Chapter One
Isabelle
Families are the compass that guides us.
The exhaustion of my first official day is swept aside when I enter the foyer of Isaac’s private residence—our home. There’s something surreal about seeing the man you love lying on the floor, playing babies with a girl who doesn’t have a drop of his blood, but is his family in every sense of the term. Isaac’s suit jacket has been removed, and although the vest I dream about with my wonderous imagination remains, the sleeves of his crisp white business shirt are rolled up to his elbows, his tie has been removed, and he is barefoot. With his hair overdue for a trim, and the stubble on his chin showing the effects of two days’ worth of growth, he’s about as casual as you’ll get him. It’s rare to see him out of a suit. I don’t mind. My fiancé is a powerful, ruthless business mogul, who just happens to dote on me with every essence of his being.
The past six months have been a crazy, wonderful adventure. Callie has slotted into our lives so profoundly, I honestly can’t remember what life was like without her being a part of it. She loves Isaac fiercely, and shockingly, I’m okay with that. She loves him in a way I can’t. The bond a child has for their father-figure is starkly contradicting to what I feel for Isaac. He is her guardian angel—her protector. He is my lover—the man I can’t live without.
Callie is proof those horrid words I spoke to Hugo a little over six months ago weren’t close to the truth. Isaac is too much of a man to ever be half of one. The way he loves Callie so unconditionally without dampening his love and protectiveness of me proves this without a doubt. If anything, her inclusion in our life has strengthened our bond. We’re so fortified, not a single thing can come between us. We walked through the fire and came out uncharred. What more testimony do you need than that?
When the front carved French doors close with the slightest creak, Callie’s head pops up from the LOL dolls she’s playing with. It seems as if she’s spotted me first, but it’s all a ploy. Not only did Isaac’s thighs bunch when I first stepped into the foyer, his heated gaze has my inner vixen digging herself out of the trench Ryan’s ruse this morning threw her in.
It took over an hour for the heat on my cheeks to reside, then another three to calm the pulse between my legs. It wasn’t just patting the girth Isaac assures ‘is all him’ that had my mind spiraling. It was wondering how Isaac would respond to me returning home with the cuffs he requested.
I didn’t miss Ryan’s snicker when I snuck them into my bag at the end of our shift, but I was too excited to care. Isaac and I have unearthed many rigorous positions the past few months, so I’m dying to see where my cuffs take us.
“Izzy!” When Callie leaps into my arms, I playfully fall to the ground with a grunt. She’s still a tiny little thing, but Catherine’s doting has added some much-needed pounds to her svelte frame. Her hair is glossy, her cheeks are rosy, and she has the gleam of love in her eyes. I’m not the only Popov who gets flustered when bombarded with Isaac’s attention. “How was your day at work?”
I giggle at the mispronunciation of her last word. “It was good, baby girl. I gave out three speeding tickets, ate more donuts than my jeans can handle, and almost arrested a baddie in a tempting three-piece suit.” I glance over at Isaac during my last sentence. “Ryan assures me things will pick up soon, but for now, I’ll enjoy coming home minus any unnecessary kinks.”
My reply isn’t one hundred percent accurate. Although Isaac has Ravenshoe virtually on the straight and narrow, the towns dividing his empire are full of riffraff. Hopeton is by far the worst. Even with Col Petretti being killed in the joint FBI-Ravenshoe sting when I was kidnapped, mob activity is recorded there almost daily. For the most part, it’s Col’s predecessors keeping Ravenshoe PD on their toes, but there are also rumblings of a new Russian counterpart hoping to re-sink foot holes in a once Russian dominant sanction.
Ryan’s disclosure earlier tonight had me wondering if that was the reason Enrique left the note on Isaac’s town car last week. Is he attempting to resurrect an old sanction he was part of? Or was he warning me to remain cautious? I discovered answers to my questions before my shift ended tonight, but since Isaac is in my radar, I’ll have to update you on my findings later.
My knees knock together when Isaac assists me off the floor. His eyes are holding the same commanding allure they had today when I frisked him, but with a playful edge that only creeps into them on special occasions.
