Isobel

ISOBEL Chapter 27

Moscow

Callen opened his eyes in time to see the blonde woman beside him climb out of the bed. A large eagle tattooed across her lower back wrapped around her hips with its wings. He watched her sway her hips as she walked across the room and enter the bathroom. He stretched and rolled his shoulders as he sat up to take in his surroundings. The room looked unfamiliar and it took him a few moments to realise where he was and with whom. It was the tattoo that gave him the clue. He was no longer G. Callen, but Peter Kirsanov, a lawyer who was infatuated with one particular ballerina named Natalia Gruzinsky. Although Natalia was long retired from performing, she taught young hopefuls of becoming as successful as she had been. Their backstopping was solid, thanks to Nell Jones, who was once again, the only one privy to the operation. The woman in question exited the bathroom and leaned on the doorpost, tilting her head. 

"What's up?" She had noticed the look on his face. She knew he wasn't happy about them being there as Peter and Natalia, but she also knew they had no choice. A job had to be done.

"Nothing," he replied, but she sighed, knowing too well he was building walls up again. It frustrated her when he did, but she also understood it was his way of dealing with things. They needed to put who they were aside for now and become Peter and Natalia.

Callen threw the sheet from off his body and walked over to her. He cupped her cheek and captured her lips hungrily. He bit into her lower lip till it bled. He was rough with her, but he was no longer himself. He gripped his hand over her left breast and squeezed her firmly. He leaned down and sucked hard on her nipple and bit her hard.

Isobel cried out in pain but she didn't resist. She was Natalia now and she allowed Peter do what he desired. He owned her by showering her with beautiful clothes and jewelry. Anything she wanted, he bought for her, including a trip to the city of love, Paris. She owed him her body in return. That was the way their relationship had started. He wooed her with beautiful things as long as she didn't deny herself to him. Peter was obsessed with her from the start and he continued to hold power over the lonely ballerina, who had lost her family to sickness as a child. He gave her what she craved—to be loved, although he showed it to her in a possessive way. He had branded her with the eagle on her lower back to a state that she was his and his alone. He bore a matching tattoo on his chest.

If only Sam could see him now, Isobel thought. She laughed a little as she pondered whether to take a photo of him looking like he did as Peter. Sam who had clearly stated to Callen that he was not a tatts guy. But Callen was not Peter. Callen loved her tenderly, not fiercely as Peter did with Natalia.

She was brought back to the present when he bit her again inside her thigh. Part of her was thrilled when he played rough, knowing it was all an act. But she understood the need for her husband to become Peter today. He needed to place his marks on her, ready for their flight to Paris later that day. Soon they were going to be on show for their target, Olivier Bouette. Once again, she was faced with someone who dealt with her father's family. Anger rippled through her body as she realised that she may never rid of all of her grandmother's associates. She pushed Peter away. 

"Enough!"

Callen came back to his senses and pulled away. 

"I'm sorry, Issy." He studied her usually green eyes, which were now a walnut brown due to the contact lenses she wore when she was Natalia. He could see something was bothering her other than the pain he had inflicted on her just now. He tenderly kissed where he had hurt her and caressed her skin with the tips of his fingers.

Isobel shivered at his touch as it sent goosebumps to her skin. 

"We'll never be rid of them," she stated. "No matter how many of them we destroy, there are too many of them."