Bound to You (14 page)

My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“Open your shirt, please,” he finally said.

My fingers trembled, yet I managed to begin unbuttoning the dress shirt. From the top, down to the bottom, my skin was exposed to the cool air in the room. By the time I was done, my chest rose and fell in time with my rapid heartbeat. I pulled the shirt open, exposing my breasts to him. The nipples were pert and ready to be sucked. When I looked up, he was staring at me.

“I'd like a bourbon, please,” he said.

“Of course.” I rose from the seat and went to the private bar. Everything had been stocked from hard liquors to martini mixes. Nothing but the best. I selected a personal favorite from the bourbons and poured him a shot with two ice cubes. Once done, I strolled over to him and placed the drink on the table beside him. Instead of looking at his face, I couldn't tear my gaze away from the hand that rested on his leg. His hand was a hairbreadth away from my knee. Close enough to caress me if he saw fit.

He wasn't done ordering me around. “A Cuban, please.”

Another thrill coursed through me. I fetched a cigar from the selection, as well as a cutter and a lighter. I didn't smoke, but I knew how to handle them. I was a quick learner after a client requested a box from overseas. With ease, I cut the end off then I approached him again, putting the cigar in his opened mouth. The way his lips wrapped around the cigar made my mouth water, almost if he drew my breast between his lips.

Using the lighter, I drew a flame over the end as he puffed. When he exhaled, the smell of citrus and wood filled the room.

Damn, he even made smoking a cigar sexy as hell.

“Take off your panties and give them to me.”

I did as he requested.

“Go back to the chair and sit,” he said.

He took a sip of his bourbon before he spoke again. A faint haze from the smoke surrounded him, adding to the delicious smell of his cologne.

“Sit back in the chair and open your legs.”

I hesitated, but did as I was told. What did he want me to do this time?

“Run your fingers down between your breasts…”

My gaze locked with his, I ran my fingertips along my collarbone down to my sternum. Goosebumps formed along the path.

“Down farther,” he whispered, drawing in a single puff of his cigar. “All the way to your cunt.”

When my fingertips brushed against my mound, I sucked in a breath. I'd played this game before, but then I'd been alone. Not like this, in a well-lit room with a man like Xavier Quinn watching my every move.

“Open yourself to me. Show me how wet you are.” His voice was husky now, desire lining his words.

I did as he told me to do. It was easy to imagine it was his hands on me.

“Rub your clit for me. That's it.”

As my pleasure began to grow, I had to close my eyes. One moment I was sitting there watching him watch me, and in the next, I imagined him perched in front of me, one of his hands holding one of my thighs up on the armrest, while another one was between my legs using all his fingers to rub my clit. My lower lip trembled. I kept going. He was right there with me, drawing me in, pulling me to the moment I wanted to reach but never could. A peak that only another man had helped me climb.

“Open your eyes, Sophie,” Xavier bit out.

Through slit eyes, I looked at him. I was so close. I already had two fingers inside of my channel and my pace was frenzied. Almost there.

“Look at me,” he said again, his voice icy. “You came here when I told you to do so, but will you
come
when I command it?”

“Yes,” I murmured.

“Stop.”

I did as I was told, but my sex continued to clench around my hand.

“I like watching your face when you're like this,” he said. “So close. So ready.”

Yes, he did love to watch. He loved to observe. He loved to control. Just like Sato but in a different way.

I trembled against my hand.

“I want to see you come now, Sophie.”

With a flick of my wrist I began again and it only took a few strokes for me to climax. For my whole body to shudder and for my senses to spark like lightning from a bright thunderstorm.

Sated, I let my head fall back against the seat.

“Would you like something to drink?” He was standing above me with a napkin to wipe off my hands.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

After I cleaned off my hands, I found it hard to look at him while he worked at the tiny bar. So I focused on the drink he offered me: an Irish Cream Coffee.

“Good choice,” I said after a sip. “You're a good bartender.”

He leaned down, scooped me up, and sat back down with me in his lap. The gesture was so unexpected I froze in place. The cup hovered near my lips, but I didn't so much as drink while I rested against him.

The moment was too perfect to ruin.

Maybe if I took a drink or if I snuggled further against his chest, he'd stop slowly stroking my legs. If I spoke I might break the spell and he'd stop resting his lips against my forehead.

Instead of moving, I closed my eyes and breathed in his cologne. I couldn't get enough of it.

Time passed. I wasn't sure how long, but the cup I held wasn't warm anymore.

“Sophie,” he finally murmured against my skin.

“Yes?” I whispered.

