Chapter Ten

ISABELLA

I never should have left for lunch today.

This morning, things were going great, but it feels like ever since I headed back to the office, my day is spiraling further and further out of control.

Try as I might, I can’t stop the tailspin.

We’ve been in the meeting for close to an hour and if Sabrina narrows her eyes any harder in my direction, I’m convinced she’ll snap a vein in her neck. She’s been giving me grief all week, her snide comments not helping my fiery temper in the least. The meeting is finally beginning to wind down and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. I watch the bulk of the group file out of the conference room and release a deep breath as I begin to gather my things.

As ridiculous as it is that Adam won’t give me one night at home, I’m still excited to just be at my place for a little while. I’m in need of a serious pull back down to earth and will take what I can get at this point.

“Miss Baxter, can you have the new proposal completed by Monday afternoon?” Adam asks. “We’ve got a busy week ahead and I’d like to get an early start so we don’t lose any stamina.”

I’m nodding, about to answer, when Sabrina cuts me off for the third time since we sat down.

“Mr. Avery, I’m sure Miss Baxter has a full weekend with more than enough demanding her attention,” she snips. “I’ll take the lead on this one.”

“That won’t be necessary, Sabrina,” I say with a saccharin smile. “I’m more than capable of taking on more than one project. You should know that better than anyone.”

“Are you sure, Isabella?” she asks, her thin lips turning into a crooked smile. “You’ve got lots of work ahead of you if you want to keep impressing Mr. Avery. Or is it the entire board now?”

“Mrs. Michaels-” Adam starts, but he’s too late.

My patience has officially bottomed out.

“You know something? You’re right. I’m fucking the whole board!” I lie as I rise from my chair, laughing darkly as her eyes go wide. “And as enjoyable as it’s been, I have to say the best part for me, both personally and professionally, has been knowing that somehow, I’ve managed do it all while running circles around your tired ass, Sabrina.”

“Miss Baxter!” Adam tries, but I’m about ten degrees beyond being over this day.

“Don’t worry. I’m washing my hands of all of this bullshit!” I exclaim as I throw my hands up, facing them both. “I’m done with all of it!” he starts to speak, but I cut him off, slamming my palm down onto the table. “All of it!”

“That’s enough,” he warns.

“Good Lord!” she wails, her grating voice the final nail in the coffin.

“Oh, would you shut the hell up?” I ask, my voice dragging for emphasis. “Just save it.”

“Isabella!” he roars. “I said enough.”

My body reacts on a carnal level to his predatory command, but for the life of me, I can’t stop my mouth as I turn to find her smirking in silent victory.

“Mangia merde e muori!” I seethe, anger radiating from my heaving chest as I yank my purse from the table and glare at her. “Fottiti rancida cagna.”

“Do you see the level of class you’re rewarding, Mr. Avery?”

“Yeah? Why don’t you eat me, lady?” I hiss, flipping her off on my way to the door. “How’s that for class, di cazzo puttana?”

When I step inside my apartment thirty minutes later, I slam the door, still fuming. If I’m being honest, I’m more upset with myself than anything else.

Sabrina’s insults are not only something I’ve grown used to, they’re something I’ve come to expect. I know soon enough this frustrating piece of my reality will fade into my memory the same way all my past frustrations have. Today, though, after having lied to my best friend again, a ridiculous disagreement with my boss/boyfriend who I’m secretly fucking, a small mountain of extra work and not nearly enough sleep, another altercation with that woman was just more than I could deal with.

Was my behavior childish? Absolutely, but after the day I’ve had, I just couldn’t stomach one more second of kissing that woman’s ass.

I’ve had my fill of traveling the high road.

I need this breakdown.

I’ve earned it.

I kick my shoes off, toss my car keys onto the table beside the door and move toward the kitchen, pulling a bottle of wine from the fridge. I pour myself a glass, a large one, and drain it in one long sip before setting it down on the counter. I release a long, low sigh and let my eyes drift shut, inhaling the familiar scent of home before I pour myself another and finally let out the maniacal scream I’ve been holding in all afternoon.

With another long sip followed by a deep cleansing breath, I begin to feel a little better, but only just.

