Bound For Me (21 page)

Connor couldn’t stand it any more. He wanted more of her. The nightly quickies were nothing but an appetizer and only serving to increase his hunger. He was ready for the full banquet. The only way to sate their need, was to overload. Indulge in their own little orgy.

He fantasised about chaining her to his bed for three days. That would do it.

“I feel like being the boss now,” he stepped in front of her as she made her way to the ballroom.

“You
are
the boss. Do you want my help with the flowers, or not?” She pushed past him, a glorious bouquet weighing her down.

He didn’t give a damn about the flowers or the wedding or anyone else. Which he knew wasn’t right, but he was going with it. He followed her to the ballroom. She marched ahead to place the decoration as the centrepiece of one of the forty linen clad round tables.

“Savannah suggested we change the bridal table’s arrangement for a slightly smaller bouquet, I think it looks good, don’t you?” Gwyn walked up beside him, her face flushed despite the fact they’d turned the thermostat right down to keep the flowers fresh for tomorrow.

Of course it looked good. Everything Savannah did was the best. She had high standards and wouldn’t settle for doing anything less. And right now he was so grateful to her, he
would
chain her to his bed for three days and show his appreciation the best way possible.

Except now that she’d perfected that final display, she’d grabbed her coat and was walking towards the door on the other side of the room.

“Savannah,” he jogged after her. “Where are you going?”

“I have my shift at St Clair’s.” She read his expression and laughed. “What’s that look for?”

“You’ve been working here
all
day.”

“Only half the day. And anyway, so have you. It seems you never stop working.” She pointed out. “There’s nothing wrong with having a good work ethic.” She smiled up at him.

Was that approval? Something shifted in his chest. But then he frowned. Because there was work ethic and there was work crazy and Savannah’s work saw her on her feet for hours. It was full on. “You work too hard.”

“So do you.” She shrugged. “See you later. I’m looking forward to my ride.”

“Savannah.” He pulled her close and pressed his mouth to hers. A slow, sweet kiss. The kind they never usually had time for. “Thank you.”

He looked down at her startled expression. At the softness of her mouth. Felt the way she’d naturally leant into him. It felt good. Complete.

Slow
.
 

And
that
was it—what they’d been missing. He was taking all the time he needed tonight.

“This isn’t the way to my apartment?” Savannah frowned as Connor drove away from the restaurant at the end of her shift. “Where are we going?”

Apprehension sliced through her heat. She didn’t want a break in their routine. She was wet and ready, her body on edge.

Just a couple more nights
.
 

That was what she’d said to herself every night these past ten days. But spending that time with him this morning? Watching him in action all master and commander of his domain? He’d sorted stressed staff with just a few words. They all looked to him for reassurance. No wonder he had that ‘honor bound to help you’ thing going, it was how the town treated him.
 

Now he laced his fingers through hers and placed her hand under his on the steering wheel. “There’s something you need to see.”

“What?”
 

He just smiled.
 

“Why?”

“Because you deserve it. You helped it happen. You should get to enjoy it too.”

Her jaw dropped as he drove up the winding road towards the Lodge. Lit up at night like this, it was magnificent.

“That isn’t it, by the way. That’s just normal.” He lifted her hand and pressed a quick kiss to the back of it. “We’ll go round the back.”

Normal magnificence, huh?

“Is your florist feeling better?” she asked as he parked at the back entrance of the building. The porter was ready to get into the car and garage it for him.

He grimaced. “She’s still pretty low, but no one else has come down with anything, so Austin thinks it was something she ate before she got here, not a bug. Thank goodness. Now follow me. And tiptoe.”

“Why tiptoe?”

“For the ambience.”

She smiled in the darkness. He was in a playful mood. It was unusual. And attractive.

Leading out from the ballroom, was an outdoor skating rink. And it was gloriously lit up.

“When did you
do
this?” She leaned against the railing. It was the spectacular. So, so pretty.

“You like it?”

“Don’t sound so smug,” she mock-punched his arm. “It’s not like you’ve spent the last five hours stringing up ten thousand pink fairy lights. You had your minions do it.”

“How can you be so unromantic? What woman wouldn’t like these fairy lights?” he teased.
 

“Turn them off.”

“What?”

“Turn them off. Turn off
all
the lights.”

He flicked the switch, plunging the rink into darkness.

She tilted her head back as she rested on the balustrade. “Those are the real fairy lights.”

He followed her gaze, to the stars above.

“Millions and millions,” she whispered.

“You
are
a romantic.”

She didn’t answer. But she heard his light laugh. And she didn’t resist when he placed his hands on her shoulders. Turned her. Kissed her.

She closed her eyes, still seeing stars. Melted.

“This is your seduction scene?” she asked, trying to pull on her smartass persona when he lifted his head. “You woo many of your guests? Treat them to some personal pampering? Your special kind of massage?”

“Never, actually.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Yes you do.” He nudged her. “You know I work hard.”

“And don’t take time to smell the roses?”

“Not often.”

“So it’s all about making money? Can you walk away from it? You ever leave the mountain?”

“Sure, but not for long.”

She didn’t understand it. How could he be so nice, yet so damn materialistic?
 

“You skate?” he asked.

“No.”

