Redemption [Part Four]

by Kate Benson

  “Thank you,” I manage.

  “Of course,” she nods. “Do you have any idea how this happened? You were both so careful.”

  “I’m not sure,” I admit. “I called Richard, he’s the only one I told outside of you and security here,” I sigh. “I know he wouldn’t… none of you would, I just… I have no idea how this happened. There must’ve been a breach at the office. Simon should have never had access to that entry, yet he not only found a way in, he had a reason. He already knew when we stepped off that elevator that she’d be with me.”

  “Do you think Miss Isabella would have told any of her coworkers? Maybe someone slipped?”

  “No,” I shake my head. “She told her best friend and her parents at first, but she’s even been keeping it from them. She told them we split up two weeks ago when everything started. No one knew, Vera.”

  “Well, it seems like someone found out, kiddo. Someone who doesn’t care much about you or the repercussions of being so hurtful,” she sighs, patting my shoulder and giving me a soft, compassionate smile. “I’m sorry this is happening to you, but if there’s anything I can do to help…”

  “Thank you,” I return her smile, knowing it hasn’t reached my eyes despite my gratitude for her. “Go home and enjoy your night. Make sure you have John go down with you. If anyone gives you any trouble, let me know and I’ll handle it.”

  “Thank you. I will,” she promises. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She moves toward the door, turning to glance over her shoulder before she leaves and smiles sweetly.

  “You know, your mama was always so proud of the boy she was raising. You’ve grown into a good man, Adam,” she offers, making me swallow hard. “I tend to be of the belief that good gets good in return. You’re smart to take so much caution, but I wouldn’t worry too much about what’s to come.”

  “Thank you, Vera,” I manage, my voice thick with emotion. “That means a lot.”

  She nods, shaking her own emotion at remembering her best friend before pushing out a deep breath and taking her leave.

  I take another sip from my glass, moving toward the bar when I find it already empty and pouring myself another. I’m leaning forward, trying to get a handle on what to do next when I hear something coming from my bedroom.

  I make my way to Bella, finding her stirring in her sleep. I take a seat on the edge of the bed, running my palm over her stomach until she calms, both of us releasing a gentle sigh as she takes my hand. I lean forward to rest my elbows on my knees, my focus locked on her as I gently stroke her skin and slowly drain my scotch once more.

  A long while passes where I just watch her, desperate for a way to relieve her of the impending mayhem and keep her by my side through all of it. I’ve wracked my brain in every direction when I finally lift, exhausted. I pull my clothes off and slide in beside her, savoring in the way she turns to fit perfectly against my front, her lips pursing against the inside of my arm as I press mine to her hair.

  My mind has been racing all day, both of us on edge for months. They say you find solace in things coming to light and I guess somewhere deep down, I’d hoped if our relationship ever leaked out, I’d have that. Right now, though, I don’t feel solace. Right now, I feel more uneasy than I ever have before.

  Her soft sigh pulls me from my wayward thoughts. I sink further into the mattress beside her, savoring in the feel of her bare skin against mine. She murmurs into my chest, her soft secrets spilling out as she dreams making my heart clench as I pull her closer.

  I have no idea how to fix this, but right now, that doesn’t matter.

  Right now, she just needs me beside her.

  Right now, I just have to keep her safe.

  ISABELLA

  When I wake to find him still wrapped around me, I can’t help the long, low breath of relief that moves through me.

  It isn’t something that happens often, but he couldn’t have picked a better day to sleep in.

  “Good morning, princess,” he whispers, his palm splaying over my stomach as he bends to kiss my shoulder. “How did you sleep?”

  “Like I was drugged by my ridiculously handsome boyfriend in the midst of a scandal,” I manage, the corners of his lips turning up slightly on either side when I turn to face him. “Thank you for taking care of me last night,” I sigh, kissing his jaw. “I’m sorry I was such a handful. That’s the last thing you needed.”

  “Hush, kitten,” he orders gently, reaching between us to angle my chin up and press his lips to mine. “It’s my privilege to take care of you. I just wish you didn’t have to be pulled into all of this. If I could, I would shield you from it altogether.”

  “I wish that, too,” I admit, burrowing into his chest, humming when he wraps his arms around me tighter. “It’s not your fault, though.”

  “Then why does it feel that way?” he asks, the slight tinge of vulnerability in his voice both warming and stopping my heart all at once. “If it’s not my fault, why do I feel like I’m the only person who had the power to prevent it?”

  “Because you love me,” I sigh. “None of this would be happening otherwise.” I give his chest a kiss and glance up to find him staring down at me, turmoil in his eyes. “Maybe it would be best for me to go back to my apartment.”

  “No.”

  “Just until things settle,” I argue, watching him shake his head. “Adam, they’re only being this crazy because of me. If I go back to my place, maybe then you can focus on what you need to without so much attention on us.”

  “There’s only one thing I’m interested in avoiding and it has nothing to do with the media or you going back to your apartment, Bella.”

  “Well, what is it then?” I ask, enraptured as I gently begin tracing his lips.

