The Tie That Binds

by Maura, Catharina

  I cross my arms over my chest. “What happens between me and my husband is none of your concern, Dominic.”

  He looks at me with raised brows. “You and your husband? What, did you fuck him Alyssa? Did you fucking sleep with my brother?”

  I haven’t, but I don’t want to admit that. I don’t want him to think there’s any hope left that we might work out.

  “Yes.”

  Dominic’s shoulders relax and he smiles. “You’re lying,” he breathes out. I blink at him and shake my head.

  “Yes, you are. You could never lie to me, Alyssa. If you haven’t slept with him yet then it won’t happen at all. I’ve heard the rumours about Daniel. I know my brother better than anyone. He’s impatient and ruthless in bed. If he wanted you he would’ve already pursued you. Since that hasn’t happened, the only way he’ll sleep with you is if at some point it’s convenient. If he’s got a scratch to itch. It won’t be out of desire or blinding lust, like his weekend girls.”

  I pale at his words, because he’s voicing out my inner demons. I’d have to be deaf to not have heard the rumours about Daniel. To never be in contact with the countless women in our social circle that he’s slept with. I’ve heard the giggling and the whispering amongst the women that he’s been with. The inevitable drunk comparison notes in club bathrooms and their eagerness to have him again. Even I know he fucks hard and fast and leaves women wanting more. He’s relentless in his pursuit, but he’s never once shown me the type of passion he seems to have shown other women.

  “Even so, I’m married to Daniel and it’ll remain that way for the foreseeable future. Regardless of what happens between Daniel and I.. you and I will never be together, Nic. I don’t want to lose you as a friend, but I need you to drop this now.”

  He looks down. The agony in his eyes makes my own heart ache but there’s no other way to handle this. I need him to understand we can never be together.

  26

  I twist and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep. Daniel has been keeping his distance from me, the way he always used to at his mum’s house. It’s unsettling. It feels like we’ve taken twenty steps back. He didn’t even question me about what Dominic and I spoke about, and he didn’t voice the slightest bit of displeasure when Dominic pulled me into his bedroom.

  I guess this is why I subconsciously dreaded coming back here. Because Daniel is an entirely different person here. He feels so distant. So out of reach.

  I hesitate and then slip out of my bed. He wasn’t that mad when I sneaked into his bedroom last night. Tonight I don’t have an excuse, but I’m hoping he won’t question me. I’m hoping he’s missing me too.

  I glance around the silent hallway and then walk into his bedroom soundlessly. The room is pitch black and my eyes are struggling to adjust. I blink a couple of times and carefully walk to Daniel’s bed, taking tiny steps to make sure I don’t bump into anything. I sigh in relief when my knees hit his bed.

  I tug on his blanket and slip into his bed, my body hitting his. He wakes up suddenly and grabs my arms painfully. He turns me over and pins me down with such force that I whimper. He looks enraged. The anger in his eyes slowly dissipates when he realises it’s me.

  “Alyssa. It’s you,” he whispers, obviously relieved. He lets go of me and turns back onto his back, inhaling deeply.

  “Who else would it be?” I ask, suddenly suspicious. I have a sinking feeling that I’m not the only girl that’s ever tried to sneak into his bed while sleeping over at Mary’s.

  “No one,” he replies quickly. “I was just surprised. I was fast asleep.”

  I nod uneasily. “What brings you here?” he asks, sounding far too formal. Far too distant.

  “I— I couldn’t sleep.”

  Daniel chuckles. “So you thought you’d get into my bed? You could’ve just shaken me awake, you know.”

  I blush. Just how clueless is he? “Ah, yeah,” I murmur.

  Daniel turns onto his side and looks at me tenderly. I scoot closer to him and much to my surprise he scoots back, maintaining distance between us.

  Dominic’s words ring through my mind, an unwelcome reminder. The only way he’ll sleep with you is if at some point it’s convenient. If he’s got a scratch to itch. It won’t be out of desire or blinding lust, like his weekend girls.

  Just lying next to him makes it nearly impossible for me to keep from touching him. A single kiss has me soaking wet, yet he actually moves away from me when I try to get close to him?

