hot, passionate kiss and the next…he’s heading up the stairs and slamming the door shut behind him.
I’m sure he wants me. I can see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch. We’re so hot for each other, we’re practically combustible. So why does he keep pushing me away?
I can’t figure it out. Reading men was a skill I figured out early, to keep me out of trouble. Usually, they’re an open book. But Cam is hiding something—something that makes him pull away. And the more his secret eats at him, the more determined I am to uncover it.
When Cam touches me, it’s electric. I’ve never felt so turned on in my life. I was more aroused in that single moment in the hallway than I’ve ever been before with anyone else. Especially Brent. Cam’s mastery of my body just makes Brent look like a clumsy fool.
I want more.
God, I can feel myself ache for him. I’m wet, desperate to feel Cam’s mouth on my clit, his warm tongue flicking against the sensitive bud.
My heart is racing. I can’t take this anymore. I need to know what he’s hiding.
I head back down the hallway and up the stairs. The door is shut, but when I turn the door handle, it opens. Unlocked.
I catch my breath. What is he keeping up here?
I step through the door.
What I find makes me stop in my tracks. It’s a huge glass atrium, set like a glittering jewel in the middle of the city lights. Neon shines through the windows like stars but that’s not what makes my pulse kick.
I don’t know what I’m looking at.
The carpet is plush, black beneath my feet. There are shelves and racks set up around the edge of the room, and in the center stands a tall, black-framed bed made up with crimson silk sheets and plump cushions.
It looks luxurious. Decadent. Sinful.
I move deeper into the room and take a closer look. I realize that I’ve seen racks like this before, at the Underground club: rows of paddles like the kind Brent spanked me with. Some are leather, some studded with shiny silver prongs. Multi-colored leather whips and floggers hang from another rack.
On the far side of the room, there’s an open shelving unit filled with elegant wooden and embroidered Japanese boxes. I slide a couple out and peek inside. They’re filled with a variety of cuffs, restraints, ropes, blindfolds, gags, and even sex toys and lube.
My pulse races faster. What is this place? I should be shocked, I know, but I’m weirdly, wildly excited by it all. Picking up a shiny metal dildo, I flick the small switch. It buzzes to life in my hand, sending a dirty thrill racing through me. I have a sudden image of myself on the bed, my legs spread
wide, bringing myself to a delicious orgasm while Cam watches everything—
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
Cam’s voice comes, furious. I spin around. Shit. He’s standing in the doorway to another room, his face as cold as steel.
“I was just… looking for you.” I quickly put the dildo back. “What is this place?”
“Get out.” He glares, stalking toward me. In the dim light, he looks like he matches the surroundings: a dark figure in this mysterious, sexy place. Suddenly, I realize that this isn’t just for fantasy and show. This hidden room matters to him: enough to keep it a closely guarded secret, and stock it with all these toys.
He belongs here.
I feel a flicker of nerves, but I force myself to stand firm. I need to know the truth. “Is this what you’ve been hiding from me?” I demand. “The reason you’ve been pushing me away?”
Cam scowls at me, eyes blazing. His whole body is rigid with tension, like he’s struggling to restrain himself. From what, I wonder? Another passionate kiss?
“Tell me,” I demand again, sick of being in the dark. “I want to know.”
For a moment, I think I’ve pushed him too far. Then he exhales with a groan. “I tried to keep it from you. I knew you wouldn’t understand.” Cam turns away, his face dark. “You can go now. I’ll book a hotel suite for you,” he continues, his voice sounding ragged. “You can stay there as long as you need to.”
I fold my arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Challenging Cam with a stare, I move toward the shelf and open another box.
I recognize a few of the items from the Underground, but Cam has a much