Unbound (Bound and Bared Book 1)

by Christine Monroe

  Her fingers brushed against my jaw, seeking, drawing me closer, her touch a soft flutter of wings against my skin. Up and over she traced every line, learning me, discovering me. The urge to push her hand away seeped to the surface, but the desire her touch ignited burned brighter leaving stardust in its wake. Mesmerized I held still, as her touch slowly drifted down my neck, slipping under my shirt. The spell broke the moment her fingers made connected with one of my scars, grabbing her hand I pulled it out from beneath my shirt.

  Miranda jerked back, shrinking from my rejection. Her eyes flashed with hurt, wide open seeking something I could never be.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” I hissed.

  “Like what?”

  “I can’t fucking do this.” I stood up taking Miranda with me before letting go and dropping her back down to the couch.

  “I’m not asking for anything.”

  “You’re wrong. Your touch, your eyes are all asking for things I can’t give. You’re dangerous Miranda.” I rolled my shoulders as my foot bounced against the floor. My eyes darted to the door searching for an escape.

  Miranda laughed. “Yeah, I’m dangerous. All five feet and four inches of me. Better watch out Val you’ll never know when I’ll strike.”

  “Fuck this,” I muttered.

  She stood up blocking my retreat. "What are you afraid of Val? Does it scare you I might see you? The real you? Not the control freak who has so many rules I don't even know how you can keep them straight. You are the dangerous one. One touch, one glance and I'm left trying to find my footing before you steal the ground from under me.

  “You want to see me?” If Miranda wanted to see me then so be it.

  *

  Val undid the buttons on his dress shirt, one by one they revealed what lay hidden underneath. He stepped into my space offering me a closer view. Scars crisscrossed his whole chest, branching down toward his stomach and dipping beneath his waistband. Some old and faded, some brand new. The skin still raised, an angry shade of pink instead of the paleness of the older ones.

  “Is this what you wanted?” Val’s voice cracked, tearing apart secrets and leaving nothing but the splitters of himself scattered on the floor.

  His fingers slammed into his chest as shadows stole the light from his eyes.

  “This is what happens when things go bad. When nothing but the pain will stop the nightmares inside my head.”

  Everything faded except Val. I knew what I wanted, what I needed. I couldn’t go back now. Be bold, I said, “Strip. I want to see everything.

  *

  I didn't move. Miranda's voice betrayed her. The words issued a command, but laced with a longing so strong I found myself doing what she asked. Tossing my shirt off, my shoes, socks, and pants quickly followed. Standing in nothing but the black boxers I had thrown on as an afterthought left me nothing but a roadmap. My skin the lines of my history, each one marking me, creating the story of who I was.

  A fucked up tragedy I couldn't bear to read. I lived my life hiding it away, dressing it up in money and power. A suit of secrets I wore to keep the world from learning the truth of my past. Every stitch, every chapter, every scar sewed together with the fine needle of control. Miranda wanted to rip me apart at the seams, small, precise cuts to unravel me.

  *

  I wanted to trace Val's scars, longing to follow each one to see where they would take me. Bruises and scars, our skin holding memories of who we were, who we are and who we might become. Long scars marred Val's back, and they called to me more than any of the others. My lips made contact, brushing against them. Val's body went completely still under my mouth.

  "I hate you," Val said the words, but they didn't hold any meaning.

  “I know.”

  We were caught. The thread was slowly connecting us, weaving us together as it tore us apart. Walls rose and fell with every breath.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "The feeling’s mutual," I whispered.

  I knew I was lying. The moment I came under Val's talented mouth, hating him had become impossible. Seeing his scarred and broken body only tossed me further into the abyss. Val and I were binary stars, revolving around each other, caught within the other's gravity, trying desperately to find a way out while praying the other wouldn't let go as we collided.

  My mouth struck again as I kissed his back like an altar begging for worship. Val's muscles tensed beneath my lips, but he didn't stop me.

