Bound Together

by Marie Coulson

  Catching me staring at him, Jared raised an eyebrow and glanced at me quizzically. “What is it? You have that ‘I’ve got something to say’ look on your face. Come on, honesty remember, out with it.”

  I remained silent weighing up the pros and cons of asking my intrusive questions. But he was right. We needed to build trust and honesty in our relationship. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. “Ok, here goes. I was just wondering, how many women you’ve been with. I know I have no right to ask and you have no obligation to tell me, but I just wanted to know. So there you go. Do with it what you will.” Slumping back into my seat with relief I waited with bated breath for a reply, any reply, but mostly, I hoped it would be one I could both swallow and accept.

  Smiling, he licked his lips while his eyes stared straight ahead at the road. “You want to know how many women I’ve slept with. That right?” I nodded weakly. “Well considering I don’t keep count I’m going to have to give you a ball park figure.” Oh god, oh god, a ball park figure? He couldn’t even count them on one hand, or even two!? My mind began to conjure scenes of lust filled orgies and hundreds of women flitting in and out of his beautiful white bed. He must have seen my anxiety because he immediately shut me down. “Stop it. Right now. Why torture yourself Layla? It’s not as many as you think. If I had to give you a number, which by the way I find a little unsettling, it would be…sixty, approximately. I started having sex when I was sixteen Layla. So when you think about it, that’s ten women per year. Not that many is it? And that’s including you. But none of them even matter because I’m with you. You’re the only woman I want in my bed, shower, tub, dining table, counter top, sofa and anywhere else I can throw you over. You, Layla Jennings are the only woman I will sleep with from now till the day I die. And I bet I know the next question and the answer is no. I didn’t love them. I never knew what love was. I cared about them sure and I wanted to make them happy but I didn’t love them. I love you. I’ve never met anyone that affects me the way you do. I feel like I could conquer the world, bench press a bus and run a marathon when I’m with you. You make me feel alive and so happy I can’t even think straight.”

  Sixty women! Sixty perfect strangers that the man I love had pleasured his bed. I felt sick to my stomach as the images began to flash through my mind like a bad movie. Taking my hand, he held it tightly while steering with the other. “Hey, don’t do this to yourself Layla. I mean it. They were meaningless, one night stands, trysts and fleeting romances. They can’t even hold a candle to you. You’re the only girl for me. It’s like every other woman in the world ceased to exist the moment I laid eyes on you. Please don’t dwell over this baby. Promise me you will just forget them because it’s about you and me now. No one else.”

  He was right. They were his past and as far as I was concerned that’s exactly where they should stay. Stretching across from my seat I kissed him on the cheek. A boyish grin spread across his face and I was sure I saw him blush a light shade of pink. “So, now you know my magic number, what’s yours?”

  Now I was blushing, but mine was definitely more obvious as my cheeks flushed and I was sure they were cherry red by now. Fiddling with my hair I stared at the floor. Jared brushed his fingers over mine reassuringly.

  “Two. My high school boyfriend Josh and you. That’s my big number. Most girls my age have been with more than two guys.” Nerves were buzzing inside me while I sat worried what he thought of my revelation. Would he think I was inexperienced? Would he treat me differently now? I didn’t want our relationship or our sex life to change just because I had spent two years screwing the same guy instead of several.

  “And this Josh, did you love him?” It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting and to be honest I was relieved.

  “I thought I did. But now, being with you, I know I probably didn’t. I was young and I thought it had to be love. But it was probably just hormones mixed with lust and urges. What I had with him doesn’t even come close to how I feel about you.” His face was contorted into a scowl.

  “And this high school sweetheart is where?”

  He was jealous, and secretly and perhaps even wickedly, I was enjoying it. But I wouldn’t torment him with it, knowing I would be livid if one of his exes was suddenly a fixture in our lives. Putting his mind at ease I explained how Josh had cheated on me before graduating high school and moved away. “What a moron. He had a succulent juicy steak at home and decided to man handle some sloppy joe. What a stupid move. Well you have nothing to worry about baby. I’m a straight up sirloin man.”

