Capturing Callie (14 page)

After lunch the men excused themselves to Ian’s office, pleading business, which left Callie in limbo. Catherine looked over at her and smiled. “I asked Jace to leave us a golf cart so we can go exploring. I do my best thinking when I’m moving. Come on, let’s go play.”

Callie learned quickly that Catherine Lamont was not a woman who was easy to ignore. She also discovered that the woman’s gorgeous body and face hid a wicked sense of humor and a Mensa-worthy IQ.

Late in the afternoon as they sat dangling their bare feet over the edge of the dock, Catherine told Callie about why they had started the domestic violence and sexual assault centers they founded in Denver. How they had found a young, badly abused immigrant cowering in an alley one night and how that woman had become a member of their family for all intents and purposes. Callie had laughed until she’d cried at Catherine’s stories about how Selita managed to completely butcher common American slang. But it had been the story about her daughter’s rape that had touched Callie’s heart. The monster who had raped the young woman was a member of the Lamont brothers’ Special Forces team and had used Jenna’s love for her brothers to keep her silent. He’d assured Jenna that her brothers would not make it home from their next mission if she told anyone what had happened. The madman had returned recently to silence her once and for all, but he’d come up against a very different woman this time. Callie’s tears of empathy and compassion for Jenna had been replaced by admiration at how she had trained tirelessly in self-defense so she’d never be a victim again. Jenna Lamont had even competed at the collegiate level and had beaten most of her brother’s fellow teammates before word had spread and they all but quit sparring with her.

Callie had tilted her head back and was laughing when she heard what sounded like a firecracker and then felt air rush by just in front of her chin. Catherine had grabbed her and thrown them both in the water just as she heard another shot and the roar of a boat motor a split second before she’d gone under the water.

When both of them surfaced, Catherine had grabbed her and asked, “Are you all right? Can you swim?” Callie had only managed to nod quickly when Catherine pulled her close. “Hang on to my shirt and stay under the water as long as you can. I know the men will be here soon.” They ducked under the water and moved so they were under the planking of the dock. By the time they surfaced the second time, Ian and Daniel were shouting their names. Callie was still too stunned to respond, but thank God Catherine had her wits about her. “Down here, Daniel. We’re both fine, but we’d sure appreciate getting out of this water. Damn, I just had my hair done, too.” She looked at Callie and winked. Callie shook her head, Catherine Lamont was the second-best thing that had happened to her in a very long time.

* * * *

While they waited for the women to finish dressing, Ian and Daniel met with Jace and several other members of the security team. They’d reviewed the tapes and forwarded the images of the boat to the local Coast Guard station. Of course the registration numbers on the side of the boat and the name on the back had been covered so it was unlikely they’d ever be able to get a positive identification of the vessel. Daniel had already called Alex and Zach, and no one doubted all the resources of the Lamonts were fully in motion. Ian didn’t imagine either man had taken the news very well that their mother had been in the line of fire.

When Ian heard doors opening and closing upstairs, he moved into the hall just in time to see Catherine emerge from the guest suite and join Callie. “Well, I don’t know about you, but that’s the most excitement I’ve had in a very long time. You, my dear, are a very interesting person to, as the girls would say, ‘hang out with.’” Catherine looked like she was enjoying all the excitement, but Ian could tell Callie had been deeply shaken by the incident.

Seeing Callie’s eyes fill up with tears and her entire body start to shake, he moved quickly to her and wrapped her in his warm embrace. Catherine looked up mortified at Callie’s distress. “Oh my, I didn’t mean to make her feel badly about what happened. I just wanted you to know we are with you on this thing.”

Callie pulled back and smiled at her. “I’m just sorry that I’ve brought trouble here. And I sure don’t want someone else getting hurt because of me.”

“Oh posh…I meant what I said. I never get to see any of the action. The girls back at ShadowDance have had all kinds of adventures, and I feel like a stick in the mud. But, now? Oh, sister, now I have a great story to tell at the next girls’ night in ’rita party.” She giggled, and Callie had to laugh at her new friend’s outlook.

As they all sat around Ian’s office discussing this afternoon’s events, Mitch Grayson called and asked to be put on the video feed. “I think I might have something for you. I used the face recognition software I’ve been working on and think I may have a possible on the woman at the club.” Looking at Callie, he asked, “Do you know a woman by the name of Trish Simmons?”