“Isabelle, how was your day?” My god, his voice still drives me crazy—so rich, deep, and penetrating.
I wait for Isaac to reach my side before replying, “Good. I’m glad to be home, though.”
My heart flutters when he tilts his head like he’s preparing to kiss me. I’m left hanging when the lips I fantasize about multiple times a day brush the shell of my ear instead of my mouth. It doesn’t lessen the zap between my legs, though. Not only are his lips astounding enough to have me on the brink of ecstasy just from taking in their plumpness, the words they speak are a sure-fire sign I’m as lost to this man now as I was the day I ran into him at the airport.
“I see you brought home your cuffs as requested. We’ll eat first, devour later.” The rasp of his voice sends a revitalizing bolt of electricity through every inch of me.
When I lean closer to him, needing more, never getting enough, a little person slips between us, momentarily breaking the spell Isaac forever places on me. As much as I’ve accepted that Callie loves Isaac as only she can, she’s yet to get a handle on her jealousy issues. She loves us both, but her affections for me are placed on the back burner if I hog an ounce of Isaac’s attention.
My inner vixen stomps her feet in disgust when Isaac tilts back. It isn’t just Callie lodging a foot of air between us, it’s the buzzing of a doorbell. I stop pouting like a child when I realize who’s knocking. Catherine is here to take Callie for a sleepover as Isaac revealed earlier today. Catherine is Isaac’s personal assistant-housekeeper-grandma. Isaac loves her dearly, but this is the first time he’s entrusted anyone with the care of Callie overnight. That might have more to do with the fact Monotone Roger will be staying with Callie and Catherine tonight than anything, but I’m still excited. An entire night with Isaac all by myself, and I don’t have to start work until six o’clock tomorrow night.
Oh god, I think I just had a mini orgasm.
Isaac’s prowess still amazes me, but knowing we have all night to ourselves is more invigorating than the two cups of coffee I need every morning to return normal cognitive functions to my brain. With Callie needing a stable, nurturing environment, I’ve had to get inventive with my insatiable need to have Isaac at every waking moment.
Showering has a completely new meaning now than it did six months ago, and I very much feel a part of Isaac’s empire since I’ve attended multiple ‘business meetings’ with him. I don’t pay any attention to what anyone is saying. I’m too busy endeavoring to unravel Isaac under his desk to listen to acquisitions and sale margins. I always knew Isaac had outstanding control, but the way he can come in my mouth without his voice hitching still amazes me.
Goosebumps rise on my nape when Isaac whispers into my ear, “Perhaps you can eat while I devour you.” His teeth graze my earlobe before he gives it a quick tug, sparking a rush of excitement to whiz down my spine. “Say goodnight to Callie, Isabelle, because your pussy is mine for the next twelve hours.”
After a final tug on my earlobe, he moves to the door to let Catherine in. I should be embarrassed by how inflamed my cheeks are, but for some reason, I’m not. Catherine has worked for Isaac even longer than Hugo. She’s also caught us in many compromising positions the past six months—enough, I’m stunned she can maintain the eye contact she’s awarding me now.
“Isaac. Isabelle.” She bends down, bringing her gentle eyes in line with Callie’s glistening ones. “Good evening, Callie.” She makes a gasping face before pretending to pull something out from behind Callie’s ear. The surprise on her face jumps onto Callie’s when she realizes it’s a gold coin. It’s fake, but real enough a soon-to-be four-year-old doesn’t know any different. “What do you think, Callie, will this be enough to get us a pint of ice cream on the way home?”
Callie nods without pause, her excitement as palpable as mine.
“Then you better get your things. Roger is bringing the car around, and we all know how much of a bore Roger is about tardiness.”
I laugh at Catherine’s comment before I can stop myself. I love Roger. He’s good at his job and has never once had any slip ups like Hunter and Hugo, but the guy doesn’t have a snippet of a personality. Hugo was right. He has the personality of a wet blanket.
“Protecting my most valued possessions isn’t a laughing matter, Isabelle,” Isaac scorns, peering my way with narrowed eyes. “Besides, we all recall what happens when you grow a bond with the men paid to protect you. I’d hate for Callie to reach the same level of fascination.”
