Bound Together Page 8

  Pulling up to a pair of large black iron gates, Jared leaned over to a security system on the wall adjacent to his door. He quickly punched in a code and the gates slowly opened, allowing us to enter. The house was the biggest on the street. It was white and had beautiful full length arched windows. The lawn was immaculate and the edges were decorated with rose bushes. The roses were stunning; their several different shades of pink had me in awe and I found myself staring out my window trying to take it all in.

  Parking the car in front of the house, he turned to me and smiled. I was confused. Why were we at someone’s house? With my brow furrowed I stared at him. “Where are we? I thought we were having dinner?” He gave me a wicked grin. “We are. I told you I was taking you to dinner. I just neglected to say where. Welcome to chez Jared.” He let out a small chuckle and got out of the car, jogging around to my door to open it for me, before taking my hand and assisting me to my feet. He interlocked our fingers and held my hand tightly as he led me into the house.

  Once inside I realized that what I’d seen outside was just the tip of the iceberg. I was standing in the most exquisite foyer I’d ever seen. Glistening crystal chandeliers hung from the high rise ceiling above me. The staircase in the center of the room was perfectly white with a black railing that twisted and wound into a beautiful vine pattern all the way to the top. The floor was white marble with a minimalistic design of small black diamonds evenly set into a pattern across the massive room. Jared ran his fingers over my knuckles before pressing his lips on my hand. I could feel my cheeks turning crimson again. He had this amazing ability to make my blood boil in fury but also to make it simmer inside me. “Would you like a tour?” I suddenly became aware that my mouth had been gaping open the entire time. I quickly closed it and cleared my throat. Turning my face to him, I nodded.

  He led me upstairs and showed me the bedrooms. At one end of the house were three large rooms, each with an adjoining en suite bathroom. They were an impressive size and certainly big enough for two. Each bathroom had his and hers basins and deep bath tubs with a chrome and glass shower. The bedrooms were decorated in neutral colors and I got the feeling that they were intended to be guest rooms. Jared’s hand hadn’t left mine since the car and as he tightened his grasp, I could feel the heat radiating from his palm and pulsing upwards through my hand into my arm. We stopped outside a pair of very large white wooden doors. Taking my other hand in his, he faced me and smiled with a boyish grin. “This, my lady, is the master suite. This is my room.”

  Sinfully tempting thoughts ran through my mind as he let go of my hands and opened the double doors.

  The room was the size of a small apartment. My heels clanked and clapped as I walked across the stone colored marble flooring to admire the room. The walls were painted a beautiful pure white and two opposing walls were papered in a cloudy gray. Long crisp golden threaded curtains hung over the full length windows and at the far end of the room, a stunning king size bed took center stage. The white metal head board was decorated with a thick golden edging and between the bars a plump gold cushion was fixed into the center. Brilliantly white sheets covered the bed and a bright golden throw was draped over the end. Turning around the room, I saw a luxurious vintage white couch and two chairs that were positioned strategically around a glass coffee table in the corner. Elegant pieces of artwork hung on the walls. One I recognized as a recreation of ‘Water Lilies’ by Monet. It was one of my favorite paintings and I walked over to admire it closely.

  Staring dreamily at the painting I became aware of Jared’s presence behind me. I could feel the warmth from his body on mine as he placed his hands on my arms and leaned in, speaking directly into my ear. His breath on my neck made me hot and my breath quickened.

  “I bought this painting because of its tranquil colors and perfect brush strokes. It’s a beautiful piece don’t you think?”

  I was speechless. My heart was pounding in my chest so hard I thought he might hear it. I swallowed hard and turned to face him. Looking into his beautiful tanzanite blue eyes I responded weakly, “It’s stunning.” I wasn’t sure if I was talking about the painting anymore. His eyes were captivating and I felt lost as I gazed into them.

  Never taking his eyes from mine, his hands moved from my arms around to my back, enveloping me in his strong embrace. My hands raised and rested on his shoulders. He leaned forward, his lips barely touching mine; his forehead pressed against my own and let out a long staggered breath. “Layla. You are exquisite. This painting in all its elegant wonder could not hold a candle to your beauty. You fascinate me.”

