Corrupt Empire Series: A Dark Romance Boxset

by Sarah Bailey

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he muttered as he pulled on a pair of shorts.

  He ran a hand through his hair as he stalked from the room. I never thought I’d see the day Aiden would get so worked up about not being able to fuck me when he’d spent so long denying me.

  “Avery… Come here.”

  I frowned. Why did he want me? I hauled myself out of bed, not bothering with clothes and padded out into the hall. His eyes darkened when he saw me.

  “You naked is not helping,” he said as I approached him.

  “Tell them to—”

  I faltered when I saw who was on the monitor. Aiden wrapped an arm around me, tucking me into his side.

  “Why the fuck is he here?”

  My heart stopped. James.

  “I… I don’t know. I promise I said nothing about where I was to him. You know I was careful.”

  “Shh, I know.”

  He kissed the top of my head. I relaxed against him. Aiden pressed down on the intercom.

  “Hello,” he said.

  “Oh, hi, um… look, I’m sorry to just turn up here, but Charlie said he’d tell you. I’m James—”

  “I know who you are.”

  Aiden leant down and whispered in my ear, “Go get my phone for me.”

  He released me. I hurried into the bedroom, grabbing it off the bedside table and brought it back to him.

  “I’m really worried about her. She didn’t sound right on the phone yesterday and I was awful to her. Charlie said you could help me trace the call. I know the number was blocked, but he told me you were good at this stuff.”

  I handed Aiden the phone and he fiddled with it before cursing under his breath.

  “I hadn’t checked my phone, but I see Chuck text me. You’ve caught me at a bad time, late night.”

  “I’m sorry, I know I should’ve called first.”

  Aiden looked at me, his eyes wary. What the fuck were we going to do with James being here? He released the button on the intercom.

  “How trustworthy is your friend?” he asked me.

  “I trust him with my life.”

  “I really hope I don’t fucking regret this.”

  I wanted to ask him what he meant, but he put his hand down on the intercom again.

  “Hey, listen, can you give me like twenty minutes? You see, I just woke up. There’s a coffee shop down the road if you want to wait somewhere warm.”

  James looked a little lost, but he nodded.

  “Okay, sure thing.”

  Aiden released the intercom again and turned to me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  He grabbed hold of me and pressed me up against the wall.

  “First, I’m going to fuck you, then we’re going to come up with a believable story as to why you’re here.”

  I didn’t get a chance to reply because his mouth crashed against mine. His fingers dug into my skin, holding me in place as he devoured me.

  Wait, why did sex come first? And what did he mean a believable story? Was he going to let me see my best friend?

  I pushed at his chest. I needed answers. He pulled away, staring down at me with hazy, lust filled eyes.

  “Aiden, what do you mean?”

  He grabbed both my legs and hauled me up onto his hips. I had no choice but to wrap my legs around him to keep steady. My hands rested on his shoulders.

  “Shh, fucking first.”

  He reached between us, shoving his shorts down enough for his cock to spring free. He gripped my hip as he guided his cock inside me and thrust upwards. I yelped. He groaned and slapped a hand over my mouth.

  “You’re going to take it like a good girl,” he growled.

  Submission. Total submission. He commanded. I obeyed. My back rubbed against the wall with the force of his pounding. He let go of my mouth, gripped my other hip and thrust harder. He felt so good. My fingers thread in his hair. His mouth latched onto my neck, peppering it with hot kisses.

  “Fuck, being in you is fucking ecstasy.”

  I moaned his name over and over as he took me on the ride of my life. Last night had been incredible, but this was hot, fast and furious.

  “For fuck’s sake, I’m so close.”

  He grabbed one of my hands and shoved it in between us.

  “I need you to come for me,” he grunted.

  I touched myself for him as he continued to pound into me. The pressure built. Blood pounded in my ears. My body thrummed.

  I felt him struggle to hold on. His growl in my ear spurred me on.

  “Fuck, I can’t.”

  His cock pulsed inside me as he came. It set me off. I cried out his name as the waves took me under and drowned me.

  Coming up for air, my head lolled on his shoulder. He pulled me away from the wall and carried me to the bathroom, still connected to me.

  When he set me down, I felt his cum dripping down my inner thigh. Oh shit. No one ever fucked me standing up before. This was all so new to me. I stumbled away, grabbing tissues to try catch it all. He was smirking at me when I turned to him again after cleaning myself up.

  “Mmm, I could get used to seeing you like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Thoroughly fucked, but you know what I want to see more? My cum splattered all over your chest.”

  I felt my face burning. He really did have a dirty mind and most definitely was not afraid to share his dark thoughts with me. I hadn’t let anyone do that to me either.

  “Mind out of the gutter, Aiden.”

  His grin got wider.

  “Go get dressed, we need to talk.”

  I nodded and slipped from the room. I just pulled a t-shirt on when he came into the bedroom. He went straight to the cupboard and pulled out his own clothes.

  “Are you going to tell him the truth?” I asked.

  “Not exactly, but I know I can’t keep him from finding out you’re here.”

