Bind (34 page)

“What do you think of the club?” Julien asked.

Julien had flown in to look at potential retail outlets for the next Bonds store, but at Kennedy’s behest, he was checking out the local lifestyle club. The place was on the market, and Kennedy was interested in either buying it or investing in it.

“It’s not what I’m accustomed to,” Connor replied. Most clubs he’d been to weren’t this upscale. They were in warehouses where late-evening comings and goings didn’t bother residents. This was a house on several acres of secluded wooded land in exurban Houston, not likely to bother neighbors and offering plenty of discretion.

The two-story home had been significantly modified, with beams installed for suspension play, and walls had been knocked out between former bedrooms, creating large, open spaces. There was a small lounge area with comfortable seating and small tables. Though alcohol wasn’t generally served, they’d been allowed to bring in their own because they weren’t participating in any scenes. “I’d say it has potential. I’d want to see the former owner’s profit and loss, though, before I got giddy about the possibilities.” From where they sat, they had a view of an open space that contained a spanking bench much like the one he had at home, one that he kept imagining Lara secured to.

“You don’t get giddy about much. Never have.”

“Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like where this is going?” Connor asked.

“Because I’m going to meddle in your life. And you never like that. Let’s just pretend this is a visit to the dentist and get it over with, shall we?”

A few couples wandered past. Two walked upstairs while another helped themselves to complimentary soft drinks and sat at a nearby table.

Since it was early, the music volume was still low, something he knew would change soon.

“Bad shit happens in life,” Julien said.

And because Julien knew what the hell he was talking about, Connor agreed. “Random odds.”

“You have choices along the way. Your father being in love with Stormy didn’t get him killed.”

He leveled a glance at his friend. “Proceed with caution.”

“Oh, fuck bubbles. I didn’t travel more than a thousand miles not to plow ahead with careless disregard for life or limb. How many mad, dashing affairs have you had? Oh, wait. Don’t answer that. Dozens. So bloody many you need a statistician to help keep it straight.”

“You have a point?”

“No matter who you married, you wouldn’t have an affair. You wouldn’t put yourself in that position.”

In the main room, a woman entered, wearing ridiculously high heels. She had shapely calves, a nicely curved ass…

“You wouldn’t promise yourself to one woman then get another pregnant.”

He tore his gaze away to look at Julien. “Love doesn’t cheat.”

“There you are.”

“There…? What?”

“Love doesn’t have to be a messy thing. It can be uncomplicated. Pure. Sustaining. Something that keeps you going. Look at your grandfather and Miss Libby. They’ve birthed a dynasty and have looked out for each other for over half a century. Look to that. Look to them. You, Connor, are not capable of tearing apart families. It’s not in your moral fiber.”

He looked back at the woman in the slinky, tight dress and the long hair. He couldn’t quite make out the color, but… “God
damn
you.” Anger propelled him to his feet.

Julien grabbed him. “It’s not her.”

Connor looked again.

“It’s not,” Julien insisted.

He looked more closely. Julien was right. It couldn’t possibly be Lara. The woman was much shorter, had a few more curves and her hair was significantly shorter. “How did you know?”

“For whatever reason, the woman says she loves you.” With his finger, he made a little circle. “I know. Crazy talk, right? I’m sure she’s still healing. She’s not the type to go and replace you right away. I do question her judgment, though. Who the hell would give her heart to someone who wouldn’t protect it?”

Those words ravaged him, as Julien had probably intended.

It was his obligation, as a Dom, to have handled it better. As a Dom? Fuck, as a human being. As a man.

The momentary blur of jealousy had taught him one thing. He could no longer deny the fact he loved Lara Bertrand. He just hoped his stupidity hadn’t cost him the first woman who’d been brave enough to love him. He couldn’t blame her if it had. He didn’t deserve her.

Chapter Fourteen

The commotion of multiple dogs barking shattered the silence.

“Suzy-Q,
no!”

Lara turned down the television volume. In one of her less-than spectacular moments, she’d chosen an
Indiana Jones
film to pass the evening. The theme music alone had been enough to send her back in time to Connor’s loft and the memory of snuggling on his couch. The sight of Indy with his bullwhip had made her squirm.

