Control Me (9 page)

Holy. Fuck.

That was… well, there were no words to describe it.

We breathed through the moment, me with my eyes squeezed shut. He was still inside me, causing me to constrict around his semi-hardness. He’d jolt each time, and I’d fight a smile because I knew how amazing he was feeling.

“Wow,” I breathed, staring up at the ceiling.

He pushed up and pulled out. “I must admit, Mya,” he started, standing from the sofa and pulling his briefs up. “You came through with your word. That was one of the best fucks of my life.”

I grinned. “Why, thank you, Mr. Montero.”

“Mmm,” he groaned. “Save that name for the bedroom.” I smiled, pushing myself up and leaning against the cushion of the sofa. Carlos flipped his wrist to check his watch. “I should get going. I need to catch some lunch before I head back to work.”

“How about we catch a meal together?” I offered, shrugging. “I’m not doing anything today…”

He pressed his lips, pulling his pants on and then zipping them. “I was just going to grab something quick, but if you’d like to go out yourself, I can always arrange for Isaac to drive you somewhere.”

I blinked, feeling slightly defeated. “Well, if you have to get back, maybe I can just pick up some lunch and swing by. We can eat while you work… I won’t stay long.” I forced a smile.

Carlos put his attention on his jacket, avoiding my eyes. “No. That’s alright. You relax here.”

“Are you sure? It’s no trouble at all,” I insisted. Maybe I was being too clingy, or maybe something just felt wrong. He had more than enough time to eat and get back to work.

Carlos looked me over once and then nodded, heading for the barstool to collect his jacket. He fished in his pocket for his cell phone, checked it, and then cursed beneath his breath. “It’s fine. I really should get going,” he murmured.

I nodded, giving him my best cheerful spirit. “Yeah. Go, go! You’re a busy man. I understand.”

He revealed a small dimple and winked. “I’ll come to you tonight. Don’t come back to the office.” He tugged his jacket on. “Long day ahead of me, and all.”

I blinked rapidly. “Yeah… I understand.”

He clutched the doorknob and pulled it open, but before he shut it behind him, he said, “I’m serious, Mya. If you need anything call Isaac.
Do not
come to the office. I’ll call you when I’m on my way back to this hotel.”

“Okay.” Geez… what was his deal?

Before I could say anything or ask any questions, Carlos shut the door behind him. I frowned, slumping against the sofa and staring at the door. That was really… strange. Why didn’t he want me to come by his office again? What would happen if I did? I didn’t fully understand, but I wasn’t going to disobey his orders.

I stood from the sofa, went to the bathroom, and took a nice, warm shower. My stomach grumbled as I entered the bedroom, so I got dressed and phoned Isaac. I needed a good meal. I was over room service. Although a meal with Montero would’ve been nice, I knew he was a busy man and he had things to handle. I assumed he had a lot of work to catch up on and didn’t want to be bothered until it was done. He was a dedicated man, after all. I was okay with that… as long as he was coming back later.

After getting dressed, I shot Claire a text back. I was boasting, but I didn’t care. I wanted her to know I was actually having a good time and that there was nothing to be worried about.

But after I sent her a text about how I was doing okay and how Carlos couldn’t get enough of me, Claire sent something back that made my skin crawl.

Claire
: Don’t get too comfy, Mya. I don’t think he’s the man we think he is. Call me when you can.

What?

I wanted to call Claire and get the scoop, but at the same time, I refused because I didn’t want this to end just yet. Things were just starting to liven up between Carlos and me. I still had two days left with him. Whatever she had to tell me could wait, I thought. I mean, as soon as I was back in Chicago, it would be like Carlos never existed. It didn’t matter.

Blowing out a heavy sigh, I grabbed my clutch and headed for the front door, purposely leaving my phone in the bedroom. I couldn’t give in. Claire loved to overreact, and I was taking this as an overreaction.

This couldn’t end.

Not yet.

***

I’m an idiot.

I swear I am.

