Wild Submission (9 page)

“But it’s missing something…” Cam muses,
pulling something from his jacket pocket. A slim blue box.
Tiffany’s. I gasp. “A little something for you. To celebrate our
arrangement.”

I open the lid. A pair of glittering,
diamond-studded bracelets twinkle up at me from the satin lining.
“Oh my God,” I breathe. “Cam, these are gorgeous!”

He lifts them from the box and fastens them
around my wrists: a matching pair of jeweled cuffs. I run my
fingers over the metal, pausing over gold loops that are fixed to
each cuff. “What are these for?”

“All kinds of things.” Cam’s voice turns
throaty. He leans in, nipping at my earlobe. “I’ll show you
later.

A shiver runs through me. I can’t wait to
find out.

“I love them,” I tell him happily. “Thank
you.”

“It’s my pleasure, princess.” Cam claims my
lips in a lingering kiss that sends heat racing through my body.
I’m already wet for him, wanting his muscular body crushing mine,
his hips pistoning fast, cock buried deep inside my slick, wet
pussy. “Now, are you ready for your night?”

I take a breath and clasp his hand. “I am
now.” I think of the crowd waiting for us, all the sneering,
judging faces. “Just don’t let go, OK?”

“I promise.” Cam vows.

* * *

When we arrive at the hotel ballroom,
everything’s already in full swing. The chandeliers glitter over
New York’s social elite, mingling and chatting by the casino
tables. Dealers lead games of roulette and blackjack as the band
plays in the corner, and wait staff circulate with hors d’oeuvres
and champagne.

“Looking good,” Cam applauds, as we make our
way into the crowd.

“So far.” I’m still on edge, nervous
something will go wrong. To everyone else, this is just another
excuse to get in the gossip pages, but I really care about raising
money here tonight, and I want everything to be flawless.

“Izzie!”

We turn. Olivia is cutting through the
crowd. She greets me with a kiss, beaming. “Isn’t this great? The
pit master says we’ve already raised fifty thousand dollars.”

“So soon?” I smile, happy and relieved. “But
the evening’s barely started.”

“I know! Apparently some tech billionaire
bet everything on red, and it came up black. I’ve told the waiters
to keep him supplied with champagne,” Olivia adds with a wink.

I laugh. “Clever.” Olivia gives me a look,
and I realize Cam is standing beside me, silent. “Oh, this is Cam.
Cam McCullough. Meet my friend, Olivia.”

Cam shakes her hand. “Any friend of
Isabelle’s is a friend of mine. Now, can I get you ladies something
to drink?”

“Thanks.” Olivia waits until he’s gone
before giggling. “Iz! Where have you been hiding him?”

“Why? What do you mean?” I flush, suddenly
self-conscious. My two worlds are colliding here tonight.

“Just that he’s hot!” Olivia squeals. “Wait,
is he that Scottish designer you were talking about?”

“No, different guy,” I say quickly. “Cam
works at the company. Runs it, really. He was friends with my
father.”

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Olivia links her arm
through mine. “Come see the girls. They’re all basking in praise
for pulling this off, but we all know it’s down to you. You did a
great job.”

I say my hellos and catch up with everyone,
reminding them all to gamble and fill those fundraising coffers.
“It’s for a good cause,” I joke to a group. “And when was the last
time you could say that about losing your shirt at roulette?”

They all laugh. Cam joins me with a glass of
champagne, steering me away from the crowd. “You should be proud of
yourself for tonight,” he tells me. “This is a big deal.”

I flush at his praise. “I just know I got
lucky, being adopted. So many kids don’t have that chance. This is
the least I can do to help them.”

Cam squeezes my hand. “You’re a good person,
Isabelle.”

Guilt strikes through me. He has no
idea.

“I just want to run and thank the caterers,”
I say quickly, needing some air. “I’ll be right back.”

I hurry through the crowded ballroom, and
down a hallway. It’s quieter here, and I catch my breath, trying to
push back the memories. Tonight is a good thing, but suddenly, I
feel like such an imposter. Cam doesn’t realize, what I’m trying so
hard to keep hidden. He doesn’t see my dark past, or know what I’ve
done to get to where I am today.

“Well, well, well. Look at you.”

The voice sends chills down
my spine.
No. Not here.

Brent strolls closer, looking smug as
usual.

I tense. “Don’t tell me you burned through
that money already.”

He snorts. “Not quite.”

But I see the anger in his eyes. Damn it. I
glance around, but luckily, we’re out of sight, hidden here in the
hallway.

I straighten up and face him. “Get out of my
way.”

“Not so fast,
sister
. We’re not
done.”

“I’m busy.” I try to seem bored.

“With him,” Brent says scornfully. “That
low-rent bastard. He’s got no fucking class.”

“And you do?” I shoot back.

