Amelia's Awakening: Expect the Unexpected (Erotic Novella Series: Ultimate Control Book 2)

by Maggie Carpenter

  “Sorry, I can’t talk. I’m dealing with the manager here at the hotel.”

  She was brusque, and it was obvious she was anxious and stressed.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “Yes, there is, and…well…I can’t get into it now. Sorry, I have to run. I’ll call you when things get sorted.”

  “No worries. I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thanks, James, bye.”

  A last minute problem with her hotel? That didn’t sound good, and neither had her voice. I had to force myself to stay put and not dash over there to try to help. She was definitely a big girl, but that didn’t stop me having to fight my desire to be her white knight and run to her rescue. I headed to the office, but in the cab our short conversation replayed itself in my head, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. When the morning hours ticked by with no word I tried to tell myself I was being unduly concerned, but by lunchtime my worry was winning. My instinct was telling me something seriously off. I was about to call her when Brad Harrison, the man who’d been with me when I’d first met her, knocked on my door.

  “Hi, Brad, what’s up?”

  “I just wondered if you’d heard about Amelia Campbell.”

  My heart literally jumped in my chest. Though I hadn’t advertised the fact that I’d been seeing her, I hadn’t hidden it either, but the way he’d asked the question made it clear Brad had no idea Amelia and I were an item.

  What could he possibly know that I didn’t?

  My mind immediately ran to the worst possible scenarios; she’d been in some horrible accident, or had been burgled at the hotel, or worse.

  “Rumor has it she’s been named Executive Vice President of Coleman-Higgins Capital. Can you believe it? It looks like New York will be less one brilliant Brit.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Expect the unexpected.

  The phrase blasted through my head.

  “James? Are you all right?”

  Snapping myself out of the shock, I looked up and saw Brad was walking into my office.

  “Were you in line for the job? You look stunned.”

  “Uh, no, no, not in line for the job, no,” I stammered. “Where did you hear this?”

  “I overheard Joe talking to someone when I walked past his office. Apparently the rumor’s been floating around since last week.”

  “What did you hear exactly?” I pressed, wishing my heart would stop pounding so bloody loudly.

  “That it was a lock.”

  “That’s what Joe said? Try to remember. Tell me exactly.”

  “Uh, sure,” he frowned, clearly bewildered by my intense interest, “let me think. He said, Amelia Campbell is a lock, and she’ll outshine the lot of them, something like that. Maybe not outshine…”

  “Thanks, Brad,” I muttered, jumping from my chair. “Sorry, I’ve got to run,”

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, no, sorry. Needs must.”

  With questions blazing through my head, hurrying past him I grabbed my coat and marched through the office to the elevators. Had she accepted the job after all? Is that why I’d not heard from her? Had she been dealing with the hotel manager because she was abruptly leaving?

  None of it made any sense, though I had to admit that Amelia was mercurial and I found her unpredictability intriguing, but if this was true what did it mean for her grand announcement in the middle of the night? Had it been her subconscious speaking after all? But she’d remembered in the morning, hadn’t she? Yes, I was sure of it. Perhaps in the light of day her waking-state brain, whatever that was, had somehow kicked in and changed her mind, but if that had happened she would have told me right away, wouldn’t she?

  Jumping in a cab I directed the driver to take me to her hotel. I knew I was having a knee-jerk reaction, but I was panicking. Me! Cool, collected, in charge James Collier was panicking. She probably wouldn’t even be there. She’d be at work, or at a meeting some place.

  “Bloody hell,” I muttered. “I don’t care. I need a drink. I’ll go to the bar and wait until she comes back.”

  Reaching into my pocket I did what I should have done before racing away from my office; I pulled out my phone and called her. To my dismay, but not to my surprise, it went to her voicemail.

  “Amelia,” I began, doing my best to keep my voice even, “I’m on my way to the Four Seasons. You’re probably not there, but if you are I’ll be in the TY having a drink. Call me when you get this, or better still join me there. It’s important.”