  “You must be enjoying this visit back home. Would you like to come back every weekend?” he asks.

  Fuck no. I love Mary, but I don’t want to be here if he’ll turn into a stranger every time we set foot in this house. I sit up, distraught.

  “Why do you move away from me? Am I that repulsive to you? You seemed just fine kissing me just yesterday, so what happened? Do you regret it?”

  Daniel sits up too and stares at me with wide eyes. “Repulsive? What kind of bullshit is that. No, of course not. It’s just.. being here is weird. Besides, I saw you walk into Dominic’s bedroom earlier. You spent hours in there with him.”

  I shove against his chest but only barely manage to move him. I shove him again with all my strength and he captures my hands in his, keeping them against his chest.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, more confused than annoyed.

  “You.. you just infuriate me,” I bite out.

  He looks at me with raised brows. “I infuriate you?” He huffs, a sliver of emotion finally escaping his armour. “You’re the one that spent hours with my brother while ignoring me but I infuriate you?”

  I exhale in relief. My worst fear is him not caring at all. I can deal with jealousy and anger, but I can’t deal with indifference.

  I smile at him and throw myself on him, tackling him. He falls onto his back and I lower my lips to his eagerly. He freezes when I kiss him but I don’t let that deter me. He’s already pushing me away. What else do I have to lose?

  I tangle my legs with his and scrape my nails across his scalp. I melt against him when he finally kisses me back. He buries his hands in my hair and pulls tightly as he kisses me without abandon. I let my hands roam over his body and slip my fingers down his boxers before he has a chance to stop me. I gasp against his lips when my fingers curl around his erection. He’s fucking huge and thick. He’ll never fit inside me. Daniel moans into my mouth loudly and trembles as I move my hand up and down, but thankfully he doesn’t stop me.

  “Baby, you’ll drive me insane,” he whispers. He starts to tug on my nightgown and I let go of him temporarily to let him take it off.

  “You too,” I whisper. Daniel pauses and stares at me as though he’s trying to make sure I know what I’m asking for, and then he tugs off his pyjama bottoms. I glare at him, annoyed, and push down his boxers.

  “These too,” I bite out. Daniel chuckles and presses a quick kiss to my lips before he finally shrugs out of them. He lies back on top of me naked and I moan in delight. His lips find mine and he kisses me deeply, grinding his hips against mine. We’re only separated by the panties I’m wearing and I long to push them aside. Every time he slides up against me he pushes into me the tiniest bit, as much as the fabric allows him to. It drives me insane.

  I’m panting and bucking against him. All I want is to feel him slide into me. I groan in frustration when Daniel moves down to tease my nipples with his tongue. I lift my hips in a silent bid for more but Daniel merely chuckles against my skin. He swirls his tongue around my nipple and I arch my back, pushing more of my breast into his face. “Please, Dan,” I whisper. I pull on his hair and he finally moves back to my lips.

  The way he kisses me has me panting and ready to burst. He slowly and gently moves his hand down my body, his lips never leaving mine.

  I moan loudly when he trails a finger over my soaking wet panties. “Fucking hell, baby. Your pussy is soaking wet,” he groans. He pushes my panties to the side and slides a finger deep into me.
r />   “Oh fuck, yes.. Daniel.”

  I bury my face into his neck and place my lips against his ear as he pulls his finger back out and over my clit. My entire body tenses as he teases me. He lifts himself up on one arm and looks down at me as he touches me.

  “So fucking wet for me, Alyssa. I could slip right into you, baby.”

  My eyes shutter closed under the intensity he looks at me with, a blush slowly extending across my cheeks.

  “I’m always wet for you, Daniel.”

  He groans and kisses me roughly while my own hands find his throbbing hardness. He twitches in my hand as I move up and down, my grip tight.

  “Baby, you’ve got me ready to come for you like a horny teenager. You gotta ease off with those hands of yours,” he pleads. I grin up at him and shake my head. He looks at me through narrowed eyes and pushes two fingers into me while stroking his thumb over my clit. My lips fall open and I moan loudly as he pushes me towards an orgasm.

