by Kate Benson
“Good girl,” I whisper as I lift her shirt, needing to be close to her in every way possible after my shitty day. “Take this off.”
She pulls it over her head and lays flat against the mattress. My mouth moves over her chest, taking my time in tasting her skin greedily. As I slide my hand down her front and move her cotton panties to the side, my movements slow when I slip my fingers inside.
“Baby, did you make yourself come when you came home today?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you touch yourself?” Her eyes flicker for a moment, her lips parting. I raise onto my elbow, a low light catching my attention. When I glance up, I notice the crack beneath the door on my side of the bed is illuminated, making my jaw tense. “And go into the toy room without my permission?”
“I…”
“Answer me, Bella.”
She stares back at me, her guilt obvious despite her silence. I slide my finger back inside before I withdraw it and slip it into my mouth.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she insists, her voice low as I hold her eyes.
I stare down at her for a moment before finally rising from the mattress and clearing my throat.
“Go to your room,” I command quietly. “Please don’t come back out without my permission.”
“But why do-?”
“You know why,” I cut her off, shutting the light off in the toy room before making my way toward the bathroom. “Now do as I say.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong,” she insists, following me in, watching me as I begin removing my cufflinks. “I don’t understand why-”
“Because I said so,” I sigh heavy, turning to face her as my jaw begins to square.
The silence between us grows thick for a moment, her thoughts obviously rolling away from her, keeping her quiet until she finally returns her gaze to mine.
“Will you at least tell me why I’m in trouble?”
“Fine,” I shrug, my annoyance spiking at her insubordination. “What’s the third rule I gave you?”
“What?”
“The third rule. What is it?”
I hold her eyes, watching her swallow hard.
“All my pleasure belongs to you.”
“The second?”
“To treat you with respect and obedience.”
“And what’s the first rule?” I ask, a gentle shake in my voice as I take a step closer to her. “What’s the most important one, Isabella?”
“Honesty, faithfulness and trust at all times.”
“And have you been honest?” I ask, clearing the distance between us slowly, watching her shake her head. “Use your words.”
“No, Sir.”
“Exactly,” I ground out. “I know you’re going to fuck up here and there, especially in the beginning. I know you haven’t seen me all day and you’ve been here alone. If you’d texted me and asked, I would have given you permission under the circumstances. Even if you’d come clean with me when I asked, I would have been disappointed, but I also may have offered you a little leniency. You did neither. Instead, you first ignored me and then blatantly lied to my face.”
“I wasn’t lying,” she insists.
“Bella, even if I hadn’t specifically told you that room was off-limits without me, I have fucked you every day for months. If you think I don’t know what every inch of you tastes like after you come, you’re wrong.”
“I know, but-”
“If you know that, why the hell would you lie to me?”
“I told you I didn’t do anything wrong and that’s not a l-”
“Enough,” I cut her off once more. “If you think you’re going to defy me and then escape a punishment on some bullshit technicality, you’re in for one hell of a reality check, little one.”
“I’m not trying to do that. I just feel like you’re being unreasonable,” she argues, making me raise my brow. “I got curious, looked around, it turned me on and I masturbated, Adam. It’s not like I cheated on you.”
“That’s not the point, Isabella!”
“Then what is?” she demands, stamping her foot and making my temper flare. “If that’s not the point, then what are you so mad about?”
“You deliberately did something I told you not to do, disrespected me and lied to my fucking face!” I rail, the sudden volume in my voice surprising her enough to make her jump slightly, prompting me to speak lower. “You’ve abused my trust. How the fuck am I supposed to believe a single fucking word that comes out of your mouth if you start lying to me?”
“Baby, it’s not that big a deal.”
“It’s a very big deal,” I counter. “Trust effects everything, Isabella. Everything from what I can say around you to the way I fuck you. If you think that’s not a big deal, then…” I trail off, my aggravation swallowing the last of my words as I release a low breath as I meet her troubled gaze. “I’ve been very clear with you, have I not?”
“Yes, you have, but I didn’t…” she bites her lip, shaking her head. “This doesn’t feel like a relationship right now. This just feels like blatant ownership.”
“That’s exactly what it is, Bella. You knew that when you agreed to obey me.”
“I know what I agreed to. I’m just trying to understand.”
“Then understand that you’re testing my patience and just do as I say,” I order, pointing toward her bedroom. “Go to your room, Isabella.”
I stare down at her, the temptation almost more than I can bear. I want to give in. However, her lying combined with the day I’ve had has me furious. Knowing the cost of it could mean losing even a fraction of control, I can’t help my hesitance.
“So, what?” she asks, stroking my frustrations. “That’s just it?”
“Yes.” I stare down at her, watching her chest heave in anger, same as mine.
The way her eyes blaze in challenge briefly remind me of the first day she’d defied me in my office. While I was intrigued then, tonight, it’s only pissing me off.
“Adam-”
“Isabella,” I start, my fingertips shaking with a combination of frustration and need. “I need you to stop pushing me.”
