Bound (Bound Hearts #1) (9 page)

My body couldn’t control the shaking, jerking that came over me. I’ve never felt like this. No one’s ever taken me like this. Like he knew exactly what to do with my body
. What it craved. What it so desperately needed. He knew how far I could take the pain/pleasure of his invasion. It
was
both pain and pleasure I was feeling. I wanted it to end, but I begged him not to stop.

“Yes, that’s it
, Adelaide. Lemme give you another and I’ll let you rest.”

He took a few more slow strokes
, then grabbing my ass, he started moving faster. Hissing my appreciation I wanted him to keep taking me even though I was ready to fall apart.

“Yeah
, baby. Gimme that sweet pussy. Suck my dick inside you. Feel me take you over and over, until you don’t know where I start and you end. Take my dick, Adelaide. Your pussy looks so pretty with my dick sliding inside it. Your juice is coating me in liquid velvet, babe. ”

He was pounding my pussy with fast, hard strokes. Slapping my rear on his upper thighs, that slick wet noise was the only thing I could hear over the panting of ours breaths. There was sweat coming down his brow, and over the hard muscles of his chest and abs. I knew I was feeling the perspiration beading at the lining of my hair, making my bangs stick to my forehead and my boobs were bouncing with every rock of his body into mine.

“Come with me, Adelaide. One more, baby. Show me what you got. Spill those sweet juices all over my dick.”

His hands were squeezing my hips so hard, I knew I’d have bruises
, but I didn’t care. One hand moved to my clit and he moved his finger just as fast as he was pumping into me, and I was holding my breath, waiting for it to splash over me. Those dirty sexy words were my undoing.

“Breathe. In and out
, Adelaide. Let it go.”

And I did. I was screaming out his name, then mewling as he hit my g-spot a few more times
, before I felt myself coming again. He had shoved all the way to the base, and held himself rigid. Looking at his face, his teeth were clenched tight, his nose was flaring in and out, and his eyes had glazed over in rapture.

I was completely done. My eyes were feeling heavy with all the exertion of our passionate love making. He was still inside me
. He lifted himself back on the bed, scooted us up until we were at the head frame. He pulled himself out of my wet warmth and he placed a hand over my entrance, pushing his release back inside.

I felt my body jerk as his fingers entered my pliant body. “Courtland
, I don’t-

“Breathe. I’m not doing anything. Just placing it back where it belongs.”

What? My mind was fogging over and I wasn’t aware of anything else. Just blissful fulfillment.

‡

I felt myself wake up, as I felt deep breathing on my chest. What? Looking down, Courtland’s body was wrapped around mine. His head on my breast, his leg and thigh over my legs. I felt his penis at my hip. It was half-erect, but I knew what I needed to do.

I needed to get out of
here.
Like now
. This was supposed to be just sex. How could I have fallen asleep like that?

Oh
, yeah. He fucked my body into submission and exhaustion. Deliciously fucked, but I didn’t want to make this into more than what it was. I didn’t want him thinking I wanted more either. I couldn’t do more. Last night had been the most pleasurable night of my life though. I never slept at a guy’s house. Or the guy at mine. I didn’t really do relationships much. I often found an excuse to leave. Besides, what if I had a nightmare? That would make me freak the hell out.

I looked at his nightstand, noticed it was after two-thirty in the morning
, and I slid out of the bed. Courtland’s body shifted easily into the middle of the bed, the covers at his hips, giving me a great view of his back ink. A colorful dragon expanded the flesh and I felt myself whisper my fingers across it. His back shifted, I jerked my hand back, and he settled back into a deep even sleep.

I felt the wet stickiness from earlier
, between my thighs. Walking made my body feel deliciously sore and my inner muscles flexed with new arousal. Nope, not going there. I didn’t really wanna be naked as I walked through his house, so I swiped his shirt and shoved my body into it. I moved as quietly as I could from his open bedroom door and down the stairs. I found my clothes, and looked around, he must’ve came and shut everything off while I was asleep.

I hurriedly put my panties and jeans on, knowing he would probably wake up if I stayed gone too long. I grabbed my things and walked to the back door. I exited as quietly as I could and ran quietly to my car. Putting my car in neutral it slowly coasted down the drive
, and when I was far enough, I started it and started driving. Just as I turned from the driveway, I looked back in my rear view mirror and saw his silhouette in the open front door. The light making his body dark and in shadow.