Carlos had given his warning, yet there I was, sitting in the driver’s car in front of his building. On my lap, I had some take out sushi, and in my clutch I had a few dollars and quarters for two sodas from the first vending machine I saw inside. I wasn’t supposed to be here, but I couldn’t help myself. We’d passed the building only thirty minutes ago and all I could do was stare at it. All I could do was look up. I knew Carlos was in there. I knew he was most likely working.

But then I started to wonder…

I wondered how he’d react to seeing me with a nice meal. Isaac told me Carlos didn’t grab any lunch—that he’d gone straight to work. Then I called Jane from Isaac’s cell phone, and she told me Carlos didn’t have a crumb on his desk. He was empty handed.

He had to be hungry. I figured maybe he had too much pride for me, of all people, to bring him lunch.

Well, he was going to have to suck it up. I bought enough for two, and I needed to get to know him. I know it seemed insane, but I wanted to do this. I wanted to see him again, even though it’d been less than an hour since our last encounter.

Bad thoughts came to mind, but I brushed them aside. Nothing was holding me back. I was trying to be a new woman, yes, but my past had nothing to do with this. Nothing. After exhaling a deep breath, I started to push out, but Isaac reached back and grabbed my elbow right before I could exit.

I glanced back with a slight frown.

His face was tight. Concerned. “Miss Sterling… I don’t mean to be in you and Mr. Montero’s business, but are you sure he asked you to come by?”

I blinked at him then remembered the conversation I’d had with him after picking up the sushi. Apparently, Montero gave Isaac a warning about bringing me to his job, but I told Isaac that Montero had changed his mind and wanted sushi. I was a pretty good liar. I knew once I was out of the car that Isaac would call, but it would be too late. I was going up to that top floor whether Carlos liked it or not.

“It’s fine, Isaac,” I said, smiling his way. “He said he was hungry. I’m just here for lunch, and then we can go. I say… twenty minutes?”

Isaac gave me a look full of doubt but removed his hand and nodded. “Twenty minutes.”

My lips stretched to force a smile, and I scurried out of the car, hurrying towards the front door. I took a quick glance back and saw Isaac already had his phone to his ear. Stupid driver! Why couldn’t he just break the rules for once?

I clambered through the lobby and waited for the elevator. It took a while, but when it finally opened, I rushed inside past a few people and pressed the button for the top floor. A few men in suits entered the elevator, which caused me to shift into the corner. It was pretty cramped in here, and with the smell of raw fish in my hands, I knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant ride.

Fortunately, most of the people got off on the same floor. And that left me with the men in suits. One of them glanced back at me as the doors began to slide shut. I gave him a quick smile before looking away.

But he kept staring. Then he asked. “What you got there? Smells like… fish.”

“It is fish. Raw fish,” I confirmed.

The other men looked back. “Oh. Do you work here?” the same man with the blue eyes asked.

I shook my head. “No. Just having lunch with a friend.”

“What floor?”

“Top floor.”

The man frowned, snatching his blue gaze from mine and placing it on the man to his right. The man on his right stiffened, and the one to his left’s jaw started ticking. I ignored them, assuming they knew what friend I was talking about. He ran this building. He was the CEO.

The elevator stopped two floors below Carlos’s, and the men exited. Before the doors could shut, one of them glanced over his shoulder at me, his eyes narrowed. I pressed the button for the doors to shut, and just like that, they were gone.

And I was going up with my raw fish.

The elevator chimed, the doors slid open, and I stepped out. Carlos’s office door was closed, so I headed for Jane, smiling as I neared her. “Hi, Jane, is Carlos in?”

“He is. I’ll page him.”

“Do me a favor,” I said before she could press the button.

Her eyebrows elevated. “What’s that, sweetie?”

“Don’t tell him it’s me. I want him to be surprised.” I grinned.

