Bound Together: a New Adult Reverse Harem Romance (Torn and Bound Duet Book 2)

by K Webster

  “You guys…” I mutter. “Damn.”

  Mia laughs, stepping forward to hug me. “You look great, Bray. It’s a good thing you’re doing tonight.”

  “Sasha’s mom was going to bid on me, but then Sasha shut that shit down quick,” I say with a laugh.

  “Just wait until Cougar Wendy gets here,” Ashton deadpans. “She’ll give her buddy Vanworth a run for her money. Literally. Rich bitches are vicious.”

  Just what I want. A bidding war between overly botoxed, rich, horny housewives.

  I get dragged away from my friends by one of the fathers from the hockey team to congratulate me on all the wins we’ve had lately. I feel like a rubber ball bouncing between groups of people. But Drew says we need this in order to help raise money, so I do as I’m told. I’m thankful when it’s finally time to eat.

  Ashton has taken it upon himself to discreetly move name cards at the dramatically decorated tables until the four of us plus his parents are at one table. I’m thankful, because while schmoozing, I’d noticed my name on a card right next to Sasha’s.

  Drew sits beside Curtis and I take the seat beside him. Ashton sits next to his mom and Mia sits between us. While everyone chats, I lean over, stretching my arm around Mia, and hug her to me.

  “You look gorgeous, woman,” I say, giving her a peck to her neck. “Reminds me of that night in California.”

  She turns to look at me, our faces only inches apart, and chews on her bottom lip. “You don’t think it’s too tight?”

  “Hey,” I say, brushing my thumb along her bare shoulder. “Your mom’s not here. We are. And I can guarantee every person at this table thinks you look amazing.”

  “Thank you,” she murmurs. “You’re so sweet.”

  “You’re not just beautiful, but you’re smart and funny, too. Your mom only wishes she were half of what you are, which is why she cuts you down. For her, she has to try really fucking hard to stay pretty and relevant. You just are. Effortlessly.”

  “Mom,” Ashton complains, humor in his tone. “The hot hockey player is hitting on my girlfriend.”

  Wendy cackles and I chuckle. Drew places a possessive hand on my thigh under the table and squeezes. I throw him a wink that brings out his dimple again.

  We spend the next hour chatting and enjoying each fancy course. This event is a little too pretentious for my liking, but having my people here helps.

  “Oh shit,” Ashton mutters over a mouthful of his chocolate dessert, glaring down at his phone. “Excuse me.”

  He stands up so fast, I’m afraid the chair will topple over. His face is a mixture of fury, confusion, and fear. I snag his wrist before he can walk away.

  “You okay?” I demand, meeting his hazel eyes with mine.

  “Yeah, I’ll be right back,” he assures me. He pulls from my grip and stalks out of the room like his ass is on fire.

  “What the hell was that about?” I ask Mia.

  “Not sure. If he doesn’t come back in a few minutes, I’ll go check on him.”

  Drew shoots me a questioning look and I shrug. Before we can figure out what Ashton’s deal is, I hear Sasha’s friend Courtney’s annoying voice on the speaker.

  “Thank you all for coming to the annual Atlantic Pointe athletic fundraising event. Tonight, just by being here, you’ve raised thirty thousand dollars for the athletic department,” Courtney says in a peppy voice, making everyone applaud. “A huge thank you to Mr. Vanworth and all the football alumni for making this annual event happen, each year more successful and attended than the years’ previous.” She waves a stack of cards in the air. “Now, it’s the time where we give back to the community. The auction portion will be raising money for our Atlantic Pointe athletic scholarships. Those less fortunate rely on annual donations to be able to come and play at Atlantic Pointe University, while receiving a high quality education. Last year, we were able to provide full athletic scholarships to twenty students, who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend Atlantic Pointe, thanks to this event!”

  Everyone claps and whistles.

  “I know with this year’s auction, we’ll be able to help many more students attend Atlantic Pointe without being worried about graduating in debt. We appreciate you all for showing up tonight and I am looking forward to tonight’s main event.” She grins. “I know my daddy has his heart set on the trip to Fiji, and my chapter president is looking forward to a date with a hockey player.” Everyone chuckles. “The Delta Delta Delta sorority chapter is passing out auction paddles. Once they’ve been distributed, we’ll get started. Thanks again and let’s raise some money!”

