Bound to You

by Shawntelle Madison

  “Why did you change?” I asked.

  She tried to hide her own amusement, but made a small tsk noise instead. “When I’m with my clients I dress this way. You’re here really early.” She sighed. “We shouldn’t be alone like this.”

  “I’m not wasting an opportunity with Nakamura. I want to be ready for anything.” Chris still wasn’t waiting for us outside so I directed her toward Orleans Street, which was less crowded with traffic.

  She had a slight hesitation to her step, but kept going down Maverick Street.

  “Busy day,” she murmured.

  “I passed a farmer’s market. You had anything to eat this morning?”

  “I had coffee.”

  “Which isn’t breakfast. How do you function?”

  “On fumes most of the time.”

  My knee kicked in a bit, with a familiar ache, but I ignored it and kept up with her. “We can walk and talk. Discuss business.”

  “Seemed like we did enough talking the other night.”

  Just seeing her lips part and her sharp inhale made me think about how well the dress fit over the curve of her back and her breasts.

  We walked past apartment buildings and small businesses. The street widened until we reached the farmer’s market. For three blocks, the market cut off through traffic. Many shoppers were here and they forced her to stand closer to me. She didn’t move away when I placed my hand on the small of her back to get out of the way of a mother pushing a stroller with two kids.

  “So where to?” I asked.

  “You ever been to one of these things before?”

  “To be honest, not in a long time. My grandfather, back when he was alive, used to do this kind of thing to sell the food he grew in his backyard.”

  She nodded while I spoke. We continued down the street deeper into the market.

  “What did he sell?” she asked.

  “All sort of things. Peaches. Apples. Those grow pretty well in southern California.”

  “I thought you lived in Arizona?”

  “He lived in California. When my dad started the resort business, he founded his company outside of Phoenix.”

  We approached a woman selling coffee and pastries. I asked Sophie if they looked good.

  “Smells great.” She chose a puff pastry.

  I also bought us two coffees. By the time our hands were full, Sophie was eating and I was watching her smile while she ate. The booths seemed nice and others tried to get our attention to stop by, but we kept going. She finished her food, but she had a piece of pastry on her cheek. I brushed it away and she flinched. Not good.

  “You told me the other day there’d be no strings attached,” she whispered.

  “A few things have changed,” I replied.

  She didn’t respond. I tried to read her expression, but couldn’t.

  So I continued, “And yet some things haven’t. I’m still here to secure that contract. After I’m done, I’m going back to Arizona.” I wouldn’t get attached to her like I did Rosalie. Sophie and I knew from the start where this was going. We should enjoy the time we had before I left.

  A hint of a smile touched her lips. “So why complicate things between us?”

  “Because I want you. We have unfinished business.” I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk while others flowed around us. With all the noise, she was forced to stand close to me. Her hazel eyes blinked rapidly and the rapid rise and fall of her chest spoke volumes.

  “It won’t end well if we keep going on like this,” she whispered.

  “We’re both adults. We know what we want. I know what you need and you know what I want. What’s so complicated about that?”

  Her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip. The need to kiss her nipped at me. Would she taste like the strawberries on the puff pastry she’d eaten?

  “We shouldn’t do this, Xavier. Relationships can still get weird. Matter of fact, maybe I should ask point-blank what it is you want from me. Do you want a dominant/submissive relationship? Or maybe a girlfriend?”

  At the mention of my name, my heartbeat sped up. Her voice was soft and slid over me like her hands sliding over my body. “I do know I’m not ready for a sub or a girlfriend. I’d like to see what happens naturally.”

  “What happens if one of us wants to end our arrangement and the other person doesn’t?”

  “As long as we acknowledge this is temporary, there will always be an out. If you tell me you don’t want me, I’ll respect that.” I ran the tips of my fingers over the buttery smooth skin along her jaw. She shivered from my touch.