My cell begins to blaze again from the bottom of my purse and I don’t need to look at it to know it’s Adam. I nearly answer but stop myself as I feel the anger still lingering low in my chest. I stare at my bag, fighting the urge to pull the phone out and swipe the screen.

“If you answer that phone right now, you’ll only make things worse,” I whisper my warning, biting my lip in consideration. “Just leave it alone, psycho.”

Thankfully, before I can pour anymore gasoline to the catastrophe that is this day, the ringing ceases and pulls a low breath from my chest with it.

Sometimes, a girl just needs wine and an escape.

I hit power on the sound system and crank the volume up high as I move across my apartment and push the door open to my spare room. The last few minutes of sunlight slip into the room and after a few stretches and two more sips from my glass, I’m ready.

I remove my blouse and skirt, tossing them away as the music slowly begins to fill my veins. I can already feel the stress beginning to melt away as I trace my fingers over the metal pole in the center of the room and let my eyes flit shut.

When I was with Ben, he convinced me to start taking classes. Although I was more than just a little hesitant at first, it quickly became a freedom I never anticipated.

Aside from a little bitter resentment and my waffle iron, it’s the only thing I held onto after our breakup.

Justin Timberlake’s voice fills the room, ‘Filthy’ blaring from my speakers putting me exactly where I need to be.

I sing along at first, the sound of my voice slowly fading as my anxiety goes with it.

My nagging irritation over everything that happened with Adam melts away as I grip the pole and lift my small frame, hooking my leg around it’s center and spinning easily.

The fury I’d been feeling when I stomped into my apartment gradually dissipates as my hair brushes over my lower back, the feel of my knees dropping to the floor pulling a low huff from my chest.

I hadn’t heard him come in over the music, but it doesn’t take long before I feel his eyes on me from the doorway.

In fact, by the time I’m warmed up and Justin and I get our swagger, I know without opening my eyes that I’m no longer alone.

Maybe I should stop, talk to him like an adult, apologize for the shitstorm I just caused him at the office, but I don’t.

Instead, I let my eyes drift shut once more as I lean into the pole, sliding my way up before gripping it high and lifting my bare feet from the floor.

There’s a part of me that wants to talk to him, a bigger part of me that knows I really need to.

However, for the next four minutes, I need this more.

ADAM

I’m not sure I realized until seeing her storm out of the building this afternoon just how attached I’ve become to Isabella.

There’s a surge of warning, a wave of discomfort that comes with her walking away from me a second time. Something I never anticipated, but also can’t deny.

After a very effective tongue lashing directed toward Sabrina and a quick lie is delivered to my assistant, Margaret, I’m on the phone, bolting toward my car.

I call her at least a half a dozen times and text her just as many, receiving nothing in return. Typically, that kind of blatantly dismissive behavior would only infuriate me, but for some reason, it’s different this time.

It seems everything is different with Isabella.

I take the steps two at a time when I make it to her building and tap lightly on her apartment door, the music blaring through the thin walls drowning out whatever hope I have of being heard. I wait a moment before reaching for the spare key she’d given me and let myself in.

I twist the deadbolt behind me, glancing at a few of her things as I make my way toward the music. I’m on my way to her bedroom when I see light splaying across the hallway, pulling my eyes to the door that had been closed every other time I’d come here.

I take a few steps, my eyes trained on the floor in front of me when movement pulls my eyes back up.

Fuck me.

I find her in nothing more than her bra and panties, the thin, peach lace hiding little as she traces the pole with her fingers. Her back arches slightly as she tips her head back and swallows the last of the wine in her glass.

I crave her.

I’m not sure I’ve ever craved anyone before.

Not like this.

I consider calling out to her, but decide against it, instead leaning against the doorframe to watch.

Besides, something deep down tells me she already knows I’m here.

She starts off slow, her movements fluid and easy. When the pace increases, so does her speed. As she pulls herself up in one swift movement and begins to spin around the pole, the metal brushes high on the inside of her thighs, making my cock ache. It takes all my strength to fight the urge to storm inside and rip the lace from her skin, take her right in the middle of the floor.

My foot lifts slightly, but something pulls me back, telling me she needs this.

