by K. L. Ramsey
“I was a fool for listening to my campaign manager. I should have never let the public believe Allison and I are still married. Hell, it’s been over a half a year since she left me and we’ve been divorced for a while now. I shouldn’t have let it go on but I did and I can’t take that back. What I can do is fix everything. I’ve scheduled a press conference for first thing tomorrow morning and I’ll be announcing my withdrawal from the race. I’ll also be explaining that Allison and I are legally divorced and you are not a homewrecker but someone I am seeing and care for very much,” he all but whispered the last part.
“Really?” she squeaked.
“Yes, really,” he confirmed. “I was wrong to believe I could run my campaign based on a lie. I could stand here and blame everything on my campaign manager but this was my fault. I take full responsibility and I promise to make everything right,” he said. Aiden turned to leave, knowing he had said everything he had to. It was clear Zara’s friend, Ava, wasn’t going to let him pass and he wouldn’t push his way into Zara’s room or life.
“Wait,” she commanded. Zara turned to her friend and whispered something into her ear and all Aiden could do was stand and watch them, holding his breath, hoping she’d give him another chance. After what seemed like a whispered heated debate, Ava nodded and started past him down the hall.
“You fucking hurt her again and you’ll have me to answer to, Mr. Bentley,” she promised.
“Duly noted,” he said and watched Zara’s protective friend disappear down the stairs. He wanted to go to Zara, pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be alright but he couldn’t make her that promise.
“Please know that if I could change all of this, I would,” he said.
“You would want to change everything?” Zara questioned. “Even everything that has happened between the two of us?” He took two steps towards her, closing the space between them and hesitantly reached for her. When she didn’t flinch or step away, he took that as his green light to pull her into his arms.
“Never, baby,” he whispered. “I’m so fucking lucky you walked into that club. I wouldn’t change one thing about us. I just wish this news article would disappear.” Aiden’s phone chimed and he pulled it from his pocket to read the text from Corbin.
“Apparently, Corbin and your friend—Ava was it?” Aiden asked. Zara nodded. “Well they are taking the girls for some ice cream Corbin promised Lucy.” He smiled at the thought of his daughter’s negotiating skills. She was quite ruthless.
“I think Corbin has a thing for Avalon,” Zara said.
“Corbin has a thing for just about every woman in the female species. Did he put the moves on your friend?” Aiden asked. Corbin flirted with every woman he had ever met. It was just who his best friend was and he came to accept it long ago.
“No,” Zara said. “Just the opposite. You know how forward he was with me earlier?” Aiden nodded, remembering how Corbin couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself at the office earlier that day. He walked out and found his friend with his arms wrapped around his woman and Aiden wanted to pound him.
“Yeah, I remember,” he dryly admitted.
Zara giggled, “Well, when I introduced Ava he just stood there, speechless. Since I met him, earlier today, he hasn’t shut up and then Avalon walked in and boom—Corbin hasn’t spoken a coherent sentence to either of us since. I’m thinking he’s either broken or smitten but I don’t know him well enough to make that call.”
Aiden chuckled at the thought of Corbin being tongue- tied. It would be a first, for sure. “I’d pay good money to see Corbin speechless,” he admitted. “This is going to be fun to watch. Apparently, the big guy was able to get himself together and ask Ava if she wanted to go for ice cream.”
“I’m sure Lucy helped him with that. Your daughter is a force when she wants something. I’m guessing she gets that from you?” Zara asked.
“So I’ve been told,” Aiden agreed. “Listen,” he started, needing to get back to the topic at hand. “I will do everything in my power to fix everything for you, baby. I’m so sorry you had to read that trash.”
Zara sobbed and it gutted him. Aiden wrapped his arms around her a little tighter and let her cry into his shirt. “The girls’ teachers looked at me as if I had done something wrong,” she cried.
“Oh baby, you did nothing wrong,” he soothed.
“How did someone get those pictures of us this morning?” she questioned.