Unbelievably, she still missed Connor with the same kind of intensity, even though she repeatedly soothed herself with the reminder that time healed everything. Anyone who believed that had not experienced the power of a single tail on her bare skin, delivered by a Dom who was skilled with his whip and generous with his orgasms.

She was about to turn the volume back up when her doorbell rang. Wondering if Mrs. Fuhrman needed some help with her dogs, she slipped on a pair of flip-flops and answered the door.

Suzy-Q stood there, a giant bouquet of flowers hanging from the side of her mouth.

Confused, she reached to take them from the dog, and just as she did, Connor stepped onto the porch.

Her breath froze as she straightened.

He looked every bit as disarming as he always did, in a light-gray sweater and charcoal-colored slacks.

His jaw was shadowed and his eyes were smudged with fatigue.

Suzy-Q jumped, banging her head into Lara’s. Connor reached to steady her as she dropped the flowers.

“She never behaves like this,” Mrs. Fuhrman said, taking her time walking over. She had curlers in her hair, slippers on her feet and a robe cinched around her middle. “She saw the moving guy and forced open the front door. I shouted at her, but I couldn’t come over until I put a robe on. I’m so sorry, Lara. Are you all right? Suzy-Q, get down right now!”

The dog happily did so, and she crushed the flowers beneath her bear-sized paw.

“It was a much better idea in theory,” Connor said.

“It was perfect.”

He attached Suzy-Q’s leash and gave the dog back to Mrs. Fuhrman.

“I think she wants to adopt you,” Mrs. Fuhrman said before walking away. “Sometimes dogs do that, you know.”

Suddenly, it was just her and Connor. She leaned against the doorjamb, uncertain what to think, what to say, how to proceed.

He picked up the bouquet. Some of the petals fell off and several of the heads had been severed. A few blooms drooped over the side of the protective cellophane.

He offered it to her.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever had a more perfect gift.” She accepted it and pressed it against her chest. “Thank you.”

“Can I come in?”

She hesitated. “If this is about the communications deal, it’s probably best if we meet at work.”

“It’s about us.”

Her heart seemed to stop beating. She held the bouquet so close she crushed the few remaining perfect blooms.

“I’ll stand out here all night, if you want.”

“Okay,” she said. It might be the only way to preserve her sanity. When he stood close, her resolve melted.

As if they were a shield, she kept the flowers between them.

“I went to see your father.”

“You did…? Why?”

“To ask for your hand in marriage.”

She stared at him. She’d heard words come out of his mouth, but she was sure they’d been in the wrong order. Or maybe she’d heard what she wanted to hear instead of what he’d actually said. “What? Why?” Her emotions slammed into one another—doubt, fear, distrust, each made her reel a little harder.

“Erin came to see me. She handed me my ass.”

“Chicks before dicks,” she said.

“And I…?”

“You are not a chick. I’ll let you work out the rest.”

“I deserve that.”

“Take it however you want.”

“Then Julien Bonds came to town.”

“Did you tell him he’ll have to deal with you on the patents?”

“We didn’t discuss them,” he replied. “We talked about you.”

“Me?”

“Well, me.”

“You?” she asked.

“You as well.”

“I’m lost.”

“So am I,” he confessed. He dragged his hand through his hair.

She didn’t relent and invite him in.

“I’ve let events of my past drive my decisions, without realizing that I’ve never been capable of moral ambiguity. Even before my father’s death, I would have never allowed myself to cheat on a woman.”

“I believe that about you. You’re honorable.”

He winced. “After the way I’ve behaved, I’d need to prove I’ve earned that label.”

“Okay, you’re honorable in that you don’t cheat.”

“Julien suggested I look to my grandparents’ relationship when it comes to love, and not that of my parents. After I pulled my head out of my ass—”

“Must have been the popping sound I heard.”

“I talked to my grandfather about you. About us. He told the story again of how hard he’d had to work in order to win approval to marry Libby. And he said, some fifty years later, he’d do it all over again.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “My focus has been fucked up, Lara.”