  Chapter 25

  Tying Me In Knots

  The house was warm and as I stepped into the foyer I glanced back at Jared. Our time together was going to be bittersweet. He was leaving in a few hours and I would be alone for four days without the man I loved. The thought brought a lump to my throat. I wondered briefly if he had sensed my dejection as he swiftly cupped my face in his hands and kissed me passionately, deeply and longingly. Gripping my hands to his back, I noticed his shirt was still slightly damp. I tugged at it, pulling it free from the waist of his pants. Never removing my lips from his, I hastily unbuttoned it and slid my hands inside onto his hot taut body. Grazing my fingers across his rock hard abs I felt him tense slightly beneath my fingers. He let out a low groan as his arousal began to press into my thigh. A loud ringing startled me and I halted my hands. Opening my eyes I pulled away from his kiss and looked around wondering where the sound was coming from.

  “It’s in my office. They know I don’t take business calls after hours, ignore it.” Grabbing me around the waist with his strong arm he pulled me to him and leaned in to resume our make out session. I pressed my hands against his chest and held him back slightly. “It might be about New York. You have to get it.” He tried to interject but I cut him off with a simple sway of my head in a silent no. He growled with frustration and turned his back to me running his fingers through his silky watery locks.

  Seizing his hand, I pulled him towards me and stood on my tippy toes till our noses were touching just at the tip. I could smell the rain in his hair and the heady scent of sweat and soap. It was an aphrodisiac I was becoming very accustomed to and I welcomed it eagerly whenever he was near me. Gazing into my eyes, he ran his tongue over his bottom lip. He growled again but this time it wasn’t frustration; it was carnal, sexual hunger. My lips were so close to his and his hot breath skimmed across the soft plump flesh. “Go answer your call and then come find me. I’ll be waiting for you. Call it hide and seek?”

  “More like hunter and prey baby, because when I find you, I’m going to completely devour you.” He bit down gently on my lip and I closed my mouth over his, stealing another quick kiss before he reluctantly made his way to the office.

  I waited till I heard the door slam behind him before making my way up the stairs. Quickly undressing, I left my discarded clothes trailing behind me straight to the bedroom. I didn’t want to make him look too hard for me; after all I was perfectly happy to be found. Pushing open the large double doors to his room I sighed. The beauty of it still took my breath away. It was elegant and tasteful. The vintage couches and gold detail made the room feel like a five star hotel. I decided to take this time to have a better look around. Opposite the bathroom was another large door, I poked my head around the corner to check that Jared was still busy with his call before opening it. What I found was beyond amazing. Hundreds of crisp shirts hung neatly lined in rows. Pants below them and shoes on a rack perfectly polished and paired on the floor. The walk in closet was more like a dressing room with two full length mirrors and a couch against the far wall. Two enormous dressers sat on either side of the mirrors. I walked along the clothes rack, thumbing the shirts gently so as not to crease or mark them when I came to one that I instantly recognized.

  Hanging alone at the end of the rail was a coffee stained, white Armani shirt. Pulling it down, I inspected it closely. It was definitely the same shirt. The coffee stain was over the right side of the ch
est and tiny speckles of blood were dotted around the collar. Without a second thought I brought it to my face and breathed in deeply. It smelled of Jared. He certainly hadn’t had it dry cleaned as he claimed. And he’d had the nerve to try and give me a dry cleaning bill! I did feel a little better though, now that he had told me the truth about what happened that day.

  Grinning like a school girl I hatched a plan. Returning the ruined shirt to its hanger, I searched the closet for what I needed then headed to the bathroom to primp myself. Rummaging through the cabinets for any form of moisturizer I stumbled upon something I realized I probably shouldn’t have. I was standing in front of a cabinet full of lubricants, oils, condoms and gels. Oh my. Jared’s sex cabinet. Holding my hand to my mouth in shock I should have closed it immediately but something was stopping me. I was…curious. Taking a small red bottle from the shelf I read the worn out label. “Essential Oils. Cinnamon and orange.” Taking off the lid I instantly smelled the sweet aromas. My plan was now taking a new direction.

