Surrender To Me (Surrender Trilogy Book 2) Read online

It turns out that Carter isn’t willing to wait until we’re actually there. Once we’ve reached altitude, she asks the flight attendant to bring us two glasses of champagne to a private room. My cheeks turn pink when I realize there’s a bed. An actual bed. A bed that the flight attendant, who just brought the drinks, and the pilot are aware of.

  “You’re not planning what I think you’re planning.”

  She pulls me close, her hands sinking into my hair, her kiss deep and demanding.

  “What if there’s turbulence and we’re…naked?”

  “We just have to be quick,” she says and chuckles. “No, the weather’s supposed to be good. We’ll be fine. I missed this. It’s torture when you’re right next to me, and I can’t touch you.”

  Well, she can now, and she’s definitely not changing her mind. She unbuttons my top, tosses it onto a seat and brushes her fingers over my skin, the lace of my bra, my nipples perking up under her careful touch, the sensation causing an avalanche of others.

  “It’s okay, relax. They do their job, nothing else. They don’t care about anything else.”

  I hope that’s true for the pilot at least. My bra is gone, and her warm mouth where her hands were just moments ago. I’m not sure how much longer I can stay on my feet.

  Carter gives me a gentle push, and I’m on my back on the surprisingly soft surface. I can see the bright blue through the window.

  It occurs to me that we’re thousands of miles up in the sky, and what’s about to happen will be indeed heavenly. There’s a sense of urgency, not just because Emilia’s story is a reminder that bad things happen out in the real world, but because this flight doesn’t take long either.

  I don’t need that long anyway, my body so much in tune with hers and everything she does that it’s an easy and quick journey, leaving me with enough time to appreciate her in return. By now, I’m much aware that it’s hard for her to assume the less active part, to let someone pleasure her. I have her straddle my lap and raise herself up enough to give me access, use my fingers to tease and tantalize, gently invading her. She’s gripping the headboard tightly, her eyes fluttering shut, her expression pure bliss. I urge her to move a bit higher so I can taste her, caress her trembling thighs. Still on top, but completely at my mercy. I make love to her with my tongue until Carter has no choice but to surrender.

  I have exactly three minutes to hold her to me before we have to put our clothes back on and get into our seats for landing. Another glass of champagne.

  I’m already drunk on love and lust, and now, our real vacation is about to start. Life cannot get any better.

  Chapter Seven

  I had packed a bathing suit and a bikini, assuming I’d spend some time in a hotel pool during the trip—I didn’t think I’d wear the latter lounging on a beach at the French Riviera, surrounded by rich people doing the same, sipping cocktails and generally enjoying life. It makes me feel a bit guilty to think of Emilia and her kids. At the same time, I’m glad she came onto Carter’s radar and she, we, were able to help Emilia get out. It doesn’t matter how it happened.

  The thought of Haley makes me uneasy as well. She didn’t send any new text messages after I’d told her we’d talk when I’d be back.

  Carter appears next to me, gorgeous and dripping. “Don’t you want to go in again? It’s fantastic.” Everything physical makes her feel better. I’m glad I’m part of that process.

  “In a few maybe. Look, Carter…don’t you think I could tell Haley?”

  She wraps herself in a towel and sits on the lounger next to me. “Tell her what?”

  “Everything. What you did for me, and Emilia…I hate that she thinks you might have done something bad. You’re a good person. There’s a reason why I love you, and why I chose to marry you. They’re my best friends. They should know.” Apparently, even with the shade from the big parasol, I’ve had a little too much of alcohol in the sun.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Carter says carefully, as if expecting me to protest.

  I don’t know if I will. I bring up these subjects every once in a while knowing she will rationally deconstruct any point I might have, and she’s right. Something might slip out. I still don’t know much about her rescue operations, but she must have some sort of network to pull them off. Any information getting out could endanger those operations. I sigh.

  “Yeah, I’m not sure either. They have the wrong idea about you though. I don’t like it.”

