Unbound (Bound and Bared Book 1)

by Christine Monroe

  *

  Val's face changed, and I knew I had succeeded. I had nailed it by drink two, but I tucked the rest up on purpose so I could see Val's face. I loved seeing him try not to spit it out, even better, had been watching him force himself to swallow it.

  "How is this one?" My eyes went wide as smiled sweetly. I tried to make myself look as innocent as possible.

  “Better than the last nine.”

  “It’s fucking perfect.” I slapped my hand across my mouth.

  “You made them wrong on purpose. I should have known.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. Besides, you can’t prove it.”

  Val’s hand reached out and grabbed me. “Oh, I don’t need to prove anything Miranda, I will just make sure to punish you later.”

  I couldn’t help the tremor sliding through my body. My body thawed desperately seeking the burn Val promised.

  He let me go with a small push. He smiled, and I knew he had me. I expected him to call me out, but he stayed silent.

  "Despite the fact, you mastered a long island ice tea; you can't make one drink all night. So, I want you to shadow one the bartenders tonight. Watch and learn, and when I think you are ready, you can go it on your own."

  “You know I’m only here a month right?”

  “You are a fast learner. You will pick it up in a night or two. It would help if you didn’t fuck up the drinks on purpose. Somehow I think that will not happen to someone other than me.”

  Val turned to walk away, and I caught his arm. “Where are you going?”

  Swinging around, Val caught me in a fierce grip. "That is the second time you put your hands on me. What happened in the office, changes nothing.”

  “Liar.” I hissed under my breath. “All we are is liars. I know it. You know it.”

  Val's stopped his retreat and for a second, I knew he wanted to agree, but then he let me go disappearing down the hall. I knew he would be back. Neither one of us could stop the dangerous game we played.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I collapsed exhausted on my bed. The night had been a blur of watching and trying to absorb everything I saw. When last call came, I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. Still, the night wasn't over. We had to clean the whole bar to make sure it would be ready for setting up again tomorrow. My eyes drifted closed, and I didn't even bother with getting undressed. For the first time since I had arrived here, sleep came quickly and without the demons that haunted me.

  A substantial weight pushed me down against the bed. My eyes opened in surprise. I threw my hands up and tried to push off whoever was on top of me off. With all my strength I tried to move them, but I didn't have the strength. A laugh sounded in my ear, and realization struck.

  “I told you I would punish you. Did you forget Miranda?” Val’s lips brushed against my ear. Hot breath danced across my neck, and I couldn't stop the wetness rushing between my legs. A wave of shame rolled through me. I shouldn't want this. Not now. Not after he had tossed what I willing gave to him in my face.

  “Val don’t.”

  "Too late sweetheart. You wanted to play so we are going to play." Val licked my neck, and my pulse jumped beneath his tongue. "You are right, you know. I am a liar. I can't stop this thing between us. My control slips and I find myself right back where I started, next to you. The only thing that keeps me sane is knowing you are lying too. Your mouth tells me to stop, but your body begs me to fuck you. Is your wet pussy Miranda? If I went down for a taste would are you wet enough to drench my tongue?"

  His lips pressed against my neck right over my pulse, like he was trying to catch every frantic beat, the sound betraying me, giving me away under his mouth. The words made me wetter. Just the thought of him licking me sent waves of lust coursing through my body. My mind lost the battle as my legs spread of their accord. Val took that as an invitation as he slipped down my body until his face rested in between my thighs. His hands found my zipper and let out a growl.

  “Why the fuck did you go to sleep with your clothes on? Do you want to torture me?" Val's voice strained as he fumbled to get my zipper down, he couldn't get to go down fast enough so like a man possessed; Val ripped the jeans off of my body. Fabric shredded, the jeans destroyed beyond repair. The only barrier that remained was a thin scrap of lace covering my pussy. It was no match for Val and snapped the moment he gave a little tug.

  “So beautiful. I have to have a taste.” Val’s tongue shot out and licked. Wetness pooled beneath his tongue as Val continued to lick and suck desperate for every drop.