I wasn’t staying the night. I couldn’t. I never stayed the night. I definitely couldn’t stay the night with Courtland. What happened between us
, couldn’t happen again. I was too exposed. He made me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt and that would lead to me opening myself up to him. I couldn’t tell him what happened. It was my burden to bear. My shame. I didn’t want that touching him. Sex? I could do. Anything else? I just couldn’t. Which made me such a fucking hypocrite because of my career.

With shame and guilt, I made my way back to the hotel. Away from Courtland. Before I did something colossally stupid. Like falling in love with him.

Courtland

I knew when she was gone too long, she was leaving. I wiped a hand down my face with exasperation. She had gotten out of the bed quietly and shuffled around the room. I was too tired to think anything of it
, but when she didn’t come back after about five minutes, I got up and looked at the clock, it was after half past two. She hadn’t told me about the author convention she was attending, and that was fine. I would show up unannounced and surprise her. I stood up and pulled up my jeans zipping but keeping them unbuttoned. I wasn’t going to run after her. I knew she was staying at a hotel in The Woodlands, and would take her about forty-five minutes to get there and up to her suite.

I strolled down the steps, and turned on the light in the front entrance
, before opening the door and stepping out. I walked the distance to the front steps, bracing my hands on the porch beams. I stared after her headlights, until I couldn’t see them anymore.

Stubborn ass woman. Shaking my head, I walked back in and locked up. I headed to the kitchen and reached over the cabinets to bring down
the blended Scotch whisky I kept for frustrating times.

Frustrating times alright. Damn, I hadn’t had nearly enough of her. It had been a long ass time for her, I felt the tight grip of her squeezing my dick so tight. Like a vise sucking me in.

I knew I pushed her past her breaking point, but I couldn’t stop myself. She looked abso-fucking-lutely beautiful coming undone underneath me.

It made me curious as to why she didn’t want me tasting her
, but maybe she didn’t like that. Which would suck beyond reason, because I wanted to taste her so badly. I could still smell the scent of her arousal as I was getting closer to licking her sweet spot. When she pulled me away, I wanted to refuse, but I didn’t want to ruin the progress we made. Damn. I hadn’t been prepared to take her without a condom. Hell. I didn’t even think tonight would progress any further than maybe a movie. I never thought she’d be as needy and wanton as she was. Tasting her lips the night before made me want more of her.

When she was too exhausted after taking her over that third time, she slipped into sleep. I couldn’t help myself and just looked at her. Watched her chest rise and fall with sleep.

Not much had changed. She was still the sweetest girl I ever known. She had piercings and ink on her back and when she had rested her hands on her belly I saw the ‘Never Forget; on one wrist and ‘Always Forgive’ on the other. Besides the hoops in her nipples and a simple green jewel in her belly button, she didn’t wear jewelry. Her hair was silky and smooth as it was fanned out on my pillow. Her body was still flushed from our love making, and she looked so…fragile. The urge to show her the letter she sent me was in the fore front of my mind. How could she contradict it so much?

Did she honestly think I’d let her just fuck me and run?

I threw back the rest of the glass and filled it one more time, but I made it a double this time. I let the warm liquid slide down my throat. Settling, I rinsed the glass and put away the bottle. I didn’t necessarily drink hard liquor, I was more of a beer guy, but I didn’t keep beer in the house.

One thing I learned growing up, was to not drink. I grew up in the poor part of Houston, in a rundown shack with my mother. I didn’t know who my birth father was. My mother was a prostitute for this big underground pimp named Roth. He probably was my father
, but he never claimed me as his. I honestly didn’t care then, as I didn’t care now. All I could remember was getting the shit beat out of me if mother came home and didn’t bring enough money with her. He said he never wanted to fuck with the merchandise unless he had too. Ever since I could remember, I always got whipped, beat, or got a burn from the big cigar he always seemed to be smoking. I was an easy target until I got big enough to fight back. I was one of those guys who always got in trouble in school. I made sure to make good enough grades so when the time was right, I could get myself outta that shit hole and be on my own.