“And you don’t ski. Not that much of a risk-taker are you?”

On the contrary, she’d taken a huge risk with him.

“What are you doing?” She yelped as he swung her into his arms.

“You don’t trust me yet, do you?”

“You’re Connor Hughes,” she answered with a teasing smile. “I’m never going to trust you. What are you doing?”

He laughed.
“I’m taking you to my room.”

“Only if you turn off your phone.”

“Already done.”

“Really?” She laughed. “Impressive.”

“Not going to be the only impressive thing tonight.”

“Confident.”

“Last time I carried you up these stairs you were unconscious. I’ve been dreaming of carrying you up them again ever since.”

“But with me awake this time.”

“Awake and willing this time.” He agreed. “And this time I get to be the boss.”

“That wasn’t our agreement.”

“We’re renegotiating.” He placed her against the door, leaning against her as he punched in his security code.

“You’re using underhand tactics,” she kissed him as she murmured.

“Under skirt, actually.”

“Pull my panties away.”
 

“No. No skin. No wet. No cock. ’Til you agree.” His fingers circled, teasing, arousing, through the silk of her panties.

She licked her lips. “I can come anyway.”

“I know.” He smiled. “But it won’t be enough.”

He let her go and opened the door. Lifting her back into his arms and striding through to his bedroom.
 

“A bed. Savannah.” He placed her on it. “Who’d have thought?”

She lay back, looking up at him.

He braced an arm either side of her, bending to talk quickly, intensely. So serious.
“I want you here a
ll
night. I want you naked. Giving me everything. Letting me do anything. Doing everything to me. Giving. Taking. I want the whole fucking lot.”

So hot.

“I don’t think I can do that,” Savannah whispered.

“Yes you can,” he said. “You can for me.”

“Because you’re Connor Hughes, king of the mountain?”

“Because I’m the one guy who you can relax and let your guard with. I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t want you to take care of me.”

“Only in this,” he rolled his eyes. “Let me tend to those needs, Sugar.”
 

Silent, she gazed up at him.

“Why are you holding back?” he asked. “I don’t want you to hold back. You’re holding back more now than that first night in the car. You were so free then.” He angled his head. Slowly slid one of her boots off. “I know you don’t want to ‘need’ any one. Or need any help. I know you’re mad that it was me who helped you that night.” He carefully removed her other boot and placed it on the floor.
“But now you’re all wham, bam and get-me-out-of-here. What is it you’re scared of?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why do you restrict what we do to ten minutes in the car? You’re holding out on both of us. Why?”

She swallowed, tormented by his touches. By her own crazy inhibitions.

“Talk to me. I thought you were one of the few people I’ve met unafraid to say what they really think. Or are you all show, Savannah?”

She’d fallen silent. Because he’d nailed her.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” he said. “You’re scared. Not of me?”

She shook her head.

“Then of yourself.”

Wow. He was too smart for his own good.
 

“I don’t want to like it too much,” she mumbled.

His eyebrows shot up. “We’re
supposed
to like it too much. That’s the whole point.”

“I don’t want to want it more than anything.”

“I already
do
want it more than anything.”

“Liar,” she called him on it. “You wouldn’t walk away from your job. Your mountain. You wouldn’t change your life, not for this.”

His hands stilled and his eyes widened. “Would you?”

“No. Because I keep it in it’s place.” With wham and bam and ultimate efficiency. “I don’t want to get addicted,” she whispered with pure honesty. “I don’t want to throw everything else by the wayside because I’ve gotten too caught up in some one. Or some thing.”

Like her father had gotten addicted to his gambling. Like her mother had given up everything when she’d found her new younger lover.

They’d both lost sight of her, their daughter.

“So you’re saying no?” He paused, his fingers lifting from the sensual trail up her leg. He knew there was no way she was saying no.
 

Savannah closed her eyes a second to summon strength. “All right. Sex in a bed. Taking turns as boss. Seven nights.”

“Seven nights?”

“It’s my notice period. For Luca. It’s my notice period for you too.”

“You’re leaving Summerhill?”

“Yes.”
She’d come, she’d seen. It was time to leave.

“Seven nights,” he echoed again.

Savannah held her breath, bracing for his reaction.

He smiled. A wicked, pleased smile.

Savannah smiled back, masking that needle of disappointment. She should have left the morning after she’d first screwed him. Should have known nothing good would come of something that had felt so fantastic.

“But it is not all going to be high-speed Savannah.” He lowered his mouth to hers. “We’re working our way up to slow.”

Chapter Fifteen

When Savannah woke he wasn’t curled tightly around her like he had been most of the night. She rolled onto her back and stretched her hand out, feeling the cool expanse of sheet.

He’d been gone a while then.

It hadn’t been the twenty-times in twelve hours extravaganza she’d expected. They’d had sex only a couple times. Moderate-to-fast because she’d taken the lead, pulling sexual positions the way she threw bottles of spirits—with flair and daring. Focusing on her body, and on his, was the only way she could think to keep a grip on herself.

And he’d let her. He’d laughed and let her and she just knew he had plans for the remaining six nights.

But even with her theatrics, it had been so searingly intense she’d had to close her eyes, stopping the starlight from filtering through the window and stabbing her in the heart.