  My hips bucked, fucking Val’s tongue as I fought the release building between my legs. My clit pulsed, tight and aching. Every nerve ending lit up. I wound tighter and tighter until I couldn’t focus on anything but Val’s mouth. I was ready to fall off the edge and greet the stars, but Val yanked his head up.

  I moaned. Val had told me he planned to punish me, is this what he had in mind? My hand slipped down so I could take care of myself but Val caught them in a ruthless grip.

  "I don't think so sweetheart." Reaching in his pocket, Val pulled out a black rope.

  He wrapped it around my wrists, locking my hands together. A couple of loops and my hands were now secured tightly. He didn't leave the slightest space for me to get free. He admired his handy work as he moved back up my body. One hand reached out and grabbed a fist-full of hair while the other reached into his pants to pull his cock free. He gave a slight tug and said, "I want that mouth of yours, open."

  When I didn't respond, Val pulled harder, and my mouth dropped open wide. Val wasted no time before thrusting his cock into my waiting mouth. He didn't move letting me get used to having my mouth filled by the size of him. I couldn't touch him with my hands, but I realized my tongue would work just as good. He had tasted me, and now I could have my turn. Working my tongue around his cock, I sucked drawing him deeper into my mouth. Val groaned, the sound echoing in the dark sending more blood rushing to my needy pussy. The taste and feel of him consuming me as I sucked his cock with every thrust. I knew he was close when the thrusts grew harder and faster.

  *

  So close as the urge to spill inside of Miranda's warm mouth became almost unbearable. Only a thin thread of control my remained. I knew what I wanted to do before letting go, pulling my cock free, I twisted my body so I could get up close and personal with Miranda's pussy again. Before burying my face, I choked out, "Don't fucking stop."

  *

  Lowering his mouth, he pushed his tongue deep into my pussy. Then he thrust his cock back down between my lips. For a split second, I forget everything, except the feel of Val’s mouth on my pussy. I stopped, for a moment, to savor the feeling, but Val quickly reminded what he wanted when he withdrew his cock and then pushed it back into my mouth harder and deeper. The taste of him brought me back, sucking and licking, I tried to keep the pace Val set. He dominated. He punished. He showed me pure fucking bliss. I wanted to shatter beneath Val’s tongue as I drove him off the edge.

  I couldn't hear an even whimper. Val's cock filled my mouth, and I had no room to make a sound. I lost the ability to think, every part of me consumed by need. Both mine and his. The burn grew hotter, the urge to come pushing me to the limit. Val took control of every part of me. My body had morphed into a raging fire, my mind fracturing into pieces of lust and longing. The moment I felt Val's cock shudder in my mouth I gave in. Coming hard and fast, I couldn't scream, any sound taken by Val as he followed me into bliss. Sticky and sweet, his taste spilled down my throat.

  *

  I collapsed, my head resting between Miranda’s thighs. All thoughts had vanished, until only the taste and feel of her remained. Punishments should always be this good. I thought I might have to encourage her to mess up on purpose. Over and over again.

  “Val? Are you alive down there?”

  I laughed. Laughed. Miranda amused me far more than she should.

  Sitting up I found my way back up the top of the bed. “D
on’t worry you didn’t kill me yet, sweetheart.”

  "That's a shame. I thought you hadn't survived. Death by sixty-nine would have been a way to go."

  “A far better way to die than what’s in store for me, I’m sure.”

  The mood changed as Val's words stole the light from the room creating nothing but shadows. Val was a man with a past, and whatever rested there could be even more horrifying than my own. I told myself I didn’t care, those black marks darkening his soul didn’t matter. Who was the liar now?

  Chapter Seventeen

  I did one more quick check of the club, and everything was in order like the last five times I had checked. My organization ran like a well-oiled machine. Precise, controlled, and consistent, the way I liked things. Only one thing stood out. Miranda. A week had passed since the night I had hijacked her sleep and claimed her mouth for my own. Since then, I had kept myself busy. Some would say I was hiding, but I wasn’t the type of man to hide. I was conveniently disappearing. Things would be better this way. I needed to keep my hands, mouth, and cock to myself. The more I had Miranda, the more I wanted. The day in my office shook me more than I cared to admit. She had gotten to me, worked her way beneath my armor and took up space. Space up until now I had believed had been wiped clean from the horrors of my past.

