Bound Together Page 14

  “Layla, you’re being melodramatic again and typically over reacting as usual. I don’t share that bed. I never have. You’re being ridiculous.”

  Giving him and icy glare I turned away and headed into the room but he caught me by the elbow tightly and whirled me around to face him. Gripping my arms so I couldn’t escape him he pressed his lips to mine. I pushed him away from me and glowered at him.

  “Layla stop! This is absurd! I’m not slinging you out and I don’t want you to leave. If it means that much to you that we share a room tonight fine! Now go to bed!” I stood my ground and crossed my arms over my chest, maintaining the glower I was giving him.

  Rushing towards me he growled in frustration before hauling me off the floor and over his shoulder. He marched over to the large four poster bed and pushed me down onto the soft mattress. Staring down at me from the foot of the bed he let out a long sigh, closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his forehead with his finger and thumb. “Get undressed; I’ll be back in a moment.” I opened my mouth to shoot him a sarcastic comment but he gave me a warning look. “Don’t. Not a word. Just get undressed and I’ll be back in a minute, I have to do something before I turn in.”

  I sat on the bed gasping, feeling as though the air had been ripped from my lungs. How could he be so hardhearted? Had what we shared meant nothing to him? Didn’t he care about me at all? My mind was swarming with unanswered questions that my tongue was eager to fire at him. How could I have given him the power to make me feel this way after only a few weeks? His face had been so infuriated and his tone so callous. I could feel a lump in my throat that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard I swallowed. A barrage of tears began to flow down my scorching cheeks. Holding my face in my hands my body rocked and shook as I sobbed.

  “Christ Layla, baby don’t cry. I didn’t mean to go off at you like that. Come here.” Crouching in front of me in nothing but a pair of sweat pants, he reached his arms out to pull me in. Shaking my head at him furiously, unable to speak through the sobbing, I stood up and stormed across the room and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. I leaned back against the hard cold wood and slid down to the floor wrapping my arms around my knees.

  I could feel him on the other side of the door as though the heat from his body were penetrating the wood. He tapped lightly on the door. “Layla open the door. This is absurd, come out here and let’s talk about this like adults. Calm and rational.”

  “No! Just go back to your room and leave me alone! It’s what you wanted anyway.”

  His fist hammered on the door with such a fury that it startled me. “If you don’t open this door and come out this instant I’m going to open it and pull you out myself” I let out a snort and yelled through the door at him. “Go ahead!”

  “I’m not kidding Layla! Last chance.” His voice was low and I could tell he was getting angrier by the minute and for some bizarre and dangerous reason it turned me on. “You don’t scare me, Boss.” Ha! Take that mister insensitive. You don’t scare me.

  Silence ensued and it worried me. Curiosity plagued me and I timidly opened the door just a crack to see if he had left. I couldn’t see him anywhere in the room, so feeling rather triumphant I walked out, closing the door quietly behind me. A floorboard creaked behind me and I turned around to find Jared standing in the door way with a very large power drill in his hand.

  Staring at the enormous tool he had gripped in his palm I crossed my arms and glared at him. “And what exactly did you plan on doing with that?”

  His brow furrowed, marring his gorgeous features as he met my gaze and glared back at me. “Well if the mountain won’t come to me then I must go to the mountain. You locked the door and refused to come out, which, by the way, is extremely childish. So I was going to take the hinges off and remove the problem and also the door.” Dropping the tool on the floor, he slumped down on to the edge of the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. He rubbed his hands over his face and winced before looking up at me. “I think we need to have a conversation. Some things need clearing up. And they need clearing up now rather than later. Come on, we’ll go to my room and talk.” He held his hand out for mine but I turned away and skirted around him, storming down the hall to his room. Letting out an exasperated sigh, he followed me.

