Page 53 of For Love & Torture
Chapter 24
Isabel
Riding in Bart Mason’s Maserati, I can’t stop shaking.
How could Grant do this to me?
I’m just lucky Bart showed up when he did and I was able to get away from Grant before he was able to sweet talk me. That man messes with my head every single time, using his words and his touch to make me insane for him all over again.
“So, you and he have a relationship?”
I turn my head to look at Bart, not sure what to say to him about that. It’s a secret. But he has to be wondering why I asked him to get me the fuck out of that place. And he has to be wondering why the hell Grant was chasing after me.
“Not really.” That’s all I can think of to say. And maybe we don’t really have one. Maybe Grant wants me to stay on side so he can still do whatever it is he’s been doing.
All I know is I can’t trust the man.
“Good. I don’t suppose you’ve been told about what I’ve done. I mean, you’ve yet to say a word about it.” His hand leaves the steering wheel as he runs it over my arm, leaving it to rest on my shoulder.
I look at his hand on me and notice the coldness of it. It sends a chill all the way to my bones. “Oh, it’s just because I’m not available. I don’t know why Betty would let you make up a contract and put money into an escrow account for me, but I’ll fix that tomorrow when I go back into work. I’m no man’s sub.”
Except one and I may not be that to him anymore either.
No, scratch that. I won’t be that to him anymore.
It took seeing it with my own eyes to be done, but now that I’ve seen it, I am totally done with Grant Jamison.
“Well, perhaps you would like to join me this evening. Not in any way other than a couple of people getting to know one another. My cook makes a mean steak. What do you say, Bella?” His hand runs over my shoulder and then up to my cheek.
His hands are so damn cold, it’s impossible to believe his teeth aren’t chattering. But he’s called me a name that’s not mine. “My name is Isabel, not Bella. Please don’t call me that.” It’s just too close to Bell, and that’s what Grant and only Grant calls me, and I don’t want to think about him right now.
“So no Bella.” His cold finger strokes my neck. “How about baby, sugar, sweetheart?”
“How about Isabel?” I gently move his hand off me. “And I’m not into being touched by strangers. I’m not like the women who go to the club. I stay holed up in my office. I’m not a typical sub. And I’m not into having sex with many different men either.”
“Is that so?” He smiles as he puts his hand on the wheel again. “So, a steak at my place?”
If I go home, Grant will come find me. I can’t go to Grant’s house either. I have no choice if I want to stay out of Grant’s reach, at least until tomorrow. Right now, I know I’ll listen to his lies if I give him the chance, and I’ll go right back into his strong arms like a fool.
“K. Steak sounds good.” I’m not the least bit hungry. As a matter of fact, my stomach is churning and I feel like I might be sick. But I can’t let Grant find me. And he’ll never find me at Bart’s place.
“Some nice red wine and a good meal by a roaring fire, that sounds nice, doesn’t it, my pet?” His eyes roam over me as he stops at a light.
His pet?
“Bart, why have you set your sights on me?”
“I don’t know. I just have. You’re remarkable. That den of inequity that you work in hasn’t damaged you one bit. You’ve stayed true to who you really are. It’s a thing I admire.” He flashes me a smile that creeps me out a bit as I notice for the first time that he has filed his canine teeth into sharp points.
I gasp quietly then blink and find his teeth aren’t sharp after all. God, what’s happening to me? I’m seeing things now?
“You should know that wasn’t my doing. When we first opened, I was out on the floor. I was told to stay in my office after that night. The owners want me to be considered off limits.” I fidget in my seat as I start to feel the weight of his stare.
“The owners, or just one of them?” He takes off from the light so fast my head is pushed back against the headrest.
I’m not freaked out by it. Grant drives like this all the time. I am freaked out that Bart seems to know Grant and I have a thing going on, despite my denials. “No, all of them wanted that. Demanded it. If not for them, who knows what kinds of things I would’ve ended up doing.” So what if it’s a lie, he doesn’t need to know the truth.
The speed he’s going seems unreal as we pass cars and all I can see is a string of lights as we go down the highway. Faster and faster we go, and my body feels the inertia that’s holding me to the seat. I try to say something. Try to tell him to slow way the fuck down, but my mouth is closed so tightly I can’t say a single word.