  Drew squeezes my thigh, drawing my gaze to his. His jaw clenches as he holds his paddle tightly in his fist. I see the intent written all over his face.

  He’s going to bid on me.

  Curtis’s hazel eyes bounce back and forth between Drew and me, reminding me why he can’t bid on me. I cover his hand with mine and lean toward him. When he does the same, I whisper, “Don’t.”

  An irritated snort can be heard from him, even over Courtney’s loud voice over the intercom. She makes her way through all the lower ticket items, until she eventually makes it to the big ones. A bidding war ensues over a skiing trip for two to Aspen, Colorado. Even Drew gets in on that one and I can’t help but think it’s because he wants to take me with him. He loses to someone, but he’s okay with it. Ashton comes back, an unreadable expression on his face.

  “Before we get to the highest ticket item—the trip to Fiji—let’s get to the fun part of the auction. Dates with the athletes!” Courtney bounces on her toes, making her boobs jiggle in an obscene way that probably has half the old men in here sporting chubs. “Let’s get it started tonight with Xavier Paulson, our very own quarterback!”

  Everyone cheers because that dude is pretty well-known around here. Football isn’t as noteworthy as hockey at this university, but it’s the second most popular sport.

  “Xavier is twenty-two, enjoys hiking, and adores his momma,” Courtney says, pausing to hold her palm to her chest. “Aww. I’m super bummed I can’t bid on him. I’m a sucker for a momma’s boy.” Some of the football players razz Xavier from a table nearby. “Let’s get the bid started at five hundred.”

  The guests of the event seem to enjoy bidding on actual people more than trips and basket items. Xavier has walked up to the stage and is strutting around like a rooster, catcalling the audience to raise more money. The highest bid—one of the Delta Delta Delta chicks—caps out at fifty-eight hundred dollars. I shake my head at the insanity of wanting to spend almost six grand on a date with a douchebag.

  “Wow,” Courtney says, laughing as she takes to the mic again. “Let’s see if our next date can outdo our star football player.” She points a long finger my way. Fuck. “Brayden Murphy, stand and let these ladies see what’s up for grabs.”

  Drew’s hand lingers on my thigh for a moment before he reluctantly pulls it away. I rise to my feet and half-ass wave to the room.

  “Brayden is twenty-one, enjoys ice skating, and has dreams of joining the NHL one day! Who wants to start the bidding for a date with this hunky catch?”

  “One thousand,” Sasha says predictably, raising her paddle from one table over.

  “One thousand,” Courtney agrees, “anyone want to—”

  “Fifteen hundred,” someone calls out across the room.

  “Two thousand,” Mrs. Vanworth says. When her daughter glares at her, she shrugs. “It’s for a good cause.”

  “Three thousand,” Sasha bites back, snapping her paddle in the air.

  “Bitches be crazy,” Ashton comments. “You’d think by the way they’re bidding on you, your dick is magical.”

  I smirk at him and Mia laughs.

  “Four thousand.” Another bid across the room.

  “Five.” This time Sasha.

  “Six,” Wendy hollers, waving her paddle and making Curtis’s face burn bright red.

  Ashton cackles. “Get ’em, Cou
gar Wendy.”

  “Ten thousand,” Sasha states, a smug grin on her face.

  I lean forward across Mia to whisper to Ashton. “I hope your mom wins. Sasha has grand ideas we’re going to New York for our date.”

  Ashton looks past me and mutters an, “Oh fuck no.”

  “Twenty,” Ashton says, raising his paddle.

  Curtis chokes on his wine and Wendy snorts.

  “You can’t…” Sasha starts, horrified.

  “We’ve got twenty thousand,” Courtney exclaims, “from the dean’s son! How’s that for support? Can anyone beat that?”

  Fucking Ashton.

  “Thirty thousand dollars,” Sasha states and then whispers something to her father. He nods. “Great, I win.”

  Ashton’s apparently just getting started. I’m fucking entertained as hell, though.