  Chapter 18

  Getting It Straight

  The room was dimly lit by two tall standing glass lamps in opposite corners of the room. Making my way over to the lush white couch that I had seen the first night Jared had brought me to his home, I continued to ignore his presence. I sat down and put my feet up so that I was lounging comfortably while trying to retain my infuriated expression. I really was exhausted and after the performance in the dining room and the blow out in the bedroom, I was ready for some shut eye. But he was right, we did have things that we needed to talk about and one burning question I needed an answer to. Slouching into an arm chair directly across from me, he sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

  “Layla there are some things we need to get straight once and for all. First is for me to apologize for my behavior back there. I’m not used to this,” he gestured between the two of us and immediately gave me an opening to ask him my question. “Jared, someone told me you don’t date. That you don’t do the whole girlfriend thing. Is that true? Is this just a case of hot casual sex with no strings, no commitment and no feelings? Because if that’s what you want then I’m sorry but I’m not the girl for you.”

  Raising an arched eyebrow at me, a small smile played across his lips. “I see. Been checking up on me have you? Did you Google me as well? No matter. It’s true I have never been one to date. I don’t freely welcome people into my life Layla. It’s hectic and I’m a very busy man. I have an entire enterprise to run and it’s very important that I get it right. It’s my kingdom and I won’t see it torn apart by power hungry politicians and developers who are just itching for me to screw it up. I like my life to be simple and uncomplicated. Getting close to people always ends up going the same way for me. I’m hot tempered and impatient. You saw that in the bedroom a moment ago and on the dining table before that.”

  This was it. What it all came down to was that Jared couldn’t commit to a relationship and all I could hope for was for us to be nothing more than casual lovers. Feeling completely rejected, I swept my feet from the couch to the floor. Standing up slowly I gazed at him longingly. “I understand and you know what? It’s fine. Just let me get my things and I’ll call a cab to take me home.”

  Immediately rising to his feet, Jared grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him. “You didn’t let me finish. Just because I haven’t dated doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I care about you Layla. I enjoy spending time with you and not just because of the raw, passionate sex either. You’re witty, sarcastic, intelligent, funny and I love being around you. You brighten my day. When I was stuck in meetings all week I hardly got anything done. I kept thinking about you. What is she doing? Who is she with? Is she thinking about me? My cell phone was practically super glued to my hand because I was worried I’d miss a call or message from you. I’ve never felt that way about a woman before. So no Layla, I don’t usually date, but like I told you in the car the other night, I want you to be mine. Not just your body, not just sex, I want you. All of you for as long as you’ll have me.”

  I was giddy with happiness. He wanted me, all of me, not just the sex and the frustratingly passionate arguing. He wanted it all. The feeling of elation flooded my veins and I couldn’t control myself anymore, it was as if someone had hit a switch and all the lights had come on in a bright surge of power inside me. Snaking my arms around his neck, I clung to him, wrapping my legs around his waist. He staggered backwards a little, before gripping my behind to stop me from slipping.

  “Does this mean you want me too? I need you to be totally aware of what you’re getting into. I’m bad tempered, impatient, possessive and I need a certain degree of order and control in my life. I’m a business man Layla. It�
��s how we are. It’s how I have to be. There are too many opportunities for me to fail and if I do, I will lose everything. It’s just the way things are. I’ll screw up more than once and I only hope you’ll forgive me when I do. But I’ll always try and put you first when I can, I’ll never deliberately try to hurt you and I promise to treat you like the princess you are. You’re very important to me and I want to do this with you. If you think you can handle all of that, then I would be the happiest man in the state, maybe even the world right now. What do you say Layla?”

  He returned me to my feet as he watched me, scouring my face for any hint of an answer. Taking a deep breath I sighed and gazed up at him. I leaned my hip to one side and crossed my arms over my chest. “Well you’re right. You are extremely impatient, bad tempered, hot headed, controlling, complicated, irrational and argumentative. Not to mention, from what I saw at the bar tonight you certainly are possessive.”

  He rolled his eyes at me and held his hands in the air. “Fuck Layla, kick a guy in the crotch will you? It’d be less painful.” Raising my hand to his lips to silence him he arched an eyebrow at me. “But you’re also sweet, kind, funny, romantic, passionate, playful and you make me feel like the most desirable woman in the world when you look at me. So for those reasons Jared, I definitely think I can handle it.”