I was about sixteen when she came
home one time and one of the johns she did, followed her home. I remember hearing him howl about not getting what he paid for. None of her johns ever followed her here, only Roth, and usually it was to collect money. He paid for us to live here and even though I knew he hated me, I guess a part of him didn’t want me running and telling the cops, or he had a heart underneath that ice in his chest.

I would go with the reason
one. Until the night I left. I was almost seventeen when Roth said it was way passed time I pulled my weight. He wasn’t going to let mother be a buffer for me anymore. At the time, I didn’t know what he meant by that. I still hadn’t realized until she died, and the letter she had written, was left with one of the girls she hung with back then. She came and told me the news. At first, I was disgusted. I didn’t want nothing to do with her, or that life. When I left, it took me a few months to get emancipated. Mom was sent to jail for a year and Roth the pimp, disappeared.

I didn’t have anywhere to go and when I looked in the ads
, I was amazed there was a mechanic opening. I took auto shop in school and I didn’t know much, but it was enough that Joe took me under his wing and taught me more than enough. I’ve never been more grateful to someone than I was with him. I had been a bitter teenager, but I had held back a lot so I wouldn’t get fired. He helped me out too much actually. I didn’t have a driver’s license, and when I caved and told him I needed to find a cheap place to stay, he mentioned small efficiency houses in one of the more rundown parts of Granville. I remember, on my lunch break I had told him about going over there and he said just eat and finish the work in the bay for the day. He knew the land owner and said I could go pick up the key after work. I was suspicious at first, because I didn’t have much money to make any type of deposit, but Joe just said small towns are different. That ‘this town is where if you shake a man’s hand and give him your word, you were good, trust me son, you’ll do just fine here. Just remember that. You don’t get too many first impressions. Be true to your word, always keep your promises, and do the best you could to be honorable. I have a good feeling about you, Courtland’.

I never forgot those words and since coming here I knew I needed to be a man instead of a kid. I almost didn’t want to care about what he said because hell, I didn’t know him, and where I was from a man’s word was shit and the only promise I ever knew
, was the promise of cruel and torturous retaliation.

The efficiency
house I rented was small and cheap. Even though I wished for more, that was my reality. Small kitchen, small sitting area, bedroom and the bathroom held just a sink, toilet, and shower unit. Which was fine, it wasn’t like I was a bath taker.

I had met Chet Jr when he brought in his rust bucket at the shop. I didn’t really want a friend
, but JR didn’t let up. He had a gentle and calm personality and he never gave up, especially on lost causes. Once he believed in something so strongly, it would take something very drastic for him to change his mind. I tried convincing him that I was really a lost cause, but he made me come to his house to play his X-Box and I really hadn’t wanted to go home. I didn’t have much food and his mom gave me food for at least two days by the time I went home. First meal I had that didn’t come out of a box.

When he told me about his little cousin
, who seemed to be living in isolation because of the strictness in her house, I didn’t really much pay any mind. He always talked about her. He felt she was like a sister to him. He thought something bad was going on, even for what his uncle was, but he always told me Adelaide always came to him if there was a problem. He believed she would lay the burdens of her problems on his shoulders like she did when she was a little girl. Being a pastor’s daughter couldn’t be easy. She never rebelled, and never fought back. JR wouldn’t stop talking about her and how perfectly sweet, gentle and kind she was. I didn’t wanna know about the bad shit, since I didn’t want nothing to do with a sweet innocent girl. Although, knowing I would never be good enough for a girl like that, I still wished shit could be different for her. I wasn’t a guy a girl took home to meet momma and daddy.

I didn’t form relationships with anyone outside of Joe and JR. Until I actually met her. It took three years of avoidance but JR tricked me. He had come home from U of H for
the weekend, and told me his mom was making him his favorite meal and I was expected over. Again, I wouldn’t turn down good food and a left over plate, so I went. JR and I were playing a video game in the living room when the sweetest voice carried over into the living room.

“Aunt Maggie, I don’t know. I never met his friend before. What if he doesn’t like me?”