  She shook her head a bit as if trying to convince herself of something. “This isn’t a good idea. Is this what you do with other women?” Her attempt to sound like she was making a joke didn’t go well. “Spend a few days with them, then move on to the next one?”

  “No, I don’t.” I placed my hand on her back and we started moving again. “Like I said before, most of the time, the women I’m photographed with are dates. They go out with me to be seen and that’s it.” She didn’t need to ever know I’d considered loving a woman forever.

  We reached the end of the farmer’s market. I pondered her silence. Her body next to mine felt good. I almost wanted to walk slower instead of faster. The moment she got into my car, she’d slide across the seat and we’d be back to where we were before. In that moment, I knew two headstrong people would just bounce back and forth. She wanted hard facts. Was I willing to seal the deal? I wrestled with my thoughts until I came to a decision.

  “What if I was open to seeing what happens before I secure my contract?” I asked.

  She stopped and we turned to face each other.

  “What do you want to happen?”

  I want to touch you everywhere, I thought. I want to hear you call my name as I crash through all the walls you’ve built around yourself to keep me out. When I’m done with you, all those lonely feelings you have trapped inside won’t be there anymore.

  Instead of saying those things, I whispered, “We have unfinished business, Sophie, and the only way to finish is to come to an agreement.”

  “Then what have we agreed to do?”

  “We’ve agreed to see where this takes us. Entanglements or not.”

  She slowly nodded with a hint of a smile. “I’m not sure about a few things, but what I do know is that standing with you right now is something I can agree to do.”

  Anticipation made the muscles along my stomach jump. “Then let’s see what happens.”

  —

  Tonight was the opportunity I’d been waiting for since I’d arrived in Boston. A face-to-face encounter with the very man I wanted to see. I had an invite from Nakamura himself to attend a dinner at Sakura No Hana with him and his assistant.

  And yet, as I stood outside of the teahouse with Sophie by my side, I was distracted. She seemed unfazed, perfectly ready for everything we faced. She led the way through the establishment’s red double-door entrance, briefly speaking with the hostess.

  This wasn’t just a casual Japanese restaurant where Americans took what Japanese aspects they wanted to please American customers. The architecture was authentic from the paintings on the walls to the hostess, who greeted us at the door and called Sophie’s name.

  “Konbanwa, Sophie-san!” An elderly woman briefly hugged her and spoke softly to her.

  Sophie turned to me with a grin. She seemed to have friends everywhere. “Our party hasn’t arrived yet, but the room is ready for us.”

  We left the lobby and went into the main dining area. Diners ate on small tables on the floor. Servers went from table to table, delivering food and taking orders.

  The delicious smells wafted from the kitchen and clutched my empty stomach. Back when I was younger, my parents weren’t too fond of Japanese food so we hardly ate at any of the restaurants in Phoenix. It was all about home-cooked food in the Quinn household.

  A young hostess led us past the main dining room to one of the private room
s toward the back. At the entrance to the room, Sophie took off her high heels so I took off my shoes. Once inside, we sat down on cushions next to a table set for six people.

  “I thought it was only going to be four of us?” I asked her.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know who else will be attending. Maybe this room is always set up that way.”

  “Are we too early?”

  She winked at me. “We’re right on time.” She leaned toward me with a conspiratorial grin. “Which means the guest of honor is late.”

  The sliding door opened and Nakamura, along with two other gentlemen, came through a few moments later. Sophie quickly rose and I repeated her movement. A respectful bow and greeting. Nakamura approached me and I took his hand into both of mine for a firm shake.

  So far so good.

  Sophie introduced me to Ichiro, Nakamura’s first assistant, as well as Takeo, his second assistant.

  Nerves aside, I told myself this was the easy part.

  We settled into our seats and the conversation was light but went well. My target was all smiles, but I couldn’t take my mind off the woman next to me. I sat cross-legged on the floor, and her leg was no more than an inch or two from mine. Heat from her side warmed me. She translated whenever it was necessary, but the conversation flowed without problems.