Ian watched as Callie paled visibly. “Yes, she was Charlie Ives’s girlfriend in high school. I thought I heard they’d gotten married, but I’m not sure about that.”

“They did indeed get married. And it seems good ole Charlie left Trish with a lot of debt when he died a few months ago. And oddly enough, she was recently offered a job in Senator Westmore’s office. And according to recent banking records, her debt seems to be mysteriously dwindling, and she has become good friends with Nanette Westmore.”

Daniel Lamont spoke up, saying, “This is enough to launch an investigation into where her money is suddenly coming from since she is now on the federal payroll. I’ll get the ball rolling on that, Catherine and I are heading into DC tonight for dinner with friends. It just so happens one of those is the head of the Ethics Committee and he is no fan of Senator Westmore’s, I assure you. Hopefully we’ll be able to stir up enough smoke that he’ll be busy covering his ass and he’ll forget about Callie. I’m sure he’ll have someone he needs to groom for the big toss under the bus.”

“Well, if they can’t find the money trail, they aren’t looking because I found it and have it all documented. All of the deposits lead right back to the senator’s Chief of Staff, Carl Remley. Let them know you have access to the information, that will probably motivate them.” Mitch smiled as if he’d just found the keys to the kingdom.

“Oh, indeed it will. They hate it when I know something they don’t. Damn I do appreciate what you do, Mitch. I swear if it wouldn’t piss my boys off so much, I’d get you transferred into something a bit more profitable.” Daniel Lamont had all but retired, but he loved keeping his fingers in the pie just enough to make Alex crazy and everybody knew it. He had also stepped up to take a larger role in Lamont Oil since his daughter had gotten married and was expecting her first child in a few months. “Now, when is that beautiful wife of yours going to bless us with our
bonus
grandchild?”

Everyone could hear Rissa yell from the background, “My water just broke so we’re waiting for Mitch so we can head down the mountain, Sir.” Callie wasn’t sure who was the most shocked, Daniel or Mitch.

Poor Mitch seemed genuinely flustered. “Oh shit. Oh, I mean shoot. I have to go. I’ll keep you all posted. Bye.” And they were all left staring at a black screen.

Daniel and Catherine Lamont had been gone for three days, and Ian had to admit the house had seemed awfully quiet. And then Ian had been wrapped up in a couple of business meetings in New York and had been gone for the past day and half. He’d asked Jace to make sure Callie was safe, but he didn’t want her to have internet access yet. He’d explained that he would be gone and that he would call and check in with her several times a day, and she had yet to answer a call. He was damned tired of talking to Jace and Inez. Their reports were that she rarely left her room except to jog along the trails of the island and to retrieve books from the small library next to Ian’s office. Dee Tate had gotten her to agree to come back to the Club on Saturday night since she and Mike would be doing a scene.

Ian and Jace always circled the island before landing as a security precaution, so he’d seen Callie standing out on the beach looking off toward land. As soon as he got to the house, he shed his jacket, tie, and shoes and headed her direction. He wasn’t sure she had heard him walk up behind her and that inattention to her own safety concerned him. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her back against his chest. “I missed you, pet.”

“Oh, God, Ian, you scared me. I didn’t hear you. When did you get back? I didn’t see a boat come over.” She sounded disconnected and sad.

“Well, we flew the helicopter right over you, sweetness. I have to tell you, I’m not that pleased to know you are so distracted that you didn’t even hear us. Now, suppose you tell me what has your mind all tied in knots.”

She took so long to answer he wasn’t sure she was going to, but then she took a deep breath and confessed, “I was just wondering what is to become of me. I obviously can’t ever go back to the job I had. I’m sure all my possessions are gone by now. A few days ago I was planning to just head back to my aunt and uncle’s in Kansas. They said I could always come home. But now, I know that I need to stay for the whole month. I have always prided myself on not breaking a promise or my word…so that means I need to stay. But…well, it has to be different from now on, Ian. My heart won’t take any more damage right now. I know that, and I’m going to protect it, I hope you’ll understand.”