  The sound of yelling caught my attention and I quickly returned everything but the red bottle to the cabinet and headed for the stairs. Approaching the office, I could hear how enraged he was by the tone of Jared’s voice and it both frightened and thrilled me. I really did love it when he was mad. The door was slightly ajar so I stood, hovering, listening to the one sided conversation. He was standing stiffly with his back to the door and I could see he was tense by the way his shoulders hunched to his neck. “I don’t care how much it costs just do it! I made a promise and I’m going to keep it. It’s totally fucking unacceptable and I’m holding you responsible. If anything happens to her I’ll…” Her? Who was her? The floor boards creaked below my foot and the sound halted his conversation as he turned around and glared at the door. I winced and turned on my heels running back up the stairs. I’d been caught eavesdropping and I could hear him yelling after me but I was not going back there while he was pissed at me. “Oh you can run, but that just makes me want to catch you.” His tone was harsh yet full of passionate, lustful promise.

  I could hear his feet pounding against the floor as he sprinted after me. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I ran for the bedroom closing the door behind me to stall him. My heart hammered inside my chest and I could hear the low thuds in my ears. I stared at the door waiting for him. Bursting into the room he stopped dead and his jaw hit the floor as he took in my attire. His eyes scanned every inch of me, from my toes all the way up my body till he met my gaze. I bit my lip seductively. I stood perfectly still in the middle of the room as he began to circle me, admiring the view that he was clearly enjoying. Taking the thin white fabric between his fingers, he gave me a wicked smile. “Miss Jennings, is that one of my Armani shirts?” Pursing my lips together I remained silent. “I have to say, it looks a thousand times better hanging off your voluptuous curves than on me. I wonder...”

  Lifting the hem of the shirt he ran his fingers over the delicate lace of my panties. A low groan left his lips as his hand continued up over my stomach to my chest. His hand massaged and groped my breast, my nipple peaking and puckering as he teased, rolling it between his thumb and finger. A whimper escaped me and a satisfied grin spread across his face. “Oh baby, I heard that.” He leaned in close, our chests pressed together. Grabbing his unbuttoned shirt, I slid it down his thick arms and tossed it aside. Gripping my hands on his shoulders, I could feel the tension he was holding. Whatever had happened in that office had made him worried and extremely irritated. I began to work his tired muscles as his head fell back and he moaned. “Mmmm that’s wonderful.” Remembering the little red bottle in the bathroom I took his hand and led him to the bed.

  He arched his eyebrow at me and gave me a questioning look. “Can’t wait to get me on my back huh?”

  “Actually, I want you to take off your pants and lie on your front. I’ll be right back.” Grabbing the bottle from the bathroom counter I stopped for a moment to check my reflection. My long blonde hair was frizzy from my walk in the evening air and my makeup had begun to slide from its natural position on my face. His phone call was haunting me. Whatever was going on involved a woman and my heart was hammering as I thought about the possibilities and explanations for his secret. Trying desperately to hold on to my faith in him, I hurried back to the scorching hot man waiting for me in the bedroom.

  Jared was lying on the bed face down and completely naked. I actually grunted in sheer delight at the sight of him. His hands were gripped together above his head making the muscles in his arms pull taut and flex. His broad back was perfectly defined, with tempting lines and curves leading to his buttocks. His ass was dreamily rounded, like a delicious peach you just want to sink your teeth into and boy did I want to sink my teeth into him. His gorgeous caramel skin glistened in the lamp light. He looked good enough to eat.

