Misguided Control (The Control Series Book 3)

by Anna Edwards

  She did.

  "Breathe. I was joking. I'm sorry, it was in bad taste. Matthew will not hurt Giovanni, no matter what he has done. You have my word on that."

  She nodded really quickly. "I need some water, please."

  "Alright. You stay here. I'll see what I can get."

  "Thank you."

  When he disappeared from view, Marie pulled out her phone and scrolled through the pictures. There it was, her and her sister. She was so young, so beautiful. She had so much to live for, but they took her. Blood everywhere. So much of it. She brought her hand to her mouth and stifled a sob into it. She needed to hear Owen and her mother. She dialled her aunt’s number. God, it would cost the earth, but she needed them.

  "Marie. Are you alright?" Her aunt answered with worry in her voice.

  "Hey. I'm good. I just wanted to check on you all."

  "We're alright. Your mum is asleep. Owen is helping me bake cookies."

  "How did the check-up go?"

  "They're a little worried about her blood pressure. It seems a bit high, so they've put her on more tablets to try and lower it but other than that she is fine."

  "That is great news. Is Owen being good?"

  "He's a little angel. How's Rome then? And that man you're working with?"

  "Rome is beautiful. I think we should be back tomorrow maybe. We've discovered everything and are just waiting for Mr North's bodyguard to come and finalise the issue."

  "That is good. We miss you." A shadow came over her, and she looked up. Callum was back.

  "I have to go." She hung up.

  "Here, drink this. Is your family alright? Do you need to go back?"

  "It will be all right."

  "Alright. If you need to fly home, just say. We should get lunch now and then get back to the office. Matthew will be here soon."

  "Yes, I think I have finally digested the antipasti, so I really want some pasta now."

  He did a theatrical bow in front of her.

  "Your wish is my command." He helped her up, his warm hand wrapping around hers as he guided her back through the Colosseum. He didn't let go till they were safely in the taxi. She knew she should probably try and shrug him off, but his gesture made her feel safe. Comforted. It was probably the first time she had felt anything like that since the day her sister died.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Marie

  Matthew Carter walked into the room with a no-nonsense air about him. Marie sometimes forgot just how imposing James's bodyguard was. No wonder people didn't mess with them. Giovanni Romano was in big trouble.

  "Good to see you both. Have you got the evidence?"

  Callum pulled out a folder from amongst the papers in front of him. Matthew flicked through it while she watched in silence.

  "Is this it?"

  "It's all we can find?"

  "Are you a hundred percent certain it's him?"

  Marie wasn't certain. Something still niggled at her. "Mr Carter, I do believe that Giovanni is involved, but the answer is too obvious. We found it too quickly, and I don't think he is a stupid man.

  "Callum, do you agree?" Matthew swiped his hand over his brow.

  "Yes, I agree." They both looked at her. "Marie, in the safe in the CEO's office there is another folder. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it at the time. Could you get it for me please?"

  "What do you mean another folder?"

  "Marie, please will you go and get it for me." He looked down at the desk. This was odd.

  "Ok, I won't be more than a few minutes." She huffed and left them to their male machismo. She entered the CEO's office and noticed that the room was just as well laid out as James'. It had a large desk, a table for meetings, sofa, drinks table and even a personal bathroom. She wondered if it had a shower in it just like Mr North's. She opened the safe, using the combination Callum had changed it to when they first arrived. There was indeed a folder in there. She pulled it out and opened it. It was empty?

  "What? What is going on?"

  From behind her, she heard the clicking of a gun.

  "Miss Easton, I want you to turn around. Drop the folder on the floor, put your hands where I can see them and turn around, adesso, now." The heavy Italian accent laced through all the English words.

  She inhaled sharply and slowly raised her hands into the air. "Signore Romano, please you don't have to do this."

  "Si, I do, Miss Easton. I do. It isn't my fault."

  'What do you mean?"

  "It's his fault. He told me to do it. It was supposed to be the only way."

