Redemption [Book 3]

by Kate Benson

  “What if I resigned?” she offers after a few quiet moments. “I’m not under contract, so I could just find something else. That would help, wouldn’t it?”

  “I don’t think so, pumpkin,” I shake my head, brushing her hair away from her cheek. “An abrupt resignation from a long-term employee followed by her seemingly sudden, committed relationship with the CEO could still warrant an investigation from the board. We’d be in the same position we are now, only have more explaining to do.”

  “So, there’s no way around it?” she asks, the slight break in her voice breaking something inside of me, too.

  “We’re trying, princess,” I admit, with a sigh. “As of this morning, I’ve got three different firms looking into it, searching for anything they can find to resolve it.”

  “But?”

  “But it’s not looking very promising,” I confess, meeting her eyes and hating the sadness in them, the gentle shake in her chest as she swallows the tears she doesn’t want me to see.

  “Okay,” she whispers, clearing her throat before giving my palm a gentle squeeze, giving me the best smile she can manage. “I think I understand.”

  Before I can respond, she gives my jaw a quick peck and releases my hand. She lifts herself from the couch, her steps quick as she disappears down the hallway, taking a piece of me with her. I rake my palm over my jaw, evening out my own emotions before I raise from the couch and move to follow her.

  “Bella?” I start, pushing through her door. “Darling, we’ll find a way to-” Everything comes to a stop when I find her in her closet, setting a bag onto the island and tossing things inside. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m getting my things,” she whispers, refusing to face me.

  “What?”

  “I won’t be long,” she promises, her voice still quaking gently as she moves toward one of the dressers. “I just have to…” she trails off, my chest seizing when I see her small frame beginning to shake.

  “Baby, stop,” I order gently as I approach her, turning her in my arms to cradle her. “Stop, okay?”

  “I can’t,” she admits, her voice breathy and thick with emotion as she trembles in my arms.

  “Isabella…”

  “Adam,” she whimpers, squeezing me tight before attempting to pull away from me completely. “Adam, you have to let me go.”

  “No,” I insist, holding her in place. “Look at me,” I order, reaching for her neck and gently angling her eyes to mine. “No, kitten.”

  “You don’t have a choice,” she reasons, her voice low as her fingers softly fall on my wrist. “You have to let me go.”

  “I won’t,” I promise, pressing my lips to her hair and pulling her back to my chest, wrapping my arms around her tight. “I’ll figure it out. You just have to trust me.”

  “I do,” she whispers, finally softening against my chest, returning my embrace. “I trust you completely. I just don’t know how you’ll…”

  “Let me worry about that, okay?” I cut her off, pulling a slow nod from her. “Just stay,” I beg, pulling her eyes back to mine, the emotion in mine surprising her. “Bella, just promise me you’ll stay.”

  Two Weeks Later

  I watch the group file out of my office, most of them walking faster than usual as the clock signals the end of their work week. She gives me a small smile; our secret leaving the stain of both sadness and need behind her eyes.

  In the past two weeks, we’d taken every measure possible to keep our relationship a secret. Aside from leaving one private garage to another, we never left my penthouse together. Her apartment, the club… everything that threatened our relationship going public was pushed to the side to buy as much time as we could. Even little rendezvous in my office had become few and far between making every day painstakingly long knowing she was so close and I couldn’t touch her.

  It hasn’t been easy, but it’s all been worth it to keep her safe.

  I’ll do anything to protect her, to keep her.

  “Have a good weekend, Mr. Avery,” she nods.

  Her voice pulls my thoughts back to my office and I watch her move toward the door, taking her leave along with the others.

  The thought of her leaving again without tasting her lips is more than I can take today.

  “Miss Baxter?” I call out, pulling her gaze back to mine.

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “Do you mind staying behind for a moment?” I ask, glancing down at the new account we’d just gone over, pretending to scan it. “There’s something regarding your projections I need to go over with you before you go.”

  “Of course,” she replies, sidestepping the last of the group as she waits patiently on the opposite side of my desk.

  Finally, the room clears out and I move my attention back to her, giving her a subtle nod toward the door.

  “Close the door, please,” I order gently, watching her turn to comply.

  When she returns her gaze to mine, I’m removing my jacket, laying it across the back of my chair as I make my way around to her.

  “Is something wrong?” she asks.

  “No, not at all,” I shake my head. “Things are tense, the timeline pretty close, but if we can master the logistics, it will work out beautifully,” I admit, holding her eyes. “You did an excellent job today. Your projections were brilliant. You should be very proud of yourself, princess. I was very impressed.”

  “Thank you,” she smiles, her cheeks heating just slightly as I cup her face, brushing her hair away.