  My eyes searched the bar and found her. Standing behind the bar, Miranda worked hard organizing the glasses. You would never have guessed she had only been behind the bar for a week. She had learned fast, and I couldn't help but be impressed. I had given the job of training her back over to Selena and under her wing, Miranda had flourished. They had taken to each other in a way I hadn't seen coming. If I cared, I would have been a little jealous. With Selena, Miranda had dropped her guard completely. She held nothing back, and in return, I had seen a softer side to Selena.

  Hearing a laugh, I turned my head. Selena had said something causing a brilliant smile to light Miranda's face. Turning to Selena, Miranda looked at her like she hung the moon. Her eyes, bright like stars and seeing it made the space inside my chest constrict even tighter. The treacherous area wanted Miranda to see me like the same way I kept watching, unable to keep my eyes off of her.

  Miranda climbed on top on the bar and reached for a bottle on the highest shelf. My heart stopped. What the fuck did she think she was doing? My feet started moving before I could even think. I wasn’t fast enough. Her fingers curled around the bottle, but she lost her footing. She slipped, and both I and Selena jumped, our arms trying to catch Miranda before she fell. We had both been too late. Miranda tumbled to the ground. She hit with a loud thud and the only heard silence.

  Selena had been closer to her and got to her first. "You okay?"

  Miranda lifted her body from the ground slowly, her hand the first thing I saw. Her fingers held a perfect bottle of Jack. Somehow she had managed to keep the bottle safe during her fall.

  "I'm good. I was more worried about the Jack than myself. If I broke one more bottle of booze, Val would have had my head."

  Selena shook her head and said, "You are crazy, you do know that right?”

  Miranda laughed. "Isn't everyone around here?"

  The scene played out, and my feet stayed planted right where they had landed. Relief washed over me knowing Miranda wasn't seriously hurt but then rage, dark and black, hit me in a rush. Miranda had no regard for her safety. She was careless. I didn't do well with careless. I took a step forward, the need to shake some sense into her but halfway into my first step, I stopped. I had been just about to shake her in front of everyone; I hadn't cared who would have seen me lose control over the fact she could have gotten hurt. If I hadn’t known it before I knew it now, I was seriously fucked. This is why I had stayed away. Turning around, I headed back toward my office. The more distance between myself and Miranda the better.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A sharp knock broke the quiet, throwing my door open, I found Selena staring at me.

  "V we got trouble." Selena's body leaned against the doorframe as her foot tapped against the frame. She took a deep breath, and I could tell the problem had to be serious. Nothing usually got to Selena, cool and in control, she had always been my right-hand man or woman as the case may be.

  “What’s up?”

  Selena hesitated for a brief moment. "It's Eddie. He's had a few drinks, and you know drunk doesn't suit him."

  A drunk Eddie meant an out-of-control Eddie. The few times I had seen the aftermath of his drinking hadn’t been pretty. In fact, I had almost fired Eddie, but he had promised he wouldn't do it again. I didn't like the mess, but Eddie had been with me since day one. He had my back time and time again. We all had our secrets and nightmares I couldn't simply let him go because a few times they had gotten the better of him.

  I stepped out into the hallway, and I hoped I would get to Eddie before he did something stupid. I hadn't been fast enough.

  I heard a loud smack echo across the room. Whipping my head around to the direction I saw what had made the sound. The sight made what little control I held on to snap. Eddie stood in front of Miranda, and a red handprint darkened her cheek. I could see a slight tremble rise, her hand found her cheek, and she tried to step back. Eddie reached out and grabbed her, stopping her retreat.

  “Where do you think you are going?” Eddie’s voice slurred. “You think you are better than the rest of us. You’re not. You’re just some whore. I think I’d like a turn.”

  Eddie gripped Miranda’s arm even harder and yanked her forward. Her fingers flew to try to pry his hand off of her, but she wasn’t strong enough. Fear blazed brightly in Miranda’s eyes. Violence twisted up, settling into my bones like an old friend.