That made me curious. No girl ever said that before. I always just had sex and left them satisfied in their beds. They never asked me to stay and I’m sure I was just a conquest for them. But this teenage girl was nervous meeting me. For some reason that pleased me. When Maggie brought her in to see us, I hadn’t been expecting a girl to look like that. She was really short to my six foot plus frame. Maybe five-two, five-three at the max, she had chestnut brown hair that fell to the middle of her back, wavy and over one shoulder. She had curves too. The dress she was wearing was white with a blue ribbon at her waist, where the skirt flared out and stopped at her knees. She had a matching sweater thingie and she looked like an angel. Until I got caught up in her eyes. Those beautiful cerulean eyes were looking at me with fascination, but trepidation too.

“Hi.” She lifted her hand
, and waved shyly at me. I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was so beautiful. Young, but beautiful. I had stood up and went to stand in front of her. I took off my ball cap quickly in respect, and I lifted my hand so she could shake mine. No girl has ever shook my hand before. I didn’t have to wait long, and she thrust her hand in mine. I swear to everything that was holy, there was electricity in her touch. I felt sparks igniting in my hand and wide eyes let me know she felt it, too. I knew it couldn’t go any further, she was a baby compared to me. At dinner though, after saying grace, her face became solemn and down cast, but she didn’t let it show for long. When she saw me looking at her and our eyes met-it was like seeing deep into someone’s soul. I felt the sadness and pain in their depths, but she had closed her eyes on me, shutting me out, then breathed deep before placing (what I learned later), to be a practiced smile and started talking to Maggie.

After that first encounter,
JR got her to tag along sometimes. Our friendship grew and she became one of my best friends. I loved seeing her innocence even though it was shrouded by her pain. I didn’t ask questions though. I was a chicken shit for not doing so, but at the time, I didn’t know if I could handle it. Or if I wanted to handle it. Then.

Now, I know I could handle
it. Whatever weight she was carrying, but that wasn’t up to me.

I didn’t worry about her leaving tonight though. I know she felt the burning intensity between us. Even if it had been only a short time since she’s been here.

I pushed her just enough to be desperate for more. She thought she’d fuck me, and I wouldn’t find her until she decides to grace me with her presence again? Ha. Silly woman had no clue that I knew where she was staying, and where the book convention was being held. I told her I was in the Marines. She just hadn’t figured out I would find a way, whether or not she liked it.

Looking at the stove tops digital clock, it had been enough time for her to get to the hotel she was staying at. I pulled out my phone, swiped it open and opened up the messaging app.

Me: Hope you got back to your hotel safely babe. Next time, don’t be such a scaredy cat and say bye.

And just because I couldn’t resist-

Me: Or else.

Adelaide: Or else what? And yes I did, ty.

Manners. That girl might get sassy as hell
, but she had manners ingrained since birth. One of the things I love about her.

Shit. Loved? No way. I am not in love with Adelaide. Was I?

Sighing, the only thing that popped in my head was that letter. I could say it word for word what it said, without looking at it.

Courtland,

Because of you, I now have a record. You are nothing
, but a good for nothing loser who has no future. My future will be brighter and better without you in it. Do not come near me. Do not talk to me, or try and call me. I want absolutely nothing to do with you. Don’t contact me. You aren’t worth my time. Stay away from me. I hate that you got me in so much trouble. I hate you. How could I ever want you when there is someone so much better? If you thought I could ever fall for you, you thought wrong. You’re nothing.

Addy

Yeah. That’ll put it in perspective. Even though her actions tonight
, made me think that something must’ve happened for her to write those cruel words.

I had planned coming back to Granville when I had finished boot camp. I wanted to see Joe, JR and Adelaide. Knowing I fell in love with her and hadn’t told her
, was eating me up inside. I wanted her to know what happened and why I had to leave like I did. I had given up my phone when I left for North Carolina, I had Joe give it to Adelaide. I had to get a new phone anyway. One with a NC area code, so Addy could call or text me when she could. So I ended up writing them and the one I had written to Adelaide I had put my feelings in there. I wanted to wait until I saw her before I told her I loved her. Obviously, that shit never happened. Just when I had been leaving, my commanding officer gave me my mail. It was a letter from Adelaide. Just that first line, I was pissed. Hurt, too. My heart turned to stone right then. I knew better to let a woman get to me.