Surrendered Control (The Control Series Book 1)

by Anna Edwards

  "It is standard procedure everywhere. You will get used it. It makes you feel safer in the end."

  The security guard didn't speak to her but smiled and shut the door.

  It was 7 am Indian time, 1:30 am UK time when they pulled up outside of the hotel and the doors were opened by traditionally dressed porters. All Amy wanted was to have a shower and sleep for another couple of hours but she needed to support James. Sonia took her bag and pointed to a scanner. Amy nodded. Security was tight in this country. But James was right, it did make her feel safe. Or maybe that was the fact James had barely let go of her hand since they left London. She could feel people looking at her, and she didn't know whether it was because she was James' girlfriend, the fact she had a next-to-nothing skirt on, when everyone else was covered, or the fact she was blonde and most people here were dark.

  They entered the lobby of the hotel and the manager greeted James. James let go of her hand. Two young girls came over and bowed before her and wished her Namaste, something she had been told meant hello. She responded in kind and they placed a flower garland over her head and then blessed her with a red-painted bindi to her forehead. James was having the same done to him, as were Matthew and Sonia, the former not looking that impressed with the garland. Another girl brought them a cloth to wipe their hands and a fourth presented them with a drink in a coconut shell.

  "What is it?" Amy whispered to Sonia.

  "Coconut water."

  "Is it nice?"

  "I like it, some don't."

  Amy took a little sip. It tasted quite sour but she liked it, it was refreshing and despite being 7 am it was hot outside already.

  "Thank you." She said to the girls and they scurried away. James called Amy to his side,

  "Raji, this is my girlfriend, Amy Jones. She will be accompanying me to all the opening ceremony events. We will need to get her a sari made for the grand opening on Friday."

  Raji shook his head like he was saying no then held his hand out to Amy and she shook it,

  "Nice to meet you, Miss Jones. I am Raji, the hotel manager. Anything you need, just ask. Mr North I will have my wife personally escort Miss Jones to the city today to source a Sari. I know just the shop."

  Amy looked at him confused. "But didn't you just shake your head to say no?"

  James laughed out loud, Amy turned and glared at him.

  "In India, Amy when a person shakes their head like that, it means yes."

  "Really."

  James nodded his head in demonstration and Raji laughed this time,

  "Except we don't look as silly as Mr North doing so."

  "He just looks like a nodding dog."

  James frowned at Amy.

  "No more encouraging Amy to tease me, Raji, she is perfectly capable on her own." He chuckled.

  "I think I like your girlfriend, Mr North. Come, let me show you to your suite. I have put Mr Kumar and his entourage in the presidential suite. I hope that is alright. You have the second best rooms in the hotel."

  "Makes sense to me." James motioning for him to lead the way.

  Amy caught up with James and held his hand again.

  "Who is Mr Kumar?"

  "He is one of the most famous Bollywood stars. He is officially opening the hotel for us."

  "That is nice."

  "He is being paid well to do it."

  "Oh."

  "It is all good publicity, Amy."

  "Maybe he can get someone to teach me Bollywood dancing. It has always looked fun."

  James didn't answer that statement as Raji began talking to him again.

  The lobby of the hotel was vast, it had ornate carvings all over it and displays of exotic flowers on plinths. Staff bustled around cleaning everything. Amy didn't know why--the place looked spotless to her. The lift was decked in beautiful pale marble that matched the floors of the hotel. Raji opened the door to their suite and James ushered her in. She stood there amazed. The walls were adorned with exquisite carvings and artwork and the fabrics were the finest hand printed silks. This was just the entrance hall to their suite, doors lead off into a huge lounge area with a separate working area to the right. To the far end were two further rooms which she guessed must be for Matthew and Sonia. Their ensuite was the size of her flat back in Kennington. She was scared to even open the door to the bedroom she would share with James but eventually found the courage. It took her breath away. The marble flooring ending halfway to the bed and was replaced with what were hand-made carpets. The bed itself was the size of two double beds pushed together but it was only one because it was four posted and bedecked in the most fabulous silk fabrics. The tables, wardrobes and television units were hand carved from wood. Amy had tears in her eyes because she was somewhere so beautiful and that it was all because of a vision that James had had and seen through to fruition.

  James appeared behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist.

  "Do you like it? Do you think it is too much?"

  "It is so beautiful, James. I feel like I am in paradise."

  "All of the furnishings and fabrics have been sourced from within India, and the contracts have gone to families where it would make a complete difference to their lives."

  Tears started to tumble down her cheeks now.

  "I love you."

  He turned her around in his arms.

  "What?"

  "I love you."

  "I love you as well, Amy."

  All Amy wanted to do was take James into that big bed and spend the rest of the day with him there, but he had business meetings and she didn't want to be a distraction to him. She wiped her tears of happiness away.

  "You go shower and I will unpack. You need to get all your work done so we can have a dinner in the roof top restaurant tonight."

  "I will look forward to that all day Miss Jones."

  "Go."