  I couldn’t breathe.

  My heart was now pounding so hard that I felt it in my throat. My lips were begging for him to take them. And the fire deep inside my belly was growing into a raging inferno. His tongue grazed my bottom lip and I gasped as he placed a small kiss on my jaw. He trailed more soft kisses down my neck to my collar bone. A soft moan escaped me and I closed my eyes, finding the sensation of his mouth on my skin immensely pleasurable. I raked my fingers through his thick brown and gold hair, gripping it as his lips made their way up my neck again. He traced my lips with his tongue and my mouth opened, welcoming it inside. My own tongue hungrily met his, tasting, feeling and demanding more.

  Gently, he pulled his lips from mine and planting another soft peck on my mouth, he nuzzled my nose. Feeling slightly bereft, I exhaled a breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding. With his forehead once again resting against mine, Jared smiled. It was infectious and I found myself grinning back at him.

  "Oh Layla. What you do to me..."

  I rested my hands on his chest and smiled up at him seductively. “I have many things that I'd like you to do to me."

  He pulled his face away and eyed me with a shocked expression. Slowly, a wicked grin spread across his face. I stood on my tiptoes and planted a chaste kiss on his lips, then, smiling, whispered, "Like right now... I want you to feed me." Jared let out a breathless chuckle and took my hand, leading me out of the room. "I am happy to oblige, my lady. And dinner is certainly something I can do."

  I followed him down the stairs leaving the temptations and delights I’d experienced in his bedroom behind me. The kitchen was at the far end of the house and was as large as his bedroom had been. The surfaces were black marble and the furnishings were a gleaming white with a high gloss finish. The appliances were glistening stainless steel and the floor was a silver laminate. A breakfast bar was situated in the center of the room with three stools pushed in beneath it. It was stunning to behold. He released my hand and motioned for me to sit at the breakfast bar while pulling out a stool. I couldn’t stop smiling. I was really enjoying myself.

  He walked around the counter and leaned on his elbows gazing at me, mere inches from my face. His lips were beautiful and I couldn’t stop staring at them as he spoke. “Welcome to chez Jared. I can serve you anything you want. Italian, Chinese, Japanese, gourmet; anything your heart desires.”

  Breaking our connection he opened a drawer in front of him and took out some pieces of paper, laying them in front of me. I eyed them curiously before throwing my head back and laughing. “As long as it comes from one of these take-outs.”

  He was obviously not a cook. I composed myself, smiled at him sympathetically and began browsing a Chinese menu. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him grinning at me. I handed him the menu and gave him a playful smile. “Surprise me.”

  It was almost a dare. His grin widened and I could see he was imagining doing just that. “Oh I think I can manage that my lady. Most definitely. But first let’s eat. I want to know everything about you.” Oh be still my beating heart. His voice was dripping with sexy suggestions and I was drooling at the thought of wrapping myself around this man.

  Chapter 11

  Knowing Me, Knowing You

  The food arrived quickly and Jared insisted that we eat it off of his expensive looking plates, even though I told him I was perfectly happy eating straight from t
he container. We sat side by side at the breakfast bar. Glancing sideways at me he wiped his delicious mouth and turned to face me. “So Layla, I know you’re at college so that makes you what, eighteen?”

  I smiled and swallowed my mouthful of rice. “Nineteen. Being born in October I had to wait a year to start school. My mom decided she’d rather I go with Mel anyway for safety in numbers and I think my dad was just glad to get an extra year to save for my college tuition. He’s paying it all even though I told him I would help once I got a job. But he wouldn’t let me. He’s a proud man and always says that as my father he should be able to provide for me. But anyway the important thing is I’ll be twenty in a few weeks and only one year away from being able to be legally inebriated. What about you? When’s your birthday?”

