Page 9 of Degrees of Control
My parents are talkative and lively at dinner. I find myself relaxing and even laughing at a few of my dad’s silly jokes and some of the tension from earlier dissipates. Chase and my dad have known each other for a very long time, and it’s clear that both respect the other a great deal. Carlos knows a lot about Chase’s business successes and talks about his accomplishments with evident pride, sharing stories about his earlier adventures with my mom and me. I am becoming much more comfortable with them being together after tonight.
I look over at Chase and his lips are twisted in a smirk. I wink at him, and he raises his eyebrows in inquiry. I am awarded an amused smile.
My cell vibrates.
Message:Are you flirting with me?
Reply:I am…
Message:I have delicious punishments for just this type of behavior.
It is my turn to raise my eyebrows in inquiry. Just what does Chase have on his mind? I narrow my eyes at him, but he is not giving anything away. My mom is asking a question and he controls his smile at my obvious disadvantage. I have not been listening again.
“Katarina, your mom was asking if you wanted to attend any of the bridal shows in New York,” he says, coming to my rescue.
I answer my mom, grateful for his catch, and wonder how he manages to follow the conversation when we are bantering back and forth. The long day, filling meal and wine are starting to take effect. I suppress a yawn and it does not go unnoticed. Chase says good night to everyone and excuses us for the evening, putting his arm around me as we head upstairs. As we enter the bedroom, he pulls me into his arms capturing my lips with his own. “Do you want me to go, Katarina?”
“Stay with me, Chase. I don’t know how to move forward after the last few days, but I’d like to try,” I say.
“You need only ask once, Baby. Let’s get you out of this dress and into bed. I want to feel your bare skin next to mine,” he says, before lifting my dress over my head and discarding it on the floor. He takes his time, tracing his finger from my lips, down the side of my neck and then softly caressing my already erect nipples. “So beautiful, Baby,” he says, lifting me effortlessly and placing me on the bed before he undresses himself and lies down beside me. He pulls me close, his powerful thigh sliding in between mine, entwining me and drawing me near, skin on skin so that I can feel the rigidity of his arousal against my belly. His lips are warm against mine, and he holds me close.
“Katarina, I don’t want to rush this. You mean more than that to me, Baby. I need you to talk to me, to tell me what you’re feeling,” he says, brushing the hair out of my eyes.
He cares enough to ask. I know I need to be honest with him, but I don’t know how to put it into words. There is a pregnant pause before he takes my chin in his. “Tell me, whatever it is,” he says.
“When I walked into the dining room you and my father stopped talking. It makes me feel like you’re hiding something. I’m scared Saturday night is going to be another repeat of Miami and people are going to get hurt, and that you and my father may be the cause of it,” I say, finally, trying to discern the emotion stirring in his eyes.
He keeps me held tightly against his lower body with his thighs but lifts up onto one elbow so he can look down into my eyes. “Katarina, your father and I were talking about Saturday night, but no one is going to get hurt. We’ve already leaked news of a pending shipment which is what will draw them to us. Alfreita and his teams will most likely be able to hear everything that goes on within your father’s compound, but that’s all. His men won’t do anything to disrupt the shipment, only learn about it, which means they will be listening and reporting back what they hear. I promise you, nothing will happen on Saturday, except for an orchestrated exchange of information,” he assures, kissing my forehead with his lips.
“My dad didn’t want to talk about it with me,” I say.
He sighs. “No, he didn’t Katarina. Your mother learning the truth about his criminal activities is why she left. He doesn’t want to take a chance that either of you would discover the extent of his past activities for fear of losing you. You have to know I have the same reservations about sharing too much with you, Baby,” he says, capturing my thighs as he rolls on top of me. His lips find mine and his hands begin to explore my body and I soon find myself overcome with longing and succumb to his slow and unhurried lovemaking.
CHAPTER FOUR
The clock on the nightstandregisters five a.m. I pull on a robe and go in search of Chase, finding him at the kitchen table engrossed in his Mac. He is drinking a tall glass of orange juice in his sweats and a t-shirt.
“I woke up and you were already gone. Good workout?” I ask.
“Yes, couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d get a little work done,” he says, barely looking up from his computer.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Lot’s going on, but nothing that should concern you,” he says.
I scowl at him, but he doesn’t notice, intent on whatever it is that he is reading.
“Chase, I thought you were going to keep me apprised as things came up,” I say.
He looks up and his eyes capture mine, softening. “Baby, I’m sorry. It’s not my intent to keep you in the dark. There are a lot of small details and logistics involved in Saturday night’s effort, but nothing for you to be worried about. You and your mother will be safe here until your father and I return.
“Yeah, about that,” I start.
“Katarina, your safety is priority one. You are not going to be anywhere near that house when this goes down, Baby,” he says, pulling me into his lap.
“How can you tell me in one breath not to worry about anything, we have more security than a small country, and then in the next say I’m not going to be anywhere near it? Clearly, it’s going to be dangerous if you don’t want me there. What about you and my dad?” I ask.
He regards me warily, and his eyes take on that hooded and controlled look that I have come to know so well. “Baby, I would never allow your mother to be put in harm’s way. She will need to stay home and care for her ill daughter. As for your father, he will be with me,” he says.