  “I can live with it as long as they don’t call the police…and as long as you like me.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.”

  I shake my head, laughing despite myself. “I do like you. A lot. You should know that by now.”

  “I do,” she says, taking my hand and holding it tightly. “You came back to me, even when there was no obligation. That’s the best gift anyone has ever given to me.”

  There must be a grain of sand that somehow got into my eye, because all of a sudden, the world is suspiciously blurry.

  I feel better when we head back to the hotel, shower and change for a light dinner in the hotel restaurant. Late at night, with Carter asleep beside me, I reflect on what my life has become. As amazing as this trip has been so far, I can’t wait to be home and back to what passes as normal for us…the odd circumstances of our first days together, the reunion, the wedding, Europe, everything happened so fast. It’s tough, near impossible, to slow down life by her side—and I will get used to it, because my place is right here, with her. Consoled by those thoughts, I snuggle close to her, and she reaches out for me even in her sleep. I love to be married.

  After breakfast, we visit a casino, and I surprise both of us by winning 500 Euros.

  “I have more luck in love,” Carter says with an affectionate, somewhat indulgent smile when I wave the bills at her. Silly woman, worth a three-digit number of billions, she’s not all that unlucky when it comes to gambling either.

  “Let’s go burn this,” she suggests. “Would you like to go shopping?”

  “Shopping? For what? I have a ton of clothes in my closet.”

  “For fun.” I think I must have a deer-in-the-headlights expression on my face, as she lays a hand on my arm. “Breathe. We can just look at things, and if you want something new, you can always give some away. You’re at the source, you and Traci can look into some organizations that accept donations. As long as they’re not spending money on anti-gay BS, it’s all good.”

  “Okay. Yes. I will do that once we’re home.”

  When we’re home, I’ll also be back to full-time working and studying, and maybe I’ll feel a little more like I deserve any of this. Doubts remain.

  “You have to pace yourself,” Carter suggests when I look at myself in the mirror in the small but exclusive boutique. “It’s just one dress. We’re not going to run out of money, so breathe, relax.”

  The colorful sundress and the white hat go perfectly together. The saleslady waits anxiously at a distance, hoping for her commission, and I finally take the outfit, willing to make a bag for a donation when we’re back. Or two. Or more.

  Sometimes it’s still hard to believe that all those items are actually mine to do with as I please. I’m not locked in anymore. It takes longer getting used to than I expected, like all my life before Carter is nothing but a distant dream. Grow with the challenge. I can do that, right?

  She pays for the purchases without even blinking, tells the saleslady to add a pair of white and gold sandals in my size.

  “You can do something for me when we’re back at the hotel,” she whispers. “Are you up for a little play?”

  I could try to say no to her for once, but where would be the fun in that? Of course I am. I envision blindfolds and cuffs in my future, but this is not Carter’s fantasy when we’re back in the hotel.

  “The last few days made me think about how we first met in person, and I kept thinking about it…So I was wondering if you were willing to wear this for me o
ne more time.”

  My jaw drops as she opens the closet door and produces a very familiar piece of clothing. “Where…did you get that?”

  “I bought it from the manager. I said it was a surprise, because this was the place where we met.”

  I shake my head, laughing. I don’t know what to make of this, but of course I do remember the moment lightning struck, before I knew who she was, or that she was going to leave me a $1000 tip. Or that she’d already planned to take me to a faraway place for my protection—which I didn’t learn right away. Besides all her honest motives, Carter has some sort of obsession with me, and I’m basking in it.

  “You want me to wear this. Right now. You don’t expect me to go out for dinner like that?”

  “No. I said we’d play. You put this on, and let’s pretend I’m working.” She sits over at the desk, crossing her long legs. “You’re serving me a coffee.”

  Oh. Like that first time. That’s easy, and a bit strange now that we’re married and she signed half of her business over to me, just like that. I guess I can indulge her.

  “Any other kinks of yours I’m not yet aware of?” I ask as I open the zipper of my dress and let it fall to the floor, pausing a moment for effect.