  Pushing his plate away he leaned his elbow on the counter next to him and tilted his head onto his fist. “I turned twenty two last month. I know what you’re thinking though. How can he look so good for twenty two?” Giggling I gave him a gentle nudge. Following what he’d done I pushed my plate away and faced him. Our knees were directly opposite each other’s. I had to fight the urge to put my hands on them; not that I imagined he’d mind but I wanted to get to know this man on an emotional level as well as the physical.

  “You’re only twenty two!? How did you end up living in a place like this? I mean it’s amazing. Did you win the state lottery or something?”

  Jared winced a little and I wondered if I’d said something to upset him. “It belonged to my parents. This was their place.”

  I couldn’t help but notice the way he said was their place. His demeanor changed and he visibly stiffened as though recalling a painful memory. I didn’t want to press him but my curiosity hoped he would elaborate. He took a deep breath and straightened up again, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. “They died three years ago. Dad was a great businessman. He owned a lot of real estate. Houses, apartment complexes and before he died the company was beginning to construct a mall. When he and my mom passed I inherited everything. I’m an only child so there was a lot to inherit. Dad’s business, the properties, the house, the car, everything.”

  I frowned as I saw a grieved expression appear on his beautiful face. Leaning forward on my stool I took his hand in mine and wound my fingers through his. He gazed at me with an expression I couldn’t quite understand.

  I gave him a sympathetic look. “That’s a lot for a nineteen year old guy to deal with. Especially with college too. What happened to them? Your parents I mean. You don’t have to tell me, I just thought I’d ask in case you wanted to talk about it.”

  He took a deep breath and looked down at the floor. “Mom had a shop in Long Beach. Dad had bought it for her and it was the first piece of real estate he owned. Anyway one evening they were at the shop closing up when they heard yelling coming from the place next to theirs. When they checked it out they saw that the clerk was being robbed by a guy in a ski mask. The guy shot the clerk before turning the gun on my parents. Someone across the street saw what happened and called the paramedics and the cops. But, by the time they got there, it was too late.”

  I could feel the sting of tears forming in my eyes. He’d been through so much and at such a young age. He looked up at me as a single tear began to roll down my cheek. Raising his free hand he wiped it away with his thumb and smiled sweetly at me. “Hey no tears ok? This world has enough to make you cry, my pain shouldn’t be one of them. I dropped out of college and took over dad’s business and I’m actually pretty good at it. The mall he was building was completed a year after he died and I have new projects coming up in Europe. I wouldn’t say I’m filthy rich but I can live well on what the properties and the mall rake in. Don’t be sad for me. I miss them, like you wouldn’t believe how much, but I can’t live my life while I’m dwelling on the past. It’s not what they would have wanted. It took me a long time to realize it but now, I look to my future. All the crying, screaming and anger in the world won’t bring them back so there’s no point wasting time and energy on it. Alright?”

  I nodded weakly and gave him a half-hearted smile. The icy cold way he spoke about their tragic death left me feeling a great deal of pain for the nineteen year old Jared. Having his life turned upside down and then inheriting a fortune and a business must have been so overwhelming. I doubted very much that he’d ever even had time to grieve for them. My heart was aching for him and his loss. He looked so lost sitting there across from me. At that point, he must have sensed my anguish because he removed his hand from my face and laced his fingers through mine.

  I stared down at his strong masculine hand in mine. It was wonderfully intimate. I felt a surge of electricity cracking in the air as he gazed at me with his stunning soulful eyes. “So you know about my family. Tell me about yours.”

  I shrugged. “Not much to tell. I grew up in Pasadena. Dad’s a mechanic and mom’s a nurse. They divorced when I was thirteen. Mom was the one who filed and then she moved to San Francisco. I’m an only child too but Mel has been my best friend since we were kids so she’s more like a sister. I didn’t wanna leave her or dad when my parents divorced so I stayed but I visit my mom a couple of times a month. Obviously, with college I won’t be doing that anymore, but I’m going to stay with her for a week during winter break. They’re both great parents and dad has always been easy to talk to. Mom’s a little more difficult. She gives great advice but she’s not the best listener. She worries a lot. I think the distance between us makes it worse. She’s constantly terrified about something awful happening to me. As if I’ll be kidnapped, tortured or shot.” Realizing what I had just said, I covered my face with my free hand, screwing up my features in disgust at my insensitive comment. Murmuring through my hand I apologized profusely.