  *

  The smell of booze on Eddie’s breath turned my stomach. I forced myself to push down the urge to vomit. I couldn’t think straight, panic driving all rational thought from my head. I had to get free, nothing good danced in Eddie's eyes, pure malice shined and his fingers dug into my arm. After Val, my body recoiled at the thought of anyone else touching me.

  “Get your fucking hands off of her.” The voice cut through my panic. Val. Relief washed through me.

  Eddie dropped his hold and backed away, turning his attention to the man rushing up behind him. Putting his hands up, Eddie made the gesture of surrender. “Hey V. Don’t worry. We were having fun, right Miranda?”

  I said nothing as my heartbeat thrashed wildly in my chest. My eyes darted towards Val, but I still couldn't speak.

  Val didn’t wait, his fist connecting with Eddie’s face with such force it sent him flying backward. Blow after blow rained down, over and over he struck until Eddie’s face had turned bloody and unrecognizable. I heard the bones break. My mouth dropped open in a frozen mask of disbelief. Eddie didn’t even have a chance to fight back. The man I knew had vanished leaving me with a stranger. A stranger dead set on killing the man in front of me. All because he hurt me. Me. The girl no one wanted.

  *

  “Val, Stop!” Rushing me, Miranda caught my fist before I could swing again.

  I had a split second to realize her hand was holding my fist before I swung. Correcting, I managed to pull my hand back in time before I could do any damage. I knew I would have broken her hand with the force I had thrown into the hit. Swinging around I met Miranda’s wide eyes.

  "What the fuck are you doing? I could have broken your fucking hand!" My breathing turned ragged, and the thought of hurting Miranda sat dark inside my chest. No one had ever stopped me before. No one else dared to get between the person I had decided needed to be taught a lesson and me. I couldn't help the fact that most of the time the lesson required using my fists. I had lost the ability to think straight when I saw Eddie's hands on Miranda, and I heard the vile things he spat her way. Drunk or not, he had needed to be stopped. Red had blocked out all reason. I needed to make Eddie hurt, make him bleed, make him wish he had never been stupid enough to go after what was mine.

  “You might have kille
d him if I hadn’t stopped you.” Miranda’s hand slipped from my closed fist to my arm, the touch burning through my clothes, striking my skin like a bolt of lightning.

  Her hold soft, a guiding light in the midst of my raging storm. I made the mistake of looking at her face. Those eyes drilled directly into mine, and the room closed in. What I saw in her eyes sent terror spiraling through every cell. Her eyes told me she cared. Miranda cared about me. All the lies had dropped away, leaving her face open. I doubted she even knew what she had done. Even though she had stopped me, protecting her had been the key to unlocking all the things she had been holding back. She stared at me with awe. Like a knight coming to her rescue, The bolt of lightning slid inside my chest, bouncing against my ribs as it aimed for my heart. Slipping my arm free from her grasp, I fled.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I rushed into my office, slamming the door behind me. I had run. I had fucking run. Miranda’s eyes had sent me into panic mode. The control I wielded had betrayed me, cracking me open and leaving me defenseless. The king was falling.

  I needed to something to find my sanity. Needed something to find me and bring me back. Something glittered, catching my eye. I spotted pair scissors on my desk. The blade gleamed sharp and shiny in the pale light of my office. I lunged, grabbing it off the desk. Ripping open my shirt, I found a piece of smooth skin under my rib cage. Pressing down, I cut. The pain was so sharp and sweet, and I slashed again, this time, deeper than before. The burn spread. I rocked back. The edge of sanity started, finding its way back. The pain drawing a road map to find my way back home.

  The door flew open. Green eyes met mine. Miranda stood there. Her eyes are making their way down to the fresh cut. Locking eyes with her, I felt a flicker of something. Reaching out it sought Miranda, twisting past the pain, past the need for control. The flicker longed for something from her a link, a desire to let her in so she could see what I hid beneath my crown. My head heavy, I had always been alone. My past something so filled with horror I never wanted anyone to know what I hid in the dark. That traitorous flicker whispered Miranda could change everything. She could be the queen to my fucked up king.