“I have no idea, but I have my security team working on finding out who took them and where. I’ve also increased security for us and the girls. You won’t be going anywhere without your guard, understand?” he asked.
Zara slowly nodded. “Is that really necessary?”
Aiden sighed, not wanting to admit this next part. He hoped to avoid painting a picture for her of just how crazy his life could be. “Allison left me for good reason,” he admitted. “Can we sit down and talk about this?” he asked.
“You don’t have to tell me about your ex-wife or your life prior to meeting me, Aiden. That’s not part of the deal we have in place. I’m assuming it isn’t a sub’s place to know all the gory details from her Doms past,” Zara said.
“Fuck the deal, Zara. I want you for more than just my sub. God baby, I want you for—everything. But once I tell you why Allison left me, you might want to pack your shit and run too,” he admitted. He hated the thought of Zara walking away from him and the girls. He knew it was crazy and he had only known her a few weeks now but he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
“Fine, we can talk but I don’t think you are giving me enough credit, Aiden. I’m not your ex-wife and I’m sure you aren’t fully to blame for what happened between the two of you.” Zara took his hand and led him down the stairs to the kitchen. She opened the oven and checked what had been baking, smiling back over her shoulder to where he stood.
“I hope you like lasagna. I made a big pan this morning and stuck it in the oven when we got home from dance. Although, I’m pretty sure Corbin is going to ruin the girls’ appetites with ice cream, we can still eat.” Zara pulled down two plates and found a bowl of salad in the refrigerator. He could tell she was avoiding having their talk but Aiden would give her a few minutes.
“I’m starving, thank you,” he said, taking the plate she handed him. “This looks great,” he said. He helped Zara with her plate and then into her chair, at the kitchen table.
“Thanks,” she said, scooching up to the table.
Aiden sat next to her and took a deep breath. It was now or never and Zara deserved to know the truth. “Allison left me because she couldn’t deal with my crazy schedule or the extra crap that comes with me owning a multi-million dollar corporation.” Aiden sat back in his chair, impressed with himself he was able to get that out all in one breath.
Zara looked around his house and smiled, “Yes, I’m sure she hated having to live in a big, fancy house. That poor woman must have been beside herself,” she teased.
“I’m serious, Zara,” he said. She took a bite of her food and he decided he was going to have to dig a little deeper to show her just how crazy his life could be. “We received four death threats before I left for home tonight,” he whispered.
Zara stopped eating and dropped her fork onto her plate. “What do you mean by ‘we’, Aiden?” she asked. Yeah, now she was beginning to catch on.
“I mean us—you and me. Just before I left, my head of security met with me to go over the new detail assignments and he informed me you and I have had four death threats since this new story broke. It’s nothing new for me, but I know this must be terrifying for you. Allison hated that part of our lives. It’s why we chose a private preschool and why there is so much security around here and the office,” he said.
“You must hate it,” she whispered. “Living under a microscope and having to constantly worry about your girls.”
“Yeah, it’s a part of who I am and what I do. It got worse after
I agreed to run for the Senate seat. That’s about the time Allison had enough and left us,” he confessed.
“Wait—you’re telling me you have been carrying around the blame for your ex-wife leaving you all this time? Even Connie says her daughter was a fool for walking out on you guys,” Zara said.
“Connie?” he questioned. “She told you about my divorce?”
Zara winced, “Yeah, she’s kind of an over sharer.”
“Remind me to have a talk with my ex-mother-in-law,” he said.
Zara reached across the table and took his hand in hers. “She loves you and the girls, Aiden. She feels awful her daughter so carelessly threw away everything and left you three. She worries about you and the girls,” Zara said. “Cut her a break. I don’t think you realize how many people in your life truly care about you.”
Aiden pulled her from her chair and into his lap. “Are you one of those people, Zara?” he asked.
She shyly nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she admitted. “I am. Is that okay?” she asked.
“It’s more than okay—it’s fucking amazing,” he said. “But you have to know the good and the bad that comes with me and the girls. We have a lot of baggage and I don’t want you to get in so deep you can’t find your way out, if you need to.”
