by Aliyah Burke
Beyond His Control
Aliyah Burke
Contents
Beyond His Control
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Thank you
About the Author
Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:
Beyond His Control
Copyright © 2017 Aliyah Burke 1st Edition
Copyright © 2020 Aliyah Burke 2nd Edition
Cover Art Copyright © Designs by K
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher or author. The unauthorized replication or allocation of any copyrighted work is illegal. File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Border Patrol, Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 per reported instance, and seizure of computers.
This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.
Published by: Sensual Romance Publishing
Created with Vellum
Beyond His Control
By
Aliyah Burke
Blurb
Blurb
For him, rules were meant to be followed, except when it comes to her…
Caleb Moser loves being a Marine. His life couldn’t be much better, if only he could learn to let the one woman who he turned down, go. He can’t. He won’t. And when she is in trouble, he’ll break all those rules he was fine following before to save her.
Kamden Strong is in Taiwan when her life turns upside down. Struggling to survive her kidnapping, she’s not sure she will make it out. When her rescue comes, it’s the last man she ever thought she would see again.
Will they have something beyond the jungle? Beyond the painful memories?
To the men and women who, on a daily basis, put their safety above our own, thank you!
Chapter 1
Miami, FL
Myst, a popular dance club
Kamden Strong sighed, plagued by exhaustion. The club scene wasn’t remotely what she wanted to be doing. I have a perfectly good bath and bed in my hotel suite. Why am I here?
A squeal that had no problem elevating itself over the noise of the crowd—an impressive feat to be sure—grabbed her attention. Kamden turned her head and smiled at her friend Missy. Oh yeah. That’s why I’m here. Missy Travis, best friend extraordinaire. Missy had begged her to go along. Happy that her friend wasn’t heading off on her own, Kamden had agreed to accompany her.
Missy waved at her from where she danced with no less than four guys. Kamden lifted her glass in acknowledgement. She smiled and spoke to people despite the headache sweeping down upon her. Kamden had just politely turned down another offer to dance and used the moment to take a big drink of her cranberry juice. I need something stronger. She’d claimed a stool at the furthest end of the bar, although she longed to crawl off into a dark corner and hide. She felt someone move up behind her and she bit back a groan.
“Wanna dance?”
Her smile was more of a grimace. “No, thank you.”
“Well, how about I get you another drink then?”
The pounding in her head amplified.
“I believe the lady said no,” a man with a deep voice interrupted.
All the hair on the back of her neck stood up at the thick, slow syrupy drawn out words. Oh mama! Her weakness. A rich southern drawl, the lazy, unhurried, toe curling…Kamden took another drink and wished she had some ice in the glass. You know what they say about people who chew ice, her brain taunted. She’d heard it all before.
The other man glared at her before walking off. Her savior settled against the bar, not blocking her view of Missy but of the other side. A brief thought this may be a setup crossed her mind.
“Thank you,” she said, her manners dictating her to respond to his action. Kamden looked to her left. The man faced her, his hip resting against the bar rail. Strong hands, trim waist. Swallowing, she focused back on her drink. No matter how grateful she was for the intervention, Kamden still did not intend to be picked up in a bar.
“You know, I remember you being a lot more boisterous.”
She jerked her head toward him. Darkly tanned skin, well built—well built—close cut black hair, clean-shaven, and amazing blue eyes. A strong tingle of familiarity teased the back of her brain, but she couldn’t retrieve it. She knew she should, but the pounding her head was doing prevented even that slight task. She fought off a grimace of pain.
“I’m sorry?”
“Wow…I’m hurt. You don’t remember me?”
Kamden shook her head. “I’m sorry, no.” Tall, dark, and handsome tsked and plucked her drink from her hand before helping himself to a giant swig. Hells nawh!
His blue eyes met hers and he laughed a deep and decadent sound. “Calm down, Kami, I’ll buy you a new one.”
Kami. That was a childhood name. Moreover, one only a certain adult man persisted in calling her. Or had the last night she’d seen him. Snatching her glass back, she lifted her brows and said, “Caleb?” Please say no.
He flashed a grin that, despite the pounding in her head, made her panties wet. “In the flesh. Long time no see.”
That was putting it mildly. The last time she’d seen him was the night he’d turned her down for some ass from a fake-tittied redhead. Kamden suddenly had the urge to punch him in the throat.
“Yeah, it has been. How are your parents?” I can be polite.
“Everyone’s fine. And yours?”
“Same.” Kamden caught the bartender’s gaze and signaled for a refill. Can my night get any worse? A killer headache and the one man I asked to fuck me who turned me down. Maybe the roof would like to fall in on me just to round out the night. “Thanks, Matt,” she said after he replaced her drink.