  "Who told you?"

  "Oh, you won't believe me." He began waving the gun around in the air. "I'm going to take all the blame for this. There is only the one thing that can happen." He was shaking, his entire body trembling as he took a step closer to her. "It's not fair. I only wanted to help people. I only want salva I bambini" He broke down.

  "Giovanni, listen to me." She took a step forward, but he brought the gun back up and pointed it directly at her forehead.

  "No. No. Enough. He said you would try to do this. Play the sweet little innocent."

  "Who said?"

  "Over here, get over here, do it now." He waved the gun in the direction he wanted her to go, and she quickly scrambled to where he wanted her. "I don't want to do this. I really don't, but I have to. You've gotta to make them see it wasn't my fault."

  "What are you going to do?"

  He opened a container, and the overwhelming fumes of a solvent washed over her.

  "Oh, my God. No, please."

  "We have to stop them. This is the only way."

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you Mr Romano." Matthew Carter's stern voice came from behind them. He had his gun drawn and a worried-looking Callum at his side.

  "No. You're trying to blame me for something that isn't bad. I was trying to help people. Sono innocente."

  He quickly picked up the can and threw it at her. She screamed as the liquid drained into her clothes. Callum took a step forward. Matthew remained calm and held him back.

  "One wrong move, and she'll burst into flames." He had the gun pointed at Matthew and Callum now.

  She looked at Callum, who had guilt all over his face, his hand clenched tightly at his sides. That is when it hit her. This was the plan. The folder was empty for a reason. She'd been used as bait.

  "Mr Romano put your gun down, and step away from Miss Easton."

  "No, you've got to not blame me. Blame him!"

  "Who is him?" Matthew's voice was commanding.

  "Him, lui, him." Giovanni's eyes were darting all around the room. He was becoming increasingly agitated.

  Marie watched as he pulled a lighter from his pocket. Her legs were barely holding her up she was so terrified "I'll do it. I'll do it to her. I promise you. Let me go. Blame him. Go after him. I only wanted to help people. I don't care for the money. I don't want it. He told me it was for helping others.”

  "Signore Corvi."

  Giovanni spun on his Versace heels. His finger flicked on the lighter and brought it into flame. "He wanted to retire and get out. He didn't have enough money, though. Mr North had treated him like dirt. He took all the money for himself and never helped anyone. If we did this, then he could retire, and I could help people. He set me up."

  "Yes, yes he did. Mr North regularly donates to charity, and Signore Corvi is paid a very handsome salary. Giovanni, Mr Carter and Mr Ashworth know you were not behind it. You did it to help people. Let them deal with Signore Corvi. Put the lighter away, you do this, and you will be in so much trouble. You will never be able to help anyone again. All of us. We'll all speak to Mr North. He will be lenient and help you. He isn't the evil man Signore Corvi has made you think he is. Please. Put the lighter away."

  "Giovanni," Callum spoke this time. "Put the lighter away. I knew you weren't the sole person behind this. That is why I made you feel guilty yesterday. That is why I told you what Matthew Carter would do to you if he found out. We are clear
on the whole story now. Matthew will not hurt you. He just needed to find out what happened. Signore Corvi will be the one in trouble. You have my word on this. You have Marie's word on this, and you have mine."

  Matthew lowered his gun.

  "You won't hurt me? You won't kill me?"

  "I won't kill you. You won't even go to prison. None of this will happen."

  "I'm going to lose my job, aren't I?

  "That is negotiable. I need a full declaration from you of what happened. That way I can see that you are not the one to be held accountable. Without it, I cannot help you. If you put that flame to Miss Easton, your life really will be over. Prison won't be able to protect you."

  Giovanni looked down at the flame, rocking on the spot. Marie had never seen a man so distraught and broken. He shut the lid and dropped the lighter to the floor. Matthew came over quickly and removed him from the room. Callum came towards her but did not touch her. "We need to get those clothes off. We need to get you washed."

  He led her toward the private bathroom. It did indeed have a shower.

