Perfect Submission by Roxy Sloane Page A

the cell, it stinks of
urine and vomit. Fear pounds in my bloodstream, my whole body tense
and exhausted. But I need to show strength.
    This is where you belong.
    The whisper of accusation cuts through my
attempt at a pep talk.
    I try to stay calm. This is all a mistake, I
just have to make it through the night here, then everything will
get straightened out. I’ll go home again, and never set foot in a
jail cell again. But logic isn’t my friend right now.
    This is what you deserve, killer.
    I shudder at the word, but it’s the truth,
isn’t it? I’ve been running from my past all this time, pretending
I’m not to blame, but I can’t run forever.
    I accidentally set the fire that killed my
abusive foster father. I left him to burn in the flames. And I was
glad he was dead.
    It’s true. It’s all true.
    * * *
    Time passes too slow, every minute in this
cell feels like an hour. The other women eventually try to sleep,
slumped sitting up on the bench or huddled in the corner, but I
can’t relax for a second.
    I can’t let my guard down, and anyway I’m
too pumped up to rest.
    I replay everything that happened earlier
tonight, over and over in my mind. I was so happy, walking into
that surprise party on Cam’s arm. My birthday, and I was surrounded
by friends and celebration for what felt like the first time in my
life. Sure, I’d had parties before, massive extravagant blow-outs
that got written about in all the gossip columns, but they were all
for show. A way to prove to the world I had everything, play-acting
the role of spoiled socialite because I thought it was all I
wanted.
    But this time, I was with Cam. Being with
him, learning everything he’s taught me, I felt more secure and at
peace than ever before. On his arm, I felt cared for. Special.
    Treasured.
    And then Brent walked in. I can remember the
look on his face, so smug and satisfied. Why did I ever think I
would be free of him? He’s still the spoiled kid who wants me in
his thrall. He spent years treating me like a personal plaything,
and now that I’m older and stronger, he refuses to let me go. Me
being with a real man like Cam is the ultimate insult to him.
    Now, I’m going to pay for that insult with
my life.
    My chest gets tight. God, what does everyone
think of me now? My darkest secret exposed for the whole world to
see. Keely, Justine, Olivia – they must be sickened to know the
truth about what I’ve done. Who I was.
    And Cam…
    I choke back a sob. He looked so angry as
the cops dragged me away. I’d confided my secret to him, but I know
that everything is different now. He hates the world knowing about
his personal life, and now my sins will be plastered across the
front page for sure. I’ve exposed us – exposed him – and I don’t
know if he’ll ever forgive me.
    Maybe he’s changed his mind about us.
    My fear grows, an icy knot. If I lost Cam
now… I don’t know what I’d do. He’s the only man who’s ever seen me
for me – seen the good in me. Our relationship has deepened with
each day; it’s not just about the sex anymore, but what his
domination means to me. Freedom. Release. Security. I trust him
with my life.
    But can he ever trust me again?
    A guard comes to cell door and barks,
“Ashcroft!” The sound of my name makes me jump off the bench. I
scramble to my feet, keeping my head up and my voice steady.
    “That’s me.” My stomach twists. What happens
to me now? It can’t be worse than this, can it?
    The guard waves me over, keys jingling as he
unlocks the cell door and slides it open. “Your bail’s been posted.
Come with me.”
    Relief hits me like a tidal wave. Oh, thank
God. The other women in the cell barely stir.
    I follow him down the hallway, praying that
this is the last time I set foot inside a jail cell. But I know,
that might not be true. If I’m charged with murder, I could spend
the rest of my life in prison. I can’t deal with the thought, and I
try to block it out, but my panic