  “I don’t think so, but maybe we find new ones as we go along. My coffee? I’d like a cappuccino, please.”

  I put on my uniform like so many other times before, the black dress with the collar and the white apron, tying my hair back like I would for a shift at the café. I’m actually kind of nervous. When I slipped into this outfit the last time, I was completely unaware of all the ways my life was about to change.

  “Coming right up. Anything else I can do for you?”

  I start to prepare her “order” in the expensive coffeemaker, my hands trembling slightly. There’s an excitement I’ve never known, similar to when my hands are tied and she…concentrate. Water. Coffee. Cold milk from the fridge for foam. A sprinkling of cocoa. I’m thrilled and a bit embarrassed that this simple task I performed a thousand times and probably more, has me this aroused.

  “Your panties,” Carter says quietly.

  I don’t react right away since this seems so out of context—or maybe not.

  “Take them off.”

  I do as she says. I have no idea why this scenario is making me so nervous after I’ve been naked, exposed, vulnerable with her so many times, and loved it. Doing all of it in my uniform—and no panties—is just odd, even though I can’t deny the effect. Already I’m craving her touch, ready for whatever’s on her mind. Under her scrutiny, I finish the cappuccino and then use the little tray with cups, milk and sugar to present it to Carter.

  “There you go, Ma’am,” I say, my heart beating faster. “Enjoy.”

  Carter takes a sip, clearly enjoying, while I’m standing in front of her, somewhat clueless.

  “That’s it? All this elaborate charade because you wanted me to make you a cappuccino?”

  She licks her lips, smiling. “No, that’s not all I wanted from you. Come here. Sit.”

  I perch on the desk. She swivels her chair around to face me.

  “I said sit, not lean against it. You’ll want to be more comfortable.”

  Her hands caress my legs, moving upwards slowly, stopping below the hem of my skirt, then gently open them wider. I’m still covered, but she knows as well as I do that underneath, I’m naked and aching for whatever it is she has to give to me.

  “Is that what you had on your mind when you gave me a $1000 tip?” I’m not exactly happy with the idea. It’s hard to think clearly at this moment.

  “No. The tip was for the excellent service. I did have inappropriate thoughts about you though, like wondering what you were wearing under that cute skirt…and how fast I could get you like this.”

  There’s a difference between reality and fantasy. On that day, I probably wore comfortable cotton panties, and I was more flustered than anything during that first encounter. As for my own fantasy, desks are not really that comfortable. Yet, I lean further back, opening myself to her and the play of her fingertips, gliding into me, then out, massaging my clit. I can’t hold back the moan.

  “I knew it then, that I could make you feel something you’d never felt before,” she says. Her fingers are back inside me, pressing deeper. “You knew it too, didn’t you?”

  “I…I guess…oh.”

  It occurs to me that from that very first moment, there was never a chance to go back. Sometimes, people click like that, chemistry, fate, whatever it is…You can’t undo it. She leans forward to explore my sex with lips and tongue, two of her fingers still inside me. I can’t believe the sounds that are coming out of my mouth, but I can’t stop them either, shaking, struggling to keep myself in a position where I won’t fall off the narrow surface. Shockwaves of pleasure are echoing through my body, culminating in a sharply defined climax that seems to go on forever. Carter pulls me onto her lap and wraps her arms around me.

  “I wish I could have asked you on a date first. The world just doesn’t work like that,” she says ruefully. “You still want to do it in the office sometime?” My legs are still not ready to hold me up, not that I’m in a hurry to move.

  “I don’t think so.”

  The phone rings, startling me out of the dream-like state. Carter picks up, listens, her expression serious all of a sudden. She gives me a gentle push, and I get up on weak knees.

  “Yes, I understand. Yes, you can go ahead. I’ll meet you in fifteen minutes.”

  There’s no explanation, nothing. She spends a couple of minutes in the bathroom, then returns to pick up the keys of our rental.