His dry, lowered tone shouldn’t turn me on, but it does. It has my thighs touching and a desperate need to get Catherine and Callie out of here as soon as possible. I’ve always said a jealous Isaac is as sexy as sin. I wasn’t lying. Jealousy may be hitting him hard in the gut as he recalls my kiss with Hugo, but it’s also unleashing his natural dominance. It’s beaming out of him in invisible waves, making me the hottest I’ve ever been. I’m burning up everywhere and am five seconds from giving Catherine and Callie their marching orders in a not-so-polite manner.
Mercifully, Catherine is more clued-in than I give her credit for. It’s pretentious of me to believe her age has her incapable of reading the electricity crackling between Isaac and me. Even a saint wouldn’t be able to ignore it. That’s how red-hot it is.
“I shall have Roger call before we return tomorrow.” She cups Callie’s ears. “We wouldn’t want her being irreverently scarred.” Her eyes shift to me. They have a twinkle in them I’ve always admired. “She may never forgive you when she realizes you own a portion of Isaac’s heart she’ll never reach.”
With that, she assists Callie with placing her backpack on, then suggests she hugs us goodbye. I’m not surprised when Callie races for Isaac first. He is her knight in shining armor, so he deserves the majority of her adoration. When she finishes saying goodbye to him, which feels like a good two to three minutes, she moves to my side of the foyer. Just like Catherine, I lower myself to her level. She peers at me with her big brown eyes out in full force for what feels like minutes but is mere seconds before throwing her arms around my neck.
Tears prick my eyes when she whispers, “I love you, Izzy.” Her words stumble as much as my emotions are teetering, but there’s no doubt they’re the words she spoke.
Excluding Isaac, Callie has had difficulties expressing herself the past six months. Dr. Avery assures us it’s normal for a three-year-old who’s been through what she’s endured, and with patience and understanding, she’ll slowly emerge from her cocoon. She’s openly expressed her love of Isaac the past two months, but this is the first time I’ve been included in the equation. It affects me more than I care to admit and almost has me wanting to cancel her sleepover with Catherine, so I can pry it out of her a few more times. I would if she weren’t beaming with excitement. She’s looking as forward to tonight’s activities as I am, which frees me to send her off with a clear heart.
“I love you too, Callie Cat. Very much so.”
I squeeze her super tight, sucking in the smell of freshly shampooed hair and honey before releasing her from my hold, only partly pouting when she gives Isaac a second hug before skipping out of the foyer on Catherine’s heel.
Once they’re bundled into an idling town car, I shift on my feet to face Isaac, preparing to tell him how much it sucks that my sister loves him more than me. I’m only playing, but there’s a friskiness impinging the air, making me more daring than normal.
Before I can announce a single snippet of the fake annoyance scouring my face, my mouth is devoured by the most delicious pair of lips I’ve ever tasted in my life. Isaac kisses me as I’ve never been kissed before—a rousing mix of licks, sucks, and grazes of his teeth. To someone looking in, his kiss could appear savage like he’s aiming more to hurt than pleasure me.
I know that isn’t the case.
He’s worshiping me as only he can by taking as much as he’s giving. He’s often said I’m his eternal weakness, so isn’t it only fair he feeds off my strength.
The note I wrote him on New Year’s Eve when I stupidly believed I didn’t complete him as he does me, a crystal bowl and a handful of valuable ornaments tumble to the ground when Isaac clears the entryway table with his arm. Once the items are scattered around our feet, he splays my backside where they once sat. With my work uniform comprising of black slacks and a buttoned-up shirt, Isaac will have to work on getting the top half of my body exposed long before he can commence tackling my belt.
“Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to walk away from you today, Isabelle? Your cheeks were inflamed, and your eyes were wide. If that weren’t bad enough, I could smell how aroused you were.” He sucks in deeply like he’s sniffing in the same scent now. “Knowing Ryan could see what I saw, smell what I did…” A growl finalizes his sentence. “It has me wondering if this was a good idea. Perhaps I should chain you to my bed, only freeing you when I have an imperative decision to make.” My breaths quicken when the stubble on his chin grazes my neck. “Excluding the day I asked you to become my wife, I’ve never made more sound business deals as I have when you’re a part of the meetings. They, by far, exceed any transactions I’ve ever made.”
