The Rebel’s Redemption: Mershano Empire Series

by Foss, Lexi C.

  “Careful, Miss Perry. Unlike you, I’ve not experienced a release today, and you’re making me want to do very, very bad things to you.” I squeezed her leg for emphasis. “So unless you want to blow me in this car, I suggest you stop squirming over there.”

  She sputtered in reply, her words incoherent and causing my lips to curl into a feral grin.

  “I can think of far more useful ways for you to use your mouth, sweetheart. I can recommend a few—”

  Her hand grabbed mine. “Okay! You’re… This…” She cleared her throat. “Tell me where we’re going.”

  I chuckled. “Looking for a distraction?” Her nails dug harder into my skin, forcing me to go easy on her. It seemed dirty talk made her uncomfortable. Or perhaps it turned her on more. I’d enjoy playing with that later. Or, more likely, all day. “We’re going to Buckhead.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll see.” A vague reply, but necessary. I released her leg to downshift as traffic slowed before me. “How do you put up with this every day?”

  “By not going into the city.”

  “Doesn’t that make you feel trapped?”

  “On occasion.” She picked at her jeans, her expression thoughtful. “It’s not my favorite place to live, but it’s affordable, and I like my job.”

  “Would you ever consider moving?” I wondered.

  She shrugged. “Not sure where I would go.”

  “What if you had an opportunity elsewhere?”

  Her shoulders fell. “I mean, my job is something I can do from almost anywhere. My skills are marketable, too, so I wouldn’t have a hard time finding a new opportunity, if I had to. But it’s a good area for Jamie, and I have to, uh…” She trailed off, her focus shifting to the windows. “Never mind.”

  “No, don’t do that. Finish your sentence.” I wanted to know the answer.

  “There’s nothing to finish,” she said without looking at me. “Because I don’t know what’s going to happen now.”

  “What do you want to happen?” I pressed. “Where would you live if you had a choice?”

  “Somewhere with Jamie,” she answered immediately. “Anywhere with him.”

  “Even if it meant giving up your job here?”

  She finally shifted her attention back to me. “I already told you I can work anywhere. So what are you trying to figure out? What do you really want to know? If I’m willing to give up everything to remain in Jamie’s life? Because I think the answer to that is fairly obvious.”

  “I’m asking what you want, Avery. Everything you do is for Jamie, and I respect that. But what about you? What are your hopes and dreams?”

  “Jamie is—”

  “Remove him from the equation,” I cut in. “What did you want before Jamie? You’re clearly a hard worker. Did you always want your current career in Atlanta? Or did you desire a different opportunity? A different future?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t answer that without making it sound like I regret Jamie.”

  I sighed. “This isn’t a trick or a test. I just want to know where you once saw yourself going in life.”

  “And I’m telling you, my former goals no longer apply. I can’t see a future without Jamie. It’s impractical.”

  “Okay.” I paused to merge onto another highway, heading toward northern Atlanta. We were almost to our final destination, and Avery hadn’t shown a single ounce of apprehension, proving my suspicions correct. She had no idea where we were headed.

  Garrett had his reservations about my opinion on this matter, but my instincts were rarely wrong. And I would enjoy confirming that to him later tonight.

  “If you could do any job in the world—with Jamie by your side—where would it be, and what would you be doing?” I finally asked, deciding this phrasing might work better.

  “Life doesn’t work like that.”

  “I’m not asking you to be realistic, Avery. I’m asking you to dream.” I spotted our exit ahead and slid into the right lane. “Work with me. Give me a hypothetical response. Tell me a fantasy.”

  “A fantasy,” she repeated, sounding amused. “All right. Well, I wouldn’t live here. It’s too crowded. I grew up in Pennsylvania. Not that I want to live there again, but somewhere without all the traffic and people. It’s exhausting.”

  “So, the country.” Very different from my preference of New York City. But then, did I actually love it there? Or was it my default location due to a lack of a purpose elsewhere?