  “Fifty grand,” Ashton says, standing. “Fifty grand for the hot hockey player. Going once, going twice…”

  “Daddy,” Sasha whines. He nods again. “Sixty!”

  Everyone is cheering and laughing.

  “A hundred grand,” Ashton states, as though he’s bored. “I could go all night.”

  Wendy grins. “He has it. Of course he does.”

  Spoiled rich shit.

  “Daddy,” Sasha begs. This time, he shakes his head.

  “Date with a hockey player! Sold to the dean’s son for a hundred thousand dollars! This is fantastic! Imagine how this will help our future athletes!” Courtney exclaims, ignoring the furious glare of her friend.

  Ashton sits back in his seat as the auction moves to other items, none of which earned more money than my date. Drew and Mia seem relieved that Sasha didn’t win. Wendy is getting drunk off wine and giggling at her son’s antics. Curtis is annoyed, but keeps his lips pursed from saying anything.

  Ashton reaches over, grabbing my tie and pulling me across Mia so he can grin at me. “For that kind of money, I expect a happy ending after that date.” He waggles his brows at me, earning a groan from both Curtis and Drew.

  Mia smacks him. “Ashton!”

  “For that kind of money,” I tease, “I’ll give you a baby and a ring too.”

  This time, Mia smacks me.

  “Ashton!” Mia cries out, fisting the blankets on my bed as I plow into her from behind. “Holy fuuuuck!”

  I smack her ass. “Quiet, woman. We have guests.”

  Her cunt clenches, making me groan. Goddamn this woman makes me crazy. I drive into her hard and relentless. Her cute little ass turns red from my handprint.

  “Oh God!” she cries out, her body trembling with her sudden orgasm.

  The way her body squeezes mine has me tipping over the edge. I yank out of her, rip the condom off, and then rub my bare dick along her ass crack, marking her skin with my seed. My veiny dick is red from fucking her and I crave to see it coated with her arousal. It looks good, though, sliding through the mess I’ve made on her. Gripping my cock, I tease at her asshole.

  “I want in here one day, baby. You going to let me?”

  She pushes back. “Does it hurt?”

  “Fuck yeah, it hurts,” I admit. “But once you get used to it, it’s fucking insane.”

  I pull back, my dick flinging cum all over. Running my fingers through my release that’s running between her pussy lips, I rub it against her clit until she’s whimpering again. I bring her close to another orgasm, shoving my fingers inside her slick pussy, finding her G-spot, and making her cry out when I push on it just right. Her legs shake, but I’m not done with her. I slide my fingers out and tease her back entrance. She gasps when I breach the hole with the tip of my finger.

  “Burns, yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Relax, baby.”

  “Ow.”

  “It’s because you’re so fucking tight.” I knead her ass with my other hand as I ease my finger up to the knuckle inside her. “The more I play with your hole, the easier it’ll get. Lube it up and practice later. Think of me while I’m on my date.”

  She groans and I pull my finger out.

  “What?” I ask, feigning confusion.

  “You. I can’t believe you’re actually going through with it.” She shakes her head as she rises on shaky legs and starts for the shower.

  “I won fair and square,” I tease back, pinching her ass.

  She starts the shower and once the steam billows from the water, we both step inside. I wash her like the queen she is and then she hugs me. Her mood has shifted and it makes my nerves tighten and spark.

  “I’m just doing it to fuck with Sasha,” I remind her. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t. I’ll just lie to Sasha and tell her it was amazing. I only bid on him to save him from that witch since Drew couldn’t.”

  Her head tilts up. “I know. I’m just teasing. I want you to go have fun. Besides, Drew and I are going to binge watch Riverdale.”

  “I bet he’s thrilled,” I deadpan.

  She smacks my chest. “He secretly likes it too.” Her lips find mine. “Brayden’s your friend now. Things aren’t like they were before. He’s in love with Drew. I know it’s just a date between friends.”

  Relief floods through me. “Good girl.”

  “Just don’t kiss his devastatingly handsome mouth,” she teases.

  “Everywhere else is game, though?” I throw back. “His dick?”

  “Asshole.”

  “His asshole?!” I gasp as though I’m scandalized. “You dirty girl.”

