Control Me (11 page)

“So… this is your place?” I asked as he led me down the corridor.

“It is.”

“Oh. You live alone?” What I really wanted to ask was if Marilyn “faked” living with him.

“I do.”
Ahh… sweet relief.
“But sometimes my mother visits as well as my sister. Whenever there are banquets or celebrations, they’re here.” He smiled over his shoulder, revealing his slightly crooked smile.

“That’s lovely.”

“I don’t come here every night, though. Most nights I spend at work. It gets lonely here sometimes.”

I smiled. “I bet.”

We passed by the den, rounded a corner and entered the living room. Everything was modern. There were a few antique lamps and vases on the corner tables, but it fit Carlos—the black, white, and silver. I’d never set foot in a house so dazzling.

“Right this way,” he murmured, squeezing my hand tighter and leading the way through another hallway. We took the next right, and from a distance, I could see lights flickering. Candles?

I gave a quick glance up at Carlos, but he only smiled, purposely avoiding my eyes. We reached double glass doors, and Carlos released my hand to open them. Before he could do so, my gaze pierced the paned glass, and my eyes feasted on what was waiting on the balcony.

A table for two, just like how it was at the restaurant he took me to my first night in San Francisco, only this was way more private and even more romantic. A silver candelabrum sat on the middle of the table with creamy white candles in all three throngs. Two plates were across from each other, a bottle of wine on the stool next to the table, and our wine glasses already filled halfway.

“Wow, Carlos,” I breathed, taking a step forward. The scenery was out of this world. The mansion was on a hill, and beyond the hill was the cityscape. I could even see the bridge. The bay. The lights. Everything. It was breathtaking.

“This is only the start of our night,” he whispered, running his palms across my bare shoulders.

“The start? There’s more?”

“A lot more, Mya. Never think too small when it comes to me.” He kissed the crook of my neck, and I tingled. When his hand ran across my breast, I stopped it, intertwining my fingers in his. I just wanted him to take me. Although I was fascinated and intrigued to know what else he had in store, I didn’t care about it right now. It’d been well over twenty-four hours. I needed my fix of Mr. Montero.

Carlos placed his warm, damp lips on the bend of my neck again and wrapped his free arm around my waist. The hand that was on my breast squeezed lightly, and I tilted my head back. I moaned loud enough for him to hear over the gentle music flowing through the speakers.

Pulling me against him, Carlos ran his hand down to my thigh. He lifted the hem of my dress and slid his palm up the inside of my bare thigh. Once he was close to my throbbing heat, he vibrated with silent laughter. I shut my eyes as his fingers stopped right before reaching my pulsing nub.

“Carlos…” I breathed his name.

“You’ve waited long enough, huh?”

“Yes. I have.”

He chuckled deeply then ran his finger through the wet slit between my legs. “Mmm. So eager.”

My head fell back, settling in the crevice between his shoulder and neck. He had no idea what his touch did to me. I felt heated. Tempted. I was craving him. Yearning aches and need coursed through me, and I didn’t know how long I could hold on.

As if he sensed my impatience, fueled by raging desire and sheer want, Carlos murmured, “Patience, Mya. I will satisfy you. I will fill that ache. Trust me. You won’t leave here until I know you can’t take anymore.” And as if I weren’t already turned on by his words, he wrapped his hand around my throat, applying careful and gentle pressure, and growled, “I will leave you sore, Mya. So fucking sore you’ll be crawling out of this place when it’s all over.”

I swallowed thickly. His words seemed like a threat, but I knew they were far from it. Little did he know I was ready for it—absolutely terrified, but ready.

“But for now, let’s eat.” Finally releasing me, Carlos walked around to pull a chair out. I looked into his eyes, my chest sinking and rising as he looked at me beneath his eyelashes. He gestured for me to take a seat, and I did. After I pulled my chair in, he walked around to the opposite side of the table, took a seat, and picked up a small, black device. He pressed a button, and in less than a minute, a chef and a few servers stepped onto the balcony.

“We are ready, no?” the chef asked, looking from Carlos to me.

“Yes. We’re ready, Theodore. What’s for dinner tonight?”

Theodore’s chubby cheeks lifted as he turned to the cart behind him. “Well, Mr. Montero,” Theodore started, his Spanish accent quite thick, “You told me you wanted something with a little spice tonight. So I decided to make you enchiladas with my famous jalapeño pepper sauce drizzled on top.” Theodore lifted the silver top of the plate to give Carlos a look.

Carlos nodded as he examined the dish. “It looks delicious, Theodore. Serve us up.”

“Sí. Right away, Mr. Montero.” Theodore grinned, and I smiled at his excitement. He was a man that loved his job.

After the servers placed our hot plates in front of us and Theodore told us to enjoy, Carlos dismissed them politely, and we dug in. The enchiladas were amazing. I’d never had such juicy chicken. As expected, the jalapeño sauce was a bit on the spicy side, but the wine kept my mouth cool enough. I could tell Carlos was used to the flavorful heat.

“My mother used to make enchiladas all the time when I was a child. At least once a week,” Carlos said.

“Yeah? Did they taste as great as these?” I asked, after downing my chunk of food.

He winked. “Better.”

“Wow. She must be one amazing cook then.”

“Cooking has always been something she’s loved. She actually has a restaurant in Los Angeles. It’s called
Maria, Maria
, named after my abuelita.”

“Your grandma?”

“Correct.”

“Hmm. I’ll have to stop by there one day.” I picked up my wine just as Carlos did. I realized our plates were nearly empty, and knowing dinner was almost over actually excited me. We were getting one step closer to the final deed, but I had to keep my composure. I had to pretend I wasn’t going crazy over the idea of what was to come. “Tell me more about you…”

“What makes you think there’s more to tell?” he asked.