She lowers to the floor in front of me, her knees spread as her fingers grip the metal rod behind her.

A light sheen of sweat shines across her chest as it heaves before me and I’m mesmerized. When her haze finally lifts and her eyes flit open as the final notes fill the room, they fall on me immediately, but I’m just realizing how deeply I’ve fallen under her spell.

“I’m not sure if I should ask for a translation of this afternoons meeting or if it’s better I don’t know,” I whisper, my eyes raking over her shamelessly until they return to hers. “Are you still angry?”

“You probably don’t really want to know, but I’m sick of keeping secrets, so…” she shrugs, holding my eyes. “I called her a rancid bitch and told her to eat shit and die. Among other things,” she admits as she stands slowly, moving to the small dresser beside the door to pour herself another glass of wine. “And a little.”

“I know I’m partly to blame for that,” I offer, meeting her eyes over the glass as she sips from it. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I upset you today.”

“You’re sorry you upset me?” she arches her eyebrow, setting her glass to the side. “Do you know what it means when people apologize like that, Adam?” she asks with a sad smirk. “It means you’re sorry I’m mad at you, but not actually sorry for what you did to piss me off.”

“Isabella…”

“Listen, maybe after the shit I pulled, I don’t even have a leg to stand on and that’s fine,” she cuts me off. “I’m sorry I pulled you into the middle of my feud with another employee. It puts you in a fucked-up position and that was wrong of me to do, but I just couldn’t take her snotty little underhanded comments anymore. You think she’s bad in front of you? You should hear the shit she says when she knows you’re not listening.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“Because despite this afternoon’s performance, I’m a grown-up. I thought I could ignore her and just do my job, but I’ve obviously proven myself incapable of that,” she starts, her jaw setting before she takes a sip of her wine and begins shaking her head in annoyance, her eyes narrowing with unease. “And you know, I don’t even care if she’s unknowingly right about half the shit she’s saying about us, Adam. I just refuse to let someone talk shit to me all fucking day and just not say anything to defend myself. I shouldn’t have to do that. I get that your hands are tied, but mine aren’t. I’m done dealing with her.”

“Bella…”

“And just so we’re both on the same page,” she rails over me, her chest heaving beneath the lace. “If keeping my job depends on me giving her an apology, you can just fire me right now and I’ll start looking on Monday because that’s not happening, either. I’m not going to-”

“No one is getting fired,” I speak over her, cutting her off. “You both were out of line, but I’m not sure anyone can argue the catalyst of that particular situation. You don’t have to apologize or even speak to her. In fact, I think it’s best you just stay the hell away from each other,” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’ll take care of it, but what happened between you and Sabrina isn’t why I came here, Bella. I honestly don’t give two fucks about who you cuss out as long as you’re doing right by me, darling, but I think it’s pretty obvious that all of this started before you ever walked into that meeting.”

She stares back up at me, biting her lip in thought, refusing me her words for a moment before finally, she doesn’t.

“I appreciate what you were trying to do with the money, Adam, but I don’t want it. I’m not some helpless little damsel that needs you to save my ass and fill my bank account. That’s not why I’m with you.”

“And that has nothing to do with why I gave it to you,” I reassure her quietly, brushing the stray strand of hair behind her ear as she gives me a subtle nod. “As far as us staying here, I know you’re upset that we can’t see eye to eye on it, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Baby-”

“I get it. You want your privacy. I want it, too, but I wouldn’t ask it of you if I didn’t feel like it wasn’t something I needed or believed would be good for both of us,” she insists. “Do you honestly think I would ask you to do something that I thought would have a negative impact on you?”

“No,” I confess.

“Then give me some credit. It’s not like I’m not trying. I’m lying to everyone I care about. I’m staying at your place every night. It took me more than a month to finally cuss Sabrina out and believe me… that was absolutely for your benefit,” she insists. “But I’m completely losing myself here. I’m doing everything I can in nineteen different directions to keep from drowning on my end, but I don’t feel like I’m getting the same thing from you at all. You act as though I’m being unreasonable and if I were? Fine. I could deal with taking the blame for that, but I’m not. I’m simply asking you for one night a week here to allow me to keep a little bit of my sanity through all of this and to feel like myself again. One night a week that I don’t have to duck into corners or leave in a separate car and I can just feel a semblance of normality. That’s not too much to ask, Adam.”