  “Why not?”

  “Are you telling me you’ll stay hidden?”

  I shook my head. I wanted to see James so badly, it burnt in my chest.

  “Well then, I don’t have a choice. If I send him away and it gets back to Chuck, he’ll be suspicious.”

  Aiden had a point. And I felt responsible since I’d been the one who wanted to talk to James last night.

  “I’m sorry, this is my fault.”

  He put a hand up.

  “Don’t. You didn’t know he’d go to your uncle.”

  It didn’t make me feel any better. If I had just handled his revelation about my family killing his mother better, none of this would’ve happened.

  I froze. Would we have finally had sex though? Why the fuck was I even thinking about that? Since when I had I become so… sex crazed?

  Since you met Aiden, my brain helpfully supplied.

  I wanted to groan.

  “What are you going to tell him?”

  “Just play along. I have some ideas.”

  “Aiden, he’s going to expect me to explain.”

  The buzzer sounded. He shook his head.

  “We’re out of time. Stay here until I say, okay?”

  I wasn’t sure how Aiden could be so calm about this, but I had to trust him. Trust he knew what to say. What to do. He slipped from the room and I walked over to the door, closing it over. I flattened myself against the wall next to it. I wanted to hear what they said.

  Minutes ticked by until I heard him open the front door.

  “Uh, it’s nice to meet you, Mr Lo—”

  “Just call me Aiden.”

  “Well, thank you for taking the time to see me, Aiden.”

  James was being his usual polite self to people he didn’t know. Get him around his friends and he swore like a sailor.

  “Just come through.”

  I heard the two of them walk down the hall, past the bedroom door. I barely dared to breathe.

  “I’m no
t sure how this works, but I can give you my phone,” James said.

  “Okay, look before we get into that, there are some things you need to understand.”

  “Um, okay.”

  I wondered where Aiden was going with this too.

  “Firstly, what I’m going tell you stays within these four walls. You don’t tell Chuck and you most definitely do not tell the police.”

  “Whoa, what—”

  “I know where she is.”

  There was a long moment of silence.

  “What do you mean you know where she is?”

  “Avery. I know where she is and where she’s been this whole time.”

  “How? That makes no sense. Why wouldn’t you tell the police or Charlie? You do work for him, right?”

  I heard them shuffling around for a moment.

  “I do. It’s complicated. She asked me not to. Asked me to make she stayed out of the public eye until this blew over. Perhaps it would be better if she explained it to you herself.”

  That’s what he was telling James? Fuck. How was I going to turn this into something believable? James would see right through me. He always knew when I lied. This was an idiotic idea.

  I guessed it was time to reveal myself.

  “What do you mean? Wait… you’re not telling me she’s here, are you?”

  I pulled open the door and stepped out into the hall. Seeing him made me falter. James looked like he hadn’t been sleeping well. His blue shirt rumpled, his hair sticking up in places. He hadn’t noticed me yet, but Aiden had. He put a hand out to me. James looked at him funny before his eyes followed Aiden’s hand. As I walked towards them, James spied me. The blood drained from his face.

  “A… Avery?”

  Ignoring Aiden’s outstretched hand, I ran to James and barrelled into his chest, almost knocking him off his feet.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, trying to fight back tears.

  “No, I’m sorry. Shit, I missed you.”

  “Me too.”

  Despite being relieved James was here, I was still very much aware of the other man in my life and the tension radiating off him. It scorched into my skin. Shit. He really wasn’t happy about me hugging James.

  I pulled away, taking a few steps back until I managed to bump into Aiden. One of his hands curled around my waist.

  “Careful,” he said in my ear.

  When he didn’t let go, I stepped out of his grasp, not wanting James to suspect anything was between us. If we were going to convince James of our version of the truth, then he couldn’t know about us sleeping together.

  “Look, James, what Aiden said is true. I asked him to help me. When I found out about my parents, I just couldn’t deal with it. I’m sorry. I knew of some people who worked outside of the company for my Uncle Charlie, so this was the first place I came. I begged Aiden to help me.”

  I hoped James bought this because we’d be fucked otherwise. I wasn’t sure how he’d take finding out Aiden kidnapped me and my family’s dark deeds. Not with the shit going on in his own family.

  “And what, you helped her out of the kindness of your heart?” James asked, eying Aiden with suspicion.

  “If you’d seen the mess she was in, then you might understand why I couldn’t just leave her outside my building,” Aiden replied, his eyes hardening to steel.

  James ran a hand through his hair, confusion evident in his expression.

  “Why hide yourself all this time? Why didn’t you just tell me?”

  “I was barely able to function for the first two weeks and then it just got harder to go back to reality,” I said. “We staged the video so it would keep the police away. I know you don’t understand, but I had to, James. I had to do this. For me.”

  The lies stuck in my throat. I hated it. Without thinking, I reached for Aiden’s hand and tucked my fingers in his. Instantly, I felt calmer. My safe place was with him.