  “You’re welcome,” I whisper, my eyes leaving hers for a moment as I take in the arch of her shoulder, the way her hair grazes her skin seductively. “I know I should wait until we’re home, but…”

  I trail off, her lips parting as my fingertips trace the straps of her dress. I gently graze her waist with my palm, enraptured by the way she instinctively leans her hips into mine before I turn her away from me. I sweep her long locks over her shoulder, silently pleased as she bows her head to give me better access to the zipper on the back of her dress. I take my time in lowering it to her waist, extending my hand for her to grip as she steps out of the forgotten silk, the quiet swish of it falling over a nearby chair making her skin heat. I unhook her bra and coax her back to me, reveling in the sight of her bare breasts. The pad of my thumb sweeps over her nipple before I bend to pull it between my lips and suck gently, a low hum of pleasure finding us both as I feed the craving only her skin can resolve. Slowly, my lips move over her collarbone, my palm against her throat, the beat of her pulse racing against my fingertips tugging at me deep.

  No longer able to resist the temptation of her lips, I take her kiss, an almost silent whimper leaving her chest, pulling a groan from my chest as I take a half step back.

  “Come here, angel,” I whisper, tracing the black band on her finger as I take her hand in mine. “Kneel.”

  Isabella

  Since the night of my punishment and then the crash of reality that came with all the legal troubles we were finding ourselves avoiding, we’ve had to be even more careful than ever. I’d even gone to the extent of telling the handful of people who did know about us that we’d ended it, blaming heartache for my lack of communication.

  I hated lying to them, but when the alternative was being forced to walk away from him forever?

  My choice was immediate.

  I know eventually I’ll have to come clean with all of them, answer for my mistruths, but I also know my family, my best friend… they all love me unconditionally.

  This is just something I have to do.

  The first day, the day he told me everything had been the hardest yet. Something happened that day while we were alone in my bedroom, something flashed in his eyes that I’d never seen in him before. I hadn’t realized until that moment just how much I
needed him.

  It also showed just how much Adam needed me, too.

  As terrifying as the entire situation has become, this potential nightmare has also been a blessing in disguise. It wasn’t until losing each other became a threat that we were able to turn a much-needed corner in our relationship.

  It was subtle at first.

  His touch lingered longer, each embrace I had for him grew tighter, less guarded. I have a deeper appreciation for his rules, even those he’s eased up on, and in that moment, I vowed to never break his trust again.

  It’s been different, but as with everything with Adam, it’s also been worth it.

  Every second.

  Gentle dominance laces his movements as he commands me quietly to find my place at his feet, pushing my emotional thoughts to the side as I take his hand in mine. The feel of the band on his finger brushes my thumb and like always, my heart clenches in my chest.

  He helps me lower in front of him, holding my eyes as he frees himself. My hand moves slowly up his shaft, gripping him tight as I slowly drag my tongue from his base to his tip, wrapping my lips around him. He releases a low sigh of content while I swallow mine, watching his eyes hood as I take him deeper into my mouth. My free hand grips the belt still hanging from his waist with a low hum of pleasure, his fingertips gently sweeping a strand of my dark hair from my face. He slides his fingers around the base of my neck, wrapping my hair loosely around his fist and angling my eyes up higher. They flutter shut in arousal as I pull him further between my lips, his tip pressing against the base of my throat drenching my panties. His low growl of relief slips out, only a breath away from demanding my eyes when I raise them to his dominant gaze, another sigh of appreciation leaving his chest.

  We stare into each other relentlessly, the only sound in the room his heavy panting and the wet sound of my lips moving over his shaft. The faint clacking of his belt is soon silenced by my grip on the Italian leather as the gentle buzz comes from his desk.

  “Yes?” he husks into the phone, the smirk on his lips making me blush as I continue my movements, his hand moving lower to trace my lips as they move around him. “Thank you. I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

  He ends the call and drops the phone onto his desk, forgetting it instantly as he releases his grip, gently sinking his fingers back into my strands as he cups my cheeks in his palms.

  “My sweet, Bella,” he whispers, bending enough to pull away from my mouth, gazing at me adoringly. “You’re being such a good girl today,” he croons, giving me a soft peck on the lips, my hand still sliding over his shaft. He tilts my head back just slightly to meet his mouth more completely, kissing me slowly, deeply until my mind goes hazy in ways only he’s capable of. He swallows my whimper, the low groan leaving his chest flowing back into mine before he pulls away, gazing back at me. “You’ve pleased me so much.”

  “I’m glad,” I whisper, giving him my sweetest smile before taking another peck on the lips, savoring in his touch as his palm finds my breast, giving it a gentle squeeze before he presses his lips to my forehead and returns to a stand.

  “The car is here,” he hums, tracing my jaw before sweeping my lips, his eyes softening further when I kiss the pad of his thumb. “Finish up and I’ll take you home, baby.”

  “Yes, Sir,” I say quietly, my eyes still on his as I move to take the tip of his cock back into my mouth with a low hum.

  He holds my head in place, taking control and pushing into me, his breath going ragged making my eyes grow heavier still. When he fills my mouth, his fingers return to my throat, growling in pleasure as I swallow and lick my lips clean.