“What have you been up to, Kami?”
Drinking her juice quickly, she nearly flinched from the force of her stabbing anger. I have to get out of here. Digging in her pocket, she found her hotel key and identification, and pushed to her feet.
“Give my best to your parents, Caleb.” Kamden walked away, making a beeline for Missy.
Her friend saw her coming and met her halfway. “Oh, Kam, why didn’t you tell me you were getting one of your headaches? They hadn’t happened for so long, I thought you didn’t get them anymore, weren’t they brought on by stress of medical school and your residency? I wouldn’t have asked you to come.”
“It’s fine, Missy, but I have to go now.” She knew she only had a few moments before she would be nearly incapacitated from the pain if she didn’t get some pills and some quiet soon. Honestly, she’d not had one in years, but she knew how they could knock her for a loop.
“Of course,” Missy said immediately.
Kamden could feel everyone’s eyes on her. Some days she longed to be invisible and this was one of them. The loud, pounding beat of music followed them out to the front of the club.
“Good evening, Ms. Strong,” the valet said. “Your car will be here in a second.”
“Thank you.”
“Kami!”
She groaned at that voice. There was no point in turning around; he’d be there beside her in a moment. When she saw his tall body in her peripheral view she asked, “What do you want, Caleb?” Beside her, Missy’s ramblings of approval barely registered.
“Wanted to catch up.”
Rubbing her eyes, she sighed in resignation. “Have you had anything to drink?”
“What?”
Her head continued its assault, making her feel as if it was killing her. “Alcohol. Have you had any?”
“No. Not unless you had some in your drink.”
Her car arrived. She tipped the valet and said, “You drive.”
Caleb got behind the wheel and she took the passenger side with Missy in the back. Kamden knew this would end up in the news, especially with the cameras flashing. He pulled away and said, “Where to?”
Missy gave their hotel’s name to him before she could open her mouth. Closing her eyes, Kamden allowed his mellow southern drawl to lull her into relaxation. Missy kept talking as they headed to their suite. Once inside, Kamden popped two of her headache pills and grabbed her cell phone. She sat down on the ottoman, grateful for the silence.
“Here, sweetie.” Missy held out a Sprite. “Thanks for going with me. I’m going to make myself scarce so you can catch up with Caleb.” She winked. “He’s such a hottie.”
Kamden forced a grin. “’Night, Missy.”
“’Night.” The lights dimmed and she sighed again, grateful to be away from bright lights and loud noises.
Pressing a button, Kamden took a long slow drink, then emptied the glass while waiting for the phone on the other end to be answered.
“Hello?” The question rolled along a deep voice.
“Hi, Daddy.” Her father, country superstar Lane Strong.
“Hey, kiddo. You and Missy having fun?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Wonderful. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to give you a heads up just in case you read something about me leaving the club with a man and letting him drive my car. Oh, and letting him into the hotel suite.”
“Kamden,” Lane growled in his overprotective father tone.
“Daddy, I’m calling you about this, not hiding it. It doesn’t matter; anyway, it’s just Caleb.”
“Caleb…Derek’s boy?”
“That’s the one. You can talk to him if you want, but we ran into each other and are going to catch up.”
“It’s okay, baby. Thank you for telling me. I’d say you could talk to your mom but she’s sleeping.”
“I figured. I’m gonna go now, Daddy. Love you.”
“Love you too, Kamden.”
She hung up and tossed the phone beside her on the white leather. Rubbing her eyes, Kamden looked up and promptly lost her breath. Caleb stood there—arms crossed, a murderous look on his face, and those heart-stopping blue eyes shooting fire.
“What’s your problem?” she asked.
“Just Caleb?”
* * *
Caleb was furious. He’d been a lot of things in his days but never had two words from someone’s mouth made him so angry. Just Caleb.
Kamden Zyanya Strong had haunted his dreams for many years. It had been five, five long years, since he’d seen her in the flesh. Not that he wasn’t kept apprised of how she was doing, their mothers were the best of friends.
“Arrogant now?” she snapped, pushing to her feet. “Should I have said the one-and-only great Caleb Zachary Moser?”
His cock hardened. He loved this side of her. The fiery spirited one. Kami did her best to float below the radar, but personally he loved to see the spark in her brown eyes. She may prefer to be called Kamden now, but she’d always be his Kami.
She walked toward him, hips swaying, eyes lowered. He fought the urge to groan at the seductive image she portrayed. It was as if she had no idea what she did to him. Or for him. Her hair was different from when he’d seen her last. Gone were the slight waves of black with red highlights, and in its place sat bone-straight hair and a mix of golden caramel hues.