  “You. Running scared,” he says bluntly, my eyes softening as he kisses my fingertips.

  “Adam,” I sigh, swallowing the nerves that come both with his admission and my question. “Why do you think that’s something to concern yourself with?”

  “Because I know what it’s like to be me, little one,” he says quietly, holding my eyes as he gently strokes my hair. “I’ve grown used to the prying eyes that come every time I step out of my front door. The reporters, the misconstrued truths, the never-ending pressure, the hidden agendas… manageable as it’s been the last few months, I knew it was only a matter of time. It’s all part of the package when you’re the bastard son of an Avery,” he smirks, the sadness in his eyes not escaping me regardless of how well he masks it. “But the difference between us, Bella, is that I signed up for it. I could have just as easily kept to myself, done what I was doing before I got the call about Richard. I knew what my life would become, but even knowing what was coming, I was still given the option of stepping into this lion’s den of my own accord.”

  I say nothing for a long moment, simply staring back at him, feeling both compassion and appreciation at his words before I clear my throat.

  “And you think I didn’t consider all of that before I knocked on your door?” I ask, pulling his eyes back to mine. “I’ll admit, what I witnessed before yesterday was little more than a glimpse from an outsider’s perspective, but I saw enough to understand why you stayed hidden for so long. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into before I ever took a step outside my door. I had no less than ten chances that night alone to turn around and go back… save myself from the very same den that’s become your reality.”

  “So, why didn’t you, Bella?” he asks, his eyebrows quirking together slightly as he searches my features. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you came back, but why would you sign up for this given any other alternative?”

  “I’ve seen you negotiate and have been on the losing end of at least two of our arguments. If anyone can tame a den full of bloodthirsty lions, I have the unrelenting belief tha
t it’s you, Mr. Avery,” I whisper, searching his features. “Don’t ever let yourself believe I’m not here of my own accord. I told you before I wasn’t a smile and nod kind of girl, but I’m also not a simple-minded damsel, either. I can promise you that if I ever take a step away from this, it will have nothing to do with who is or isn’t waiting downstairs with a camera or the threat they may be tempted to bring my way,” I nuzzle into his chest, savoring in the feel of his strong arms winding around me, holding me closer. “It’s of little concern to me what type of person you are when the world is watching. I’m much more interested in the man you are when they’re not. If our brief history has shown me anything, it’s that the privilege of being with the man no one else gets to see far outweighs the risk of falling for my boss. It’s easy to walk into a lion’s den when I know the reward is you.”

  Chapter Two

  ADAM

  “Come, princess,” I say low, taking her hand and pulling her from the sheets two hours later. “We need to get up and get moving.”

  “Moving on what?” she asks, her fingers wrapping around mine before she pulls herself closer, her other palm finding my forearm. “I thought you said we were staying here today. Did I misunderstand?”

  “No, baby,” I promise, shaking my head as we step inside my bathroom. “We’re certainly not leaving today, but we need to get some food in you before I get my lawyer on the phone and you need to call your parents.”

  “You’re right,” she sighs, resting her forehead against my bare chest. “Ugh…” she groans. “I’m sure they’re at their wits end.”

  “Yes. They were very worried about you,” I admit, kissing her hair before I reach for a brush and begin brushing the knots from her hair.

  When I make it around to the back of her hair, I notice the expression of shock in her features as she stares back at me in the mirror.

  “What do you mean they were?” she manages, her voice shaky with nerves. “Did you talk to them?”

  “Yes,” I admit with a nod, smirking when her eyes go wide. “They were calling and texting pretty incessantly after you fell asleep and it was fairly obvious they were concerned about you. I sent your father a text from your phone to let him know you were safe.”

  She says nothing, staring back at me in the mirror for a solid minute before she steps away from me completely.

  “Where are you going?” I ask, lowering the hand that’s still suspended, holding the brush.

  “To get my phone,” she calls back as she rounds the foot of my bed and reaches for her cellphone. “I have to read what you two said to each other.”

  “Or you could just ask me,” I argue, watching her make her way back to me, her head shaking slightly in disagreement.

  “No, baby. I’m sorry, but that just won’t do. I have to see exactly what she said,” she insists. “And I need to know exactly what your reply to her was because the second I call her, she’s going to reference it at least twenty times and I need to have my story straight or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “I talked to your father,” I explain, turning her to face the mirror once more before I begin running the hairbrush back through her dark strands.

  “No, you texted my father’s phone. Trust me. This was the work of my mother,” she sighs, glancing into the reflection to take in my expression, stopping my movement. “She does this thing where she lets you believe you’re talking to my dad. She thinks you’ll tell him the truth because he’s not as neurotic,” she rolls her eyes, pulling the text window back up. “It’s always her, though. My dad barely knows how to turn his phone on.”

  “Ahh,” I nod, moving back to her hair. “Well, whoever it was, I told them you were alright, sleeping and that I would ask you to call them both when you woke up.”

  “Which in her mind means you’ve either kidnapped me and drugged me or it was actually me texting her and I lied to get out of talking to her.”