  Climbing onto the bed I straddled him. My behind resting on his, I took a small amount of oil and drizzled it over his bare shoulder blades. He hissed through his teeth as the cold oil made contact with his warm skin. Placing my palms firmly on his back I went to work on his aching, knotted body, kneading and soothing the muscles deeply. My hands roamed freely, exploring all the contours and lines of his body, taking a playful detour as they slithered nearer to his buttocks. The oil on my hands warming as it dripped and slid gently over his skin. A low moan escaped his lips and he began to shift around on the bed as if uncomfortable. Turning over onto his back, I slid off him; the reason for his discomfort suddenly becoming very clear. The beautiful, pink, solid length of his erection sprung free and I licked my lips at the sight of it. He was positively delicious, laying in front of me; naked and aroused, just waiting for my next move. I felt like a powerful and sexy seductress and he was a willing participant in my love games.

  Positioning myself between his legs I ran my tongue up the inside of his thigh, caressing and teasing him, kissing the deep V in his torso and flicking the tip of my tongue back down to his thigh. I rolled it back and forth everywhere but the one place he was aching for it to be. “Oh god Layla you’re killing me baby.”

  Gripping him firmly with one hand I took him into my mouth. He inhaled sharply as the warm wetness of my welcoming mouth surrounded his throbbing cock. Covering my teeth with my lips as though sucking a popsicle, I slid my tongue down and around the full length of his shaft. His tip almost touching the back of my throat would normally have been something to make me stop or trigger my gag reflex, but I was so caught up in the moment, it never seemed to happen and if it did I never noticed it as the deep pleasurable sounds he was making spurred me on. His eyes were closed tightly and he had the ever familiar look of enjoyment on his face. Focusing my mouth back to the silky smooth tip, I gripped him with both hands, gently letting them follow my lips as I bobbed up and down, massaging my tongue over him while swirling and flicking the sensitive ridge. I began to hum deeply, turning him into my very own vibrator while sucking and rolling my mouth up and down. “Holy fuck! Jesus Layla! Fuck!” It was definitely having the desired effect.

  Gripping the sheets beneath him, Jared tensed and I could sense his climax was moments away. Slowing my speed I glanced up at him, his lips were pressed into a hard line and his face held deep concentration as if he was trying desperately not to lose control. I wanted so much to push him over the edge, to take him into pure ecstasy with my sexpert oral skills. “Stop, Layla, Fuck… Stop!” He was panting and pleading but I continued, completely ignoring his plea. His hand gripped my hair and he tugged me away bringing my delicious Jared popsicle to an end. Sitting up he ran his fingers through my hair before gliding his thumb over my cheek to my bottom lip. “You keep doing that and this is going to be over far too quickly and there is so much more that I have planned for us tonight, well for you.”

  Holding both my hands he stared into my eyes. He looked serious and I found myself feeling slightly apprehensive wondering what was going through his mind. “Layla, do you trust me? For what I have in mind for us I need
you to trust me completely. I adore you, I worship you and I want to worship your body from head to toe but you must have total faith in me. Can you do that?”

  I stared back at him confused and a little worried about what exactly he was planning on doing to me. “What exactly did you have in mind?” He cleared his throat and his expression was noticeably nervous. “Do you know anything about bondage?” My eyes widened as I sat there completely dumb struck. Bondage? Was that what he wanted to do? Scenes of leather, whips and chains ran through my mind. Was he freaking serious!? With my voice slightly quivering, I found the strength to speak. “You mean like whips and chains? I really don’t think I can do that. I’m sorry I just really don’t think it’s my thing.”

  Pressing his hand to his mouth he stifled a laugh and it instantly irritated me. I didn’t see anything funny about the subject at all. “What exactly do you find amusing about this? Because I have to admit, I’m kind of freaked out right now.”

  Cupping my face in his hands he ran his thumbs over my cheeks. “Shhh, baby, calm down. No I don’t mean whips and chains. I mean bondage. It’s…wait here.” Sliding off the bed, he disappeared into the walk in closet. I could hear him rummaging around inside before he finally re-emerged with a large velvet bag. Placing it in front of me, he resumed his position on the bed. “Take a look. Empty the whole thing onto the bed and I’ll explain everything and then you can decide what you think you might like to try and what you would definitely rule out. There’s no pressure here Layla. I just want to see where you stand with all this. Ok?” I nodded weakly and emptied the contents of the mysterious bag onto the bed.