“I’m not pushing you. I’m trying to talk to y-”
“You are. You’re really fucking pushing me and this is one time when you need to walk away,” I cut her off. “You really do not want me to punish you right now.”
“Fine,” she shrugs, stepping away from me and moving toward the bedroom. “Just fucking forget it.”
“Jesus Christ!” I growl, raking my hand over my face. “What the fuck has gotten into you today?”
“Nothing has gotten into me, Adam. This is just no longer a conversation.”
“Because I’m done talking!” I shout, the last of my patience slipping. “Now go.”
I’m a controlled man with more patience in this aspect of my life than any other, but she’s pressing every button I’ve got until I’ve just about reached my limit. She leaves my view for a moment before pushing through the door again and my intolerance reaches a new level.
“You know what? No. I don’t want to go to my room,” she contends. “I’ll do almost anything you want me to do if it’s reasonable, Adam, but you’re not going to treat me like a child.”
“Then stop acting like a spoiled fucking brat and do as you’re told,” I demand, my hands trembling. “I’m serious, Bella. I’m only telling you one more time to-”
“You might be done talking, but I’m not!”
“Isabella…” I hiss, my voice uneven. “One.”
“I’m not-”
“Two.”
“I don’t-”
“Three.”
“Dammit, Adam!”
“Your safe word is red,” I cut her of
f as I reach for her waist, spinning her in place and restraining her hands behind her back.
In one swift movement, I bend her over the bathroom counter, shoving her panties down before my palm rains down hard enough against her ass cheek to pull a gasp from her chest.
“Ah!” she gasps. “Son of a b-”
“Quiet,” I order as I hold her in place, her subtle nod telling me she’s heard me as I bring my hand down again.
After I’ve reached five and her ass is bright pink, I raise my palm from her and wind it into her hair. I pull her to a stand in front of me, her wrists writhing slightly in my grip as I hold her back flush with my front. As my dick presses against her ass, her eyes flutter shut as she releases a low whimper, biting her lip.
“Open your eyes and look at me, Isabella,” I command, watching her gaze return to mine in the reflection of the mirror. I use my foot to abruptly widen her stance, pulling a low huff from her. “Don’t move.”
I release my grip on her hands, tugging her hair tighter as I slide my hand around her front, teasing her pussy before giving her a sharp smack between her thighs.
“I gave you an out,” I manage low over the hiss leaving her lips, my voice strained, stuck somewhere between need and fury. “You want to test my limits? Force me to punish you like this instead of obeying me?” I husk, my warning low as I grip her hard, the wetness on my palm making my mouth go dry as I trace her jaw with my tongue, sending a shiver through her. “As you wish, princess.”
I free myself with my free hand and shove inside her, my cock throbbing as her walls hug my shaft, taking all of me despite the force behind my invasion. I hold her in place, plunging myself into her roughly as I restrain her. She tries to steady herself, but my grip on her hair tightens, pulling another huff from her as I thrust hard enough to lift her feet from the tile.
I push her forward, pinning her against the counter as I bend with her. My fingers slide around her waist and over her clit, sending her right to the brink before pulling back, denying her. By the time I’ve refused her orgasm three times, her eyes are tearing with desperation, begging me for relief.
“Please,” she breathes, her voice little more than a whimper. I release my grip on her hair, sliding my hand over her mouth as I push back inside her, fucking her ruthlessly, taking what I want. “Adam,” she manages, her voice muffled as it slips through my palm. I tighten my grip on her lips, the low moan that slips from her chest as she begins to tremble around me only spurring me on. Moments later, we’re both drenched in sweat and with a low growl, my orgasm fills her. Her body begins to soften, her walls clenching around me telling me her own pleasure is only seconds away. “Daddy, please let me co-”
“No,” I roar as I pull out, winding my hand back into her hair to pin her against the counter as I stand upright once more. “Stay.”
My palm is still blazing as it rapidly falls over her flesh hard three more times before releasing her completely, taking a half step back, caging her in.
We’re both panting.
My heart is racing with adrenaline as I watch my seed slowly drip down her still quaking thighs, both our eyes wild as they flutter slightly in arousal. She stays in place, her breathing heavy and ragged as mine, but far more desperate. I run my palm between her thighs, making her shudder as I smear my release over her, marking her skin before I shove my fingers into her mouth and drag the remnants across her chin.
I slowly release her from my possessive grip, keeping my gaze on her for a moment as I take a step back, finding her eyes as she stays flat against the counter, her chest heaving.
“Do not ever lie to me or push me like that again, Isabella,” I rasp my command, my uneven voice pulling a nod from her.
I take my time to collect myself before I slowly move to the other end of the counter to grab the coconut oil. I warm it in my palms before running it over the red marks on her ass, soothing the sting left behind. She releases a low hum of appreciation for the gesture, but otherwise maintains her silence. When I stand upright and reach for her, revelation taints her features as I turn her to face me.