  “You are playing with fire Miranda.” I could feel Miranda smile against my back.

  “Good thing I like the burn.”

  I couldn’t breathe. My world shifted the moment Miranda traced my scars with her lips. I smoldered beneath her touch, my skin wishing to ignite. She treated every inch gently, a breath of touch offering something I still wasn’t sure I could understand. Gentle didn’t keep me sane. The pain had been the only thing to kept the dark things quiet.

  Miranda's lips roamed freely. She moved around me seeking my chest as every scar, every line, new and old, received Miranda's devoted worship.

  She pulled back, searching for my eyes. I knew what she would see. Devoid of blue they would be colorless smoke my desire for her voiding them out as my secrets tried to find a way past my lips.

  "You did well. See maybe you can do this after all." She offered a smile, and I felt the first flame lick my heels. Miranda didn't want me she wanted a pet. She would burn my kingdom down, reducing me to nothing but ashes as everything I worked for vanished with a single spark.

  I stepped back, out of the flames and into the cold, comfortable control I wore so well. I stalked towards her, lowering my chin to look down on her as my lips curled.

  "Do what? You think I am fixable now? That I am some pet project to distract you from your fucking life? I am not fixable. I can't be saved. The truth is, I don't want to be. I'm standing here because I like it. I wear the crown because I fucking earned it."

  Miranda moved backward as her eyes sparkled with hurt. What had sprung to life between the two of us moments before died as she reached down and picked up my shirt. Her eyes stared at the white fabric looking at it like it offered some explanation for was happening. She raised her chin and glared at me with cold hard eyes. She roughly thrust my shirt in my direction, and I snatched it from her fingers.

  I tossed it over my head. “I don’t want your fucking pity, Miranda, just your pussy. Don’t forget it.”

  Miranda's smile became laced with ice. "Don't worry; it won't happen again."

  She brushed past me to get to the door; her head held high. Her hand grabbed the door, but she stopped. Turning her head, she looked back at me.

  “It was never pity.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I walked away from Val, vowing never to let my guard down again. How many times would I let a fracture of hope break me? Hope had only brought destruction. Bringing my sister's faces up in my head, I reminded myself of why I had to do this. Any lingering sense of hope within me had been destroyed a long time ago, but there was still hope for my sisters. Hope for a chance of a normal life, for them to be free and not live in fear. I would do anything for them to have that chance.

  From the moment they arrived, I had been in love. For my father, they had been nothing more than part of his careful crafted cover. A rich and powerful man with a beautiful wife and beautiful children. Regular hid the monster beneath the façade. For me, they became my miracles, the only color in my monochromatic world.

  Born a year apart, to my stepmother, I could still recall the first day I had seen both of them. Two tiny, perfect creatures, whom I vowed I would always protect. Emily came first. With blonde hair with bright blue eyes, she greeted the world fearlessly. Samantha followed. Baring dark hair and dark eyes, she was sweet, gentle and Emily and I tried our best to keep the ugly world our father had created far away from her. Despite our best intentions, Sam knew more than she let on. The all-seeing eye, always watching and so wise beyond her years. Three years afte
r Sam arrived my stepmother suffered an accident. That is what the world believed, but I knew the truth. Like everything else in my father's world she had been expendable. Even though Emily and Samantha rarely saw her, her death shattered them.

  I had to work even harder to keep them safe and happy, gladly taking anything my father did to me so he wouldn’t go after them. Connor Price had loved having something to keep me in line. One threat against my sisters and I willing did whatever he wanted.

  At first, I had been the whipping girl. Another girl, my father, could take his sickness out on. Day after day. Bruise after bruise, until I couldn't remember what it felt like not to hurt. I hadn't known the worst was yet to come. The day I turned eighteen, every nightmare came calling. I learned firsthand what daddy dearest enjoyed when the lights went out. The only saving grace had been the fact he didn't touch me himself. He had plenty of other toys to keep him busy. Instead, his men got a free ride, used as a way to keep them quiet about what the great Connor Price did in the dark. Money, girls, power, every single one bought him the rights to do what he wanted.