“I’m sorry,” she purred. “I didn’t mean to hurt your over-inflated Marine ego. I’m sure if you leave now, you can still catch some bimbo at the bar and get her, or them, to soothe it.”
The undisguised venom in her tone tore through him. Caleb grabbed her arm when she went to move past him. She glared up at him, the hurt in her eyes swiftly hidden behind a cool mask of indifference.
“Is that what’s wrong, Kami? Want me to take you up on what you offered me five years ago?”
She flicked a glance between his eyes and the hand he had wrapped around her upper arm. “Oh no, you made yourself perfectly clear that night. Besides, I have a man and have no desire to ruin that, especially with you.”
That rankled. I have a man. Four simple words. Four words that made him see red.
“Where is this man of yours?”
She removed his hand from her arm and walked to the mini bar. Kami fixed them each a drink and handed him one. He noticed it was non-alcoholic.
“Evan is on location shooting his next movie. He’s in Taiwan. Missy and I are going out tomorrow to see him.” Her tone was matter of fact.
Evan. Evan Childress. British prick. He remembered his mom saying something about them dating. Caleb hated it. The whole thing. The way she blew him off. The way her eyes gentled at the mention of Evan. He hated it. Kamden Zyanya Strong was his woman. She always had been. And she always will be.
“If you’re so happy with him why do you sound so angry at the thought of me with another woman?” he taunted.
She finished her drink. “Wow. I’d forgotten how much of an ass you can be. I’m not the same kid I was when you turned me down, Caleb. I wanted you then, not now.” Kamden set her glass down. “You don’t know me. Don’t know what’s in my heart.”
Caleb watched her walk to the door of the other room. Her words had no punch and he hated that.
“Feel free to crash on the couch; otherwise, it was good to see you again.” Silently she slipped into the room, leaving him alone.
“Way to go, Moser,” he groused, running a hand over his short hair. Anger still flowed through him. With a sigh, he put his glass down and headed for her bedroom door, hesitating before he knocked softly.
“What?” she asked, opening it partway.
She stood there in an oversized shirt and shorts. The blood rushed south to his loins. Caleb lost all thought when her full lips parted to allow her tongue to slip through and dampen them. He bit back his groan. Reaching out with his left hand, he sank his fingers into her bone straight, golden caramel hair and hauled her to his chest, his mouth descending on hers with barely contained fury.
Thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth, he moaned as her taste filled him. Beneath the remnants of her cranberry drink he could taste her, cherries and plums. She was stiff beneath him and her hands pounded once on his chest before settling across his pectorals, nails digging into his skin. Caleb dropped his other hand to rest on the curve of her ass, pressing her tight against his erection.
Her groan was music to his ears and he damn near tore her clothes off when her tongue slid across his. Ending the kiss, Caleb stared into her passion-glazed eyes. “Remember that the next time your pretty British boy kisses you.”
He spun on his heel and walked out of her suite without looking back. By the time he made it to the lobby, Caleb was cursing himself. “I can’t believe I did that.”
His mom would not be impressed. His father even less so. But, damn it all, it rankled to have her be so dismissive of him. She’d wanted him, her response told him so.
“Fucking actor,” he muttered and waved for a cab. “Stay on your fucking side of the pond and hands off my woman.”
Caleb knew if he stayed there with her, he would have woken up in her bed. Moreover, no matter how appealing, it was not the right thing to do. Not with her friend in the suite. What he would not do was help her make headlines.
His plans to see her later didn’t work, for when he arrived at the hotel she was unavailable. Caleb grumbled under his breath and got in his car, then headed back up to Georgia. The road trip did nothing to calm him down. He couldn’t get her out of his head. He was older than she was by eight years, and Kami had him acting like some teenaged boy who had found his father’s hidden stash of porn.
“Damn it!” he cursed and smacked the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. The sting of pain hardly did a thing to pull his thoughts from images of her. Kami. His Kami.
“What the hell are you doing with Evan Childress?”
There was no answer from her. No low husky tone that dripped with a sultry, unhurried southern drawl. Which, given the fact he was alone in the car, was a good thing.
Mind working overtime, he pulled off the interstate into a roadside diner’s parking lot. Muttering to himself, he went in for a meal. Not even the open top on the attractive waitress could tear his craving for the woman imprinted on his mind. Kami.
Kissing her had been a mistake. Had it been? She had been easy enough to pretend to ignore before he’d given in and covered her mouth with his. Now that her taste was embedded in his memory, he knew there was no going back.