I tuck her now disheveled hair behind her ear before I give her body a quick onceover. She’s trembling, her belly quaking with need, her ass redder than I’ve ever seen it before. Releasing a low sigh, I close the distance between us, my lips brushing her forehead as I fight the urge to wrap my arms around her.
“Go to your room,” I whisper. “You’re not to dress, shower or touch yourself. I’ll come and get you in a little while.”
I don’t miss the way she swallows hard as she stares up at me. A moment passes and I’m sure she’s about to bolt, refusing me altogether. I’m bracing myself for the heartbreak that will come from losing her when she surprises me by taking a step closer to reach up on her toes and press her lips to my jaw.
“Yes, Sir.”
Isabella
I have no idea why I treated him like that.
Maybe if I’m honest with myself, I needed to see that side of him just as badly as I needed to throw a fit and rebel. I’d rebelled against the wrong thing, though. No part of me is upset or hurt by him. My frustrations were reserved for the rest of the world, for all the reasons why we had to hide.
It isn’t fair, but it isn’t his fault, either.
As I step inside my bedroom, I push the door shut and take in my now familiar surroundings. I swallow the guilt that comes with having misbehaved, the way my skin pulses with the reminder of my punishment, the need for release, making my eyes sting with regret. Not due to the pain. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Truth be told, aside from the guilt, it was one of the most arousing experiences I’ve ever had. But I know it all could have been avoided if I’d been honest or at least taken his warning and walked away like he asked.
I stretch out on the mattress, flat on my stomach as I cradle my pillow. Flickers of my betrayal, of his disappointment when I lied to him flash through my mind over and over again, pulling a low sob from my chest. The silent desperation in his eyes as he begged me to behave pulls a second. His torn expression as he bent me over, finally having had enough of my insubordination pulls a third, my chest radiating with regret. He did everything he’d promised. He gave me every chance to walk away, to keep me from feeling all of this, but I wouldn’t take it.
Between work, the secrets and my own insecurities, I’d reached my limit. I could have easily talked to Adam but instead, those broken limits made me hurt the person I love most, pushing him beyond his.
I feel like I’ve cried every tear I possess, my body exhausted and eyes burning with remorse in ways his punishment couldn’t touch when I hear the latch on my door release, light splaying across the wall beside me. His footsteps are almost silent as he steps inside, silently hovering over me for a moment before I feel the edge of the mattress dip beside me. He gently brushes the hair away from my face, the desperation for release still radiating through me intensifying at his touch. I stifle a shudder, my eyes fluttering just slightly as he brushes his thumb over my cheek, drying my tears.
“I’m sorry,” I rasp, my voice broken with emotion.
“Shh,” he whispers, his fingers tangling into my hair, pushing it over my shoulder before gently rubbing my back in an effort to soothe me.
He traces the inside of my thighs, making me tremble for him. His palm comes to a slow stop, cupping the curve below my ass before he releases a sigh and slowly moves to stand. I’m terrified he’ll leave me here, but instead, I savor in the rustle of him undressing, the bed dipping once more as he cages me in.
“Come here, baby,” he husks, holding one arm in place over my head while the other reaches for the other, winding his elbow around mine, locking me in place and pressing me further into the mattress.
His lips brush against my temple as he slides into me from behind, pushing the remnants of his last orgasm d
own my thighs. The sensation that comes with him filling me, his hot breath washing over my throat pulls a low gasp from me. I want nothing more than to succumb to his body, but after the way I’d behaved, I’m not sure if it’s allowed. As I bite onto my lower lip, his tip slamming into me slow and deep, again and again, it’s as though he reads my insecure thoughts in the dark, his deep voice in my ear.
“I love you, Bella,” he promises, his hips bucking into mine.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, my eyes tearing at the emotion his words bring. “I’m sorry.”
“Shh… I know you do, kitten. No more tears,” he croons, his tongue darting out to taste them. “Be my good girl.”
“I will,” I vow, my chest huffing as he increases the force behind his thrusts. “I promise.”
He releases a low hum, easing his grip on me and raising slightly, taking my hips with him. He gently presses his hand to my back, positioning my front to the mattress as he thrusts deeper, pulling a breathy moan from me.
“That’s it, princess,” he mewls, softly gripping my hair. “Take what you need.”
“You,” I breathe. “Adam, I just need you.”
Chapter Eight
Adam
While things are back to normal between me and Isabella the next morning, it’s clear by the end of the same week, our future has become anything but certain.
After two unfavorable reports from my lawyer, another warning from Richard and a cryptic voicemail from my cousin, Simon, I’ve no choice but to burden Isabella with what now seems inevitable. The board still has no idea, but to keep it that way, to buy us as much time as possible, I know we’ve got to be more careful than ever before.
I lead her to the couch, savoring in the warm glow the fireplace splays across her cheeks. I tell her everything, her shoulders falling in defeat as she takes it all in making my chest clench.
“So, you could lose your position at the company?” she asks, her eyebrows quirking together slightly in concern when I give her a subtle nod.