  Ending the call I felt a bit better. I was taking control, or at least taking some action, and when the cab pulled up, though I was still trying to wrap my brain around it all, my heart was no longer madly thumping. Moving inside the sleek, modern lobby, I headed straight to the TY and sat at the bar, then changed my mind and moved to a table. On the way over in the cab I hadn’t paid any attention to the weather, but as I settled in and ordered a large scotch, glancing outside I was surprised to see small white flakes. It was starting to snow. The waitress arrived and set the drink in front of me, and taking a decent swallow I closed my eyes and let the hot warmth burn down my throat.

  “James?”

  It couldn’t be! For a moment I didn’t believe it. Was my imagination playing tricks on me? Opening my eyes and raising them up I saw her. Amelia! In the flesh! Standing in front of me!

  “Amelia. Hi.”

  My voice had sounded strangely feeble, and with everything that was happening the simple hi was inane, but I hadn’t expected her to suddenly materialize.

  “Sorry, I would have answered when you rang but I was on the hotel phone,” she said sitting down. “What’s going on?”

  I didn’t answer her. I needed to catch my breath and gather my wits, and I also needed to study her for a moment. Her face was flushed and she looked harried, but there was no duplicity or fear in her expression.

  “I’m here to ask you the same question,” I said carefully. “Actually, no, I need to ask you another question.”

  “James, you’re totally flustered. What’s happened?”

  “Do you remember coming to my place the night before last?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Why were you in just your coat and boots?”

  “Because I wanted to surprise you. James, you’ve inspired the wickedness in me and I love it, why else?”

  “Why did you come over in the middle of the night?”

  “Obviously because I couldn’t wait to tell you! It certainly wasn’t something I wanted to announce over the phone!”

  “Do you remember what you said?”

  “Are you joking? It was probably one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

  “What’s the problem with the hotel?”

  “Oh, that, well, the thing is, I think I told you my contract is up with Geoff, right? Anyway, I was planning to move to a less expensive room until I can find an apartment, but then, in the middle of all that, Wyler and Wyler called me out of the blue. Believe it or not I’m suddenly in the middle of negotiating a new job. It’s really exciting, and I decided to insist on the same accommodations. Then the manager threw in a curve ball because my suite was already spoken for because Geoff had called…”

  “Stop!”

  The single word had been a sharp command, and she stared at me completely perplexed. I hadn’t meant to bark at her, but everything had just slammed into my head. When Brad heard Joe talking, Joe had been referring to the Wyler and Wyler job. It had nothing to do with the offer from Coleman-Higgins Capital. Not only had I been a complete idiot, not only had I given into insecurities I didn’t even know I had, I had been unaware just how much I absolutely loved this woman. I didn’t just love her, I needed her. Amelia was far more important to me than I’d ever realized.

  “Amelia, do you still have the room?”

  “Until tomorrow, then I have to—.”

&nb
sp; “Let’s go.”

  Grabbing her hand I marched us through the lobby, into the elevator, and down the hallway to her suite. The moment the door swung shut behind us I engulfed her in my arms, held her very tightly for a minute, then locking my fingers in her hair I gently tugged back her head.

  “Listen to me,” I said solemnly. “I don’t want you going back to London. I don’t want you going anywhere. I do want to support you, and I do want you to have the career you deserve and you want, but if I didn’t make it clear before I’m making it clear now. I don’t want you to leave!”

  “I’m not, but I, uh, I wasn’t sure how you felt,” she murmured, her face crinkling as the depth of my confession swept her up. “You seemed so on the fence about it.”

  “I wasn’t, not at all, and I’m not. I suppose I just didn’t want to interfere with your life, but I should have said it sooner. I should have told you exactly how I feel. You’ve put me to shame.”

  “I have?”

