Unbound (Bound and Bared Book 1)

by Christine Monroe

  Chapter Forty-Five

  I woke up to the sound of Val's voice. I could hear him talking to someone outside the bedroom. I could only hear his side of the conversation, and I didn't want to feel like I was eavesdropping, so I climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I skipped the mirror. I had been there and done that. Maybe it had been the sleep, or the purge I did the night before but I felt like I could start trying to breathe again. It was not going to be easy. I knew I would be taking shallow breaths for a while, but at least I could breathe here. I felt safe. I felt like I belonged here.

  Once dressed, I decided to venture out and see if I could find the kitchen. I caught the scent of something wonderful, and I followed it. A sight I didn't ever think I would see met my eyes. Val, the king of Bound and Bared, cooking breakfast.

  “You cook?”

  Val turned at the sound of my voice.

  “When it suits me,” he said as he smiled.

  The effect was devastating. Thoughts tumbled through my head. Val pinning me against the counter and taking me from behind. My body spread out on the table while he devoured me. It caught me so off-guard that I couldn't stop the reaction. Val dropped what was in his hand and rushed toward me.

  “Are you okay?” The edge of worry was so fine anyone else would have missed it.

  "I'm good. Just hungry. It smells wonderful." I found a seat, trying to keep my thoughts where they belonged. Val turned back to what he was doing. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I was struck by what he was wearing. At the club, it always had suits, perfectly tailored to look like sin.

  The man I was looking at now was someone else. Jeans rested low on his hips with a dark blue t-shirt that hugged his upper body. He was also barefoot. I watched him tap his toes against the hardwood floor so relaxed I almost didn’t believe he was the same person.

  I was staring at his feet when he turned around.

  “Did you discover something interesting?”

  To my horror, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "You have feet."

  The rush of blood hit my cheeks. I shut my mouth, too afraid of what else would come out of it.

  *

  Red stained Miranda's cheeks. The color was a breath of life to her much to pale skin, washing out the girl I discovered after Eddie had hurt her. Now at this moment I could see only her strength, the fight still inside her. The spark I worried had been destroyed flickered, and I knew I would gladly never wear shoes again if seeing my feet helped her find the light again.

  I grabbed a plate, taking it to her as she mumbled thanks and looked away. I took her chin in my hand and tilted her face back to my direction.

  “If I would have known you would like my feet so much I would have walked around the club barefoot.”

  She pulled her head away from me, grabbing the fork.

  "Can you just drop it and let a girl eat?" Raising her chin, she gave me a look she always got when she planned to defy me. She wasn't afraid of me. Not after what she had been through. Not after seeing me covered in blood she knew wasn't mine. She had told me, but I hadn't believed her I realized I had underestimated her yet again.

  “Don’t let my feet stop you from eating, Miranda.”

  She stabbed the eggs and took a bite. Then, another.

  “Are you going to watch me eat, Val? If you are trying to be creepy, you nailed it.” Miranda smiled sweetly.

  Leaning down, I put my mouth right next to her throat. I heard the sharp gasp of breath as the fork dropped. The ugly red line stood out, the imprint of his hands around her neck, hurting her as he tried to choke the very life from her. Her pulse jumped when I put my lips against her skin, reminding me she was alive, telling me I made it in time.

  I had never been gentle, never cared about being nice. Kindness and comfort were lies disguised as beautiful things. I might burn, but I would be a liar for her. I wanted to worship, not punish. I wanted to offer her more than pain. My lips circled the violent imprint on the skin as I kissed every inch. I showed her something no one had ever seen. The man I might be if I could have her.

  *

  Val's lips destroyed me. They saved me. Every kiss like a star as the heartbeats I had wanted to collect fell from his lips. My skin caught their brilliance, and I let them light me up and claim me. I offered my soul piece by broken piece. I slipped my hands under his shirt, my fingers making contact with his skin. I already knew his scars, a perfect map of who he was. They told me things about him in a way simple words could not. I waited for Val's resistance, but he didn't offer any.