I can’t respond. The removal of my pants has rendered me speechless. He moved so nimbly, I hadn’t realized he had my belt undone, much less my button and fly. Once he has the thin black material huddled around my knees, he commands my eyes to his before tugging off my lace panties. It seems as if the tip of his tongue is being dragged up the seam of my pussy when he lifts my panties to his nose to inhale a large and undignified whiff through his nostrils.
“You smell so fucking good,” he moans on a growl.
With his pupils the largest I’ve seen them, he slips the scrap of material into his trousers pocket, then lowers his zipper. “I should be feeding you, Isabelle, but that needs to wait. I’ve been hard since you frisked me. I can’t wait a moment longer.”
I meow when he frees his cock from his briefs. He’s hard and long, extending well past the swell in my stomach. He shoves his trousers down somewhat aggressively before cupping my thighs, assuring he adds the extra snip of dominance I like in his grip.
His sexy voice adds to the stickiness between my legs when he says, “Wrap your legs around my waist and hold on. This is going to be hard and fast.”
After doing as instructed, he coats his crown with the glistening wetness between my legs. I’ve yet to come, but I don’t need to be physically stimulated to be wet. His face alone moistens my panties, much less how desirable he makes me feel. Isaac could have anyone he wants, but for some strange reason, he only wants me.
Our combined purrs of ecstasy bounce around the large foyer of our home when he enters me in one quick thrust. I call out, the sensation of being full to the brim to all-encompassing not to react. You’d think the more times he takes me, the easier it would be. That isn’t the case. It’s as if he grows thicker every time we fuck.
Once he has one hand weaved through my hair and the other soothing the sting rocketing through me by nurturing the aching bud between my legs, he slowly withdraws. My pussy sucks at him, forever begging to be filled by him. Its frantic squeezes have him entering me even quicker this time than he did the first. He’d never leave a single qualm of my inner vixen unvoiced. He knows her every want and has no hesitation fulfilling it at all times of the day and night.
He fucks me almost violently, bringing my screams to an ear-piercing level, and I love every minute of it. I meet his pumps grind for grind, growing wetter with each one we do. Even though he’s only one man, he has every inch of me covered. He’s giving my scalp the sting it loves when I’m being claimed by him, his balls are slapping my ass, his thumb is circling my clit, and my breasts are bouncing so furiously, they clap with every thrust he does.
Even his mouth-watering ‘V’ muscle adds to the commotion. His thumb is taking care of my clit, but watching how he uses every muscle in his body to bring me to climax is a riveting visual. The hard bumps in his midsection never stop contracting as he drives into me on repeat, screwing me as only he can.
Our home is airconditioned with the most state-of-the-art equipment, but you wouldn’t know it for how much sweat is gliding over our bodies. We’re fucking like wild animals, the stickiness replicating the mess between my legs. I grow wetter and wetter with every pump he does, the conditions worsening when the lips I fantasize about arrow toward mine.
They’re the final push I need to get over the line. They spark fireworks in front of my eyes and tighten every muscle in my body. Just as my body starts to quake with a much-needed buzz, Isaac inches back.
“Eyes, Isabelle.”
The intensity roaring through my body is almost too much to bear. It’s the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had, and it’s all because the eyes that see through to my soul are on me, taking everything I’m willing to give and then some.
Isaac pumps into me on repeat without once removing his eyes from mine. It’s a gloriously terrifying four minutes that includes multiple shouts of his name and many confirmations on how I can’t stand the intensity, and that I need him to stop his relentless pounds for just a second.
He doesn’t adhere to my request, knowing I can withstand more than I’ll ever admit. I understand why. We’ve had everything come between us—kidnappings, mafia kingpins, infidelity claims, yet here we are, stronger than ever.
Nothing will ever change that.
Not even the Almighty himself.
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083D924FC
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083D924FC
AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B083D924FC