  “Amelia, you’ve been braver than me throughout this whole thing, and I admire you so fucking much. I thought you were sleepwalking the other night, and I should have asked you about it the minute we woke up. More than that, I should have made it clear how I felt from the moment you told me about the offer. I put the entire burden on you, and I’m sorry.

  “James, you don’t have to—”

  “Apologize? You’re damn right I do. I’m a bloody idiot, and I’m going to find a way to make this right.”

  Abruptly lifting her up, I carried her through the living room, into the bedroom, and tossing her lightly on to the bed I jumped on top of her.

  “And one more thing.”

  “Yes, James?”

  “You’re moving in with me. Screw this hotel. Have Wyler pay you more instead. Hell, let’s get a bigger place in a building with a doorman so he can call me if you decide to wander off somewhere in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe I’ll just tie you to the bed every night, but regardless, that’s it. You’re with me now, lock, stock, and sexsomnia, and you are getting help. I’m going to personally see to it.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry,” she breathed, her eyes shining up at me. “Why would I want to go anywhere? You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Literally.”

  EPILOGUE

  Amelia and I were very happy together for the remainder of our time in New York. She did find a psychiatrist who was able to help her, and though we had our ups and downs like any couple, the downs were few, and generally resolved by a trip over my knee. Unfortunately I had to return to London ahead of her, and while we were sad about it, knowing she would soon be following helped eased the pain.

  It was great to be back. I had reunion dinners with friends, hung out at my favorite watering holes more often than perhaps I should have, and Amelia and I did all the things separated couples do. We had Skype sex (new for me) and emailed, and when I met her at Heathrow several weeks later we were thrilled to see each other.

  But as the days trickled by we both realized something had changed, and when we were finally brave enough to talk about it, the reason why the sizzling sparks had evaporated became unimportant; they simply had. Upon reflection, besides our initial attraction, I could see how powerful elements had created the perfect storm that had drawn us together. We’d both been homesick Londoners in Manhattan, I had been her Knight in Shining Armor and her first dominant, and she had made me feel needed and adored. However, the story doesn’t end there. It’s Amelia we’re talking about.

  Expect the unexpected.

  Though she was feeling stable and upbeat in spite of our breakup, she wanted to have the security of psychiatrist, so I introduced her to Jeremy. When he called me following her initial consultation I was surprised and disappointed that he had referred her to another doctor—until he told me why.

  “James,” he began, his voice carrying an urgent tone that was completely out of character, “I absolutely must go out with her. You know I can’t socialize with my patients, and the moment she walked in I—well—I can’t quite put it into words, but I told her, point blank, I simply had to take her to dinner.”

  It was bittersweet, though definitely more sweet than bitter. Jeremy had struck me as the sort of chap would probably remain one of those confirmed bachelor types, but at that moment my instinct told me his single status was about to change. I was right. He and Amelia are still very much together, and he’s been nervously dropping hints about accompanying him to do some jewelry shopping.

  I too found my sparkling pot of submissive love at the end of the dominant rainbow, but that’s another story, and along with many other of my debauched escapades, how true love found me is decadently detailed in, I Am A Dominant, a full-length novel I co-wrote with Maggie Carpenter. (The novel is now also available in Audio, narrated by the fabulous Rob Groves).

  On a serious note, Sexsomnia is a very real, though rare condition, and information is readily available on the internet.

  T H E E N D

  Some more from James.

  An excerpt from

  I AM A DOMINANT

  By its very nature, making love to a woman for the first time is always unique; traversing her body, finding her sweet spots, the ones that make her shift and moan, it’s such a delicious exploration, but I cannot make the full journey in one night. Every woman has so much to offer, her body has so many secrets to uncover, so many nooks and crannies to explore, spending only one night with her is a crime.

  Caroline though…my first foray with Caroline was breathtaking; her entire body was like a live wire, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

  The moment I laid her on the bed she began undulating in an extraordinarily sensual dance. Those dark almond-eyes, filled with longing, gazed up at me, and sitting on the edge of the bed I took her wrists, pinned them above her head and dropped my lips to hers.