  Holding my fingers to his mouth he gently nipped on the pads with his teeth before planting a soothing kiss on each one. I could feel fiery hot desire deep inside my belly and the aching between my legs was returning with a vengeance. The lust in his eyes called to me like a siren luring sailors to their doom. He was my light and my destruction. His power over me was frightening but invigorating all at once.

  Grabbing me by the waist he pulled me to him, compressing our chests together. I could feel the rigid stiffness of his erection against my hip as he kissed me, driving his tongue into my mouth and seeking out my own. Letting out a moan he began sliding down the straps of my dress, letting it fall into a heap on the floor. Lifting me up, he used his foot to kick it aside. His hands worked quickly to remove my bra as his lips never left my own. We staggered backwards across the room towards the couch and lifting me into his arms, Jared slowly lowered me onto it, forcing our lips to part from one another. He gazed down at me and stroked a strand of hair from my face with his thumb. “Oh Layla you really are exquisite and from this moment on you are mine. Mine entirely. I want your body to crave my touch, to ache for me with a sensual and passionate need. I want to please you in every way possible, to give you everything your heart desires. But right now I’ll settle for some mind blowing orgasms.” I arched my back as he trailed kisses over my breasts. Taking my nipple into his mouth, he swirled the very tip of his tongue over it, making it pucker and harden at his touch.

  I wanted him desperately with an insatiable need. I needed him to wash away the hurt and angst I felt in the guest room, the feelings of deep, lingering disappointment and fear that he was slipping through my fingers. As if hearing my thoughts, he pulled me close to him, holding me tightly against his body. His arms firmly across my back, he kept me enclosed in his embrace; his intense, ferocious kisses becoming lingering, tender and gentle with a sweet longing. Wrapping my arms around his torso I ran my hands over his back as lust began to engulf my senses. I was done waiting. I wanted him inside me, bringing me my release from the tension of the evening’s events.

  I dug my nails into his back and dragged them gently downwards to the deep and sexy dimples on his lower back. I bit down carnivorously on his bottom lip and he let out a primal groan, deep and husky. His eyes closed and his head rolled back forcing my teeth to release his deliciously plump lip. “Fuck Layla. You’re an animal. It’s driving me crazy.”

  With one swoop he flipped me onto my front, raising my hands above my head he ran his hands down my arms, my shoulder blades, my spine and the curve of my hip, before sliding his thumbs into the elastic on my panties. He pulled me down to the edge of the couch so that my feet were now touching the floor. Lying on top of me, his hot breath was warming my face as he spoke seductively into my ear. “Oh baby these are so deliciously delicate I would hate to ruin them. Stay still.” His skin exuded his arousal and an intoxicating scent of soap, sweat and sex. It was an aromatic combination that left me feeling woozy and light-headed but also incredibly turned on.

  His fingertips trailed gently down my neck followed by gentle and grazing kisses over my shoulder blades and all the way down my back. I held my breath as he nipped at the elastic waist of my panties before licking slowly over the curve of my hip. Clamping his teeth over the delicate lace, he gently slid one side down my hip and over my behind to my thigh. He was playful and sexy Jared once again and I was eager to know what else he could possibly have in store for me.

  Sex with Jared was beyond pleasurable; it was essential, almost crucial and vital to my health. He performed the same move on the other side of my panties, leaving them around my thighs, restricting the movement of my legs. “You have a fine ass my lady. A very fine ass indeed. Especially now that it belongs to me.”

  I stifled a laugh. “So you could say you own my ass?”

  He snickered and nodded. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

  I blushed with embarrassment but in all honesty, I was his. I certainly didn’t want to be anyone else’s. His hands on my hips he ran his fingers swiftly over my behind and slid my panties to my ankles. With a hard thrust, he pushed my feet apart, leaving me wide open.

