Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1)

by Kelley, HD

  “If Spencer did this—”

  “It wasn’t him, Isabella. Spencer couldn’t have done it. According to the GPS on both his phone and car he hasn’t been within ten miles of your office in months. Plus, he was in Chicago the night you were taken to the hospital. Flight records proved that.”

  “Chicago,” I whispered, suddenly remembering the emergency Spencer had to deal with there not long after those pictures arrived. I couldn’t help but wonder if she lived there.

  “Isabella, what is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I didn’t want to tell him about the pictures. I still wasn’t ready for that. He pulled me close and kissed me on the top of the head. “What are you keeping from me, baby?”

  I wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing him tight. “I can’t live like this forever, Alec. I feel trapped. I need to work. I have to work.”

  “It won’t be forever. Marcus has his best men working on this. We’ll figure it out.” He pulled me back so he was looking into my eyes. “If working is really that important to you, we’ll work that out too.”

  I sat down on the couch, relieved he finally saw how important my job was to me. Alec reached down and picked my laptop up off the floor, the screen illuminating as he set it down on the coffee table. Shit. My email program was still open with Val’s email cued up just waiting for me to hit delete. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever would come next.

  He turned toward me, his jaw clenched, his lips pressed in a thin, hard line. “What the hell is this?” he said through gritted teeth. “Please, tell me how you defied me, how you put yourself in danger, and then failed to tell me about it!”

  “Alec, I’m sorry. You were so mad at me when I told you about Spencer that I wasn’t thinking straight. I just forgot.”

  “You forgot? That’s the best explanation you have. You did exactly what I told you not to do, then you failed to tell me about it, and that’s all you have to say.”

  “Yes, Alec, I forgot.”

  “Didn’t this email spark your memory?” Anger burned hot in his eyes, and nothing I said was going to cool that fire. “Answer me, Isabella!”

  “Geez, yes already,” I snapped. “Yes, I told her I was at the Sandestin. Yes, I forgot to tell you she called. And yes, when I remembered I’d told her I decided not to tell you because I was afraid you’d freak out, which is exactly what you’re doing!”

  “Let me get this straight. First you defied me and then you intentionally hid it from me. All because you were afraid of how’d I react?”

  “Yes.”

  Alec pulled me off the couch, into his arms. “Everybody forgets, baby. That’s what reminding is for.” Without saying another word Alec wrapped his arms around my legs and hoisted me over his shoulder. Although I wasn’t sure why, there something about being slung over his shoulder that had me turned on.

  He carried me that way down the two flights of stairs and into the study, closing the door behind him. When he finally returned my feet to the ground, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me further into the room, deliberately moving, without hesitation, not stopping until we were standing in front of the large wooden desk.

  In one swift motion, everything that had been resting on top of the desk was scattered on the floor. Alec stretched my arms out in front of me, placing my hands over the edge of the desk, forcing me to lean over. “I’m going to spank you now, Isabella. Don’t. Let. Go,” he said in a clipped tone.

  My mind was spinning. Was I really about to let him punish me like this, or at all? That night on the beach he’d be playful, and even though he’d spanked me it didn’t feel at all like punishment.

  Alec lifted my sundress and slid my panties down to the floor. If I was planning on objecting I was running out of time. But I didn’t object, instead I braced myself for what I knew was coming next. Pain shot through me as he delivered three hard blows in rapid succession across my naked butt.

  Damn. That really hurt. Two more swats followed. “Ow, Alec, you’re hurting me.”

  “It’s a spanking, Isabella, I mean for it to hurt.” Three more swats followed and when he finally stopped I stood up, glad it was over, but very much turned on.

  “Oh, Isabella,” Alec said, trailing his long finger down my cheek. He grabbed my chin and kissed me hard. “I told you not to let go.” In the blink of an eye I was stretched out across the desk again. “Don’t let go until I tell you to. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” I panted.