  I felt something begin to sing in my veins, a beautiful rush of power. I tugged at the shirt as I said, “Take it off.”

  I felt bold. Demanding. The shirt hit the floor. I had forgotten how beautiful he was.

  “Who hurt you?” I asked the question not expecting an answer. He surprised me.

  “Everyone.”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but the shrill ring of the phone stopped me.

  “Don’t answer.” I didn’t want this to slip away. I didn’t want to forget again.

  *

  Miranda pushed me to the edge, and I needed to get away, and the phone gave me my chance. "You want me to answer, trust me."

  "No, I don't." She hopped up on the table and wrapped her legs around my hips, pulling me close. I ended up right between her thighs.

  “Don’t, Miranda. I am not doing this. You have been through enough, let me walk away.” Her thighs gripped my hips harder. I knew I could break her hold, but I didn’t. I was selfish. I wanted to be right where she had put me. It was wrong, all kinds of fucked up, but I didn’t care.

  “You told me you still wanted me. Are you a liar, V?” The nickname rolled off her tongue like she had been saying all her life. Her voice held no fear. No hesitation. I barely noticed the phone had stopped ringing.

  “I guess it wasn’t important.”

  “Miranda.” Her name would be the only warning I would give her.

  *

  I heard the warning in Val’s tone and I knew I should let go but I couldn’t. My legs remained locked around him like I was drowning. I had a taste of memory. I had felt him give me something he didn’t believe he ever could. He was not a monster. He was mine. I threaded my hands through his hair and put my mouth to his ear.

  “I need this. I want you to take back what is yours. I can’t stand closing my eyes and his touch being the only thing I can recall. I don’t know how far I can go, but I trust you. I am stumbling through the dark without you, Val.”

  “Lay back.”

  Those words were all I needed. I dropped my legs and slid back on the table. Val leaned over me, and I found myself in shadow. His frame hides the light.

  "I would rather spend a thousand years in the dark with you than a day in the sun without you. I will stop at any time, Miranda. You are in charge of how far we go this time. Understand?"

  I nodded. Val gave me a voice in the dark, control over how far this would go. He could have given me his heart. His soul. Instead, he gave me his control. An act of trust, that had always been foolish for people like us, but now there was no stopping it. I would be fierce. I planned to show him I would guard what he gave me. That I would fight. For me. For him. For us. I had taken one last breath before I threw myself into the shadows.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  I could only think of one thing—seeing Miranda flat on her back on my kitchen table. I missed breakfast. I was starving.

  “Take it off,” I ordered as waited for Miranda to comply.

  Instead, she asked, "What?"

  "All of it," I answered as my gaze trailed over her body.

  The shirt went first. Her fingers made contact with my skin as she worked to get it off. Then her hips rose off the table as she slipped the pants off. The move took her hips within an inch of my cock. I may have given her the power to stop at any time, but my dick wasn’t quite willing to offer such lenience. Miranda watched the fabric of my jeans grow tigh
t.

  “I told you not answering the phone was a good idea. You should listen to me more often.”

  “I’m working on it.” I should have been running. Instead, I smiled. I kept it on my face as I dropped between her thighs. The exhale of air told me things had shifted. Her body tensed as I spread her thighs apart. I didn’t wait for a taste. I gave her what she wanted. I staked my claim with my tongue. I drove it deep wanting her to remember what it felt like to burn. To love what I could do to her.

  *

  The room closed around me. The only thing I could see was Val’s head between my thighs. The pressure sharp and sweet as I closed my eyes, losing sight of him. For a brief second, I found myself back in the basement. My eyes snapped open, and it faded as I let Val take over until the only thing I knew was him. The familiar burn rose as an ache pulsed between my legs. I knew I was drenching his tongue with need so primal and raw, overriding any fear or pain. It pushed me over the edge with punishing madness. My hips shot off the polished wood as Val took what was his. I came with such force it bordered on pain.