  “Hmm, maybe. I’ve always loved the mountains. And snow. I think Jamie would love sledding.” Her lips curled in my peripheral vision, warming my chest. “But I don’t know what job I would do there. I was actually pursuing a master’s degree in computer informatics when Jean came to me—pregnant.”

  She fell silent, causing me to wonder aloud, “Would you want to go back and finish it?”

  “No.” An immediate reply. “I mean, I enjoyed it, but I only went that route because it pretty much guaranteed me a job, and, well, I found one without finishing. Finishing it now would almost be a step backward. Experience is worth more than a piece of paper at this point in my career.”

  “Fair enough.” I turned right at the exit, our destination only a few miles ahead, according to the map I’d memorized earlier. Avery still showed no signs of recognition, not surprising me in the slightest. “So would you want to keep working in project management? Or do something else?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve honestly not given it much thought. Jamie is my primary focus. But I enjoy my job. It’s not glamorous, but it pays my bills, and I’m good at it.”

  “You never had a dream job growing up?”

  “Did you?” she countered. “You went to law school, right?”

  My grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I only pursued a legal degree to piss off Jonah.” Although, the last few days had me wondering if I should do something with it. Jamie needed a role model, and I hadn’t really proven to be one.

  I didn’t work.

  I avoided my family.

  I preferred to cause problems rather than fix them.

  Not exactly Dad of the Year material.

  “Jonah?” she repeated. “That’s your father, right? The one you said you enjoy irritating?”

  “My sperm donor, yes.” I focused on making a left turn before adding, “Defying him has been my ultimate life goal for longer than I care to remember.”

  She was silent for a moment, causing me to glance at her. I wondered if she recognized our surroundings, but no, her eyes were on me. Studying.

  “Why?” she finally asked.

  “A discussion for another time,” I replied, pulling into the condominium parking lot. Garrett had told me to park in the visitor spots at the front, so that was exactly where I headed. “We’re here.”

  She peered out the windows with a frown. “Uh, okay.” Her brow furrowed. “Not exactly what I expected.”

  You have no idea, I thought, parking the car and killing the engine. I didn’t say a word and hopped out. She was opening her door when I reached her side. Grabbing her purse from the floor, she slid off the leather seat onto her heels, her skinny jeans clinging to her curves. Too bad her flowy shirt hid her breasts. Hmm, or maybe not. It provided just a hint of what lay beneath, making it a delectable tease to my senses.

  I caught her hips and backed her up into the side of my SUV, needing to say a few things before this show started.

  “Wyatt,” she warned, her irises scanning the parking lot and front sidewalk.

  “Avery,” I returned, pressing myself up against her and not giving a fuck about our surroundings. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for over thirty minutes. So part those lips for me.”

  Her fingers dug into my sides, clasping the fabric of my black T-shirt. “I—”

  My tongue silenced her, the need to ravage her ripping through me. Not just because of this morning’s unfinished interlude but because of the emotions tugging at my conscience.

  I hated wha
t I was about to do.

  I hated that Jean had put us in this situation.

  I hated that I couldn’t control myself around this woman.

  Oh, but mostly, I hated that I couldn’t just take her upstairs and fuck her the way she deserved. The way I’d craved for what felt like a lifetime.

  I undulated my hips against hers, allowing her to feel my growing arousal, and luxuriated in the moan that trickled from her mouth to mine.

  “We’re going to have several hours of adult time later,” I vowed. “Where I am going to fully acquaint myself with your mouth, Avery. In the best of ways. And then you’re going to scream for me over and over. Perhaps at the same time. Because I would love to feel your throat contract around my cock, sweetheart. While we both come together. At the same. Fucking. Time.”

  Just picturing it nearly had me coming in my pants. Too bad we didn’t have time for me to pull her into the backseat for a quickie.

  “Wyatt,” she breathed, arching into me.