  “Daniel, no. Oh God. I can’t take it, please. Dan.. Fuck.”

  I let go of him and instead wrap my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. I don’t know where he’s touching inside me but it’s incredibly sensitive. Combined with the way he’s stroking my clit it’s almost too much. I’ve never felt such intensity before and I’m panting and moaning.

  “Please, Dan. Please, baby. Please,” I whimper, not even sure what I’m asking for. Daniel increases his pace until it’s all too much and I erupt. My entire body shakes and he smothers my moans with his lips. He doesn’t pull his fingers away until the last ripple passes through my body. I collapse against the mattress and look at him in equal parts bliss and shock. “Wow,” I whisper.

  He kisses me gently. “Wow indeed,” he says, smiling smugly. I blush and pull him down on me, loving his weight on me. He gets comfortable on top of me as I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly. I brush my lips against his ear. “My turn,” I whisper. Daniel chuckles and shakes his head, not budging.

  “No. Now we sleep, beautiful.”

  27

  I wake up when the door to Daniel’s bedroom opens and freeze. Thankfully Daniel is on his side with me tucked against his back. He gasps as he’s startled awake and I scoot down a little, hiding myself. Daniel pulls the blankets tight and clamps it underneath his arm so he creates a little tent around me, successfully hiding me.

  “You’re still asleep, darling?” Mary asks. I don’t dare to move. I’m wearing nothing but my panties and Daniel is naked. I’m pressed up against him, my face against his back. I desperately try to remember where we threw our clothes. Daniel’s clothes must still be tangled somewhere in the sheets while mine are on the floor on my side of the bed. So long as she doesn’t walk around the bed she won’t see me or my nightgown.

  “How come you’re sleeping in? Usually you’d be long up by now, making breakfast in the kitchen. I was looking forward to your breakfast, you know. It was so nice to have you back in the house for a couple of weeks. No one takes care of me like you do.”

  I relax against Daniel, my heart melting. “Uh..mum.. I’m just tired. I thought I might sleep in a bit longer. Why don’t we have a chat later?” he says, genuinely sounding sleepy. I hear Mary shuffle into the room and if I’m not mistaken she’s just sat down on the lounge chair by the door. It doesn’t seem like she has any intention of leaving, but at least she won’t be able to spot me from where she’s seated. I exhale in relief and place my hand on Daniel’s waist, making myself a little more comfortable.

  “I guess Alyssa and Dominic are still asleep. I thought for sure things would’ve changed between you and Alyssa with you two being by yourselves in that apartment of yours, especially since you two haven’t been coming back here much.. But she and Dominic seem closer than ever. The way he hugged her yesterday and then dragged her off to his room surprised me. You weren’t there and I didn’t know what to say either.”

  Daniel’s entire body tenses and I shake my head gently, trying to reassure him wordlessly. I slip my arm over his chest and squeeze myself against him tightly, crushing my breasts against his back.

  “I used to think they were just friends but now I’m wondering if I was just blind to what was happening between them.. Daniel, if I’d known I’d never have let you get married to Alyssa. I would’ve made that nasty grandma of hers an offer she couldn’t refuse and buy back the shares.”

  I press a silent kiss against Daniel’s spine and push my forehead against his skin. I was foolish to think there’d be nothing wrong with following Dominic, when I knew full well that my friendship with him makes Daniel uncomfortable. I guess it’s not actually the friendship he dislikes, but the feelings he thinks I have for Dominic. How do I now convince him otherwise when I couple of months ago I admitted to being in love with Dominic?

  “You should start seeing someone, Dan. I’ve let you be and let you sow your wild oats, but you aren’t getting any younger.”

  I freeze, my entire body tensing against Daniel. Why would she say that to him when she knows we’re married?

  “Mum I’m only thirty-two. Chill,” he murmurs, relaxed. I’m tempted to poke him and ask him what the hell he means by that. He should be reminding her that he’s married and not planning on seeing anyone else.

  Mary huffs. “Yeah, but it’d probably take you a year to find a good girl, then another year or two of dating before you finally get engaged. Then another year while we plan the wedding. By the time I’m finally holding my grandchild five or six years will have passed.”

