Page 12 of Submitting to Them

“I hope your uncle is okay,” she says.

“Thanks.I’ll keep you posted.”

Kingston

Vice is crowded.It’s Saturday night, so of course it’s crammed with people.I’m getting too old for clubs like this.Although Vice is classy, the people who show up seem to be getting younger and younger, louder and louder.

But I’m here for Ella.Bash had the idea to treat her to a night of fun, and I’ll be damned if I work instead.Kristin has formed a team of analysts to work on the Ruberetta account, and everything seems to be going well, there, but she has questions for me all the damned time.I’m beginning to wonder if I made a mistake in hiring her, but up until now, she’d always been more than capable.

I’ll give her a couple more weeks to settle in, and then arrange a meeting if necessary.

But now isn’t the time to be worrying about all this.Now, it’s time for fun.Where’s my little girl?

I look along the wide bar, manned by multiple bartenders, to see if there’s any sign of Ella.Nope.She’s not in line for the bathroom, but I watch the restroom doors for a long moment to see if she comes out.

She wouldn’t be dancing without me or Bash, would she?When she doesn’t materialize from the restrooms, I realize that the dance floor is the only other place she could be.Frowning to myself, I scan the crush of dancers.There.A flash of green sequins, a laughing face with bright eyes, luxurious brown curls pulled into a high ponytail.It’s Ella.

She’s out there dancing, shaking her little ass for all the guys around her.I clench my fist, then make a conscious effort to loosen it.

She flicks her ponytail behind her shoulder and turns slightly.

Makes eye contact with me.

Turns around and starts dancing again.

Brat.

I watch her profile, see a stubborn, teasing smile on her face as she lifts her arms in the air and gyrates to the beat of the song.The lyrics are syrupy sweet, some shit about wanting to dance with their lover until sun-up.I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care.All I see is Ella and how obstinate she’s acting.

How beautiful and bratty she is.

Bash is missing out.

I take out my phone and snap a photo of her, then another.She’s gorgeous out there, just out of reach.Taunting me.

My little girl is playing with fucking fire.

Ella

I pretend I don’t see him and continue to dance.Not with any guy in particular—I’m not cheating,ever, and I’m not flirting with anyone or leading anyone on.But I lose myself in the music and sway my hips.Anytime another dancer gets too close, I move away.

I can feel Kingston’s gaze on me, hot as a brand.

The music holds me in its rhythm, and Kingston’s possessive focus holds me in his lust.

But I don’t go to him.I stay where I am.

Let him feel what I’ve been feeling.Let him know what it’s like to be left wanting, confused as to why the other person isn’t available.

I’m here to have fun, and he can just…I don’t know.He can just sit there and watch like a brooding jerk.

The past week has been hard.I’ve been feeling like I’m not as important to Kingston as his company.The only things getting me through it are Sebastian, and knowing that Kingston’s busy spell won’t last forever.

“Hey, beautiful,” a low voice says in my ear.

“No, thanks.”I jerk to the side, away from him.“Not interested.”

The guy mutters an insult, but I ignore it.I’m just going to dance my heart out.I feel sexy in my new stockings and dress, and I fucking love the idea of Kingston sitting at the bar, stewing.