  James disappeared into the bathroom and Amy began to unpack the suitcases which had appeared in the room as if by magic. She took his toiletry bag to him just as he stepped into the shower. Amy wanted to join him, but she had to be sensible and not distract him. He was here for work and not romance. There would be time for that when they went to the Maldives. Oh, my god, she was going to the Maldives. She tried not to let out a little whoop of joy.

  Amy left the bathroom with a final quick look at James' sculpted body and went back to the bedroom. She still felt so tired despite the fact they had slept for a few hours. She took her clothes off and tossed them into the linen bin provided. Part of the duties of the butler was to ensure that all their clothes were washed, ironed and returned. This was truly unlike any hotel she had ever stayed in before. She slipped a tiny nightdress over her head and got between the sheets. She should shower, but she just wanted to rest her eyes until James had finished in the bathroom.

  The next thing she knew the phone next to the bed was ringing.

  "Hello?" she picked it up and sleepily spoke.

  "Miss Jones? Namaste, I am Ratu, Raji's wife. He has asked me to escort you to choose a sari. Is now convenient?"

  She sat bolt upright in the bed.

  "What time is it?"

  "It is midday, Miss."

  "Midday. Oh. I am sorry. I have been sleeping." She looked over to the pillow and saw James had placed a little note on his pillow and a lotus flower. "Could you give me half an hour?"

  "Of course Miss, I will meet you in reception."

  "Thank you so much."

  Amy picked up the note and read the declaration of love from James and his promises for the evening. She placed it in her bag. Next, she got out of the bed, stripped the nightdress from her body and jumped into the shower. In half an hour on the dot, she was in reception, she had dressed in a long maxi dress and had a shawl draped around her shoulders. She had been told that, in the city, it was best not draw attention to your flesh. Ratu greeted her with a firm handshake and a nod of the head. She was dressed in Indian attire; an outfit Amy learned was called a salwar kameez. She h
ad gold bracelets all up her wrists, numerous piercings in her ears, and a jewelled bindi in the middle of her head. Amy was informed that they were going to the city to a place called Commercial Street. It was one of the main shopping streets in Bangalore and was something that she needed to experience. Sonia appeared at her side as they got into the car and presented her with a bottle of water.

  "You will need this, Miss Jones. It will be hot out there."

  Sonia was right, as they got out of the air-conditioned car, the heat hit Amy. It was early afternoon in the middle of the country's summer. The temperature must have been hitting 35 degrees or more in the shade. She was instantly sweating as they walked up the steps to the store. Ratu had another bag with her and this was taken away and placed into a security locker. Their handbags were searched. Again she was reassured that this was all normal.

  When they entered the store, it was like she had walked into a rainbow, a sparkly one, as well, as everything seemed to be embedded with beads and gems. People milled everywhere, Ratu explained that most of them were staff and that, on a busy weekend, the store could almost be impossible to move in. Amy didn't know how anyone could actually shop in somewhere like this. A friendly gentlemen greeted them in perfect English and when Ratu explained what they needed, Amy was ushered to one side of the room and provided with a seat. A drink was brought to her--coconut water again--and two ladies began to question her on her favourite colours.

  "She was a bit overwhelmed by it all.

  They turned to the walls which were covered from top to bottom with fabrics and pulled out several blues.

  "Light or dark, Madame?"

  "I like the darker ones."

  "Good choice, Madame."

  "This one?" The other lady spoke and held up an aquamarine length of fabric with embellishments that Amy thought looked like millions of sequins.

  "A bit darker?"

  The other lady held up a sapphire-coloured one this time. This had beads sewn onto it in patterns.

  "This is hand sewn, Madame."

  "Matches your skin and hair perfectly."

  Amy looked to Ratu for help.

  "Why don't you try it on, Miss?"

  "I don't know how to wear one."

  "Stand up please, Madame."

  Amy did as instructed and one of the girls took her shawl away and it was neatly folded and placed beside her. The other showed her how to stand and in what seemed like a fluid movement the sari was wrapped around her with ease. A mirror was brought and Amy stood before it looking at her reflection. She loved it. It suited her colour perfectly. James would like it.

  "How much?"

  Ratu interjected. "Mr North has taken care of it, Miss."

  "Of course." she couldn't be angry at him; she had expected it. "But I would still like to know the cost."

  Ratu looked at the girls and they said something between them in the regional dialogue. "It is around two hundred pounds in your money, Miss."

  Amy gasped.

  "It is handsewn in the finest silks."

  "Oh."

  "Mr North will love you in it. He stated that cost was not an issue."

  "He would." she smirked, she was going to let him get away with it this time though as she absolutely loved the sari. "We will take it."

  The sale was run up before Amy could change her mind. She thanked the staff and they returned to the car. Amy was told that usually they would take the Sari to a shop nearby to choose fabric for the underskirt and lining, it would then be taken to a seamstress to complete the work, but Ratu would arrange all of that without the need to impose on her time even more.

  Amy was hungry. She hadn't eaten since they had had breakfast on the plane. Ratu made instructions to the driver and they pulled up next to a well-known fast food restaurant. Amy sighed. She really didn't fancy a burger.

  "Is there not something different?"

  Ratu looked out the window. "Oh no Miss, we are not going there. The restaurant is on the other side."

