by Kate Benson
“Yes, sir,” he says, his deep voice poised, unwavering. “Absolutely. It’s already been taken care of and I’ll make sure it’s enforced as long as needed,” he continues. The muffled sound of my father’s voice on the other end of the line is so faint, I can’t make out what he’s saying no matter how hard I try. That somehow makes this feel even more nerve-wracking despite Adam’s calm demeanor. “Yes, sir. First thing in the morning,” he continues, shaking his head. “No, sir. Not even for a minute,” he insists. “You’re exactly right,” he answers, his lips turn up slightly at the corners as he feels my narrowing gaze on him, his own never shifting from their spot on the wall across from him as he reaches for my thigh, giving it a tender squeeze. “You’re quite welcome, Mr. Baxter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate… We’ll talk soon,” he promises. “Yes, sir. I will… Goodbye.”
I reach for my phone, but he’s already ended the call. I glance at the screen, then back at him, my eyes narrowing suspiciously making him smirk.
“Text your mother before bed so she knows you’re alright.”
The rest of our afternoon is spent quietly, but together within the bohemian sanctuary Adam had built for me when I all but moved into his penthouse.
While I can’t say my worries about the storm we’re undeniably headed into have completely dissipated, I can say that being with him in this space have monumentally helped my stress levels. In fact, the second he closes the door to my suite, my thoughts about the outside world and the insanity we’d caused to stir within it are one of the very last things on my mind.
We lounge on my bed, splayed out on the elaborate bedding he’d rarely let me touch, our clothing a distant memory before we make it through the first half hour of the movie I’d chosen. We lay draped in each other, the sweet remnants of ice cream on our tongues as he takes my lips. He ravishes me, gives me a taste of control only to take it right back and my worries slowly drown in desire before he makes them drift away completely.
When we’ve had our fill of being locked inside my bedroom, he lifts me in his arms and carries me to the secluded terrace on the other side of my sheer curtains. The warm sun fades away with the day as we bask in its warmth before slowly drifting off to sleep on the soft cushions.
The world we know is on the verge of falling around us, the temptation of giving up threatening the tip of our tongues only hours before.
Out here, it doesn’t touch us.
Out here, there is no threat.
There is no impending lawsuit or mob of reporters begging to smash against the sanctuary we’ve been lucky enough to find in each other. The thoughts of facing his board, my parents… it all just melts away with the remnants of the sunset falling on the horizon.
It’s just us.
Hours pass, feeling like flashes. Logically, we know better, but we simply don’t care. Nothing else matters but the feel of his weight hovering over me, the taste of his lips on mine, the sound of our breathing, our pounding hearts as we move together in perfect rhythm.
As the sun slowly slips into the darkness on this perfectly imperfect day, the two of us drift in and out of sleep, in and out of each other. A feeling of complete content washes over me that I never knew was possible and, in this moment, in this place that can only be found in his warm embrace, I feel all the things he promised me I would.
Worshipped, valued, safe, adored, protected, loved.
I feel loved in ways I didn’t know he was capable of and I love him with a fire I didn’t know a single soul could possess.
I love him in ways I didn’t know a heart could love.
With everything I have.
I belong to Adam completely.
ADAM
Despite my rule of her sleeping in my bed every night, I wake in hers on Sunday morning.
It’s still early, the first flickers of sunlight sweeping over her skin stained in the jewel-toned shadow of her sheer curtains. Her breathing is steady, relaxed against the fuchsia satin pillowcase that has become her favorite. I roll onto my side, facing her and cherishing in the way her lips part slightly, her warm breath washing over my chest as her body shifts slightly beside mine. I ache to touch her and don’t deny myself, instead brushing the hair away from her face before settling my palm low on her waist, savoring in the way the blanket falls away from her chest. A simple stretch pulls it down further, revealing her chest completely and I take her in with complete and total adoration, the soft flesh on her nipples growing tight as they feel my shameless gaze fall over them.
Her legs shift slightly below that cashmere blanket she’s wrapped herself in and she pushes it away, her tanned thigh angling itself toward me as she nuzzles in closely.
“Don’t go yet, Daddy,” she rasps, her lips pursing against my bicep before she begins to slowly drift off once more.
There’s an ever-growing mountain of paperwork on my desk, not to mention a list of names requiring my attention, each of them able and willing to take me down at the first sign of weakness. The burning knowledge of that is blazing like a wildfire in the pit of my stomach, the pressure threatening to turn me completely inside out. However, in this moment, in the private little piece of existence we’ve managed to steal from the rest of civilization, the perfect creature stirring beside me is the only one who will garner any of my attention today.
There’s an entire world outside these walls trying to claw its way in, but in this moment, they mean nothing to me.
The woman beside me is the only thing that matters.
“I won’t,” I promise, my voice so low I wonder briefly if I’d spoken the words aloud at all until I hear the low sigh of content slip from her chest. “I’m not going anywhere, princess.”
Chapter Five
ISABELLA
I wake peacefully, the feel of his broad chest beside me for the second morning in a row filling my belly with a swarm of deliciously sated butterflies.