  Gently taking my hand from my face Jared smiled at me then leaned in to plant a soft kiss on my lips. He took me completely by surprise and the butterflies in my stomach were fluttering up a storm. His kisses were so warm and gentle and I decided then that I could really get used to him kissing me more often. The thought made me giddy with anticipation and excitement.

  “It’s ok Layla. Don’t beat yourself up. I can totally understand how your mother feels. When someone you love is hurt and there is absolutely nothing you can do, it’s soul destroying. Let’s change the subject shall we? What are you studying at college? Made any friends yet?” Releasing my hand he took a sip of his wine.

  He’d poured us a beautifully sweet and fruity red to accompany our meal. It was a perfect match for the oriental spices and red meat. He certainly knew his wine.

  I smiled at myself, wondering how this young sexy male had become so knowledgeable in the art of choosing wine. I cleared my throat, realizing I hadn’t answered his question. “I’m mostly taking psych classes but I’m also taking a couple of English classes too. I love literature. While my friends were out partying in high school, I was curled up on the sofa with my nose in a book. Boring huh? But now I have a new roommate and I’m almost positive that with her organizing my social life, I’ll have little time for books…or sleep for that matter. Oliver is pretty cool too; he lives across the hall from me and Amy. He plays the guitar and he showed us a great bar a couple of blocks from campus. I have a feeling it’s gonna become our new Friday night haunt. They’re the only friends I have there so far.”

  Jared raised an eyebrow at me and ran his fingers up and down the stem of his glass. “Layla…Is Oliver gay? Because I would hate to think I have competition, especially with him living just across the hall and all.” Was he jealous already? This was only our first date. I stared at him puzzled. He must have seen the look of confusion on my face because he stood up and gazed down deep into my eyes. Lifting my chin up to look at him, I saw his serious expression.

  “I just need to know if I’ve got a fight on my hands. I really like you Layla. I like you a lot and I want to see an awful lot more of you, but I won’t share your affections. It’s all or nothing. If you have anyo
ne else in your life, I’ll walk away tonight and never bother you again. I won’t fight for a woman who belongs to someone else.”

  Standing up I pressed my hands against his hard chest. Returning his gaze I shook my head. “There’s no one else Jared. I don’t share either. I’m a one man woman and I expect the same from the men I date. If you can promise me that, then I can guarantee that while I’m dating you there will be no one else. Oliver is a friend and that’s all he’ll ever be.” I really hoped I could believe what I’d said. There was no denying the chemistry between Ollie and I but what I felt for Jared was more than just physical, it was intense.

  “Good girl. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” Tilting my head up with his hand holding my chin, he lowered his lips over mine and kissed me deeply. He kissed me with a carnal hunger I’d never felt before. It was clear that he wanted me and I wanted him just as much. I kissed him back with the same urgency. I needed him. I ran my hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer to me. Cupping my face with his hands he let out a soft moan. My knees weakened and my breathing quickened.

  Jared must have felt my sudden weakness because his hands were suddenly wrapped around my waist holding me tightly. Without removing his lips from mine, he lifted me up and sat me onto the counter top. I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him against me. His hands wandered from my middle to my knees slowly sliding up my thighs and going underneath my dress, before settling around on my behind. He pulled me to the edge of the counter and removing his lips from my mine, trailed kisses down my neck. I moaned loudly with pleasure as he reached my collar bone. His lips travelled further south to my chest and down to my cleavage.

  I leaned back slightly, granting him better access to my breasts. Arching my back, I steadied myself with my hands as I gripped the counter. His hands slid out from beneath my dress and were now wrapped around my back. Pulling me back up to him, his lips made their way up my neck then to my face. The two of us were breathing heavily as our eyes met. I was completely aroused. My skin was screaming to be touched and my breasts were fully aware of his proximity to them. I could feel my nipples harden beneath my dress. I ached for him.