  "You knew this was going to happen?" Her voice was shaky when she spoke.

  "I'm sorry Marie. Matthew and I made the plan. We didn't know it would turn out this way. We thought we'd have you protected at all times."

  "Protected. I'm covered in flammable liquid. One mistake, and I would be..."

  "Please. You were protected. Come, in the shower."

  Her legs wobbled when she walked. Callum still didn't touch her.

  She took her clothes off. Slowly. He threw them into the shower. She wouldn't wear them again. He could throw them away.

  She stood in her bra and panties before him.

  "You should leave."

  "I'm not leaving you alone."

  "But?"

  "I'm not leaving."

  His eyes had turned dark.

  If she was honest with herself, though, she didn't want him to go. She undid the clasp of her bra and dropped it to the floor. He averted his eyes, but she knew he could sense every movement she made by the way he gripped the sink. She reached for the waistband of her pants and pulled them down.

  "Can you get in the shower alright?"

  "Yes, I can."

  He turned the water on when she got in. Warmth washed away the filth of what could have killed her. She scrubbed her skin while tears fell. She slathered herself in the soap that he handed her. She'd nearly died. She'd really, really come close to dying. Oh God. Her mum. Owen. Guilt washed over her as she cried and cried. The entire time Callum stood outside the shower. He no longer averted his eyes. He watched as she sobbed and sobbed. She didn't want him to look away. She wanted him to watch. He needed to be close. She wished he could be in the shower with her; inside her. He could take away the pain of her life but she couldn't. She had to be strong.

  When she finally got out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around her and rubbed her until she was dry.

  "I don't have a change of clothes for you. But." He took off his jacket, tie, waistcoat and shirt. "Take my shirt, it will cover you. My coat will keep you warm." He put the waistcoat back on.

  "You don't have a girdle." She wasn't sure where those words had come from. All she knew was that she had looked at his muscular torso and that was what had popped into her mind. She let out a little giggle.

  He took a step closer to her and wrapped the shirt around her. She dropped the towel to the floor, and he did the buttons up. He stopped after a few and rested his forehead against hers.

  "I'm so sorry. I've never hated having to do anything as much as I hated putting you in that position. It was the only thing we could think of. Signore Corvi had hidden things too well."

  "It's ok. Everything worked out."

  "Mr North will be very pleased with you." Callum hesitated on the words.

  "And with you."

  He brought his lips down, so they hovered just above hers. "Marie, may I kiss you?"

  She swallowed. "Yes. Yes, please. Kiss me."

  Their lips met, and she savoured his heady, spicy scent. At first, the kiss was soft, a tentative searching. He brought his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. It felt like hours were passing as they stood in the silence of the bathroom tasting each other. When he pulled away, she looked up at him. Any chance of her being sensible had disappeared. For once, she was going to do something she wanted.

  "Let's go back to the hotel."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Callum

  Callum didn't think Marie's lips left his once on the journey back to the hotel. Not that he wanted them to. He pushed her against the wall just outside his hotel room as he searched for his keycard. His right hand massaged her perfect-sized breast through the fabric of his shirt. His left fumbled with the card in the lock.

  Marie giggled into his throat. His already rock-hard cock jumped even further to attention.

  "Do you need help there, Mr Ashworth?" She pulled away and helped steady his hand to open the door. "I hope you're going to be more dexterous when I allow you in my panties."

  "You've got nothing to worry about on that score my little kitten."

  "Kitten?"

  "Mysterious, and I'm pretty sure, deadly when provoked."

  "I like the sound of that. Now, where were we?"

  "Right here."

  He bent and scooped her up into his arms. In a matter of seconds, he'd kicked the door closed behind them and made it across the bedroom to the bed. He placed her down and stepped back. She looked up at him with her bright blue eyes.

  "I want you to remove my shirt from your body. I'm going to watch."