  Watching Sophie in action made me proud. While I was all nerves, trying to exude the confidence that rode my back on a daily basis, she seemed to always know the right thing to say. The right conversation started when a topic began to fade away.

  Just watching her work made me think of Marcus. Forever the professional. He’d probably work these guys into a buying frenzy.

  Sophie’s right hand brushed against my hand that lay on the floor. She quickly took a drink of water. When her hand came back down, I scooted mine closer until we touched again.

  She flashed me a side-glance.

  I feigned innocence. I was nothing but an angelic lamb, after all.

  Our hostess arrived to let us know our entertainment had arrived. Now that I didn’t expect. Two Japanese women entered into the room, both of them dressed in beautiful kimonos. Elaborate pins decorated their finely coiffed black hair. They approached us and bowed before the woman who carried an instrument took a place in the corner.

  The woman in front of us, her lips painted a delicate red, greeted us. “The ladies of the Ran troop are pleased to travel from New York to entertain our esteemed guests.” Her movements were slow, yet fluid, as she began to sing to us. I didn’t understand the words, but I couldn’t help but be pulled into the tale she told through her music.

  While we sipped hot tea from tiny cups, I relaxed and enjoyed myself. For once ignoring the man across from me who held the fate of my mission here. By the time the singer was done, I couldn’t help but join Sophie in applause.

  “She’s very talented,” I remarked.

  Nakamura nodded in agreement.

  Once the performance had ended and the two women left the room, my nervousness dissipated a bit. Our first course arrived, a serving of hot seafood soup, and I ate everything, even if I disliked the taste.

  Keep smiling, Xavier.

  Over and over again I reminded myself this was the easy part. I waited for Nakamura to ask me questions. I left my eagerness outside the room and my efforts paid off when he asked about my goals for his facilities. “For the past two years, I’ve been impressed with research performed by your head researcher, Dr. Hideo Tanaka. Through our joint efforts, we could increase the 2500T’s processor speed by eleven percent. The profitability margin would be favorable on both ends.”

  While I continued to speak, Nakamura nodded. When his drink was emptied, Sophie, fast as a whip, got up to refill his cup. Much faster than Ichiro, I may add. Atta girl.

  The drinks and refreshments kept coming. Even as the door opened and an attendant came in to deliver our second course, a large platter of Chilean sea bass with black bean sauce, I kept going.

  I was deep in my flow when suddenly Sophie stopped cold in the middle of pouring a drink for Ichiro. The sliding door to the dining room was still open and her gaze locked on a point outside of the room. For some reason, her face went ashen and she put down the teapot. Without any further words, I watched my assistant get up and bolt from the room.

  “Sophie?” I turned to look in the direction she faced, but there was no one there in particular.

  —

  The moment the door closed after her, I rose to get up, but Nakamura extended his hand to stop me.

  “Is something wrong with your assistant?” he asked softly.

  My whole body stiffened, but I kept my mouth shut instead of making excuses.

  Ichiro glanced toward the door. “She didn’t even excuse herself. Women like that—”

  “Just stop right there,” I barked to Ichiro. I wanted to knock him on his ass, but I checked myself. “I’m sure Miss Ashton had a good reason for her departure. I don’t know you personally, but you shouldn’t assume all women behave like that.”

  “Perhaps she should have—”

  I stiffly turned to my host, ignoring Ichiro. “I’ve enjoyed dinner with you so far, Mr. Nakamura, but I refuse to sit here and let your staff member disrespect mine.”

  I got up without a second thought, gave Nakamura a deep bow, and left the room.

  Contract be damned. Even I had standards.

  Chapter 14

  Sophie

  Sato is here.

  But that couldn’t be him. He was in Japan.

  The moment I stepped out of the room, he was gone. My eyes scanned the noisy dining room, but he wasn’t there. Just countless diners—a large family enjoying supper in one corner drew my eye but none of them was him.