  Damn, I adored that little tell. She’d completely forgotten our location, having lost herself to my touch. Such an intoxicating realization, one that empowered me to kiss her again.

  I cupped her face between my palms and devoured her to within an inch of both our lives. Until the clearing of a throat interrupted our interlude.

  “I see you’re taking my advice well,” Garrett said, not bothering to give either of us a moment to pull ourselves together. “I’ll meet you inside. Miss Perry.” The latter was said as an afterthought, his grin decidedly cruel.

  Dick.

  “W-why is he here?” Avery asked, her flushed cheeks fading into shades of white. “Wyatt… Why is he here?” The query came out stronger, her pupils narrowing into points.

  “Avery—”

  “No! You can’t just kiss me like that and then trick me into… into… whatever the hell…? Oh God. Is that why you were asking me about my dreams? Were you tricking me into saying I wanted a life without Jamie?” Tears prickled her eyes, not of sadness but of rage. “You bastard!” She swung her palm at my face, but I caught it before it could connect. Her other hand lifted, forcing me to restrain both her wrists against her chest.

  “Avery,” I growled. “Calm. Down.”

  “I can’t believe you! What was this? A fucking game? A test? Were you just bored?” she demanded, squirming against me. “How could you? What kind of sick bastard—”

  I covered her mouth with my own, silencing her.

  And she bit me.

  Hard.

  Right. Not the best plan of action, but I didn’t know how else to shut her up. Now I cared that she was causing a scene.

  Fucking Garrett interfering before I had a chance to explain.

  She fought against me with true force this time, her knee coming dangerously close to my package. “Avery!” I yelled, needing her to calm the fuck down. “This isn’t about Jamie.”

  Her movements slowed. “What?”

  “This isn’t about Jamie,” I repeated, my teeth clenched with the effort of protecting myself while also trying not to hurt her. “This is about Jean.”

  She finally stopped, her eyebrows coming down over her beautifully fierce eyes. “I don’t… Jean?”

  “Yes. And Garrett, whether he likes it or not, is here to help you.” That was the whole point of today’s meeting. Once I proved Avery’s innocence to him, he’d have no choice but to agree to assist in resolving this entire fucking mess.

  Well, technically, I could force him to anyway. But this method settled concerns across the board. Something all involved parties required.

  Because yes, there was a chance my instincts were wrong. A very, very, very minuscule possibility. One that was shrinking by the second.

  “Help me with what?” she asked hoarsely.

  I shook my head. It would be too difficult to explain. She needed to see to believe.

  “We’re meeting a realtor inside,” I said instead of answering her. “She thinks I want to buy a property upstairs.” Technically, she thought we wanted to purchase one. But that was beside the point.

  “A condo?” Avery shifted to glance up at the tall building beside us, her brow crinkling. “Here?”

  “Yes.”

  She returned her focus to me, a glimmer of hope replacing the hurt in her gaze. “Wait, are you thinking of moving here?”

  I ran my fingers through my hair. Why did this have to be so difficult? Of course, I knew the answer. Nothing in this world was ever easy. Especially where I was concerned.

  “I don’t know yet, Avery,” I replied honestly. “We need closure on this issue first, then we can begin discussing what’s next.”

  “You mean on Jean?” she inferred.

  “Yes.”

  “I… I’m not sure I understand.”

  I know. “You will.” I took a step back, hating the distance already growing between us but also knowing it to be necessary. “Just… I need you to know one thing.”

  “Okay.” Her gorgeous features contorted in confusion. “What thing?”

  “No matter what happens, I’ve never doubted you in regard to this.” And I still didn’t. Garrett had the jet on standby, convinced we would be leaving with Jamie tonight. But I knew otherwise.

  Kincaid had been right.

  Avery was even more of a victim than I was.

  And today, she would have proof of it.

  20

  Avery

  Wyatt said this isn’t about Jamie.

  Should I believe him?

  Maybe. Yes. I think so.