“Good morning, my love,” he says low, his deep voice raspy with the remnants of sleep.
“Buongiorno, Papa,” I yawn, rolling over closer to him and nuzzling myself into his chest, my heart warming when he presses his lips to my hair and pulls me closer. “How did you sleep?”
“Really good,” he answers, kissing me one more when I inhale his scent, my nose tracing his collarbone gently.
“You must’ve,” I admit, my eyes flitting up toward his. “I rarely wake to find you with me and you’ve never fallen asleep in here.”
“I guess you must have worn me out yesterday, little one,” he teases, bending to taste my lips. “Come. Let’s get you cleaned up so we can have breakfast.”
“Yes, Sir,” I yawn once more, lazily pulling myself from the sheets. After a quick trip to my bathroom, I move to grab my robe, but his voice stops my movement, cutting me short.
“We’ll be alone until this afternoon,” he says, taking my hand and leading me out, the feel of his band against my fingers as he wraps them around mine still warming me. I stand closely beside him, his palm on my waist as he pours our coffee and kisses my hair when I thank him. “You’re welcome, kitten,” he replies, reaching for my hand once more and leading me toward his bedroom. “Would you prefer a bath or a shower?”
“Bath.”
“Good choice,” he replies, making me smile as he pulls me into his bathroom, ordering me silently to take a seat at the small bench in front of the sink.
He moves almost silently, the warmth from the steam, my coffee and the sight of him stark naked heating me in every place imaginable. By the time his massive tub is full, my coffee cup is anything but and I set it to the side when he reaches for me, his eyes raking over my body with desire making me heady.
“Come, darling,” he says quietly as he extends his hand, angling my chin to give my lips a gentle peck before helping me into the bubbly water.
He turns on the sound system low before sliding in behind me, pulling my back to his front and giving my temple a soft kiss as I lean back against his chest.
“Open up for me, pumpkin,” he whispers, his hands moving to my thighs to lock them around his own before he kisses my hair and sinks further into the tub with me.
His hands roam over me freely, the silkiness of the soap on his fingertips as he traces the back of my neck with his tongue making my breathing falter in the most delicious way. His palms knead at my breasts, a low groan of approval making its way through his chest when I raise my arms above my head, resting them around his neck to give him better access.
“Good girl,” he croons against my skin, one hand moving lower over my stomach. “We didn’t make it to the toy room yesterday,” he recalls, gently washing my skin as he continues massaging my nipple beneath his palm. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll take you before we have our lunch,” he promises against the crook of my neck. “Would you like that?”
“Yes, Sir,” I admit, my legs spreading wide when he moves his hand lower still.
“Hmm…” he hums low, his fingers slipping inside me pulling a low gasp of want from my chest. “There’s my princess,” he rasps, his tongue lapping at the hollow of my ear before he takes my lobe between his teeth and gives it a gentle bite. “Take what you need, but only come for me once,” he commands. “Save most of your pleasure for later.”
“Yes, Sir,” I promise, my eyes fluttering in desire as he slowly begins fucking me with his fingers, the gentle lap of the water against my skin as his cock grows hard against my back making me moan into his mouth. “I want you inside me,” I admit, biting my lip as my hips begin to grind against his palm. “Please fuck me, Daddy.”
“Not yet, princess,” he rasps. “I want to watch you fall apart, legs spread while I tease your pretty little cunt until you can think of nothing but worshipping my cock while I use you up,” he whispers against my jaw, his words only further pulling me under his spell. “I’ll fuck you later, but right now, I want you just like this, little one.”
He doesn’t miss the way my eyes fall slightly regardless of how desperately I try to hide my disappointment.
I already worship him.
“Papa,” I beg. “Papa, per favore.”
“Shh…” he whispers against my mouth, pulling his fingers from me to grip my jaw, his lips pressing my cheek when I suck them clean. “Be my good girl. Give me what I want and do as your told, angel.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I manage around his fingers, sinking further into his chest when his fingers lower to stroke my pussy once more.
His fingers move inside me, his touch moving slow at first before finally, they fill me, his free hand moving from my breast to my jaw, holding me firmly in place.
My breathing goes shallow, my walls slowly beginning to pulse around his skin pulling a low growl of content from his broad chest.
“Tell me you love me, darling,” he commands in a whisper against my lips. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“I love you, il mio amore,” I answer immediately, my heart radiating with my own content as my thighs begin to shake in desperation for release. “I belong to you.”
“Hmm… good girl,” he croons, giving my lips a gentle lick before he kisses me deeply, pushing me closer to the edge. “I love you, too, my sweet Bella.”
His words are my undoing, the threat outside these walls forgotten as I climb higher with each taste of his lips, each thrust of his fingers. His pace increases at the same time his thumb moves over my throbbing clit and I fall rapidly, unapologetically under his spell.
“Adam, fuck…” I whimper, earning a gentle smack on my cheek that has me pulling my lower lip between my teeth as I shudder.
“Isabella,” he husks, his voice holding a warning. “Watch your mouth, kitten.”