  Daniel chuckles. “There we go. So that’s your real objective. You just want a grandchild. Why don’t you just go adopt one?”

  “I want a grandchild that looks just like you. You’ll have to make me one, and I’m running out of patience. You and Alyssa won’t work out. You’ve been married for months and you’re still sleeping in separate bedrooms. You didn’t even speak to each other all day yesterday, and I checked. She was with Dominic all day while you hid out in your room. You two don’t even seem to be friends. I would’ve loved to have her as my daughter-in-law, but your marriage is clearly just a paper marriage. It shouldn’t stop you from seeing someone. I’m sure if you find the right person she’ll understand the situation. Or otherwise you just buy out Alyssa’s grandma and divorce her. Lord knows we can afford it.”

  I squeeze my eyes closed and tighten my hold on Daniel. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to see anyone else and I don’t want to divorce him. Thank god we’ve got the fidelity contract. Though technically that won’t stop him from seeing anyone, so long as he doesn’t have sex with anyone else. The thought of Daniel on dates with someone else doesn’t sit well with me.

  “Mum, I don’t know. I’m still married. It would feel too much like cheating to me. I’d rather not,” he says carefully, but even to me his response sounds lacklustre, like he doesn’t actually care but just can’t be bothered with dating.

  “Hmm,” Mary says. “Well, you have no choice. I invited Olivia and her mother over for lunch today. They should be here in an hour or so. Do you remember her? She’s always been crazy about you. Besides, she’s a university professor and she’s really pretty. Very sweet and polite too. I think you’ll like her.”

  I remember Olivia very well. I never liked her. She always used to tag along whenever her mother came over for lunch or dinner at the Devereaux mansion. She’d spend the entire time staring at Daniel as though she wanted to drag him to the nearest room and have her wicked way with him. She’s indeed always been polite but something about her just rubs me the wrong way. It always has.

  “Seriously, mum? With Alyssa here? What are you thinking?” he bites out, his anger rising. His mother tuts. “She won’t care. I doubt she’ll even notice that I’m trying to matchmake you. It’s just lunch, isn’t it? Not like we’ve never done that before. It’ll also relieve your brother’s guilt. Maybe Alyssa’s too.”

  “So, what? You’re trying to push me towards someone else so Dominic can
covet my wife without feeling guilty about it?” he asks, his tone harsh.

  Mary sighs. “Nothing like that, and you know it. Those two aren’t right for each other. Maybe they just need to get it out of their systems or something. It doesn’t matter. It’s not like you and Alyssa are actually together. She’s only your wife on paper, Daniel. Besides, I’m sure you’ll really like Olivia. Just give it a chance, sweetheart. Please. Just do it for me. I’m tired of worrying about you.”

  Daniel scoffs but nods at her. “Yeah, okay mum. Anything to make you happy,” he says, sighing. Pure liquid fury runs through my body. He fucking agreed? I pinch his waist and he yelps.

  “Are you okay?” Mary asks, confused.

  “Uh, yeah. Just cramp,” he stammers.

  I hear shuffling in the room before the door opens. “Wear something nice, okay? Maybe a nice button-up? What do girls these days like? Maybe a t-shirt, actually. Just don’t come out wearing your pyjamas like you have been doing.”

  She closes the door behind her and I push the covers off me, my eyes blazing. Daniel looks at me, his expression unreadable. I glare at him, gritting my teeth in anger. I sit up, not caring that I’m half naked. Daniel’s eyes fall to my breasts and a flicker of desire shatters his unreadable expression, transforming his face. I get out of his bed and storm into his walk-in wardrobe, giving him one hell of a view of my barely covered ass.

  I grab two of his ties and walk back into the bedroom, making my way to the door to lock it. He follows me with his eyes but doesn’t say a thing. He doesn’t even try to make excuses for just agreeing to let his mum arrange a date for him.

  The small sliver of daylight that still manages to find its way in through the curtains makes the room look dusky, allowing me to see him clearly as I pull the blankets off him entirely. I pause, startled. He felt big last night but to see him like this.. That’s definitely more than I can take.