  “Well, I did drug you and you aren’t leaving, so her concerns aren’t completely unwarranted,” I shrug, making her smirk down at the screen before I take it from her and set it on the counter. “Come. Let’s get in.” She stares back at the phone for a moment, weighing her options until I reach for her shoulders, turning her toward the shower. “Get in, Isabella.”

  “Okay, but did you tell her…”

  “Isabella,” I cut her off. “Get. In. The. Shower.”

  “But I just need to…” she tries, prompting me to cock my eyebrow in warning before she finally relents and steps beneath the spray.

  She needs a distraction, something to keep her from the gnawing anxiety I can see etched all over her features. She needs to feel safe, secure again.

  Thankfully, I know exactly how to do that for her.

  I rid myself of my underwear and step inside behind her, pulling her back to my front and savoring in the feel of her body as it rests against mine. I begin gently moving my fingers through her hair to dampen it, watching her eyes slowly flutter shut for a moment as she tries to let go. When I pull away to reach for the shampoo, I return to find her chewing on her lip with nerves once more.

  “Stop, angel,” I order quietly, turning her around and working the suds into her hair.

  She gives me a small nod and I watch the bubbles slide down her back, slowly making their way from her shoulder blades to her waist before sinking between her cheeks. With a low groan, I use my grip on her hair to pull her back a half step and sink my lips into the arch of her neck, pulling a low sigh from her chest. I keep her hair locked around my fist as my other palm moves to her front, the remnants of the shampoo making her skin slick as I find her breast and give it a tight squeeze. I massage her nipple and pinch her there sharply before giving it a light smack, pulling a whimper from her.

  “Do you like that, princess?” I husk, angling her head to pull her lobe between my teeth.

  “Yes, Sir,” she mewls, her breath moving into a low pant when I slide my hand low over her stomach.

  “Good girl,” I whisper, tapping her foot with mine. “Spread your legs for me.”

  She does and as I slip my hand between her legs, her pants growing faster as I massage her clit. She’s drenched and instantly, my cock begins to throb between us, her ass grinding against me just slightly making us both breathe heavier.

  “Daddy?” she starts, her eyes heavy as she swallows hard.

  “Yes, baby?” I ask, my lips moving over her shoulder as I slip my fingers inside, slowly fucking her, savoring in the feel of her arousal.

  “You didn’t tell my mother we were sleeping in the same bed, did you?” she asks, making me still my movements. “Because if you did, I need to know before I call-”

  Before she can finish the sentence, I pull my fingers from her and give her pussy a sharp smack. She gasps and tenses in my arms for a second before I give her hair a tug, pulling her eyes to mine.

  “Isabella,” I sigh. “Baby, I’m trying very hard to fuck you right now. Stop asking me questions about your mother.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to kill the mood. I just…”

  “Do you want to get into trouble?” I cut her off again, watching her shake her head.

  “No, Sir.”

  “Then stop talking about it and stay focused.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just so stressed out right now,” she admits.

  “Would you rather talk?” I offer, making her shake her head again. “Are you sure that’s not what you need and are just afraid to tell me?”

  “No, that’s not what I want. Not right now,” she sighs. “I know I’ll feel better after you take me.”

  “Then let me.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m trying.”

  “Well, please try harder,” I order gently.

  “Can you just tell me if you told her…”

 
“Isabella,” I cut her off. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll take you to the toy room to play this afternoon, but right now you’re closer to spending an hour alone in your bedroom with a red ass. Is that what you want or are you ready to behave yourself?”

  “No, I’ll be good,” she promises as she shakes her head, biting on her lip, whimpering when I lean in to kiss her, pulling it free.

  “Disaster will find us later,” I promise, my voice low as I hover against her mouth. “Right now belongs to me.”

  She gives me a quick nod, her features relaxing as the pad of my thumb slowly moves over her skin. “Yes, Sir,” she whispers, her eyes losing their edge of anxiety and her body slowly softening against mine.

  My lips move back to her jaw, the feel of my tongue tasting her skin making her tremble in my arms.

  “Hmm… good girl,” I whisper, my touch softening as I reach for her thigh, raising it into my palm and widening her stance, sliding in from behind. Her hands move to the tile in front of us, her front bending slightly for me. “There’s my princess,” I croon, my grip still tight on her hair as I begin pushing into her, the water washing over her falling between us, splashing over her pussy and making her eyes drift shut. “Open your eyes, darling.”

  Her eyes flutter open at the same time I push in deep, tightening my grip on her hair. The force pulls a low moan from her chest, making me hum in approval as I increase my pace, taking her harder. Her breaths begin to come out in huffs, only spurring me on.

  “Oh, my God,” she purrs. I slam into her deeper, faster as her walls begin to clench around me. “Please…”

  A low mewl slips from her chest and pulls me further in, making me just as desperate. I use my grip on her dark strands to pull her flush with my front, releasing her hair and winding my arm around her, carefully gripping her throat. Her hands leave the shower wall and grip my wrist in submission, making me growl into her hair.

  “My baby likes that, doesn’t she?” I husk, making her eyes flutter slightly.