I gave him a dry look. “I’m sure there’s plenty I don’t know about you.”

He pressed his lips but said nothing.

“Oh, you can’t be serious? You do a little digging on me, but I can’t ask you to spill a few beans?”

His eyebrows drew together. “We aren’t here to get to know each other, Mya. I made that clear.”

“That’s bullshit,” I muttered. He cocked a brow, one that was almost intimidating enough for me to zip my lips, but I didn’t. I continued. “If that were true, you never would’ve looked into my background… my history. Or called Claire.”

His head tilted. “Are you sure it’s still history?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m positive.”

He fought a smile. I couldn’t stand the sight of it. “If you’re so positive then why did you go to my website for updates?”

“I—” I started to speak but immediately clamped my mouth shut when I realized the truth. Carlos’s head tilted only slightly as he waited for my response. “I was curious. That’s all.”

“You were being nosey…”

“No. I wanted to call,” I admitted.

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Because I figured you got busy. I saw those men come to your office…”

His face stiffened a little as I mentioned the men in suits. “Did they say anything to you?”

I shook my head. “No.” I was lying. They’d asked about the sushi, but that seemed pretty irrelevant.

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

“Why? Were they supposed to say something to me?”

He drummed his fingers on the table briefly then stood from his chair. He walked around the table to my side, extended his hand, and I took it with caution, staring into his warm brown eyes. “Let’s go upstairs.”

I nodded, but confusion ate away at my confidence. Maybe it was a subject that didn’t need to be explained. They obviously worked with him and all, but to be frank, I didn’t care much about his job at the moment. All I cared about was him.

This night needed to move a little bit faster.

“What’s next?” I asked, taking his hand.

He smirked. “There’s something I’d like to show you.” We stepped back inside, and he led the way down the corridor. Instead of going past the den, though, he took a quick right, and a marble staircase greeted us. At the sight of the stairs—realizing there were bedrooms up those stairs—my heart thumped against my rib cage. He said there was more… but what exactly did he mean by that?

Did he mean more as in more of him, more of his touch? More of his lips on my neck? More of his body pressed up against mine? I didn’t have much time to ponder on it. We were already making our way up.

The lights were dim as we drifted down the hallway, passing room by room. Then, finally, Carlos stopped in front of the fourth door to our right. He reached for the doorknob but paused before turning it. “Tonight is for you, Mya. This is me making things up to you,” he said, looking down at me with hooded eyes.

I blinked rapidly and nodded. “Okay…”

“But this is still just for fun… don’t let tonight fool you. Don’t think too much of it. Sometimes I can’t help myself. I’m a man that loves to please.”

I started to ask what he meant by thinking too much, but I wasn’t given the chance. Before I could formulate the words, he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. His were soft… perfect, smooth like silk. My chest heated as he pulled away and opened the door.

What awaited inside was something a girl could only dream of. This room… the set up… it was out of this world.

It was amazing.

The walls here a dark shade of red, a completely different contrast than the silky white sheets on the bed. A canopy surrounded the bed with curtains a deep shade of burgundy. On the east wall, a white futon bed was set up as a couch with pillows that matched the walls and rose petals tossed on top. It seemed out of place for such a decadent space, but it fit for some reason. In the middle of the room, a coffee table played host to a silver bucket, which displayed a bottle of red wine. Red… red everywhere. But I loved it, even more than usual because this kind of red fit Carlos. It fit us. This insane arrangement we’d made. The red, to me, signified promiscuity and a small hint of danger—peril for my emotions and tendencies when it came to men.

After seeing all of this and realizing Carlos had this set up just to please me, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to not think too much of this. He put thought into this… time. It was apparent he really wanted me to forgive him for his prior absence.

“This room was empty,” Carlos said, interrupting my thoughts. “The walls were white. There was only a bed in here. Nothing else.”

I stared ahead at the bay window behind the futon. “You mean… someone painted this room today?” I glanced up at him.

He nodded.

“In… one day?”

“Well one night and one morning. I had two men do it for me last night. Also had them pick up the futon, the sheets, and the rug.” Carlos’s head dipped, his face growing slightly serious. “Mya, tell me if this is too much. If so, we can just go back to your hotel—”

“No!” I said, way too abruptly. Hell no. What was he thinking? In a way, this was exactly what I wanted from him. I wanted to know he was thinking of me while he was away… and he was. He had this entire room set up for us.

He flashed one of his famous crooked smiles, reeling me in by my waist. I placed the palm of my hand on his chest, meeting his eyes. “So you love it?”

“I do. I love it.” I grinned.

“Good to hear.” He watched my eyes for a moment, and then his lips fell down on mine. The kiss was tender and sweet. With these dim lights and red walls, he was really putting me in the mood. Fuck, I couldn’t wait anymore. I felt like a horny schoolgirl. I wanted to jump all over him.

The hand I had on his chest slid towards the cool buttons of his shirt. When I felt his smooth, warm skin at the tip of my fingers, I slid my hand further. His chest was bare but finely toned. I was sure there was a gym in this house somewhere. I just couldn’t figure out how he managed to find the time to work out.

Not that it mattered.

What mattered most was this moment.

This room.

Us.

An unexpected moan filled my throat, and Carlos pulled me closer, making it known that I wasn’t the only one enjoying this. It was amazing how hard he got for me. I continued running my hand up his chest and used the other to curl my fingers in his hair. He had his hands cupped around my ass, a groan rattling in the heart of his chest as he kissed me harder.

Deeper.

“Fuck,” he breathed, finally breaking the kiss.

“What?” I questioned in a pant, clinging to him.

“It’s been hours…”