  Yet when I hurried down the hall toward the entrance, I saw him again speaking to the hostess and I stopped cold. Sato hadn’t changed much. His back was wide and his stance assured. His hair was longer, though, cut in a bit of a style that was more Asian than American.

  As if pulled by a magnet, I rushed to the door. I had to have my say. He’d have to know how much he hurt me. Sato’s name sat at the edge of my tongue, but I never got a chance to speak. He was out the door into the night.

  He’d left me again.

  A couple walked past me, the man briefly bumping into me. “Excuse me,” he said politely.

  Reality hit me like a freight train careening off its tracks. The room. I’d left the dining room.

  Dizziness slammed my senses. I rushed to the bathroom until I hit the cool, tiled wall. From there, I leaned back, letting the cool air from a vent hit my face. My stomach churned painfully. Stirring to the point where I’d purge everything I’d eaten.

  Oh fuck, I’d messed up big time. I’d left the room right in front of Nakamura.

  I’d left right in front of my client.

  My insides cringed from such a horrible error. What the hell was I thinking, doing that to him?

  Damn you, Sophie, for choosing your feelings over your work. I’d never done such a thing before and shame filled my face.

  Somehow I’d have to walk back into that room and face Xavier. He was most likely furious over what I’d done.

  Instead of moving, though, I waited for my rapidly beating heart to still. For the sweat along my brow to cool. What I’d done flashed through my mind again and again, kicking me in my already aching gut.

  You fool, what if you’ve cost him the contract?

  Somehow I washed my hands and forced myself out of the bathroom. I couldn’t set up a new business in the bathroom, that was for damn sure. Time to put on my big-girl breeches and save face.

  I’d prostrate myself on the floor and ask for forgiveness if necessary.

  I marched out of the bathroom, confident that I could do this. The moment I reached the private dining room door, my hand hovered over the sliding door handle.

  Just open the door.

  Yet, I couldn’t imagine facing Xavier right now. I didn’t ha
ve much of a choice, though.

  The door was opened and Xavier stood there, his mouth set in a hard line. Instead of speaking, he grabbed my wrist and led me out of the restaurant.

  Chapter 15

  Xavier

  When we reached the steps up to the entrance, I released Sophie’s arm before I let my growing anger get the best of me. I clenched and unclenched my fists, but I couldn’t shake the rising feeling that everything I’d worked for had gone horribly wrong.

  I finally turned to her, but she wouldn’t look at me. I waited for the Sophie I knew to speak—to explain what the hell happened—but she didn’t.

  Above us, the sky was completely dark and clouds were foreboding with the promise of a thunderstorm. Sophie ignored the sight, her arms clasped to her sides.

  “I deserve an explanation,” I finally said.

  Her mouth opened, then closed. Frustration shot straight lines across her brow.

  I scratched the back of my head and my fingers dug into my scalp to ease the growing tension.

  “Damn it, Sophie, I don’t know what happened back there, but you can’t just leave like that.” I reached for her, but she flinched. “And what did you see—”

  “I feel like a fool,” she interjected.

  I let out a long sigh. I had frustrations of my own and I wanted badly to vent. To tell her she was fired. That she’d never work in the service industry again.

  But I didn’t.

  The growing wind blew her hair toward the west. The tendrils begged me to grasp them. The strong woman who had led me to this point seemed to have crumbled away and all that was left was the real Sophie.

  “This isn’t going to work,” she said softly.

  “Wait a minute. I’m confused.” I gestured toward the restaurant. “We messed up big time, but that doesn’t mean the fight is over.” Sophie might’ve ended my deal for good, but I’d be damned if I let anyone talk about her that way. Deal or not.

  She twisted toward me, a wave of anguish washing over her face. “I don’t mess up like that. Ever,” she snapped. “I was stupid and I made such a dumb mistake when I left.”