  My breath came out rushed and ragged, replacing the shallow breaths I had existed on. My heart beat wildly in my chest bringing me back to life. When my heart had calmed to a simple flutter, I sat up. I knew I needed more. I came to life in the dark, wanting to burn so bright I became a star in Val's dark sky.

  “You shouldn’t look at me like that, Miranda.”

  I frowned. “Like what?”

  “You are wearing the look you get when you want me to fuck you.”

  "Is that a bad thing? I'm not ready for this to be done. I want this. You let me decide how far we go, and I expect you to give me what I want."

  *

  Miranda gave me permission by turning the tables and tossing out demand. I would have hated it from anyone else, on her power looked flawless. She wore it so well I could have sworn she had been wielding it all her life. I finally saw what she had been trying to tell me. She may have to break, but she wasn't going to stay that way. I knew Miranda would rise much faster than I ever had. She wouldn't hold on to fear. She wouldn't carry it like scarlet letter across her chest.

  “I’m yours, V.”

  Three little words broke me. She had crawled into my soul, ripping apart all the demons that got in her way. Now I could do the same for her. I would give her what she wanted. I would show no mercy. She had never belonged to them. She had always been mine.

  Taking her wrist, I pulled her from the table. “Follow me.”

  *

  I wrapped my fingers around Val’s and smiled. “Always.”

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  I had no time to react. Our lips met in a violent rush. He spared me no time to change my mind as he kissed me into oblivion. My hands tangled in hair. My pussy clenched, knowing exactly what his mouth could do. A gentle push and I landed in a tangle of sheets. They smelled like him. The whole fucking room smelled like him. My hands in his hair. His lips on mine. The scent of him was working its way onto my skin. He slipped into every fracture, every dark space. I welcomed the invasion with sickening need.

  Val broke the kiss as he flipped me on my stomach. The first strike against my ass made me cry out, the hit just enough to cause my skin to sting. It was just enough to remember the first time he had struck me. The pain had been sweet, rewarded with a kiss after each blow. He could have done anything he wanted, but he wanted to bring me back to the beginning. Rearranging who I was piece by piece.

  The second strike was harder, taking it I waited for what I knew was coming. When his lips eased the burn, I moaned. The anticipation sent wetness between my thighs. I waited on edge for the next strike. His palm stilled as he found my ear.

  “I remember the first time I saw your ass such a beautiful shade of red. It was then red became my new favorite color.”

  Val's hand struck harder than any other time before. Breath rushed out and pained rushed in. Nothing I couldn't handle as he always seemed to know how much I could take. A finger slid in hard and deep, and I withered against the sheets, desperate for more.

  *

  My control was slipping. Something so vanilla as spanking shouldn't be driving me to the brink, but I couldn't deny the fact it was. Watching Miranda's body move against my sheets, feeling her pussy tight around my finger drove me to the brink of madness. I couldn't think about anything but how she felt.

  “Fuck you are soaking wet. I thought I could wait. I don’t think I can.” My voice trailed off. I thrust my finger deeper making my cock jealous.

  *

  “Wait for what?” My voice came out broken.

  “To be inside you.” Val’s voice matched mine

  A trace of pain laced within his words. I heard it even through the haze clouding my mind. I knew the choice was mine. He was still holding back. Giving me time. I didn't want time.

  “Then don’t wait.” I pushed my pussy down hard on his finger.

  The last of Val’s restraint shattered. He withdrew his finger as he said, “Hands and knees now.”

  I shuddered. My desire faltered.

  “No. Any way else, Val. Please.” My voice grew haunted. I couldn’t bring myself to let him take me on my hands and knees. I shook my head as memories started to crawl back into my head.

  “On your hands and knees now, Miranda. I won’t ask again.”

  I don’t know how it happened, but I found my body obeying. With shaking limbs, I managed to get on my hands and knees.

  “I’m giving you something new. Trust me, Miranda.”