  He pushed my dress up to my back and trailed his finger over the small of my back. “I’m going to spank you again, Isabella. And if you’re a good girl I’ll take you upstairs and make love to you after. But if you defy me again I’m going to fuck you right here and it won’t be for your pleasure.” His voice was gruff, his breathing ragged, and incredibly hot.

  Without another word I felt the familiar sting. Shit that hurt. I wanted to rub my skin but I didn’t dare let go. The sound of sex without pleasure wasn’t exactly appealing. I prayed I’d be able to tolerate his punishment. There was a fine line between pleasure and pain sometimes and I was definitely walking that line. Whack, whack, whack, the swats kept coming. It was as if he was willing me to let go so he could punish me more. But I didn’t. I gripped the edge of the desk tighter, trying to absorb the pain.

  The blows finally stopped, but I didn’t dare let go. I was stretched across his desk, my bare ass in the air, waiting, wanting. “Good girl, Isabella. You can let go now.” I let go and slowly stood up, relieved I’d been able to take what he’d needed to give me. Alec spun me around and scooped me into his arms. “I’m going to take you upstairs and make love to you now, baby.” I buried my face in his chest to hide the tears in my eyes. I wanted him to make love to me. I needed him to after the punishment I’d just endured without a single objection.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  I must’ve dozed off because when I opened my eyes Alec was nowhere to be seen. Scooting toward the edge of the bed I was immediately reminded of my earlier punishment. It hadn’t hurt that bad during, but now even the feel of the Egyptian cotton beneath my body was causing discomfort.

  My reflection in the bathroom mirror stopped me dead in my tracks. My ass was bright red and Alec’s hand print was clearly visible. You are not the Izzy James you used to be, my inner voice snapped. I frowned at the thought, suddenly unsure of who I was anymore and what I’d let Alec do to me.

  I went back to my room to soak in the tub, hoping the cool water would help soothe the stinging on my butt, enough for me to sit down comfortably so I could work, at least. Now that I’d convinced Alec I had to go to this meeting, I figured I should probably get some work done.

  Tim wanted an update on what I’d been doing for Payne Enterprises, but truthfully there wasn’t much to report. Not enough to get me out of hot water, that was for sure. Solving the Sandestin issue would be a good distraction for the lack of work I’d done for Payne Enterprises, so I really needed to get on top of that now.

  After dressing, I carefully sat down on the couch to get started, the stinging more of an irritation at that point, a distraction of sorts. Maybe that had been Alec’s intention all along, to distract me from work. No way was I going to let him win that battle.

  Jonathan had already emailed me the information I’d asked for, so I went right to work reviewing it. As hard as I tried to focus on what I was supposed to be doing, my mind kept drifting back to Alec: his passion, his punishment, the amazing sex that followed. It was impossible to concentrate. Damn you Alec Payne. He was winning after all.

  That familiar ping announcing a new email chimed. Since I wasn’t getting very far with the witness statements, I decided a quick check wouldn’t hurt. Wrong. My mouth hit the floor when I read Tim’s message. “You’re excused from all staff meetings until further notice.” The blood slowly drained from my face as I read it a second time.

  “Alec!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. Who in the hell did he think he was screwin
g with my career? Getting me excused from going to the office wasn’t what I’d expected last night when he’d said we’d work something out. I had to put a stop to his interference— immediately. Grabbing my phone, I stormed downstairs, determined to end this ridiculousness once and for all.

  After opening the email on my phone, I stormed into Alec’s study, not bothering to knock. It was my turn to be pissed. “Did you do this?” I shouted, holding my phone close enough for him to see Tim’s message.

  He glanced at the phone in my hand then back to me. “No,” he said coolly.

  I rolled my eyes, knowing full well only Alec could get Tim to change his mind about me coming into the office. He’d been on my case about it for over a week, since before Alec brought me to this fortress on the beach. “So you didn’t have Dimarco excuse me from all staff meetings until further notice? Whatever the hell that means!”

  “That’s not what I said, Isabella. You asked if I did this and the answer is no. You did this. By insisting on going to the office even though I told you it wasn’t safe.”