By the time she finishes, her chest is heaving again with frustration. I take her in, still leaned against the doorframe as she holds my eyes. I bite onto my lower lip, considering her words as she finishes her wine in one long draw and sets the empty glass back onto the table.

“I’m sorry I’m freaking out on you right now, but I’ve had a shitty day and I just don’t understand why-”

“You’re right,” I admit quietly.

“What?” she asks, her head spinning around to face me in disbelief.

“It’s not too much,” I agree, releasing a sigh as I reach for her waist, pulling her closer. “You never signed up for any of this, but aside from calling your supervisor a rancid bitch, you’ve rolled with all of it flawlessly,” I smirk at her blush. “If spending a little time here is what you need to keep yourself balanced, it’s not fair for me to deny you of it.”

“Really?” she asks, her eyes softening as she leans her forehead into my chest, the breath of relief leaving her washing over me.

“Of course. I’ll have to work a little while I’m here and maybe increase security, but just pick a day and it’s yours,” I say, angling her face to mine before bending to gently take her lips. “Besides,” I smirk, gesturing toward the pole in the center of the room as my palm finds her ass, giving it a light smack. “I might just be warming up to this place after all.”

ISABELLA

“Wait,” I sit up in the seat as he pulls back into my apartment complex. “What are you doing?”

I’d been so emotionally exhausted and honestly, a little tipsy by the time we’d finished talking, my promise of cooking Adam dinner was canned pretty quickly. He took me to a quaint little hole in the wall place for pasta and fed me more wine before putting me safely back into his Maserati. I’d assumed we’d be going back to his place, so when he pulls up next to my car, I’m more than a little surprised.

“Would you rather go back to my place?” he asks, pulling my eyes back to his.

“No,” I shake my head. “No, it’s not that. I just assumed you’d want to. We agreed on Saturdays.”

“Yeah, I know,” he admits, squeezing my thigh. “I also agreed to give you whatever you needed and thought you could use an extra night of normal.”

“Aww,” I beam, the crimson of my cheeks and admittedly, slightly drunk, girly reaction pulling a light chuckle from his chest. “You like me.”

“Yeah,” he whispers, stroking my jaw as his eyebrows scrunch together slightly. “I think it’s a little more serious than that, kitten.”

I lean across the seat to pull his lips to mine and kiss him deep enough to elicit a groan. As I pull away, my eyes flutter open slowly to find him already staring down at me, turning me inside out.

“You keep kissing me like that and I might not ever let you leave,” he hums against my lips, my eyes heavy as I hold his.

“I never said I wanted to.”

Before the front door to my apartment is shut, his lips are on mine again. He kisses me fiercely, taking the back of my neck into his firm grasp as he leads me back toward my bedroom. Once the back of my legs hit the mattress, he releases me, his lips trailing down my neck as he drops his jacket onto the floor, his hands moving toward his shirt.

“Take your clothes off, baby,” he husks, his hot breath washing over my skin making me pant with need.

I pull the simple t-shirt I’d thrown on over my head and his palms find my breasts immediately. I unhook the clasp and he peels it down my arms, tossing it to the side and burying his lips into my chest.

“Adam,” I pant, the way he’s everywhere all at once taking my breath away. “Oh, my God…”

“Shh,” he cuts me off, rubbing the pad of his thumb over my lips, smearing my lipstick before he tugs on the waist of my shorts. “Take these off, Bella. I need to claim you again.”

There’s something in his eyes that I’ve only seen twice, something desperate and needy as he pulls away, watching me remove the last of my clothing. When I’m finally bare in front of him, his eyes shift once more, this time into something more carnal.

“Adam…” I start, but I’m cut off by his kiss.

This time, his lips press against mine so hard, I’m sure he’s bruising them. His hand burying into my hair pulls a gasp from me and he pushes me down onto the mattress, hovering over me as he unhooks his belt, his dominant gaze never wavering.

