by Aliyah Burke
Her parents must have been watching, for the door opened and everyone poured out. She hopped from the truck and ran to her family. It hadn’t been long since she’d seen them, but she still missed them. Then she hugged the others.
“How are you, honey?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Slept on the plane and we stopped for coffee on the way here.” She brushed a kiss along her mother’s cheek before turning back to the truck. Caleb already had her bags and drink. His blue gaze bore into her as he passed her the drink then continued.
Pivoting, she trailed him with her gaze until he vanished. Her father’s face appeared in her line of sight and she prayed for the strength not to blush.
“I should go take my things from him.” She skirted by him and forced herself not to run but walk. Patting the heads of the dogs she passed, she climbed the steps and entered the octagonal home.
Susanna stood near the door talking to Taylor—Brandt and Serenity’s daughter.
“Hey, stranger,” they said, hugging her.
“Hey. Did you know where Caleb took my bags?” She kept most of her focus on Taylor.
“My room. You’re bunking with me and the girls.”
She smiled. “Awesome, I’ll be back to catch up.” Taylor grinned and Susanna scowled. Okay, she knows and is obviously not happy. Kami took the stairs two at a time only to slow before the room. The door sat wide open and Caleb stood there laughing easily with Alyson Rawlins, Gavin and Sanura’s daughter.
The grin on his face cut her deep. After all he claimed, he could be so upbeat with Alyson but not her? This time the jealousy rose swift and ferocious.
“Hey, Kami,” she said. “Sorry I wasn’t down there to meet you. I just got out of the shower.”
News she didn’t want to hear, Caleb bent down and whispered something to her that made Alyson blush and chuckle. “Shame on you, Caleb. I have no doubt about that.”
Kami hated feeling like an outsider. She spun around and left the room.
“Hey.”
She paused on the stairs at Caleb’s call. “Thanks for carrying my bags up.”
“What’s wrong, Kami?”
Everything. “Not a thing.”
She could tell he didn’t believe her, which was okay. She didn’t believe it herself.
He moved around her, blocking her descent. “Don’t lie to me, Kami.”
His blue eyes were liquid fire. She shook her head, determined not to get into this now. Not here.
Anger sparked in his expression and he stepped down a step, which put them almost eye level. She still had to tip her head back a bit.
“What did I tell you, Kami?”
“About what?” she retorted deliberately goading him. Why? She had no clue.
“Don’t play games with me.”
“Who’s playing? You’re the one treating me like a leper.” He moved closer and she whimpered. Lord, he was big.
“A leper? I met you at the airport, brought you here. How did I treat you like a leper? Because I didn’t push conversation?”
Okay, so it sounded really stupid when he put it like that. She gulped and licked her lips. When had it gotten so hot in here?
“I knew you were tired, Kami. I was trying to be nice.”
“Maybe I didn’t want nice!” she hollered, her control gone and her fear surging high and fierce.
He paused for a second before grabbing her arms at the elbows. “What, you wanted me to shove you against the nearest wall like I was raised in a barn because I want to fuck you until neither of us can see straight or even move?”
She poked him in the chest with one finger. “At least it would have been emotion!”
“How much more goddamn emotion do you want from me, Kami? I asked you to marry me! But you can’t get past Evan.”
Damn him.
“At least you’ve taken off the ring.”
Loud thunderous roaring echoed in her ears. She dropped what coffee remaining in her cup on the steps, fists clenched.
“You don’t know what I can and can’t get past, Caleb Zachary Moser! And for your information, I am past Evan. What scares the hell of me—the ever-loving motherfucking hell—is losing you as I did Evan. Of admitting how much you mean to me. How much I love you only to have you die off in some god-forsaken country! It’s always scared me. Always.”
She shoved past him and ran downstairs, bursting through the door and running towards the safety of the forest. Tears blurred her vision, but she never slowed. Her feet knew the way even if her mind didn’t have the capacity to lead. At her designation, she sank to the forest floor and wrapped her arms around her legs, drawn up to her chest, and cried. God, she was going to be alone forever.
* * *
Caleb stood there in shock as Kami bolted by him. Her words resonated through him and he shook. She loved him. On the first floor, everyone stared up at him. A touch on his arm brought his attention back to Alyson.
She held paper towels and cleaning supplies in her hand. Her brown eyes were full of sympathy. “Go after her, Caleb.” She crouched and began to clean up the spilt coffee.
He ran down the rest of the stairs. His parents were side by side. He could see the love they still had for one another. It never waned, only grew stronger. That was what he wanted. What he wanted with Kami.