  My head spun as I entered the building ahead of him, my heart in my throat. I’d gone from turned on to furious to confused as hell in the span of minutes. Talk about an emotional roller coaster.

  Wyatt’s palm met my lower back, his touch burning right through the thin barrier of my shirt and marking the skin beneath. Mine, it seemed to say. So many mixed signals.

  This weekend was the worst experience of my life.

  Followed by this morning, which was, well, orgasmic.

  Not going to think about that.

  Because I needed to focus.

  Wyatt silently led us to a set of couches in the open reception area of the condo building. A dark-haired woman sat beside Garrett, her pretty face lit up in admiration as the lawyer chuckled. While I could see the physical appeal, my experience with the man granted me a very different opinion.

  His sapphire eyes grinned up at us as we approached. “Ah, my client has arrived at last.” He stood, smoothing a hand down his tie. “Miss Hanson, this is Mister Mershano.”

  The palm pressed against my back remained as Wyatt extended his opposite hand toward the now-standing brunette. “Wyatt, please. And this is my girlfriend, Miss Perry.”

  Girlfriend? Since when?

  “Emily,” the woman replied, shaking his hand and then holding out a palm for my own. I shook it on autopilot, my brain short-circuiting.

  He didn’t really mean that.

  It was just… He meant… Okay, but…

  “Miss Perry,” Garrett said, a question in his voice. “You look a little mystified. Have you two met?”

  I blinked. What? “Me and Wyatt?”

  He arched a haughty eyebrow. “No, you and Miss Hanson.”

  I glanced at the woman, frowning. “Uh, no. Should we have?” Because I didn’t recognize her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. Have I missed something?”

  “Not that I know of.” She sounded just as baffled. “I mean, you look a little familiar. Actually, you remind me of a former client.” She smiled. “You could easily be sisters.”

  My gut churned.

  “This is about Jean,” Wyatt had said.

  Oh no…

  “I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Garrett interjected smoothly, sitting down again. “The reason I’ve arranged this meeting is my client, Wyatt, is interested in a property in this building. One I believe you might be familiar with.”

  His blue eyes
met mine as he said it, but it was the brunette who replied, “Which one?”

  “Emily is a realtor,” Wyatt whispered against my ear. He slid his arm around my waist to grab my hip and pulled me down beside him on the couch across from Garrett.

  “It’s on the twelfth floor.” Garrett’s eyes were still on me, causing me to scowl.

  Why does this feel like a test? I’d never been in this building before, and it was way too expensive for Jean to afford, even with whatever stipend Wyatt had sent her. We were in the heart of Buckhead. Property values here were five to six times as much as my house.

  “Oh, I don’t know of any available on that floor, but I’d be happy to look.” She pulled a tablet out from her purse, but Garrett laid his hand over hers.

  “That won’t be necessary, darling. We know the condo number already.” He uttered a number that had the realtor frowning.

  “That’s not available,” she said. “Or, at least, I don’t believe it’s for sale.” She pulled out her tablet and keyed in a few values while Garrett watched over her shoulder, and then she shook her head. “No, see, she’s not selling it right now.” Relief was evident in her voice. “But I can help by pulling up some other properties—”

  “No, that’s the one we want,” Garrett interjected. “Perhaps you can put us in touch with the owner?”

  “Uh, I mean, I can. But I doubt she’s interested in selling.”

  Garrett’s devilish grin was punctuated by a pair of dimples that had the realtor openly swooning. “You might be surprised.”

  “I can try to give her a call for you, if that’s the property you’re set on. However, there are others just like it in the building.”

  “We definitely prefer discussing that particular one,” Garrett said, shifting to pull a portfolio from his briefcase. “In fact, I have all the details on it here. I just need you to confirm a few things for me.”

  Her brow pinched. “Uh, yeah. Okay. Like what?”

  “Just some clarifications,” Garrett murmured, pulling out a file and glancing over it. “Such as this—that’s the owner’s name, correct?”