  All the nerves in his body sprung to attention as she knelt before him, her eyes never leaving his. She had her legs slightly parted, but the cotton hid all that she had to promise. Slowly her fingers started to undo the buttons. It was agony. She nibbled on her lip when the last button popped free. With even more of a playful attitude, she lowered the sleeves of the shirt and left herself naked before him.

  She was stunning.

  Her perfect breasts were covered in freckles, her pussy was shaved and ready for him. She wasn't one of those skinny girls that fashion seems to love. She had a curvy arse, and he couldn't wait to grab hold of it while he rode her into ecstasy.

  "Is everything alright, Callum?" Her husky voice broke through his appreciation of the vision before him.

  "I've never been better. You are beautiful." He leant over her and wrapped his hand around her hair, pulling it a little until she was less than an inch from his face. "But little kittens that deliberately tease me will get punished."

  She gulped, and a flash of panic waved over her eyes. He let go of her hair. What was wrong with him? He was getting far too ahead of himself. "You say you are aware that I'm a Dom and that I like a particular sexual lifestyle. Do you understand what that means?"

  "I do."

  "Tell me."

  "You will control me in the bedroom. I mustn't come until you say. You may tie me up and spank me. I'm not sure how I feel about whips. I don't really want to be hurt. Do I have to sign one of those contracts?" He tried his hardest not to laugh at her naïve explanation of what he expected. She'd taken all the bits from the most famous novel on the lifestyle and assumed that was everything. "Did I say something wrong?"

  "No. That is the aspect of the lifestyle that is frequently publicised, but it is a lot more than that. What we're going to do today is about trust and me giving you something to take away the fear that you felt earlier. I'll discuss more of the finer aspects of the lifestyle in the future. I think you've had enough to deal with today, and I want to get my mouth on your pussy."

  Her breath hitched. "I would like that."

  "I know you will. If at any point you want me to stop, you just say stop. None of that safe word business just yet."

  "Alright. I feel very naïve."

  Fuck it. Enough talking. He brought his lips back down against hers and pushed her up the b
ed till she was laying naked underneath him. She could undoubtedly feel how rigid his erection was as he ground it slightly into her thigh. She let out a lingering moan of longing.

  "What do you want me to do to you, Marie?" He lowered his voice to a full command.

  "Touch me."

  "Where?"

  "Down there."

  "Down where?"

  Her cheeks flushed a little. "My...my pussy."

  "Say it again. Beg me!"

  "Please, Callum. Please, I need you to touch me between my thighs. I need something inside me. I need to come."

  "Excellent." He shifted his weight so he could reach a hand between the apex of her thighs and through the delicate petals that glistened with her arousal for him. She was soft, soaking, and Goddamn sexy. He ran the tips of his fingers either side of her clit, and she whimpered. "You said you wanted something inside you." He arched his middle finger and eased it into her tight channel. "Damn, you're drenched. So warm. Tight and ready for me to finger fuck you."

  "I've think I've been this way since you put that heart on my coffee."

  He threw his head back and laughed.

  "What? Nobody has ever made me the coffee before."

  "I'll remember that in future. To get you ready for me to fuck you. I just need to bring you coffee."

  "With a heart on."

  "Always with a heart on."

  He added another finger inside her and scissored them a little to test her stretch. It would be tight, but she would accommodate his girth. Damn, he couldn't wait to sink inside her. He hooked his fingers to reach her sensitive spot inside and massaged with a consistent pressure. This was going to be a slow build up, not a wham bam thank you, mam.

  "I want to know what you taste like."

  She nodded, and he brought his tongue out to lick at her core. She was sweet, like honeyed nectar. A subtle flavour of absolute femininity. He curved his tongue and flicked at her clit, which was starting to peek out from under its hidden cover. After a few more touches of his tongue it was proud and pulsating, begging for more. Marie had been watching him all the time up to this point, but now she tipped her head back, arched up on the bed, and gripped tightly to the sheets. He thrust his fingers and lathered her clit with attention. Her breathing quickened, groans of imminent release louder and louder.