“Better get going, son.”
“I’m going.” He went to Lane and stood before him. “Do I have your permission to marry your daughter?”
Lane glanced at his wife before nodding. “Of course.”
“Thank you, sir. Kenya?”
She moved to him and touched his chest, over his heart. “You returned my daughter to me when I thought she was forever gone. You have always been there for her. I would be honored to have you as a son.”
“Th…thank you.” He bent and kissed her. “I’m sorry for taking the spotlight off the reason we’re all here.” He glanced at the amused expression on Serenity’s face.
“A double celebration would be awesome. Get on after her, Caleb.” Serenity’s words of encouragement warmed him.
He nodded and went to the door. His mama stopped him. “Yes?”
“I’m proud of you,” she whispered before kissing his cheek.
After returning the kiss, he went outside. Two German shepherds lifted their heads and he smiled. “You boys gonna help me find her?”
They wagged their tails but didn’t move. He understood they were waiting for their mom to come out or let them in. He could track her anyway.
So he did.
Kami sat at the base of tree which a tree house rested in. Her head buried against her knees and he could see her hands shake as he approached on silent feet.
“Kami.”
“Go away, Caleb.”
“I don’t think so. Look at me.”
Like the sun peeking out from a cloud, she slowly peered at him. Her red-rimmed eyes evident from her crying made him long to hold her. Kiss her. Promise it would always be fine.
“Can we just forget that happened?” She sounded so hopeful.
“Not a chance.”
“I thought not.” She wiped her eyes and leaned against the trunk.
“So that’s why you said no,” he remarked as casually as he could while lowering to the ground beside her.
He didn’t have a clue how to proceed here. One knee drawn up, he rested his forearm upon it. They sat in silence until she broke it.
“Everyone heard my outburst, didn’t they?”
“Yes.” He wasn’t going to lie to her. “Don’t worry about them.”
“I hate scenes.”
He knew that. She always had. “They know that. I know that.” Christ, he felt like he was floundering.
“So what happens now?”
Problem was he hadn’t a single clue. “I don’t know. Just no more running.”
A deep breath fell from her lips. “No more running.”
His relief, while immense, remained short lived. What did she mean by
that? It surely didn’t mean she would be with him. His heart seized at the thought of losing her.
Resting his head against the tree, he plucked grass with the hand between them. The blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds bespoke endless possibilities.
“What do you think my parents would do if I moved to a place like this?”
“Alaska?” He shrugged. “Probably ask you why?” One he’d be asking as well.
“You know, when I was their prisoner, all I thought about was getting back to civilization. Where stuff like that doesn’t happen.” He opened his mouth only to snap it shut when she began again.
“Then you came and brought me home. You had saved my life and yet I began to feel so trapped. Closed in. People always watching me. Always securitizing my every move. It was hard to breathe so I ran. I ran to the one place I felt safe. You.”
He swallowed. “Kam—”
“Let me finish.”
She readjusted and crossed her legs before free her hair from its ponytail. He watched it settle around her shoulders like a silken scarf in the wind. The way it felt on his skin as they made love. Wrapping it around his hand as he kissed her. Could he let all of that go?
“I realized I was becoming dependent on you and it scared me. You scare me, Caleb.”
“You aren’t dependent on me, Kami. Far from it.”
“Then why do I come to you?”
He glanced at her. “Do you really have to ask that question?”
“Sex, no matter how great, isn’t going to sustain a relationship.”
“I know that.” He tucked some hair behind her ear. “Is that all you think we have, Kami? Excellent sex?”
“I said great, not excellent. And I don’t know.”
He flashed a grin. “I know you meant excellent, mind blowing, and more.” She snorted and rolled her eyes. “As for the other,” he gripped her chin forcing eye contact, “my feelings for you won’t change if I’m not allowed to have sex with you, Kami. That’s insane.”
“So if I said no sex you’d stay with me?”
“Yes.” He could see she didn’t believe him. “Let me ask you this then. If I was injured and couldn’t preform would that kill how you felt?”
“No.”
“The physical, while so very nice, is only part of a relationship. Not all of it.”
“Until you don’t come back.”
His rising hope faded. With a heavy sigh he leaned, his head back against the tree and closed his eyes. How could he make her see?
“You know I can’t promise to come back, Kami.”
“I know and that scares me.”
“I will always do my best to return to you.”
He opened his eyes and stared at her when her fingers curled about his upper arm.
“Why?”