  The gesture didn’t go unnoticed. James’ eyes went wide whilst Aiden’s lip curled up at the side. He knew exactly what it meant. I was his. I hoped James wouldn’t interpret it that way, but if I pulled away now, it would only make it worse.

  “Can I speak to you alone, Avery?”

  I eyed Aiden. He gave me a subtle nod. He knew I’d be careful of what I said. I’d proven I was trustworthy.

  “Sure, why don’t you come make tea with me?”

  James nodded. I indicated with my head he should go first. When his back was to us, Aiden leant down and kissed the top of my head.

  “Will you make me a shake?” he asked.

  “Of course.”

  Neither of us had eaten this morning. He’d taught me a few days ago how he liked it done. He let me go and I went into the hall with James. He followed me into the kitchen, leaning against the counter as I flipped the kettle on.

  “What the fuck is going on, Avery?”

  I took a deep breath before I turned to him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Between you and him.”

  I shrugged.

  “He’s been helping me deal with it, that’s all.”

  “Helping you? Helping himself into your knickers more like.”

  “James!”

  He shook his head, scrunching up his face.

  “Christ, is that what you two were doing when I interrupted you? What about Peter?”

  “What the hell? No. What do you take me for? You know me, is that something I’d do? Sleep with someone out of what? Gratitude for helping me? That’s fucking sick. And things with Peter are over. You saw the video. How can I be with anyone after this? I’m so messed up. It wouldn’t be fair.”

  I turned away from him, anger flooding my veins. I had to deny it. I had no other choice. Pulling out the bits I needed, I started on making Aiden’s protein shake. I also dumped cereal into a bowl for myself.

  “It’s just hard not to jump to conclusions when you’re fucking holding his hand.”

  “I’m allowed to hold hands with whoever I want. He’s been there for me. It’s complicated, James. There are things I can’t tell you.”

  He put a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him.

  “What things?”

  “Stuff about my family. Reasons why we think my parents were murdered. I don’t want you getting involved with it. It’s fucked up enough as it is.”

  His eyes betrayed the hurt he felt at me not confiding in him. How could I? He didn’t need to be involved. Enough people were already. I didn’t want James knowing how evil they were.

  “You’ve never kept anything from me.”

  And now I was keeping everything from him. It killed me to do it.

  “I’m sorry. Look, James, I hate to ask this of you, but you can’t tell my uncle I’m here. You cannot tell anyone. We agreed to tell you because I told Aiden I could trust you.”

  He looked stricken for a moment as if conflicted on so many levels before he sighed.

  “I won’t tell anyone, but you have to promise you won’t go off the grid with me again.”

  “I promise.”

  He tugged me into his arms, burying his face in my hair.

  “Fuck, I missed you so much. So fucking much. I went crazy without you. Avery, Christ, don’t fucking leave me again. It’s been hell. My family have been hell. My dad is being a cunt again. I can’t deal with it. Not without you.”

  Hearing that made me feel like the world’s worst friend. I should’ve been there for him.

  James nuzzled my neck. I froze. This wasn’t just a friendly hug. I wrenched out of his grasp.

  “James…”

  “I’m sorry. Fuck. I just, seeing you, being close to you.”

  “Don’t.”

  We might’ve had that shared connection once. A mutual need to escape, but everything changed for me. I wasn’t the same girl I’d been before my parents had died.

  He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.

/>   “Just help me make tea for both of us. I have to finish this for him.”

  I indicated the blender where I’d shoved the ingredients for Aiden’s shake. James nodded and did the tea for me. I finished up and picked up my cereal and the glass for Aiden.

  We went back through into the living room. Aiden sat on the sofa. His eyes narrowed when he saw us. He knew there was something wrong. I had to sort myself out. Aiden couldn’t find out James and I used to sleep together.

  He could never discover the truth.

  He’d never let me see James again.

  And I couldn’t live without my best friend.

  Chapter Twenty

  Aiden

  I had no idea what her and her friend had discussed in the kitchen, but Avery looked as though it hadn’t gone well. She plastered on a fake smile. I knew for sure there was something wrong.

  What the fuck had he said to her?

  I hated seeing her with him. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever like seeing her with another man even if they were just friends. The way she was acting had me wondering how close the two of them were.

  She handed me a glass and sat next to me. James sat next to her, setting down two mugs on the coffee table. The tension between the three of us flared and permeated the air.

  When he was gone, I would ask her what the fuck happened. He’d already interrupted my plans. I wanted to keep Avery in bed all day. Intended to make up for lost time. Fuck. I couldn’t think about that now. I was already sporting a semi from her sitting next to me, her thigh pressed up against mine. It wasn’t strictly necessary for her to sit so close, but I had a feeling she needed distance between her and her friend.

  Fuck. What happened?

  “Um, so… How’s Gert?” Avery asked.

  “She’s not been dealing with you disappearing very well. Was convinced you were dead until yesterday,” James replied.

  Avery rubbed her forehead, eyes full of pain. The lying was getting to her. I could tell. And knowing she’d upset her friends hurt her. Fuck. This was really all my fault. I’d make her feel better later. Take care of her like I was supposed to.