  The day came when I saw my father look at my sisters the way he had looked at me. I had heard whispers once they turned eighteen, he planned to sell them to the highest bidder. I heard our father laugh at the fact they wouldn't know what was happening to them until they were screaming. I ran to the bathroom and vomited, cold and shaky I stayed in the bathroom until I had a plan.

  Val had been my plan. Being invisible to my father had a few advantages, it also gave me an advantage over his men. They liked to talk, and they never worried if I was in the room or if I could overhear. Val Knight. Bound and Bared. Two things my father and his men hated two things that could help me. Maybe they could help me steal them away from the fate my father had planned. It didn’t matter what happened between Val and I. My sisters mattered more than him. They mattered more than myself.

  Whatever I had thought I felt for Val had to end. The current between us was lethal, pulling us towards destruction. I refused to let it drag me any further.

  I walked into the club I glanced around hoping to find a familiar face. I let out a relieved breath when I spotted Selena, my body relaxed slightly, and the tension eased and I felt lighter.

  “I hoped I would find you.”

  “You do know Miranda; most people try to avoid me." Selena leaned against the bar, her arms and legs taking up space like she owned it. Brushing some hair off of her face, her scar slowly came to life, and she grinned becoming part of the bar without a second thought. Bound and Bared wasn't simply a club it was home, and Selena fit right in. Envy filled my chest, a longing for something I couldn't remember. I pushed down the past. I had already wasted enough time tumbling down memory lane.

  “You’re not the person I’m avoiding.” I tapped my fingers on the bar and let out a heavy sigh.

  Selena frowned. “What happened?”

  “Nothing I want to talk about.” I wanted to add not today, not tomorrow, probably not fucking ever but I didn’t. I crossed my arms and leaned back trying to drown the faint twinges of memory. I had to keep my distance and forgetting what had happened would be the first step.

  Selena stayed quiet. I knew she wouldn't push me to explain, but I could see the hint of concern in her eyes.

  “I hoped you could help me. I feel foolish wearing this outfit and not working so I thought you might consider helping me get started?”

  “Is that what Val wants?” Selena narrowed her eyes trying to determine if my desire to work had come from Val telling me to. As much as I liked Selena, I knew where her loyalties lay.

  “Does Val know what Val wants?” I pressed my lips together as the tension worked its way back into my shoulders and flowed through my arms. I couldn’t tell her anything without going into what had happened. I swallowed hard as heaviness settled in my stomach.

  Selena offered a small smile. “Good point. I think you are starting to get the hang of him.”

  Nervous laughter slipped past my lips. I didn’t think anyone could get the hang of Val. He had more changing sides than a Rubix cube, trying to figure out how to get the colors to add up just left me banging my head against the wall.

  "I don't think so, Selena. Look I could lie and say he told me to ask you for help, but he didn't. I don't feel like sitting around on my ass all day, and if Val doesn’t like it, I promise I will tell him it was all my idea okay? Will you help?”

  Selena thought about and then nodded her head. "I will help you. First, because I like you, and second because I take every opportunity to fuck with Val.” Selena’s eyes went wide as she raised her eyebrows. “It’s pretty much on my to-do list every day." She winked at me, and I broke out in laughter.

  “I think I love you.” The words came out between laughter.

  Selena threw her arm around my shoulder and gave me a quick squeeze.

  “Get in line.”

  I rolled my eyes as I started to suspect Selena's ego was bigger than Vals.

  “There is something I should tell you.”

  "A secret? We're pretty good about keeping secrets around here." Another wink landed in my direction, and I shook my head.

  “I’ve noticed.” I turned towards her and grinned.

