Cheating With The Billionaire

Chapter 15: Apologies (Bella)

Amabella's POV

It sickens me that there's some psychopath out there targeting my mother.

What's more frustrating is the fact that she still hasn't opened up to me about anything, not her true reasoning for marrying Kaden or even this drama surrounding her salons. Had it not been for Kaden being pushed into a corner to tell me everything, I'd still be left wandering around in the damn dark.

But, with everything that's been happening lately, I feel now isn't the best time to push my mother. She'll open up to me in her own time, hopefully.

"Rough day at the office, sweetheart?" I tease Kaden when he enters the house. My smile fades as I take in his tired expression and slack posture.

He makes his way over to me in the living room, dropping his briefcase by the couch and removing his suit jacket before sitting next to me. I take one of his hands in mine as he rests his head against the back of the couch, staring off into space.

"Rough is an understatement," Kaden murmurs. "Were you waiting up for me again?" he asks, turning his head to meet my gaze. I answer with a nod, my heart fluttering when he gives me half of a smile, his boyish grin making him look a few years younger. "I can't help but notice how we've been getting more and more domestic. You act more like my wife than my actual wife."

"I was literally just thinking the same thing." I laugh, blushing. The thought of me one day becoming Mrs. Kaden Matthews makes my pulse race and stomach flip. "Tell me about your day. Something or someone has clearly pissed you off and I want details."

He says nothing, then suddenly pulls me onto his lap and hugs me tightly, sighing in what I assume is contentment. Playing along, I wrap my arms around him, one hand playing in his hair while the other strokes his jawline. He closes his eyes and hums as if he likes it, so I continue to go with the flow, kissing him on each cheek and eventually on his mouth.

"Kaden, talk to me," I plead. "I want to know what's bothering you. I want to help you get through it, but I can't unless you say something." When one of his hands tries to make its way underneath my skimpy nightgown, I swat at it. He huffs in response, frowning. "I don't think so, Mister. No f*****g until after you tell me what's wrong with you."

"Can't I have just a little taste before you turn this into a Dr. Phil session?" He tries to make another pass at me, but I dodge it by sliding off his lap. He growls in aggravation before falling over on the couch, his head resting on my lap. "Baby, your rejection hurts..." He looks up at me with sad green eyes while grabbing hold of his semi with one hand. "It's literally painful."

I laugh, playfully pinching him on the cheek. "Tell me what's gotten you so worn down and then my body is all yours."

He rolls his eyes, sighing loudly. His stubbornness in not wanting to open up is downright infuriating. I hate how he expects me to pour my heart out to him whenever I'm having a hard time, but for whatever reason, I can't get the same from him in return.

"Did you find out more about what's been going on with my mom's salons?" I ask, attempting to guess it out of him. "Or were you able to uncover who's behind the attacks?"

Kaden looks away from me, whispering a barely audible yes.

"Oh my God!" I shriek, reflexively smacking him on the chest. "Tell me everything!"

"With some help, I confirmed that it's been Jason Tyler behind the attacks," he answers. I gasp in shock and confusion. "Jason used to work alongside me at Fortran, and he was also gunning for the CEO position. Before he got fired for... eh, doesn't really matter now, but he got fired and I let my ego get the best of me. I humiliated him in front of my parents before security walked him out. Fast forward to now, the fucker seems to be coming after me for revenge. Well, not directly coming after me because he's too much of a scary b***h, but he's targeting those closest to me instead, like you and your mother."

"Damn it, Kaden. Why didn't you tell me before now that you suspected Jason was behind all this? You could've said something immediately after I told you about the run-in that he and I had at that diner."

"Bella, I didn't have any solid proof Jason was the culprit back then. I only had my suspicions. And given what he did to your mother, I felt that you'd try to go after him if I told you I thought he was responsible. Sometimes you have a short fuse, and I didn't want you to end up putting yourself in any danger."

"Kaden..."

"I know, baby. I'm sorry for keeping that from you."

"I'm only letting it slide because you're right. If I knew where that asshole was right now, I'd... Ugh! I don't even want to think about it."

Kaden reaches up to play with one of my curls, a mischievous grin on his face. "Then think about me instead."

"Stop trying to seduce me." I smile, bending down to peck him on the lips. "Does Mom know about any of this?" He shakes his head, mentioning that he just found everything out a few hours ago. "Well, you should tell her soon since I'm not even supposed to know about any of this. I'm sure she'll be thrilled that you found the person responsible for damaging her salons. If anyone could get to the bottom of this mess, I knew it'd be you."

"There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you and your mother." Kaden sits up to properly face me, one hand gripping my thigh. "I'll go to war with any fucker that tries to come between you and me, or come after our family. You should know this by now, love."

My temperature rises from his words, and I can feel myself blushing. "I find it ridiculously hot when you get all protective like this."

"Yeah?" He raises a brow, creeping his hand further up my thigh. "Keep talking. Tell me what else gets you hot..."

"No more talking. You can f**k me now."