“I’m trying,” I promise, pulling his lips to my cheek, his fingers deeper inside me finally pushing me over the brink.
His cock is thick, hard as it pulses against my back. His touch is everywhere as I writhe against his wide frame, begging for release. He fucks me ruthlessly until finally, his low command throws me over the edge and my back arches, his eyes dancing in silent approval as my orgasm spills over his fingers.
“That’s it, princess,” he groans against my jaw, turning me in his arms and resting me to straddle his pulsing cock between my thighs. “There’s my good girl.”
I return his kiss, the feel of his tongue tasting mine making me grind against him urgently. His cock pulses against my soaked center as I twist my hips, frantic for traction.
“Papa,” I mewl, breathless as my body continues to slide against his in desperation. “Fottimi. Prendi la mia figa.”
“Shh…” he whispers, his eyes holding mine as his firm grip holds me in place. “Daddy’ll take care of you soon enough, my sweet baby,” he promises. “Just be patient. I’ll always give you what you need.” There’s a double-edge to his words that can’t be missed. As I rest my arms around his neck, my throat grows thick, my heart beating out of my chest with the adoration in his gaze, the fervor in his tone. “I’ll always take care of you, Isabella. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whisper, my lips so close, they brush against his as our hot pants move between us. “I know I’ll never need anything but you.”
ADAM
Once I pull her from the bathtub, I dry her and lead her toward the kitchen, grateful for the quiet that surrounds us as we sit close over breakfast. There’s a trance that’s always found us when we’re alone that I can’t get enough of, but there’s something different about our touch over these past two days. The need to climb inside her body, to take everything she has to offer and then come back for more is overwhelming.
It lingers… wants… aches.
It begs me to own her, to belong to her completely despite whatever impending devastation might be lurking.
I watch her finish the light breakfast I’d prepared for us, I take in the way she traces the edge of her plate with her fingertip, her lower lip tucking itself between her teeth as her thoughts begin to drift.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about,” I command gently as my palm gives her thigh an affectionate squeeze.
“Everything out there,” she admits, her eyes flitting toward the glass wall across from us that offers a typically breathtaking view of the city. One look at her eyes tells me today, it’s stealing her breath in different, less relaxing ways. “We’re safe inside these walls, but once we step over that threshold…”
“The time for concern hasn’t come yet, kitten. When it has, we’ll wrap ourselves in worry if that’s what it takes.” I cut her anxious words short, my lips pressing to her temple. Despite the cryptic texts from Simon, the underwhelming news from my legal team and the harassing emails coming at me from all ends, I’m determined to make sure she feels safe. Threats she’ll never know anything about hover at every angle, but none of them will ever touch her. Bella is mine and mine alone. “There may be an angry pack of wolves outside these walls, but don’t think for a second I’ll ever throw you out into the darkness, Bella. Your protection and well-being has been my top priority since the moment you gave yourself to me. Everything else around us might be changing, but that fact will always remain, darling.”
“What about you?” she asks, her eyes soft with the emotion my promise has offered. Her fingertips lower to absentmindedly trace the edge of my boxer briefs as she holds my gaze. “I’m a smart girl, Adam. I know I’m strong, but I also know where my weaknesses lie,” she admits. “I know it doesn’t matter how badly I want to. I can’t do much to give you the level of security you’re offering me.”
“I don’t expect that of you, Bella,” I shake my head, sweeping her damp hair away from her face and tucking the loose strands behind her ear.
“Maybe not, but if you’re busy protecting me, how will you protect yourself?” she asks. “You stand to lose everyth…”
“I stand to lose nothing,” I cut her off, my determination fueling the silent prayer hoping for the validity in my words. “The company is mine. You, Bella? You are mine.” I hold her eyes as I reach for her hand, my fingers slipping between hers before I raise it to my lips. I give her ring a gentle kiss, my gaze unwavering as her eyes begin to grow moist with tears. “No one is taking either of you from me.”
“But how…”
“I’ll take care of it,” I cut her off once more, releasing her hand only to grip the back of her neck and bend to give her lips a gentle kiss. “You just have to trust me.”
Chapter Six
ADAM
While our talk had visibly eased her concerns, I’d be foolish to think her need to relieve the anxiety in her chest had left her completely.
There are things I know I’ll have to attend to before days end, but right now, I need to set her troubled mind at ease in the best way I know how.
I rise from the table, coming to a stop behind her small frame, my eyes trailing over her bare skin unabashedly. Her grip on the plate she’s holding falters as my chest hovers against her back, my hands resting against the edge of the counter, caging her in. I run my nose up the arch in her shoulder, greedily inhaling her floral scent until I reach her neck. My teeth graze her skin and her eyes flutter slightly as the rest of her body begins to slowly shift. Instinctively, she tilts her head to the side, giving me better access to her skin as the pad of my thumb traces her navel, making her shudder with need.
“Leave them,” I order, the subtle shift in my voice making her breathing catch.
Immediately, she abandons the dishes and dries her hands, turning in my arms to face me.
I take her hand.
The gentle buzz of anticipation resting just beneath her skin does something to me I can’t describe, but immediately find myself craving more of.