  I fought every instinct running through my body and tried to relax.

  *

  I watched Miranda as she sought to do what I had asked of her. I could never forget the way I had found her. What this idea came was born out of pure hope, the hope Miranda would realize how strong she was. I was pinning everything on the very thing that had always betrayed me.

  *

  I jumped when I felt Val’s hands on my back. I put my head down on the mattress. Val’s fingers gently ghosted their way down my back. Up and down, over and over until I found myself lifting my back up to lean into his hands.

  I felt the change. Miranda sought my touch. Trusting her skin to my fingers. I worshiped her back with my hands. My lips followed, repeating the prayer she was safe with me. I brushed her hair from her neck, trailing my tongue over the shell of her ear.

  “I’m keeping you, Miranda.” I positioned myself behind her, my cock seeking out what it wanted. “You are mine.” With one thrust I sank deep. Her body offered no resistance, only welcoming heat.

  *

  With one quick thrust, Val was inside me. I moaned. His fingers dug into my hips. Every thrust was driving my demons farther back into hell. I gave myself over to him, letting Val purge the nightmares from my mind. My body tuned to his, seeking what it knew only he could give me. His thrusts found the perfect spot. My hands clutched the sheets. Stars caught fire behind my eyes. I broke free as pleasure consumed me.

  *

  I followed Miranda, coming so hard it hurt. Her name the last thing on my lips as I burned. Our breaths mingled in the dark. My body rested on top of hers, nothing but ashes in the dark. She settled into me like she had always belonged there. At my side. In my bed. In my soul. The room fell still. For the first time in what seemed like forever, my demons didn't come for me. I slept. The only miracle I had ever known in my arms.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  The ringing of the phone cut through the air. Miranda rolled over and out of my arms.

  “Ignore it,” she mumbled half asleep.

  “Not this time, beautiful.” I got out of bed and threw some pants on. “I’ll be right back.”

  I picked up the phone on the last ring.

  “Give me good news, Selena.”

  “We have them.”

  “Thank you, Selena.” For the first time in days, I felt like my world had finally stopped spinning.

  "Don't thank me yet. Connor Price will
be coming for us. We declared war the moment we took them. Things are going to get ugly, but I guess you knew that already."

  I didn't answer. This war had been on the cards the moment I had seen Miranda. Now it was a matter of who would win. The monster that had been born or the monster created. "It's time to finish this. Keep everyone safe until I get there."

  “Don’t worry V. The princess and I got this.”

  I shook my head. Selena never changed. I was sure Thorn would not be happy Selena was referring to him as the princess as well, but I enjoyed it.

  “Thank you, Selena.”

  “Anytime, V.”

  The call ended. Leaving me to figure out what I had done to deserve such wonderful people in my life. I didn’t have many, and I acted like they didn’t matter, but I always knew that was a lie. I hoped I didn’t fail them. Opening the bedroom door, the sight of Miranda in my bed stopped me dead in my tracks. I didn’t care what demons I had to kill. I didn’t care what I had to do. I would protect those who had trusted me even when I hadn’t trusted myself. The clock had run out and the time had come to do the thing I do best.

  I started the shower; Miranda made her way to the bathroom. Disappointment registered on her face when she realized I didn't plan to join her.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to sweetheart. I have a few things I need to do.”

  "Fine, but know that the shower would be better if you were in here with me." She stepped into the shower and out of my sight, and I wished this war hadn't come so soon. Not being able to join Miranda in the shower added a new reason to add to my list of why I wanted to kill her father. It might not have seemed like a big deal but trust me my dick did not agree.

  By the time I returned Miranda was done with her shower and had dug out some of my clothes. They hung loosely on her tiny frame, but I knew they had never looked that good on me.

  I stepped closer invading her space. The surrounding air ignited. Miranda took a step as well. I knew we needed to get going, but I wasn't ready to let the real world touch us quite yet. I had already missed the shower, and I wasn't willing to let the chance to be inside her pass me by.