  “Alec, that’s not fair. This is my career and I’ve worked hard to build it.”

  “You’re right, Isabella, it’s not fair. Now, I’m sorry about your career but it’s your life I’m working hard to protect. And it certainly isn’t fair that you refuse to accept that!” He pounded his fist on his desk; his patience with our conversation clearly running thin.

  “Alec, you can’t keep me here forever. I need to get out, to see people. I need to work.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you, Isabella? This is only temporary. It’s just until we find the psycho who’s trying to hurt you.” He wasn’t about to budge, but neither was I.

  “Fine, cancel my damn meetings if you want, but like it or not I’m going to Pensacola this week. End of story!”

  Jumping to his feet, Alec quickly rounded the desk, his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. I backed away, but he was moving too fast. Grabbing hold of my arms, he pinned me to the wall, his eyes burning a hole right through me. “That’s enough, Isabella!” He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’ve given you some latitude here because I know how upset you are, but no more. I’ve had enough.”

  “My words exactly!” I pulled out of his grip and tried to push him away, but my efforts were fruitless. He didn’t budge.

  “You. Are. Pushing. Your. Luck. Isabella.”

  “I’m not in the mood to play, Alec.”

  “Good, because I’m not playing. Now let it go before I take you over that desk. And trust me, you won’t like it.” He wouldn’t punish me if I said no, would he? I opened my mouth to speak, but realizing I didn’t know the answer to that question I closed it again. Alec kissed the tip of my nose. “Now, stop acting like a child before I put you over my knee.” He kissed me again, on the lips this time. The tension in my body melted with his kiss, and I knew I couldn’t fight him. Damn it. Why did I give in to him so easily?

  “Let’s go out,” Alec said when he finally broke our kiss. “I could use a change of scenery too.” His confession reminded me of his love for the city, of how much he’d given up to be here with me, to keep me safe, and at that moment I resolved to try harder to remember that.

  Alec pressed the button on his Bluetooth earpiece. “We’re going out,” he said simply before pressing the button a second time. Turning his attention back to me he said, “Let’s shower.”

  I squealed in protest as he hoisted me over his shoulder once again, but that didn’t slow him down. He swatted me on the butt. “I should spank you again for thinking you can yell at me like that,” he said as he carried me up the stairs. I laughed nervously. What happened after he’d punished me was by far one of the best sexual experiences I’d ever had, but I wasn’t so sure I could handle that again, not so soon anyway.

  My legs were unsteady when Alec finally set me down, the blood rushing from my head back to my body, and I had to hold on to his arm to keep my balance. As I gripped his biceps Alec untied the string holding up my pants, and they fell to the floor. My shirt and bra soon followed, leaving me in nothing but my panties, my wet panties, soaked from my arousal.

  Alec ran a finger down my cheek. “You are so beautiful, Isabella,” he said, his eyes fixed on mine.

  My cheeks heated and I looked away to hide the evidence of my embarrassment.

  “Look at me,” he said, gently lifting my chin until my eyes met his once more. “You are beautiful, Isabella, and the fact that you don’t know it makes you even more beautiful.” His lips brushed gently against mine, a sweet, sensual kiss that would’ve brought me to my knees had I not been holding on to him.

  Alec climbed into the shower, and I immediately followed. Moving under one of the many shower heads, I leaned my head back to wet my hair. I squeezed a good amount of shampoo into my palm, rubbing my hands together before adding it to my hair, letting the excess suds slide down my breasts.

  “I know what you’re doing, Isabella.”

  “What?” I asked, feigning innocence as I spread the shampoo over my breasts.

  “Don’t play innocent with me. You know exactly what you’re doing.” Alec moved closer and kissed my exposed neck.

  He squeezed body wash into the palm of his hand. “Turn around,” he ordered. I did as he asked, letting him run his soapy hands over my back, my neck, and my arms, the nerve endings standing at attention on each spot the touched, the sensation causing me to squirm. “I like making you squirm,” Alec whispered into my ear.