In the next breath, he’s got me caged in, using one hand to hold my wrists in place low on my stomach while the other returns to my hair, gripping me there roughly. He enters me deep, all at once, the force in his movement pulling a low huff from my chest.

He devours me, his cock pushing into me hard and fast again and again stealing my breath. I’m climbing faster than I ever have before. Not just with him, but with anyone. My walls begin to clench, the way he’s using me, dominating me, sending me over the edge in what feels like seconds.

“Stop walking away from me like that, Bella,” he pants against my lips, his eyes boring into mine holding the same desperation they had before. “You’re mine, darling,” he croons, shoving into me harder. “You belong to me.”

“Yes.”

“Say it.”

“I’m yours, Adam,” I whisper, pulling an animalistic growl from his chest. “There’s no one else but you.”

My hips jerk into his, desperate for more as my breathing hitches when his hand releases my wrists and moves to my throat.

My hands instinctively move to grip his forearm and he releases a low growl of approval, his eyes hooding.

“Is that what my baby likes?”

“Yes!” I mewl, my back arching. “Please don’t… Oh, my God. Please don’t stop.”

“Hmm…” he hums, his nose running up the bend between my shoulder and neck. “Good girl,” he croons before biting into my flesh, pulling a loud wail from my belly, the sharp pinch just enough to send me over the edge. “Come for me, darling.”

“Baby, fuck!” I cry out as he raises slightly, gripping the back of my headboard and pounding into me with more force.

By the time he fills me moments later, my loud screams of ecstasy have been reduced to whimpers, my skin tingling all over as my toes go numb.

He slides out of me, his fingers filling me a half second later as he stares at my body shamelessly, massaging me while I come down. His lips move over my neck, his tongue soothing the sting that lingers where his teeth sunk in for a moment before he pulls his fingers from me, turning me onto my side and sliding back in from behind.

The feel of him stretching me once more pulls a low moan from me. He eases in gently this time, sliding himself in slowly until I’m seated on him and we settle. His hands move over my breasts, his lips running over my shoulders for a moment before he leans up on one elbow, turning my chin to face him.

“Are you alright?” he asks quietly. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No, I’m okay,” I whisper, still panting as my hand moves between my legs, savoring in our connection as I gently soothe the ache. “I might be a little sore tomorrow, but you definitely didn’t hurt me.”

“Don’t worry, little one,” he croons, pushing the hair away from my face and kissing my cheek. “I’ll take care of you in the morning.”

“Thank you,” I answer awkwardly, sinking into the mattress beside him.

He hums his answer, his thumb grazing low on my belly as he rests his hand over mine. My body is weak and exhausted, but regardless of the wine, my mind is anything but as we lie together, catching our breath. He grows quiet, the low rhythm of his breath making me wonder if he’s fallen asleep for a moment before his deep voice finally fills the room.

“What is it, Bella?”

“What?”

“I can tell you want to ask me something. Just ask it.”

A long moment passes between us before finally, I force the words that linger on my tongue.

“You didn’t hurt me, but you were rougher with me this time than usual,” I start. “Is that what it would be like? If I were your sub, I mean. Is that how you would fuck me?”

“No, Bella. That’s how I fuck my girlfriend after a disagreement,” he smirks, kissing my now blazing cheek. “When I start fucking you like my sub, you’ll know it.”

His words send a flurry of excitement low into my belly and I can barely contain the low whimper in my chest.

He said when.

“Have you changed your mind?” I manage, glancing over my shoulder.

“I’m still not sure you really know what you’re asking for, but today put quite a few things into perspective,” he admits. “When you came back to me, you said you wanted me in whatever way I come. If you meant that, I’m not going to keep fighting it. You’re still in charge of your own surrender, Bella, but after today, you’ve earned mine,” he whispers, gripping me tighter between my thighs. “I’d just prefer we discuss it in the morning.”

“In the morning then,” I sigh, winding my fingers into his.

“That’ll give you time to get that pretty little mouth of yours under control,” he teases, pressing his lips to my shoulder. “Go ahead and get it all out of your system now, baby.”

“Oh, Mr. Avery,” I whisper, sinking further into his chest as my lips spread wide with a devious smile. “Mangiami, signore.”