It’s a mistake. His face darkens. “You liked
me just fine, sis. All those years I came to visit your bedroom at
night.” He moves closer, backing me against the wall. “You didn’t
complain then, did you? You loved it, you little slut.”

“Stop!” I shove him hard, wriggling out from
the alcove. “I won’t keep doing this. It’s over, I’ve told you
before.”

“And I’ve told you, it’ll never be over.
You’re mine,” he sneers. “You think your white knight will have you
once he knows you’re damaged goods? Face it. Once trash, always
trash. You should feel lucky I’d even look twice at you.”

I swallow, shaking with rage and panic.
There’s a time I would have believed him, but being with Cam has
taught me differently. Brent made me weak, but Cam gives me the
strength to believe in myself. Believe I’m worth so much more than
what I’ve been settling for.

“You don’t own me, Brent. In fact, you’re
nothing without me.” With a final burst of angry strength, I wrench
my arm from his grasp and try to walk away.

“Do you really want to risk
it,
killer
?”

I freeze. Fear surrounds me, sharp and
cold.

Brent strolls closer, placing a possessive
hand on my waist. “That’s right, Iz. I know your secret, and
believe me, I won’t think twice about telling everyone in that
ballroom what you’ve done. You think Cam will want you then?”

Oh God. I can imagine the look on his face.
The revulsion. The blame.

“Come along now.” Brent begins to steer me
back to the party. “We’re leaving now. You and me. I’ve had enough
of this bullshit. You’re coming home with me, where you
belong.”

I try to pull away. “Fine,” I stutter,
buying time. “I’ll meet you there. I just have to—”

“No.” Brent scowls.” I want everyone to see
you on my arm. Especially your precious Cam McCullough.”

I have no choice.

Brent steers me back toward the music and
twinkling lights of the party.

My heart breaks in two.

I look around, bored, trying to seem engaged
with the uptight businessmen around me. The party is in full swing,
but without Isabelle at my side, everything is a dull blur.

I need her too much, but I can’t help it.
She makes everything vivid and new, like I’m seeing the world for
the first time.

And there she is.

I catch sight of her moving towards me. Even
in the crowd of hundreds, she stands out. Gorgeous.

But her face is tense. Then I see the man
beside her. Brent. His arm around her waist, his body tight against
hers.

What the hell?

Something’s wrong.

I try to move away from the CEOs and VPs all
around me, but before I can break free, one grasps my arm and asks
how Ashcroft’s fiscal quarter is looking. I mumble a reply and pull
away, lunging towards Isabelle and Brent.

“You better get the hell away from her,” I
growl at Brent, the fact that we’re in the middle of a crowded
ballroom the only thing keeping me from punching his face in. “Get
out!”

“Cam, don’t!” Isabelle steps between us.
“Calm down, you’re making a scene!”

“What’s he doing here?” I demand. “Why are
you defending him?”

Isabelle’s chin trembles. “Please, Cam,” she
says again, not answering my question. “People are looking.”

“To hell with people.”

But Isabelle looks around us. She flashes a
tense smile, acting like everything’s fine. It’s not.

“Let’s go,” Brent barks. He holds out his
hand, and actually has the nerve to snap his fingers at her.

Isabelle won’t look at me. “I’m sorry,” she
whispers. Then she turns to leave.

With him.

“What’s going on?” I demand. “Tell me, now.
That’s an order,” I add.

But Isabelle doesn’t obey. She finally meets
my eyes, her expression blank. “Thank you for your hospitality,”
she says politely. “But I belong at home.”

“No.” I growl in frustration. “I’m not
letting you leave like this.”

“Tough shit,” Brent smirks. “That’s not your
decision. It’s mine.”

“No,” Isabelle speaks up calmly, “It’s mine.
And I’m choosing to go with him.”

“Part of our contract is for me to keep you
safe. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Isabelle lowers her voice. “No, Cam. You
were right. Your world, it’s not for me. The truth is…” she wavers,
but then her face sets with determination. “It’s sick. You disgust
me, you and your games. I want no part of it.”

.I watch as she takes Brent’s arm and walks
away. I feel like my whole world is walking out that door, and I
can’t understand why. I can hear whispers around us and I can’t be
responsible for ruining her event. Not when it means so much to
her.

I know she’s lying, but why? I’m not going
to embarrass her in front of all these people and demand she stay,
but something’s got her running scared, and I’m determined to find
out what it is. Our connection is real. The way she felt, moaning
in my arms, that’s real, and she needs me. Whatever hold Brent has
over her, I’ll find a way to break it. I’ll release her from his
chains and set her free, where she belongs.

With me.

THE END

What happens next? Cam and Isabelle’s
story continues in TOTAL SUBMISSION—
out January 12th.

Thank you so much as ever for reading and your
incredible, passionate support. It makes me want to write more
books!

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