Ian was stunned by her honesty. He’d never known a woman as brave as the one he held loosely in his arms at that moment. He leaned down and nipped at the sensitive spot on her shoulder that he knew was a hot spot for her and smiled when he heard her soft groan. “Well, pet, I’m glad you have decided to stay for the entire month, because I had no intention of letting you go easily. I do understand your need to protect your heart, and I am not sure I can be the man you deserve, but I’d like to think we can enjoy each other for the time we have left, and perhaps we’ll find the answers we both seek.”

As he’d been talking, he’d been slowly moving her toward a large rock that most people didn’t even notice sitting right in the center of the beach. The rock had been flattened on top, and it was exactly the height for either he or Jace to bend a sub over and fuck them. And even though Ian knew Jace had used it several times, Ian just hadn’t found the right woman—until Callie.

“Now, I’d like to talk to you about the fact that I told you I would be calling several times each day to check in and you did not take one of those calls. Just so you know I was counting, I made twelve calls and you’ll get two strokes for each of those that you did not answer. Plus the six you’re getting for not being more aware of your surroundings and taking better precautions with your safety. Remember, your safety is my chief concern. I will insist that you take it as seriously as I do.”

He still had his arms wrapped around her from the back, and he could feel her heart pounding and that her respiration had gotten more rapid and shallow. Leaning down so that he was speaking directly in to her ear, he whispered. “I’m going to punish you for not taking my calls. That is not, nor will it ever be acceptable, pet. You will
always
and I do mean always take my calls immediately, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes.” He just waited the long seconds it took for her to realize her error and to answer correctly. “Yes, Sir. I understand.” God, he loved the breathless sound of her voice as she slid into a submissive state of mind. He had never wanted a 24/7 slave before. Hell, he’d never used the same sub more than a handful of times so that they didn’t ever have an opportunity to get the wrong idea. And usually by the time he’d spent as much time with them as he had with Callie the first day they’d met, he was trying to figure out how to get away from them. But with Callie, he was trying to figure out all the ways he could keep her close.

“Remove your shorts, pet. Hand them to me.” He released her and turned her so that she stood facing him. As she unsnapped the short shorts and slid them down her legs, he felt all the breath leave his lungs. The moonlight illuminated the white lace panties she was
almost
wearing, making them almost luminescent. “Now those beautiful lace panties. And I will remind you that you are not to wear panties unless I have specifically given them to you. You’ll get two extra swats for that, pet. I believe that brings your total up to thirty-two. That is an awful lot for one session, so I believe I’ll divide it up a bit. You’ll get half tonight and the other half tomorrow night during a little get-together I’ve planned.”

He heard her soft gasp but she didn’t argue. When he slipped his fingers between her legs he found that she was soaking wet. Her arousal was nearly dripping off his hand. “Oh, I do believe you like the idea of getting a spanking in front of our friends. Don’t you, pet? You are already wondering how I’ll do it aren’t you? Will I lay you over my lap and pull up the sheer dress I’ve bought for you to wear? Or perhaps I’ll strip you and make you assume the punishment pose in the middle of the room so that the other Doms and subs can see that beautifully smooth pussy of yours. Or then again, maybe I’ll make you spend the entire evening naked and let each of the Doms have a few of the swats for themselves. I won’t let them fuck what’s mine, but I’m not opposed to sharing your punishment if I think it will help reinforce the lesson. Something to consider the next time you deliberately ignore my attempts to speak with you.”

She had continued to pant her breaths, and her pussy was so wet he was enjoying the sound his fingers were making as they slid back and forth. He had fucked her with his fingers several times, and the slurping sound had almost been enough to make him blow his load in his trousers. “Turn around and spread your legs apart, pet. I’m going to give you sixteen swats and then I’m going to fuck you before I take you back to the house. Jace is meeting us in a bit, we’ll be introducing you to something new tonight.” She had her legs spread, and he bent her at the waist so that she lay against the cool rock. “That rock is cold isn’t it? It’s going to make your nipples rock hard and keep them that way so that I can pinch them at my leisure.” Sliding his hand between her breast and the rock, he pinched first one and the other nipple until he heard her gasp. “I’m going to see these clamped tomorrow night. I bought you some beautiful clamps with lovely stones that match your eyes. They will be lovely underneath your dress. Everyone will be able to see the gift your Master has given you. Now, we begin.”