  Her mouth hungrily responded, then her tongue darted through my teeth sparking tiny electric shocks. I pressed my lips in a demanding, devouring kiss, taking control, and she squirmed under me, fighting my hold. Pulling back I stared down at her.

  “Stop. I’ll ravage you, or I will slowly consume you, piece by delicious piece, but I will decide which it will be. If you want a fight fantasy that’s fine, but it must be earned. Now behave.”

  I heard her gasp, and I sensed a slight tremble.

  “Do you understand?”

  “I d-do, I’m just…”

  “Just what?”

  “F-feeling so m-much. You t-turn me on so m-much.”

  Are there any words that can send a pulsing hunger through a man more than those? Certainly not this man, and I heard myself growl as I buried my lips against her neck, my cock pressing urgently against my trousers.

  “You have much to learn, young lady,” I muttered, “and it’s going to be my great pleasure to teach you.”

  Again she shivered, she moaned, she gasped, she wriggled under me, and laying on top of her I sank my weight on top of her, sending my lips to her ear.

  “Relax, feel me, sink into the bed as I sink into you,” I murmured, and as the seconds ticked by I felt it; she stopped trying to lift her wrists, her tight body turned soft, and then she sighed.

  It was a long, heavy, deep sigh, a sigh that signaled she finally understood, and I moved my lips back to hers, kissing her slowly, softly, gently lingering, relishing her warm, sweet response.

  “Good girl,” I breathed.

  “This is amazing,” she whispered.

  “Close your eyes, and keep them closed until I tell you otherwise. Understand?”

  “Yes, I understand,” she mumbled, and I watched her lower her eyelids as she let out another, deep weighty sigh.

  I slowly began to peel away her clothes, luxuriating in the unveiling, feasting my eyes on the body eagerly waiting my attention, and wherever my fingertips tickled, she gasped, when my lips lightly kissed, she mewed, and as my hands fondled her full, round breasts, I was rewarded with a bevy of soulful moans.<
br />
  Having saved the best for last I slid her knickers down her legs, revealing her glistening pussy with its curly sable forest, and though I was tempted to press my fingers between those gorgeous lips I held back; she would have to wait, and wait some more, and then…

  Relishing the thought I stood up and began to strip, continuing to gaze at her loveliness. She was whimpering, her arms still above her head, and I watched, slightly spellbound, as she moved one of them down and began trailing her fingers across her body towards her drooling cunt.

  “No, Caroline, those fingers are not allowed between your legs.”

  It was a warning, and delivered with the appropriate tone. She paused, then moved them a tad further, and I was reminded of a child being told not to touch something, and staring at its parent, dared to reach out just a bit more.

  “You really don’t want to test me,” I warned, but even as I said the words I knew she would. That was who Caroline was, it was in her, and as her hand continued forward I shook my head; it was my turn to sigh.

  I didn’t hurry the last of my undressing, but kept watch as her fingers crept steadily onward, and when my clothes were laid neatly on the chair next to hers, I sat on the edge of the bed. Her fingertips were just below her navel and inching forward, but when I placed my hand on top of her thigh they paused.

  “Just to be clear, you know you must do as you’re told, you do know that, right?”

  “Uh, yes,” she whispered.

  “So…you won’t put that hand where I’ve said it’s not allowed, right?”

  I knew the desire to push the envelope was raging through her. She wanted to know what would happen, she wanted to uncover my resolve, to learn the consequences of willful disobedience.

  “I need to,” she whimpered, “just for a minute,” and purposefully slipped her fingers into her sex.

  I pulled her back her thigh and slapped inside, twice, hard, instantly staining the milky-white skin with a bright pink imprint. Listening to her howls of pain, watching the guilty hand dart from its forbidden fruit to rub the hurt, I casually retrieved her knickers and began to slide them up her legs.