  Amy turned her head and looked at a restaurant that said Veg Only. It didn't look anything special, in fact, it looked like a cheap diner when they entered. They were shown to a seat and Amy ordered a lemonade and allowed Ratu to order the food as most of the menu wasn't in English.

  "I haven't ordered you much, Mr North has a big dinner planned tonight so you don't want to be full up."

  The food arrived really quickly and the lemonade Amy had ordered turned out to be a proper lemonade. Ratu told her that in India if you wanted lemonade like in the UK you needed to order the brand. Amy stored that bit of information for the future but still enjoyed the proper lemonade. The meal consisted of vegetables only.

  "Many of the people in India are vegetarian."

  "I don't mind; you will just have to tell me what some of the food is."

  "These are chapatti, Indian bread and this is gobi manchurian, it is spicy cauliflower, and this is paneer masala which is Indian cheese in a butter gravy and the final one is a dahl, which is lentils infused with spices."

  Amy sampled all the dishes, thoroughly enjoyed them, and even ordered some gobi manchurian to take back to James.

  By the time they got back to the hotel, it was getting late, and Amy found James asleep. She stood there for a few moments watching him as he slept. He was sprawled out naked on the bed with only a thin sheet covering him. He really was the most handsome man she had ever known. He must have been exhausted. His clothes where just strewn upon the floor. His back faced her. She had never had a chance to have a proper look at the tattoo on his back. It was very intricate in its detail. The wings of the angel circled his shoulder blades and in the middle sat the figure of the man. She had never noticed before the sad expression on the angel's face. Tentatively she reached out to touch it lightly. She wanted to wipe away the tears she imagined it was crying. The skin underneath felt different. She leant in for a closer look and saw that his back was marred with ugly scarring. The tattoo was hiding it all.

  James stirred in the bed. She stood back, and he turned to face her.

  "Hello beautiful. When did you get back?"

  "Just now." She smiled.

  "What is the time?"

  "Just after 6."

  "Good." He pulled her towards him, "Just time to christen this big bed."

  Amy wanted to ask him about the scars but now wasn't the time. Instead, she pulled her dress over her head and climbed into the bed next to him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  James

  "Make sure that you check all the rooms, and personally. I am not leaving anything to chance. They all need to have one of the gift bags in them." James ran his hand through his hair. "And the press packs. Make sure They’re all laid out in preparation as well. I am trusting you Raji." Amy appeared at James' side and handed him a glass of water with ice and a slice of lemon. Raji nodded and hurried away.

  "You need to come and have an hour's rest. I will help Raji check the rooms."

  "I don't have time for a rest Amy." He snapped at her, "the hotel's opening is in four hours, and there is still so much left to do." He was distracted by two waiters laying a table out incorrectly and started for them, his fists clenched. Amy jumped in front of him.

  "Bedroom now." She stood with her hands on her hips and lips pursed together in defiance. "You will do as you are told. I will sort the tables and check the rooms. You have barely sat down or slept in three days. If you don't rest now, you will collapse during the opening. And that will be the headline news, and not the hotel." James tried to walk around her, he really didn't have time for this but she continued to block his path. "James, please. Listen to me."

  He could see the worry in her eyes as she looked up at him. He drew her to him and cuddled her.

  "I am sorry. You are right. Let me just sort the table, Raji will sort the rooms and then you can come and keep me company while I rest?"

  "Alright. But if I join you in the bedroom James, no sex. Deal."

  "Deal." He couldn
't be bothered to argue. James sorted the table layout and then virtually dragged Amy to their suite. Matthew was there cleaning his shoes for the evening. Sonia was watching television and grumbling at the poor choices of channels. James instantly vowed to rectify that, he didn't want anyone to find any faults. Amy led him into the bedroom, shut the door, took his jacket and shirt off, helped him on the bed, and removed his shoes and socks. He lay on the pillow and instantly relaxed. He tapped the bed for her to come and lay next to him. She shook her head.

  "No, James. Shut your eyes and sleep."

  "Amy, at least lay down with me."

  "No."

  "Seriously?"

  "You can't always have your own way, James."

  "Why not?"

  "Because I said so. Shut your eyes and sleep."

  "Yeah. That is going to be a little difficult." He looked down at the rapidly expanding tent in his trousers.

  "You are insatiable."

  "You are incredibly sexy." She had forced him to rest, but he wasn't going to allow her to win. He needed to take it back. "Remove all your clothes, Amy."

  "No." She folded her arms at him in a challenge. His cock jumped and he gripped the bed to maintain his dwindling restraint. God, she loved to test him. He slid slowly from the bed and lowered his trousers so his erect cock jutted out straight towards her.

  "Are you really going to leave me like this?" He prayed the answer that she gave wouldn't be no.

  "I am not going touch you, James. I told you that." She turned away from him and his mouth dropped open. He had never had a woman defy him like this. He looked down at his hands. They were shaking.

  "Amy. Come here and suck me, or I will put you over this bed and spank your arse until it is red." The words had left his mouth before he had a chance to think. What was she doing to him? He was losing it.

  She turned back around and she had undone the buttons at the front of her knee length dress. She slipped the dress to the floor. He met her eyes, which were still full of defiance. What was she doing?