  “No, asshole,” she groans. “You’re an asshole.”

  “Your asshole,” I remind her. “Love you, MiMi. Always.”

  “Same, Ashy C. Love you always.”

  “For a hundred grand, I expected roses,” Brayden teases as we drive through town. “A teddy bear? Chocolate? Chivalry is dead. Dude, you didn’t even open my door.”

  “You’re more of a ‘smack my ass and call me pretty’ kind of guy,” I tell him with a smirk. “You don’t need me to romance you.”

  We both chuckle as I park a few blocks from the old-fashioned movie theater on Main Street since there’s nowhere to park. It’s not as up to date as the new theater up the road, but I prefer this one as I remember going to it a lot as a child.

  “The look on your boyfriend’s face was priceless when I asked if you brought enough condoms for our date,” I say as I climb out. “Is it just me or is he hotter when he’s mad?”

  Brayden laughs, shaking his head. “It’s not just you. A pissed off Drew is hot as fuck.”

  Even though it’s snowing, the roads have been cleared. The sidewalks are another story. We slip and slide as we walk the few blocks until we make it to the outdoor ticket booth. I elbow Brayden out of the way when he tries to pull his wallet out, making him laugh. The cashier gives us a strange look but then hands us two tickets to the action flick we chose. Brayden is the gentlemanly one of us two and holds the door open for me. I make a beeline over to the concession stand.

  “M&Ms, Whoppers, Skittles, a cherry Icee, a large popcorn with lots of butter,” I say to the cashier. “Oh! Gummy bears. And some of those chocolate covered raisins.” I run my knuckles down Brayden’s spine. “And whatever he wants.”

  “An Icee and Twizzlers.”

  “Are you on a diet?” I ask, my brow lifted as I toss some bills down on the counter to pay.

  He snorts. “Nah, just saving some snacks for the rest of the theater goers. Jesus, man. How do you look like that?” He waves a hand at me. “And eat like that?”

  We both look at my mountain of snacks.

  “I’m hungry,” I complain. “MiMi depleted me of my energy.”

  As we collect our items, he chuckles. “It sounded like the other way around. She’s so loud. I was pretty sure Drew was about to rub one out to the sound of you two earlier.”

  The thought of Drew jacking off on the couch is one I don’t need to think about.

  “So you two creeps just listened to us fuck? You dirty little shits,” I say, crack
ing up laughing. “Don’t worry. We’ve heard you two fucking like bunnies. It’s kinda hot.”

  Brayden smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He opens his mouth like he might say something, then shuts it. I’m curious, but don’t press.

  We make our way into the theater. I’m surprised to see that though they’ve kept the original architecture and style of the old theater, they’ve recently remodeled the seats to those cool ones the new theater has. I follow Brayden to the very middle at the very top and plop down beside him. As we wait for the movie to start, I inhale half my snacks.

  It’d be way more fun if Mia and Drew were here.

  Kinda lonely without them.

  “What do you think they’re up to?” Brayden asks, clearly on the same wavelength as me.

  “Your boyfriend is probably cuddling my girl as we speak,” I say with a laugh. “MiMi’s a cuddler. It’s not his fault.”

  “Yeah,” Brayden agrees.

  My heart does a twist inside my chest as I remember he’s been with her in intimate ways and knows all about her cuddling.

  “Sasha was so pissed,” I say gleefully. “Nothing satisfies me more than the look on her face when her daddy told her no.”

  “I still can’t believe you bid so much money,” Brayden groans.

  “It was either me or my mom. Trust me, you do not want to go on a date with Cougar Wendy. I’m still in therapy from the last time she went all horny housewife.” My words are said in jest, but they cut with a bitter edge.

  “How’s therapy going?”

  When Mia wasn’t talking to me, I casually mentioned to Bray when he was over that I needed to see my therapist. Had he not encouraged me to go, I might not have. And, believe it or not, I think it helped me wrangle my brain some so I could get Mia back. I guess I owe the guy.

  “We regularly rehash my childhood, my insecurities and fears, and my strained relationship with my parents. It’s a delight.”

  He reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “Don’t be like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Playing off something serious. I know it sucks to talk through that shit, but you’re better for it, you know?”