Bound to Ignite (South Jersey Bound Series) (8 page)

The butter started to crackle and he poured the eggs into the pan.

It wasn’t as if his feelings for Jillie were new. On their senior trip somewhere out in the Pine Barren wilderness, their group of friends had snuck out into the night and roamed the woods. She’d shivered and he placed his coat around her shoulders. Absurd, but the sight of her in his jacket had made him hard, as if by folding herself in his clothes, she was folding into him.

He smiled ruefully—an eighteen-year-old’s wood was damn hard to get rid of. That night, it had taken him a long time to get to sleep in a bunk room with ten other guys.

Even a kiss had been just a fantasy then. He’d watched her burn through strings of admirers. He’d been too worried he’d fuck up their friendship if he told her how he felt. A break up would have meant parting their small group of friends. And change enough had been in store for them all.

He folded his arms across his chest.

Maybe something within him had warned him to wait. They had lives to build, different directions to take. They had needed time to mature…apart from each other.

The eggs sizzled. He snapped back to the present.

So, what is next? He picked up the pan and swirled.

They supported one another, trusted and cared for another, and now… He bristled at the thought of her with any other man.

After sliding the finished eggs onto a dish, he covered them and leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee.

She had to be in his life. He could try and deny it, but what would be the point? Forever had snuck up on him last night.

Marriage ceased to be a scary prospect long ago. In fact, he’d already drawn up plans to expand the cabin, but he just hadn’t had a reason to continue the renovations. He’d almost slipped up and told her about his planned addition in the bathroom this morning. He stopped himself though, because she was acting very un-Jillie like, very skittish. She wouldn’t have believed he was ready to settle down.

The door rattled as she stepped inside.

“Hey, there,” he said softly.

She smiled. She was sweet as summer fruit and just as luscious.

“Hi.” Her gaze was fixed on the stove.

“I made you eggs.”

“Thanks. I haven’t had eggs for breakfast in a long time. I’m a terrible cook. I burn everything.”

“That’s fine.” He shrugged. “I rock.”
Whoops.
He’d unintentionally hinted at the future he’d been envisioning.

“Your humility is impressive,” she laughed, though her eyebrows were raised.

“If you think my humility is impressive, you should try my eggs,” he joked.

She eased onto a stool at the counter. He dished out their servings, and then he grabbed two forks and hit the drawer closed with his hip. He sat down by her side.

Nope, no doubt
. She belonged there. He slid his fork over to her plate and scooped up a forkful of her food.

“Hey!” she said.

He hovered the fork near her mouth, circling in front of her lips. “Open.”

“Eric, I think I can feed myself.”

“Of course you can, love,” he coaxed. “Humor me.”

****

Jillian closed her eyes and savored the taste of Eric’s eggs. He wasn’t kidding. The eggs were delicious. He’d added something…fresh rosemary, maybe? Damn, he was good cook, too. He was definitely going to break her heart.

“When I’m not traveling, I’ll make you breakfast every morning.”

His voice was so low; she told herself for a split-second that he hadn’t said what she thought he said.

She swallowed with difficulty. “What was that?”

He had a calm but searching expression in his beautiful, green eyes.

“When you move in, I’ll cook. It relaxes me. Cooking, that is. But you relax me, too.”

Breathe.
Her emotions blared at full volume and she didn’t trust herself to acknowledge what he had said. She took the fork from his hand.

“Your eggs are good,” she squeaked.

He stared at her for a long, hard moment, and then turned abruptly and shoveled a forkful in his mouth.

“Yup, not bad,” he said. “I told you so.”

She peeked at him. His face was so familiar, yet almost new.
If you want him, go and get him
. Warm affection stole over her like night-mist, and her eyes started to fill. She sniffled and he jerked back.

“What is it, baby?” he asked, his face full of alarm.

“It’s just,” she hesitated, “I’m scared. Last night was pretty wild.”

“This morning, too,” he pointed out.

She rolled her eyes and slumped. “Unhelpful.”

He lifted her face.

“We have this thing between us. It’s fun, it’s interesting, and it’s hot. But it’s not everything. We have our friendship, too.”

She motioned to the living room. “There was more than just role-play in there.”

His eyes glittered and he didn’t deny it.

“I liked spanking you,” he said. “And, yes, maybe I liked taking charge more than I expected.” He took both of her hands into his before continuing, “Your happiness, though, is as important to me as my own. I’m pretty certain one depends on the other.”

“I’m pretty independent.” She glanced at her hands. “Most of the time, that is.”

“Be whatever you want to be, out there. Do whatever you want to do. I’ll cheer you on. But in here,” he placed his hand over her heart, “beats the heart of a submissive. What’s more, last night you granted its keeping to me.”

She wrinkled her forehead. “I’m not sure what that means.”

He shrugged. “To be honest, neither do
I… Yet. We’ll learn. I intend to find out. I don’t want to let this go.”

“I don’t want to tie you down,” she said.

“Funny, I very much want to tie you down.”

“Don’t joke.”

“It may be a double entendre, but both meanings are true. If you don’t believe that I’m ready to settle down, I can prove it. I have plans for a second renovation upstairs to expand this place into a house for two…or more.”