  Goosebumps covered my body despite the warmth of the shower. Even this had me turned on. What was he doing to me? Alec squeezed more body wash into his hands and began gently rubbing them over my tender butt and down my legs, between my thighs. When his hand brushed against my sex I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Turn around,” he said again.

  He ran his soapy hands expertly over my body until I couldn’t stand it any longer. “Alec, please,” I begged. “Take me, here, now.”

  “No, It’s my turn,” he said, handing me the bottle of body wash.

  My bottom lip protruded in protest. My libido was on fire. I wanted him. I needed him, inside me, making my body unravel around him like only he could.

  “Didn’t you get enough of me earlier?” he asked.

  “No.”

  Alec kissed me on the lips. “What am I going to do with you, Isabella?”

  “I can think of a few things you could do,” I mumbled as I worked the body wash into a creamy lather. He didn’t respond, and not because he hadn’t heard me either. If it was convincing he needed, I could fix that.

  Starting with his chest, I rubbed my hands over his body, working my way to his arms, down his sides, to his sex. I pulled his rock hard erection into my hands, gently caressing, my thumb spreading the drop of pre come over the head of his penis, feeling pride that he was just as turned on as I was.

  Alec pulled back, freeing himself from my grip. “Finish,” he ordered.

  I added more body wash to my hands and moved on to his legs then his feet. When he turned around I ran my hands over his back, his tanned, muscular back and then down his naked body. I was quickly losing my resistance. I had to have him. Impulsively, I sunk my teeth into his bare butt cheek.

  “Shit, Isabella.” He turned around quickly and pulled me to my feet by my wrists. “Did you just bite me?”

  A smile crossed my face. “Yes,” I said proudly.

  Without saying a word Alec pushed me against the shower wall, pinning my wrists above my head, his mouth finding mine. He released my mouth and playfully bit my chin, my neck, and my breasts. One hand greedily touching me, the other hand kept my arms pinned. His hand was on my sex, his finger circling my clit. The pounding of my heart was the only sound I could hear. And when he slid his finger inside me, my body was begging him to take me.

  Alec let go of my wrists. “Turn around, and put your hands against the wall,” he ordered, his raspy voice against my ear. Quickly, I did a
s he said. His hands were my hips, pulling me toward him, spreading my legs apart with his knee. “This is going to be hard and fast, Isabella. Keep your hands on the wall.” And just like that he was inside me, slow at first but quickly picking up speed, every thrust plunging deeper and deeper inside me.

  “Alec,” I cried out, the sensation overwhelming me, my insides still sore and swollen from earlier this morning. My release was rapidly building.

  “Come for me, Isabella,” he said, with ragged breath.

  That’s all it took, that one simple command, my body responding in a way I never knew it could. “Yes. Yes. Yes!” I screamed as my inner walls clenched around him, my orgasm washing over me like the tide.

  Faster and faster Alec moved until he found his own release. We stood like that for a while. I didn’t want to move. I loved the feel of him inside me. But when he pulled out, I finally stood and turned toward him.

  Alec pulled me into his arms. “What are you doing to me, Isabella?”

  I laid my head on his chest, wondering the same thing.

  • • • • •

  We took a drive along Midnight Pass with the top down on my car. I’d been so excited when I found out we were going alone. I’d been even more excited when Alec handed me the keys. It felt weird getting behind the wheel after over a month of being driven everywhere I needed to go, but I quickly settled into this recently rediscovered freedom. It was still hard for me to believe that I’d given up so much control to the man sitting next to me. I glanced over at him, his hands pressed against the dash, a sight that made me smile. Alec definitely wasn’t used to giving up control.

  “Slow down, you’re going to kill us both,” Alec said when I mashed down on the accelerator.

  “Oh, is Mr. Control Freak afraid?” I teased.

  “My job is to keep you saaafee—”

  I whipped into the other lane to pass a car.