Deep in her gaze, he spied vulnerability. “Like I told you before Kami, it’s always been you.” He rotated closer to her. “I love you.” A light brush of his lips on hers. “Will you, Kamden Zayana Strong, marry me?”
Her eyes shone like brown diamonds as she got up on her knees and leaned even closer.
“I love you, Caleb. And yes, I’ll marry you.”
He kissed her with all the passion within him. They would find a way. They may be an unconventional couple, but it was okay. He loved her so much. Always would. It was beyond his control to do anything else.
The End
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading, Beyond His Control. I hope you enjoyed their story.
You may have noticed that Jacey was part of an elite team named, Zulu Spectre. This is a separate series and the first book, well it’s actually three in one for you. And better yet, it’s free. Hearth, Holly, & Honor contains three holiday stories of three Zulu Spectre members.
The stories inside are:
Believe - Tristian “Mayhem” Blade and Ivy Wallace
All I Want for Christmas is You - Rance “Quint” MacLean and Dana MacLean
The Star Carol - Jacob “Bam Bam” Tracey and Astreah Sims
Enjoy!
Universal: https://books2read.com/HearthHollyHonor
About the Author
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed reading, Beyond His Control. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as well, I would appreciate that act of kindness. You can do this by recommending it to your friends and/or reader’s groups. Also, by reviewing it to let others know you liked it—and why, even if it’s nothing more than a line or two. Every bit helps, makes all the difference and is absolutely appreciated.
Thank you so much for your support!!
There is also a newsletter for her cozy stories, you can join here.
* * *
If you would care to be kept abreast of Aliyah Burke’s news, release information and the occasional contest, please join her newsletter. If you join you can receive a free book.
Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:
Sensual Romance Publishing
* * *
A Knight’s Vow
Lion of Midnight
His Purrfect Mate
Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped
If You Dare
Raw Exposure
Faith’s Tears
Honest Deception
A Little White Lie
Code Name: Sleeper
May You Always
Under the Mask
Emerald Myst
Something Tangible
* * *
Megalodon Team
Kincade’s Rose
Harrier’s Healer
Connelly’s Flame
Greeley’s Spyce
Vittano’s Willow
Dimitri’s Moon
O’Shea’s Love
Chayton’s Tempest
Forgotten Shadow (A MT Christmas Novella)
* * *
Haikon
A Love for Lera
* * *
The Maddoxes
The Detective’s Lover
* * *
Rakes & Rogues
What the Earl Desires
Her Reluctant Viscount
Her Pirate Rogue
* * *
Cottonwood Falls
Relentless
Fracture
Ravish
Spark
Savor
Intensity
Inferno
Snake’s Salvation
Tryst with the CEO
Brodie’s Wish
Operation Ball N’ Chain
* * *
Springwood
It Was Always You
Drunk on You
Belongs to You
The Wedding Snafu
The Billionaire’s Code
Delay of Game
Daring the Hard Man
Icy Dare
Never Knew I Needed
* * *
Born to Fly
Landing in Love
You Save Me
Wild As The Wind
Winter Bliss
Add A Little Mistletoe (Linked to Winter Bliss)
An Unexpected Encounter (Linked to Winter Bliss)
The Guardian’s Seduction (Linked to An Unexpected Encounter)
* * *
Zulu Spectre
Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)
It Could Happen Again
* * *
Tungsten Protective Services
Down Range
All In
His Rysk to Take
His Pryze to Claim
Just A Dream
On the High Seas
* * *
Tatra Pack
Whispered Loyalties
* * *
Red Willows
Holiday Liaison
Watching You
Interwoven
Fire Devil
Embers of Lust
The Right to Love
* * *
Quad Series
A Little Taste of Home
Too Dangerous to Love
Someday My Prince Good Ol’ Boy Will Come
Black Queen
Beyond His Control
* * *
Paranormal Felines
His Tigress
Leopard Eyes
Night Lion
Caught by the Cougar
Pursued by the Puma
Lion’s Domain
* * *
D.A.R.K., INC.
Breaking All the Rules
Trust Me
Handling the Perks
The Second Time Around
* * *
Seasons
Autumn Frost
Winter Flame
Spring Rain
Summer Thunder
* * *
Protective Truths
Zora’s Chance
Don’t Look Back (coming soon)
* * *
Trapper Lakes Series—Cozy Mysteries
Reeled Back Home – prequel
Look Who Tuna’d Up Dead
Murder on the Fly (coming 2020)
* * *
Totally Bound