  He gently and attentively ran his fingers up my thigh and between my legs. My clit was throbbing, pulsing with a need for release. I was so turned on, a simple touch would have pushed me over the edge. But Jared was a sexpert and I was fast becoming aware of how to touch, stroke and tease me to the point of lunacy. I hated and loved that about him. Sliding a finger inside me he let out a soft moan, almost like the sound one would make when eating something particularly delicious. “Mmmm, baby you are so ready for me. You’re practically gushing with anticipation for my cock.”

  Panting, I wriggled my hips urging him to move inside me but with his other hand he grabbed me by the waist to still me. “No.” His tone was strict and a definite warning.

  He withdrew his finger and quickly reached into his pocket before pushing down his sweatpants, freeing his impressive erection. I heard the sound of foil rip before slowly and steadily, he entered me. I gasped for breath as he filled me so deep, I could feel him in the bottom of my stomach. Leaning forward he cupped his hands over my breasts, massaging them firmly but with a perfect tenderness. Pushing myself up on my hands, I straightened so that I was firmly pressed against him; my back against his rock hard abs and our hips fused in place. Holding his hand over my right breast, he moved his left hand down my body to my stomach pressing it with his palm, forcing us together tightly into a standing position. His hips moved rhythmically as he thrust himself in and out. His mouth caressed my neck before moving to my earlobe and nipping it teasingly.

  I ran my own hand up his neck to the back of his head and gripped a handful of his soft hair. It was wet with sweat and I could smell the faint scent of a fruity shampoo as I rolled my head back onto his shoulder. His hand moved downwards from my stomach to my tender and swollen clit as he rubbed it in time to his thrusts. My pulse spiked as a surge of pleasure rippled through my body like lightning. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears and his panting breath on my neck pushed me over the edge. My legs weakened and shook as my orgasm came crashing through me like a wave. The muscles inside me convulsed and tightened around him. He gasped loudly, before hissing out a breath as he found his release, calling my name. “Layla! Fuck!”

  My knees trembling, I collapsed onto the soft couch with Jared rolling onto his back next to me. Raising his hand to his forehead, he wiped his brow and exhaled loudly. “Christ Layla. You’re going to kill me if you keep going at this rate. My heart feels like it’s going to explode.”

  He was breathless and I couldn’t take my eyes off his stunning, beautifu
l face. Rolling onto his side he propped himself onto his elbow and gazed down at me. My eyelids were getting heavy and I began to feel myself drifting off to sleep. Wrapping me in his arms, Jared scooped me up and carried me out of the room and down the hall to the guest room. He laid me softly onto the bed before reaching for a blanket and draping it over me. I expected him to leave me and return to his room, but he didn’t. Climbing in behind me he pulled me into him, spooning me in his arms. He pressed his lips against the back of my head in a kiss. “Goodnight my lady.”

  I sighed with pure happiness and content. This was exactly where I wanted to be, completely sexed out and wrapped in his arms. I almost didn’t want to sleep for fear I’d wake up and discover it was all a dream. But my exhaustion was growing and snuggling into the pillow, I gently drifted under and into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 19

  The King And I

  The sound of music woke me as the smell of cinnamon and maple syrup immediately stirred my senses. Opening my eyes, I scanned the room trying to fathom where I was. Lifting myself up on to my elbows I looked around at the neutral magnolia walls. A large power drill was sitting on the floor in the middle of the room. Memories of the previous night came flooding back to me. The bar, the dining room, the fight and the mind blowing antics in the bedroom; it provoked an array of emotions inside me. Hauling myself out of bed, I suddenly realized that I was stark naked. Wrapping a sheet around me I made my way to his room at the end of the hall. I didn’t pass him on my way and the music I could hear echoing through the large white foyer told me he was in the kitchen; the scent of pancakes told me he was cooking breakfast. His room was empty and his bed was exactly how we had left it the previous night: clean, crisp and perfectly straight. A condom wrapper was discarded on the floor beside the couch so I picked it up and searched for the bathroom to dispose of it.