“I’m not looking for a way out, Aiden,” she whispered. “Just let me in, let me show you I can handle all of you, even the bad stuff.”
Zara was almost too good to be true but he wouldn’t take such a gift for granted. “Alright, but you have to tell me if my crazy life gets to be too much,” he said, making her promise.
“Now, let’s discuss this crappy idea you have about stepping down from your run for the Senate seat,” Zara said.
“It’s the only way to keep your name out of the mud they continuously try to drag me through,” Aiden offered. “If I continue to run, the press will eat you alive and I can’t let that happen.”
Zara readjusted her body to straddle his lap and softly kissed his lips. “How about you let me worry about myself and you just worry about your campaign?” she asked.
“You have no idea what you are asking,” he said. “The press can be ruthless.”
“Well, I’ve worked for some pretty high profile clients. That’s why Rose hired me to be your girls’ nanny. Plus, Avalon’s family was in politics and I’m sure she can give me some pointers. But, you have to let me talk to her. I know I signed a gag order saying I couldn’t discuss you or your family with anyone, but that was before this thing between us happened.”
Aiden knew she was right. Corbin warned him that keeping her from being able to talk to her best friend was a mistake and he was right. Zara needed an outlet to vent, especially if she was going to be a part of his life and Aiden wanted that more than anything.
“Fine,” he agreed. I will have Rose shred the agreement as long as you promise to use discretion in whom you talk to. Avalon might be the only person you can truly trust. You have to assume everyone else is out for a story and they won’t hesitate to profit from whatever piece of juicy gossip they can extract from you.”
Zara squealed and squirmed around on his lap and his cock sprang to life. He didn’t miss her surprised gasp when she realized what she was doing to him. Her sexy smirk was almost his undoing. “You know, the girls will probably talk Corbin and Ava into a trip to the park,” he said. “I think we might have a little time on our hands if you want to skip the rest of dinner.”
He kissed his way down Zara’s jaw and watched as she tugged her shirt over her head. “No bra?” he asked, making a tsking noise. Zara shook her head and palmed her own breasts, as if offering them to him. “That’s sexy as fuck, baby,” he said.
Aiden didn’t want to waste any time, he stood with her legs still wrapped around his waist and made his way over to the family room, laying her across the sectional. He pulled her yoga pants down her body along with her panties, leaving her completely bare to his gaze.
“You are so fucking hot, baby,” he praised. Zara gifted him with her shy smile as he quickly stripped out of his suit. He loved the way she watched him, her heated gaze wondering his body. She laid on the sofa, as if waiting for him to tell her what to do, ever the obedient submissive.
“Up,” he ordered. She did as he commanded and he sat down on the velvet sofa and pulled her back onto his lap. Zara straddled his cock and when she slid her wet core over his shaft, taking all of him, they both moaned from the pleasure of it all.
“You feel so good, Aiden,” she whispered against his lips. He devoured her mouth, not able to think of anything more than making her completely his.
“You too, baby,” he said. Aiden grabbed handfuls of her ass, spreading her cheeks over his cock, opening her further. “I’m going to take your ass,” he growled. “Would you like that baby?” he asked. Zara whimpered and nodded her agreement. “Good girl. We will start training your ass soon.”
The thought of sliding a plug into Zara’s tight, virgin hole nearly had him coming. He needed to make sure she was taken care of first. He ran a finger through her slick folds and then back to her ass, gently probing her hole. She hissed out her breath and threw her head back.
“Yes Aiden, more,” she begged. She rode his cock with wild abandon. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of him and he loved the way she took what she needed from him. “I’m going to come,” she shouted. That was all he needed to hear. He found his release with Zara and when she slumped breathlessly onto his chest, his whole world felt completely right for the first time in a very long time.