  “I am so sorry, but this is really important. You stay here, don’t pick up the phone, don’t let anyone in. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “But…what…Can’t I come with you?”

  She shakes her head as if that was a particularly absurd idea. “Please, do as I say.” What else is new? “We’ll talk when I’m back. I promise you.”

  “Does it have anything to do with Emilia and her kids? Are they safe?”

  “I have to go.” A quick kiss, and she is gone. I stand in the middle of the room, dumbfounded. So much for my intention to get more involved in anything in her life. I’m not sure how to handle this, all those emotions rushing at me, especially after that incredible high only minutes ago.

  Which, come to think of it, has left me with mixed feelings as well. This kind of role-play, getting me back into clothes I wore to pay my bills for a sex fantasy, has caught me off guard, not entirely in a good way, even though my body certainly failed to recognize the difference.

  Is this going to be our life together, ridiculous luxury, mind-blowing sex, and dark secrets I can never be privy to? Locked doors, once again.

  Okay, there’s no reason to be so melodramatic, I tell myself. I’m going to spend the time taking a relaxing bath, with some bubbles, and when Carter is back home, we’ll talk like she promised. It seems like a good idea. The moment I’m off the phone with room service, I remember the promise I made, but come on, this is a five star hotel. Who would want to do me harm?

  I tip the young woman who brings me the champagne on ice from the money I won at the casino, put the rest on the bill. Like Carter always says, I need to relax. My gaze falls onto the almost untouched cappuccino, long gone cold before I head for the bathroom, strip and step into the huge sunken tub. The warm water and champagne is more of a comfort than I can handle. I start to cry, distantly wondering what the woman thought seeing me barefoot and in a waitress’s uniform.

  Chapter Eight

  Carter

  Here we go. Something about Emilia’s transition into the new life was too easy, too good to be true. She, Victoria and Cody are still safe, and her ex-husband, head of a sex trafficking ring, arrested a few month ago, is still behind bars. Laydon still has connections on the outside though, and he let me know in no uncertain terms. Emilia and the kids are now in a safe location in Canada. He�
�s not interested in her or the girl—alive that is. Laydon still thinks his lawyers could get him off on all the counts, or if not, that he could bribe prosecutors, judges and prison staff, take back his business and groom his son to take over one day.

  No way in hell.

  Nick has sent Scott who’s overseeing security in Europe while Muriel has gone back home. She, Nick and Marlene will prepare everything for our guest, my friend and FBI agent Colette Grady. Somehow, one of Laydon’s goons got to her, trying to extract information as to Emilia’s whereabouts. I don’t know all the details yet, but I hear there were broken bones involved. Bastard, I think. He will regret this. Not only he will never get his wife and kids back, but he’ll have to pay. No one treats a friend of mine that way.

  “How the hell could this happen?” I yell. “Why her? She doesn’t know where Emilia is.”

  Scott understands my frustration. “I believe that was the point. They’re sending a message.”

  All of a sudden, I feel all chilled inside. No mistakes this time. The stakes are infinitely higher than ever before. “You still have a couple of guys at the hotel, right?”

  “As you know, yes. They’ve been shadowing you the whole trip, nothing out of the ordinary.”

  There was a reason I wore a gun in a holster under my wedding dress. “Okay, have them send me the reports, I want to look at every little detail. Penelope and I will be going home tonight.”

  I’m falling short on a lot of promises lately, not providing the honeymoon in Bora Bora, now cutting our days in Nice short. Penelope might be queasy about spending money at times, but living by my side, she has earned every cent of it. He just nods, knowing there’s no way I can continue my vacation now.

  I feel responsible, even though working on the case was Colette’s choice, her job to bust Laydon more than mine. We both took a lot of risks. I’ll see to that she’ll have the best care possible in my home, private quarters and a doctor whose sole task will be to get her back on her feet. They beat her up which is already horrible. It’s all that happened according to her official statement, and I hope that’s true. I’ll find out as soon as I get home.