He wastes no time dominating me. He pins me underneath him on the couch, our mouths colliding roughly as I wrap my legs around his waist. Our tongues greet each other, our kiss deepening when he takes a hand and places it between my thighs. My nightgown has rolled upwards, completely exposing my naked cunt. I moan into his mouth as he fingers me, my p***y wet and desperate for all parts of him.

"Hold on, w-wait a second... Maybe we shouldn't be doing this down here." Those are the words that leave my mouth, but my body begs to differ. I cling to Kaden as if my life depends on it.

I love and hate how much power he has over me. Like I'm putty in his hands, easy for him to mold into whatever and whoever he wants—a good girl, a bad girl, his dirty girl. I've tried so many times to ignore the invisible pull that is relentless on bringing us together. I've tried and failed. I can't refuse him anymore; I can only succumb and enjoy the ride.

"Kaden, come on. What if my mother catches us? What if—"

"Worry less about your mother and more about how you'd like for me to f**k you right now," Kaden replies, nipping at my shoulder. "Is that understood—yes, or no?"

I nod, biting back a smile. "Yes."

I know I give in way too easily, but I just can't help myself. His touch drives me insane, and his kisses take my breath away. I'm melting beneath him while he whispers filthy things in my ear, stroking me toward an orgasm. Kaden is passionate about everything he does. He has no problem going after the things he wants, and in my case, who he wants. The forbidden fruit—his stepdaughter.

We've come a hell of a long way since our first encounter.

"You know what? I think I'd rather taste you first." He moves down my body slowly, pausing in between my thighs. "Open wide," he commands. I shudder at the feel of his warm breath hitting my bare p***y, quickly parting my legs and arching my back, moaning loudly as he licks me, sucks me, working me over good with his skilled mouth and tongue.

Moments like this are when I feel as if Kaden knows my body better than I do. It's been mine for the last twenty-three years, but I've never been able to pleasure myself like this. Whether I'm using toys or only my fingers, I've never been able to c*m multiple times in a night. I've never been able to climax hard enough to have my entire body shaking. I've never been able to swim in the lake of ecstasy or float on cloud nine... not until I met Kaden.

He and my mother have only been 'married' for a few months, and until I discovered they had married for something other than love, I felt terrible for being attracted to him. I felt disgusting for lusting after my hot stepfather, a man seven years older than me. I loathed myself for wanting to f**k him until I found out the truth about why they got married.

All bets were off after that.

"Kaden, please... Stop teasing and make me c*m," I beg, knowing just how much he loves it. I tug on his hair and he lifts his head, his lips glistening with my arousal. "We don't have much time left."

Before he can respond with words or action, the front door suddenly opens and closes.

Kaden curses while rushing off me. I sit up trying to collect myself as he moves to take a seat on the other couch opposite of me. We both turn our attention to the TV just as my mother enters the room, probably wondering why the light and television are still on. I try my best not to appear flushed thanks to my raging hormones as I greet her, Kaden following suit.

"What are you two doing up so late?" Mom asks before making her way into the kitchen to fix herself something to drink. I quickly mutter some bullshit excuse for an answer. "Well, don't stay up too long. Too much TV can be bad for your eyes."

Speaking of bad, I can't help but comment on how exhausted she looks.

"Is everything okay?" As if I'd just told her the worst news of all time, she abruptly bursts into tears. Kaden and I share a panicked look before rushing to her side. "Mom! W-What's going on?" She hugs me, and I awkwardly hug her back. "Mom, please... Tell me why are you crying?"

"I'm just so overwhelmed with everything." She sniffles, pulling away from me to wipe her eyes. "So much has happened since I moved us here, and everything that I have... Kaden and I... We..." She pauses, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Bella. I'm so, so sorry."

"Mom, you're scaring me." I grab her by the hand and force her to sit down at the kitchen island. "Why are you apologizing to me? What are you sorry for?"

"Lying," she whispers, looking down at the floor. "I've been lying ever since you came home and I'm tired of it. I can't keep the charade going any longer. The guilt is eating me alive, and I finally realize that it's probably safer for you to know the whole truth instead of being blind to it."

"Evangeline, are you sure about this?" Kaden asks, playing his part.

My mother nods and then confesses that her marriage to Kaden is nothing but a sham. She tells me why she did what she did even though I've already been down this road with Kaden. I fake shocked like I'm hearing the news for the first time because I know my mother would be annoyed if she found out Kaden had already told me the truth before her.

By the end of it all, I forgive her, of course. And then Kaden decides it's time for him to drop the news that he uncovered today about Jason.

"Now that we know he's responsible, how the hell do we stop him?" Mom asks after Kaden is done speaking. "Without being able to directly and legally tie him to the crimes he's in charge of making others commit, we have nothing... We have no case against him at all."

Kaden sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure what the next step is for us, but I assure you that I won't rest until this asshole pays for what he's done. Regardless, I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you both safe."

"Hear that, Mom? Everything's going to be okay." I rest my head on her shoulder while looking at Kaden, giving him a wink. "Kaden will take care of Jason. He won't let him hurt us."

At least that's what I'm praying for.