Her heart skipped a beat.
“Really?”

“Yes, really.
We’ll work it out,” he said confidently. He grabbed her wrist pulled her into an embrace. “Look, last night, we got it all wrong at first, But we tried again and we figured out what was right for us.”

She smiled weakly, but her heart warmed. “True.”

They couldn’t have all the answers just yet. When he held her the way he did, she thought they had enough.

“I think I may love you,” she said.

“I already know you do,” he replied.

She sighed and shook her head. “And you said
I
sass.”

He grinned. “What’s more,” he added, “I know I love you.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“You’re smart, fun and easy to talk to, not to mention hot and wild.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before resting his cheek against her hair. “But mostly because you’ve been the most important person in my life since we were kids.”

He brought her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

“So, what do you say Jillian Louisa Daniels…?”

The slight crack in his voice melted her heart.

“Do you want to jump through the rabbit hole with me?” he asked.

“Yes.” Breathless, she wove her arms around his neck and curled her fingers into his hair. “Yes, yes, yes.”

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Novella 1: Bound to Be Mine, 51 pages

Novella 2: Bound to Surrender, 72 pages

Novella 3: Bound to Ignite, 55 pages

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EXCERPTS & BLURBS

Bound to Be Mine

Lisa Emery had everything: a lucrative job and the perfect man at home—her master. Together, they were exploring the darker side of passion and both seemed to bloom with the knowledge. She had never understood why he suddenly disappeared just when things were going so well. And she didn’t understand why he was back.

Ben Johnson knew the “life” he and Lisa had been living was wrong...just knew it. Something that felt that good couldn’t be right. According to the help he’d sought, “only by atoning for your wrongs could you really grow and change as a person.” So, he was back to atone. Why then, after so many months apart, did he still need to dominate Lisa, to bend her to his will and give in to his baser instincts? And why, after all this time, did she want him to?

Excerpt from Bound to be
Mine:

This would be so much easier, if only her little pursed lips weren’t so fucking kissable.
If only he couldn’t so vividly remember those lips wrapped firmly around his cock.

“The way I see it,” she said, “if I hear you out, you have everything to gain while I get nothing for my trouble.” She swept her hand, encompassing the length of her apartment. “All this, I did without you,
despite
you…why should I hear you out?”

“You could heal…” he suggested.

“Heal,” she snorted. “Who
are
you? I would’ve bet my Grand Prix against you ever saying the word
heal
in reference to a relationship.”

“Have you read my journal?” he asked impatiently.

Her skin flushed. Light burgundy spread down her chest, disappearing into the maddeningly loose folds of her robe. She was angry, yes, but the shade of her flush told him she was aroused. He would bet his life on it, screw the Grand Prix. He knew every inch of her body. Hell, he could write a dictionary to define the meaning of her every sigh, every subtle movement, every shade of her beautiful, pale skin.

“I read it in part,” she replied, although he heard her hesitation and knew she lied.

He drank the last of his beer—the fastest one he’d ever finished—and walked to the couch, hands stuffed safely in his pockets. He needed to do this quickly, like ripping a band-aid off a wound. Then, he’d get the hell out.

“I am sorry I hurt you.” The words tumbled out.

She opened and then closed her mouth…twice.

“Damn it,” she said. She inhaled as her eyes started to fill.

Even a saint would have fallen for the look she gave him. He moved on instinct, sinking to his knees and drawing her into his arms. Fuck, she felt good. He cuddled her close to comfort…only to comfort.

“I’m a bastard, I know,” he said. “But I’m getting better. I’m trying to get better.”

Her hands crept into his hair.

“You
are
a bastard, a selfish, rotten bastard,” she replied, sniffing. “But I want you anyway.”

Her words shot straight to his cock.
I am powerless over my addiction
.

Her palm’s heat against his hair drove out coherent thought. Her body’s weight rested on his shoulders, completing him, and yet stirring his need for a deeper connection.

He closed his eyes and searched his soul for the right thing to do.

Her lips touched his, feather-light.

Powerless…
Ben whispered into the darkness of his heart, but no higher power answered. Lisa was his only beacon, his only light. His longing surged toward her with an ocean-tide’s unstoppable strength.

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Bound to Surrender

Though single motherhood taught Christina Welch ruthless self-denial, in her heart she secretly craves a man who'll drive her wild in bed. Now that her son is spending the summer with his father, and she can't keep her mind off the one man who has haunted her dreams all year long: her son's baseball coach.

Bryce Walker lusts after the sexy librarian who never missed one of her son's home games. Respect and caution hold him back, but every time she peeks at him under her lashes, instinct tells him she needs what he has to offer.

When Bryce meets Christina by chance on her birthday, desire smolders hotter than the early summer heat wave. He buys her ice cream, but they both know only one thing will cool them down. As Bryce leads Christina into the a world of sensual pain and pleasure, she discovers heights of emotion she never knew existed. She learns to trust Bryce with her body, but can she trust him with her heart? Summer doesn't last forever, and Christina must decide…

Excerpt from Bound to Surrender:

With a bolt of awareness, Christina recognized Bryce Walker’s throaty baritone. As always, his voice sent chills up her legs. When she glanced sideways, the muscles behind her knees weakened.