She smiled and nodded. Then, she paged Carlos. His voice came through the receiver, and hearing it caused hot fuzzies to run through me. I thanked Jane then marched towards Carlos’s office. The door started to open, and my heart pounded. I had high hopes that he wouldn’t get too upset about me showing up even though he’d told me not to. We were just having fun. Having a little lunch wouldn’t kill anyone.

It didn’t take long for his door to open. I was expecting to see his tall stature make its way out of the door, but instead, a short, petite frame walked through. Her brown hair was pinned up, her makeup absolutely flawless. She wore a short green and black dress with black pumps to match, and she walked daintily in my direction, smiling ever so lightly as she met my eyes.

I blinked as she walked past me, gave a quick farewell to Jane, and then stepped onto the elevator. The doors shut before her, and then I turned forward, just as Carlos was stepping out of his office.

Once he spotted me, he froze, and a quick frown came to his face. “Mya,” he breathed, marching towards me. “What the hell are you doing here?” He grabbed me gently by the elbow and hurried into his office. Before the door shut behind him, he glanced over his shoulder, as if he was watching out for someone.

“Who was that?” I asked.

He stepped around me. “Just a friend that I work with. You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”

I frowned. Just a friend my ass. That didn’t look like just a friend. She didn’t even look like she worked—she seemed more like a leach, sucking up everyone else’s money for her own desires. I couldn’t get worked up about this. I mean, I hadn’t even known Carlos for that long. I barely knew a thing about him. We were just in this for the physical aspect. I had to understand that, so I picked up the bag of sushi and forced a smile at him. “I know you said not to come by, but I figured you were hungry, so I bought some sushi to share. I called Jane, and she said you hadn’t eaten. Isaac also told me you came straight to work so I just figured…”

My voice trailed off the longer he stared at me. Silence filled the space between us. It was truly uncomfortable. “I told you not to come by here today, Mya,” Carlos muttered. “It’s a busy day.”

“I was just being nice,” I said, frowning.

“Today is… it’s not the day,” he said, taking a step back and running the palms of his hands together.

“Why not? Look, I understand you’re busy, but are you really too busy to eat?”

“It’s not about eating or being
too busy
,” he said, his voice mildly heated. “It’s about you not following orders.”

I swallowed thickly. “Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll leave then.”

I started to turn for the door, but Carlos caught my arm, swinging me back around. “Is it happening?” he questioned.

“Is
what
happening?”

He gave me a dull look. “You know what I’m talking about.”

I shook my head. “No… I don’t.”

“Yes, you do, Mya. Because if it is, I can just send you home right now. I don’t need you to break commands. When I tell you no, that means no. When I tell you to wait for me, that means wait for me.”

I scoffed. “Why are you so upset about me showing up!? I was coming by to grant you a favor. I was being a friend. It’s
lunch
, Carlos. What’s so bad about me bringing lunch?”

“I told you I was fine. Yet, you didn’t listen. Why?” he breathed.

“I was being nice,” I said slowly.

“Nice?” He backed away, laughing dryly. “Nice. Is that right?”

I nodded, folding my arms.

“Well it seems to me you just wanted to come by to see me… you and I both know this isn’t about the lunch.”

I narrowed my brows. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying you need to get out of here and get back to the hotel right now or I will call this whole thing off.” He took a step forward, nostrils flared. “And I know you don’t want it to end yet. Trust me, I’m doing you a favor. All you have to do is listen, and everything will work out. But if you don’t, nothing will work out. This,” he said, pointing between himself and me, “…won’t work out. I need to know you won’t drag your issues into this.”

“I don’t have any issues,” I mumbled.

Carlos smirked. “Oh, you have issues. You just don’t like to admit to them.”

I looked him hard in the eyes, outraged that he’d gone to levels so deep. Why was it that he knew so much about me but I knew nothing about him? Why didn’t he want me to come by his office today? Was it a test? Did he tell me not to come just to see what I would do? Or was he hiding something… something he didn’t want me—or anyone—to know anything about? Like that woman in green, perhaps.