  “Good girl,” he sighs, searching my features for a moment before he reaches for me, helping me back to my feet. He tugs on my panties, dipping his finger inside and teasing me before licking his finger clean with a low hum. “I’ll take care of you when we get to the car, princess,” he promises, bending to kiss me. “Get your things and we’ll go.”

  I bend to retrieve my dress, smiling to myself when he lowers in front of me, helping pull it up my legs. He helps me dress, his movements sweet and careful, his lips soft as he presses them to my shoulder and reaches for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  We release a simultaneous sigh as he pulls the door open wide, shifting back into professional mode due to the handful of staff still lingering.

  We stand at separate elevators, waiting impatiently for a moment until the ding of his private exit breaks the silence. Another quick sweep proves that we’re alone in the hallway as he holds the door, gesturing for me to join him as my doors slide open.

  “Come,” he whispers, ushering me inside.

  “You don’t think anyone saw us, do you?” I ask, glancing up at him as he silences his phone and pulls me closer.

  “No. We’re all alone, kitten,” he promises, bending to kiss me the second the doors close in front of us, humming when his tongue brushes mine. “Mmm… you still taste like me.”

  His words make my breath catch, my cheeks blaze as I lean into his chest, kissing him deeply as I melt into him. His palm sweeps my waist as he cradles me, making me feel adored, cherished, safer than I ever have before. As I pull away slightly, I stroke his beard, searching his eyes for a moment before pressing my lips to his gently.

  The thought of belonging to someone so completely used to be terrifying, but the thought of being owned by Adam simply completes me.

  “I love you.”

  “Hmm,” he groans, pressing his lips to mine in turn. “I love you, too, princess,” he whispers. “More than you know.”

  The elevator comes to a stop in his private garage, both of us refusing the release our grip until Monday morning. He presses his lips to my neck, his hands moving over my waist with abandon as the doors slide open and immediately, we’re met with a barrage of flashes and clicks.

  “What the fuck?” Adam grates out.

  We pull away from each as we take in the unexpected reception we’re receiving. There are dozens of them, each one of them more desperate than the next to get a perfect shot. I can’t stop the sensation of feeling like the world is suddenly slipping from beneath my feet.

  “Oh, my God,” I manage, my voice shaking as I turn to face the intrusion, my heart somehow pounding as it plummets.

  It’s over.

  “Hello, Cousin,” we hear from the back of the group, the tabloid reports on him less than a year earlier so incessant, no one in the city could never forget his face.

  “Simon,” Adam hisses, his arm shielding me from the sea of reporters shouting out questions, demanding answers as they block our exit.

  Simon slithers his way through the mob, coming to a stop in front of Adam, his palms pressing against the elevator doors in protest, further cornering us as he forces them to remain open.

  The sound of the cameras on us never cease despite the way the reporters hush instantly, desperate to catch a quote that will dominate their headline.

  This is bad.

  This is very, very fucking bad.

  “Adam,” I breathe, my fists clenching the fabric of his jacket as I rest my forehead against his back, my eyes clenching tight with anxiety.

  “Ooh,” Simon whispers, pulling my gaze up to find him raising his eyebrows, shooting me a wink that has my stomach turning. “She is pretty.”

  He moves to take a step toward me, my body shuddering at the thought, but one look into Adam’s protective gaze stops him short, his serpent-like grin growing wider.

  “Look at you,” he snarls. “Don’t be like that, Cous. I just want a little taste.”

  “You’ll stay the hell away from her, Simon,” Adam demands through clenched teeth, making his eyes grow wide. “I will end you.”

  “Wow. That doesn’t sound like a one-day fling talkin’, does it, Joan?” he begins, glancing down
at the reporter to his right, quickly returning his cocky grin to us. “That seems like a secret you’ve been keeping for quite a while. I wonder what investors will think of the way you’ve been spending your time?” he asks with mock concern. “Or how the board will right this terrible wrong?”

  My chest rages with a combination between anger and fear, despair overrunning them both instantaneously as I grip Adam tighter, desperate to keep him close while I can.

  How did this happen?

  We were so careful.

  “Simon,” Adam’s voice cuts my thoughts short. “What the fuck are you doing here? What do you want?”

  “What do you think?” he asks, flashing me a cocky grin before returning his attention to Adam. “You took my company,” he accuses, his lips settling into determination and vengeance. “I’m here to take it back.”

  Adam and Isabella’s story will continue in Redemption: Part Four, coming soon!

  Also by Kate Benson

  The Promise Series

  The Promise

  The Choice

  The Secret

  The Commitment

  The Compromise

  The Sacrifice

  The Confession

  Ignite Series

  Ignite

  Smolder

  The Callie Leveaux Series

  Escort

  SAVAGE

  The Callie Leveaux Novella Boxed Set

  Traitor

  Standalone

  Beyond the Pine

  The Frenemy Series

  frigid

  sprung

  The Vault

  Redemption Part One

  Redemption: Part Two

  Redemption: Part Three

  About the Author

  Kate Benson was raised in Texas and currently resides in central Florida with her husband and their growing army of fur minions.