Control Me(22)

“Come on, babe; it’s not like you need to fix up your hair or makeup. You always look hot. That’s a great idea, Mia.” My sister looked ecstatic. “With the light behind us all golden and aglow, and with the vineyards as a backdrop, it will be perfect. I’ll take the shot. Give me the phone, Mia. ”

I yanked the phone out of her hand, positioned Jada against me and completely took over. My sister looked pissed. She was such a pushover; always was.

“Patience isn’t your strong suit, is it, Max? You are so bossy!” Mia sauntered off, clearly angry with me.

Jada just glared at me, obviously annoyed.

“Watch and learn, Princess. I’ve told you I like to be in control of all situations; you better get used to it.” She was sorely mistaken if she thought I was malleable like the other morons she usually dated.

“Put your hand here. No, here. Now pull me close. Angle your head into mine. Hang on. I want to get the ring in the picture, too.” She settled her left hand prominently in the centre of my chest. “Okay. Hold that beautiful smile on the count of three. One. Two…”

At the last second, I turned and kissed her on the cheek.

“Dammit, Max.” She jumped away from me. “That was so not needed. Give me back my damn phone.” She snatched the phone out of my hands unexpectedly.

“Come on, Princess; you loved it! What are you upset about? It could have been worse; I could have stuck my tongue down your throat instead. Give me your phone so I can see it.”

“No way. I’m deleting it; I do not want a photo of us in the paper kissing.” Jada lifted the camera out of my reach. “You don’t get to—”

“Yes, I do.” I plucked the phone from her hands and clicked on the last picture taken. I grinned as I forwarded the picture to every single contact stored in her phone, even her email contacts.

“Done deal now, babe. Now everyone knows.”

“What?” Jada snatched the phone back from me and scrolled down. “No, no, no, no! You sent this to everyone in my contact list? Including my emails…Omigod, my agent and all my overseas contacts? Are you insane?”

“Who is it that you want to hide this from, Jada? A secret lover?” I hissed.

“No, it’s just that I’ve been—”

I boxed her in against me, my body forcing her undivided attention. “Listen up, Princess. You will not fuck around on me. Ever. Understand? No calling other guys. No flirting with other guys. No kissing other guys. No touching other guys. As far as the world is concerned, we are engaged for real, and you will marry me! You will not embarrass me, or yourself, by acting any way other than wildly in love with me, got it? I will own you, Jada. You. Are. Mine.”

She squinted those beautiful green eyes at me and pointed a finger at my chest.

“God, you are such an arrogant ass! You own jack shit, buddy! Sure, you can turn me on. Big deal! I’m sure any man could—”

I stopped her and cut her off by crushing my mouth against hers and pressing her tightly to me. I was rough with her, but fuck, she seemed to like it. “No man can get you wet as fast as me, babe, and you know it. No other fucking men Jada, only me.”

“What kind of woman do you think I am? And what about you? You had better throw away that little black book, Max Brunetti, because I will not stand by and let you have sex with other women!”

Fuck. Those lips were just so decadent, especially when she was mouthing off like this.

“Fine! As long as I get my sex on tap and you suck my cock like you did in the pool house the other morning, I won’t be needing or desiring to fuck anyone else, now will I, sweetness?” I dug out my own phone, brought up the engagement picture I’d forwarded to myself and hit send all. The picture epitomised a couple who looked wildly in love.

No going back now.

***

I needed to talk to Sinclair about the winery and the shares. I didn’t think he realised the danger Jada or Milan could be in, if those shares were in the wrong hands.

As Jada and I walked back into the house, I made a beeline for Michael.

“Michael, if you don’t mind, I need to have a quick word regarding the winery. It won’t take long, and then we can come back and enjoy the dessert and coffee.”

“Sure, Max; you know I always have time for you. I was going to suggest we have a quick chat before we leave anyway.” He smiled at me, totally entrusting me with his company and his daughter.

Poor bastard. He wasn’t going to like what I had to say, not one bit. Once we were in private, back in my father’s office, I started to spin my story.

“Firstly, I need to apologise for not speaking to you about my relationship with Jada and not asking for your permission to marry her. I know that is not a good excuse, but our relationship happened so quickly that I never thought to ask you. We just want to be together. I know you are very traditional and hope that it is not too late to ask for Jada’s hand in marriage.” Damn, I hated lying to him, but I had to. I could tell by the glint in his eyes that I had him wrapped around my fingers. I was smooth, real smooth.