  "It's not so much of a secret since you would have figured it out quickly. I have no fucking idea about what goes on behind a bar. I am sure I will break things, move slow and mess things up. On the plus side, you can order me around. Think you can handle me?"

  Selena wiggled her eyebrows. "That's what I get paid for. You, my dear, will be a piece of cake."

  I wasn’t so sure, but I trusted Selena. If anyone could teach me, it would be her.

  I had been wrong, so wrong. I had been trying for over an hour, and I was struggling to keep up. My black boots had been on the receiving end of a few dropped cocktails, shiny and sticky they mocked me. My boobs smelled like rum, the deep V-neck the perfect to catch what I missed getting in the glass. I had been tossed onto a race car track and expected to dodge cars. I had dropped bottles, cut myself trying to clean up the mess and managed to spray Selena in the face with the soda gun.

  Dripping wet, Selena glared at me. “I’m wrong. I can’t handle you.”

  “You said I would be a piece of cake. Please, Selena, don’t give up on me yet.” My voice came out more pleading than I would have liked, but I knew I could do this. I had to do this.

  “Why would Selena want to give up on you?” The deep voice came from behind her causing me to drop the bottle clutched in my hands. The bottle shattered sending glass flying.

  Selena turned and said, “That’s why.”

  Val laughed, and the sound sent me reeling. Spinning around, I stepped out from behind the bar and marched over to Val.

  My finger darted out and poked him in the chest. “Look, you asshole, I don’t need your bullshit right now. I’m not going to sit around all day on my ass. You wanted me to work for you so here I am, trying to do what you wanted. Did you think I would run and hide? Or walk around here looking like an idiot? You thought wrong.”

  “I keep thinking you can’t surprise me, but I am always wrong. Do you want to do this? I’ll show you.”

  *

  I let her mouth drop open before she snapped it closed. The poke she had given me felt like a brand, a tiny burst of heat marking my skin, leaving my dizzy. Images of her hands and mouth against my skin flooded my brain; now the most superficial touch awakened my cells becoming hardwired into my head. I had pushed her on purpose using her anger to make her react without thinking. I knew she would touch me, instinct taking over causing her to forget the no touching rule. I was seeking a fix like some addict, my crown slipping as I craved the infection, not the cure.

  *

  Backing up, Miranda said, “I don’t want you. I want Selena.”

  “Too fucking bad, princess I’m in charge. Besides, Selena looks like she could use a break.”

  “I’m good V. I got this.”

&
nbsp; Val turned to Selena and if looks could kill Selena would have died on the spot. "Does everyone around here now think they don't have to listen to a fucking thing I say? My club. My rules, remember? This is not up for discussion. It's me or I will send her downstairs to get personal with the clients."

  Selena’s eyes narrowed. I knew she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. “Fine. She’s all yours.”

  I turned around and tried to catch Selena’s arm as she walked by. “Selena—”

  “Don’t. He’s not giving me a chance.” She walked away leaving me with Val. A few nights ago, a personal lesson from Val would have been something I longed for. Now I didn’t want to spend another second with him, but I didn’t have a say. Val would do anything he damned well pleased, and I was at his mercy. I met Val's dark gaze.

  “Fine. Oh great one, show me." I walked back behind the bar, leaning against the frosty marble as I waited. Val didn't know what he had just got himself in to.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Standing shirtless behind the bar, my hair was now standing up in every direction after I was forced to dry it with a bar towel. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I couldn’t tell if Miranda deliberately sprayed me or if it had been an accident. She had smiled sweetly and said sorry.

  “Make the drink again.”

  Miranda nodded, getting to work on making her tenth version of a Long Island Iced Tea. The first nine had been awful. So horrible I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth. Grabbing the bottles, Miranda poured in one shot after another. She mixed and put the glass down in front of me. I fought back the urge to gag as the thought of tasting another horrid drink entered my mind. Dipping in the straw, I took a taste. The drink was perfect.