“Zara,” he whispered. “I think—”
“Hey guys, whoa,” Corbin had walked through the front door and turned to quickly usher the girls and Ava back out, closing and locking it, despite their protests. Zara squealed and jumped up, grabbing her clothes to cover her body but it was too late. Judging by his friend’s goofy lopsided grin, he had seen every inch of his woman. The big oaf had the nerve to keep staring at her. Aiden stood and covered Zara with his own body but that didn’t seem to matter to Corbin.
“Can you please get them out of here and give us a minute?” Aiden questioned.
“Don’t worry about the girls and Ava—they didn’t see a thing. I forgot Laney’s bear and she refused to get ice cream without him,” Corbin explained.
“Can you just turn around for a minute, man. Just pretend you are a decent human being and turn your back,” Aiden insisted. Zara stood behind him and the string of whispered curses had him smiling. Apparently, Corbin heard her too and laughed.
“You forgot a few choice words, honey,” Corbin teased. Zara finished pulling on her shirt and stepped around Aiden, walking straight for Corbin. Aiden pulled on his pants and shirt, preparing for the show he was sure his girl was about to give them. Zara was pissed, reminding him of the way she left the club their first night together. He knew from experience his woman was a spit fire when she was angry and judging by the way she poked her sexy little finger into Corbin’s broad chest, she was good and pissed.
“I’m not your honey, Corbin Eklund. You need to knock before you just barge into a room or at least tie a bell around your neck to let us know you’re entering.” Aiden chuckled and she turned to face him, her expression murderous.
“And you—” she spat.
“Hey, wait a minute. I’m innocent here,” he defended.
“You are most certainly not innocent here,” she charged. “You knew we agreed to keep this thing between us under wraps. You agreed the girls wouldn’t find out and then you took off all of my clothes and looked at me with your sexy eyes and now this—” she yelled, flailing her arms wildly about as if they were helping to prove her point.
“You’re right,” Aiden conceded. “I fucked up and I’m sorry. We’ll just sit the girls down and tell them we’re a couple.”
“We will do no such thing,” Zara shouted.
“Listen, guys,” Corbin interrupted. “I’m just going to grab Barry t
he bear and be on my way.” He found Laney’s teddy bear sitting on the bench by the front door and gave a wave over his shoulder on his way back out the door. Aiden wasn’t sure if he was happy or worried about being alone with Zara again.
“We can’t just announce to those little girls I’m your sub and that their Daddy likes to tie their new nanny to his bed,” she said. Zara’s anger seemed to dissipate some and he had to admit he was glad. She was so much easier to talk to when she wasn’t screaming at him and waving her hands around like a crazy person. But, she was right, he fucked up—again. He needed to get his head on straight, but there was something about her that made him want to throw caution out the window and live in the moment. Fucking her on the sofa might not have been his finest decision but it sure felt right at the time.
“Well, we wouldn’t tell them any of that, baby. First—I thought we covered the part where you are more than just my sub,” he said. “You admitted you care for me and I told you I feel the same way. We might have a Dom/sub relationship in the bedroom but this ‘thing’, as you keep calling it, has evolved into so much more than that for me.” Aiden hoped he wasn’t saying too much or pushing her too quickly but he wouldn’t hide the truth from her. He was falling for her and it wasn’t something he planned on doing—it just happened and it felt right.
Aiden reached for Zara and was thankful she let him pull her into his body. “We’ll just tell the girls I’m falling in love with their nanny,” he whispered.
Zara
Zara wasn’t sure if she had heard Aiden correctly of if it was her heart interfering with her hearing. “Did you just say you’re falling in love with me?” she asked.
“I did,” he admitted, without hesitation. “Is it too soon?” he asked. She wanted to tell him it was too fucking fast to be talking about feelings and love. It had only been a couple of days since he found her soaking in his bathtub. But they had their night in the club and if she was being honest, she couldn’t stop thinking about him these past few weeks either. There was something about Aiden that had drawn her to him that night in the club and it kept her coming back for more. When he asked her to be his sub she wanted to ask for so much more from him, but she was too afraid of him telling her no. Now, he was offering her his world, his heart and everything she had ever dreamed of and she wasn’t sure what to say next.