“Back to the part about my dad,” she prompted, her heart thundering just a little louder with each word he said. She heard the cellophane crinkle as her hand shook.

“I realized, this time on my own, that something significant must have transpired for his change of heart and for you to call off our wedding. I wanted to know what it was. He told me he couldn’t let you settle for a marriage that didn’t start with love. Then there was this story about all the stuffed animals you owned as a child.”

Heat chased up her cheeks.

“And the way you would choose the ones that had something wrong with them. You’d pick the one missing an eye, or if the stuffing was coming out.”

“Childish stuff,” she said.

“No. It’s about your heart, the love you have.” He glanced at the flowers. “For the neighbor’s dopey dog.”

“Hey! It’s not her fault she grew so big and got abandoned.”

“And it’s about the way you offered to sacrifice your future for BHI. It took that for your father to realize what he’d allowed to happen. It took being alone, missing you, for me to know that I wanted what you offered, what I’d so foolishly sent away. I owed it to you to protect the gift, and I didn’t. If you’ll give me the chance, I’ll spend my life making it up to you. I love you, Lara Bertrand.” He lowered himself to one knee. “Will you honor me by being my bride?”

“Oh, Connor…”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

He stood and gathered her into a hug that smothered the past hurts and promised a future. This was what she’d dreamed of. Connor. His love. Nothing to do with the business, just them.

She heard the sound of clapping and an excited woof. She shook her head.

“Now can I come in?” he asked.

“I’m thinking you’d better,” she said.

He picked her up then carried her across the threshold and kicked the door closed behind him. “Is that
Indiana Jones
on the television?” he asked.

“It could be,” she said.

“Tell me you love me, little Lara.”

“Or else, Sir?” she teased.

He jostled her and she grabbed hold of him with a frightened squeal. He tossed her over his shoulder and as he strode down the hallway, he swatted her ass, hard.

“Say it,” he warned, the words all but a growl.

He tossed her on the bed, then climbed on top of her, forcing her legs apart while simultaneously pinning her hands above her head.

For her, all joking vanished. She was with the man she loved, and he’d broken through years of wounds to offer his heart. “I love you, Connor. I will spend a lifetime showing you just how much.”

“How important is a big wedding to you?”

“Are you thinking the same thing I am?” she asked.

“The marriage license is still valid. I want to marry you tomorrow afternoon, before you come to your senses and tell me you won’t marry me.”

“We could have a reception where we invite all our friends and family at a later date?”

He nodded.

Her heart was pounding, unable to believe all this was happening. “Does this mean we’re eloping?”

“The only thing that matters is what you want. If you want a big ceremony with half of Houston in attendance, that’s fine.” He stroked her hair back from her face so he could read her expression.

“You know, the only thing that’s important to me, really? Living here rather than downtown.”

“Only if we have a big, stupid dog in our backyard,” he countered.

“Done.” She couldn’t help but smile. “Are you serious?”

“Suzy-Q chose us, I’d say.”

Connor released her to pull down her shorts, and she reached for his belt. In seconds, their clothes were scattered across the bed and all over the floor. She wasn’t sure he’d ever been so unrestrained. “Please, Connor. Fuck me,” she said.

He touched her pussy, and she moaned a little. She was already wet, ready for him.

“I need you, Lara.”

“Do it. Do me.
Now.”

Responding to her urgent, emotional demand, be entered her with a single thrust, joining them, giving her what she craved.

He leaned down to capture her mouth.

Feeling as if a fevered pitch clawed at her, she lifted her hips and wrapped her legs around his waist. He fucked her hard, satisfyingly, making up for lost days, and the fact her heart had been broken. “Connor…Connor!”

“Come, Lara,” he whispered.

His words, his claim, made her orgasm. She held onto him, the way he’d always encouraged.

Then, the urgency harnessed, he changed the pace, setting a more sensuous mood. He changed the kiss to match, and he slowly devoured her.

She followed his lead. The lovemaking wasn’t as intense, but it was somehow more passionate for it.