I waited for his reply, but the words never came. When I couldn't wait any longer, I turned to look at him. “You okay?”

Instead of having a relaxed look on his face, a pensive Xavier Quinn stared back at me. “Tell me more about yourself.”

I swallowed deeply. Didn't a man like him, with every resource imaginable, know all my secrets?

“What do you want to know?”

“The basics. Are you from Boston?”
So he hasn't looked me up…

“Not originally. I was born in NYC.” I relaxed against him and told him about how I grew up with Carlie, Penny, and Griff. Thinking of them made me smile. “We used to get into trouble together all the time. Back when we were maybe eight or nine, we used to cross this lady's backyard to avoid gang members who blocked a corner off One Hundred Forty-fifth Street. Two of the planks in her fence were loose so we'd shifted them just enough to squeeze inside.” I closed my eyes as the memories flooded me. “One day we saw a pie left out to cool on a table. Of course, being a hungry kid, Carlie took the lead and made off with the pie. Her partner-in-thievery, Penny, trailed after her. And, oh man, that pie was so good.”

It was the small memories like these that reminded me of how lucky I was having close friends. “A few days later, we found more food outside. Baloney and cheese sandwiches. Cake on rare occasions. I guess she took pity on a bunch of dirty kids no one wanted.” I swallowed from remembering something I'd buried. “I never learned her name, but one day the fence was fixed and that was the end of our adventures. I guess she'd died.”

I lay against him, happy to have shared something only my closest friends knew. Carlie would probably be mortified to know I shared such a thing. We sat quietly for a while until he spoke.

“I have business to attend to this afternoon. Stay in the room as long as you like.” He stood and placed me back in the seat. “Chris can drive you home when you're ready.”

I opened my mouth to ask him to stay, but the terms of our arrangement flashed before my eyes. We were seeing where this went, but this wasn't permanent. At that moment I realized,
All I do is wait
. Maybe I was waiting for Xavier to say he was going to stay instead of leave. My fists clenched as my heart lurched.

This is for the best, Sophie,
I told myself
. You don't need to get hurt again.

So why did it hurt to see him leave?

The minute I walked out of the Andretti Cigar Club, I regretted leaving so soon, but it had to be done.

Every step I took away from the bar was sure. For the last few days, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Focusing on my work or the contract had become near impossible. All I could do was think about the reasons we should be together.

I had to restrain myself from outright telling her I wanted to be with her.

So I sent her a text to go to the cigar club and now I was walking away without telling her how I really felt.

Frustrated, I ran my fingers through my hair. I'd lied to her for a second time when I told her I had business to attend to. I did—in a way—but I owned my company, for goodness' sake. If I wanted to postpone a meeting for a few hours I could.

But I didn't have the balls to tell her I was falling for her. Over and over again, I told myself this was all about the mission at hand. Secure the contract and go back home.

My phone rang in my pocket. Probably Sophie ready to curse my name. I was surprised to see it was Marcus.

“What's up?” I said after I heard him call my name.

“You're probably gonna be pissed at me, but I'm actually here in Boston.”

“Really?” I stopped short in the middle of the sidewalk, managing to avoid some puddles.

“I'm here with Becca for a few days and I wanted to eat dinner with you tonight. Could you manage to fit us in?” His voice seemed strained. What the hell was going on?

“Of course. I'll have my assistant make the arrangements.” I paused. My brother and I had never had such conversations in the last couple of years. As Mr. Dependable, he never needed anything from me, and I thought it was the same for him.

With a single phone call, Marcus had an uncanny way of making things happen. Need a last-minute distributor for furniture—one showed up in an hour. Need a last-minute caterer? Marcus had that on speed-dial, too.

Maybe that was why my parents chose him to take over the Quinn family business—the management of a chain of luxury resorts in the Southwest. I was the college dropout who didn't even have a finance degree to his name. For the past couple years, as I watched Marcus, with his own growing family, get closer to my parents, I kept telling myself things had turned out for the better. My company's profit margin was much higher. My older brother, whom I still admired, got all the glory.

It was the best for everyone, right?

“How does eight sound for dinner?” I asked.

“That sounds great. We'll see you then.”

Something was up, but I'd have to wait a little while to find out.

I wasn't sure how long I sat in the private room at the cigar club, but it was long enough for me to count the number of whiskey bottles along the wall. When I got to forty, I put on my trench coat and went home.

As I walked into my apartment, I wished Xavier was standing here so I could argue with him. Maybe throw a “Who do you think you are?” or two at him. He couldn't just spend time with me and walk out after all he said about seeing where things went.

We've agreed to see where this takes us
was what he'd said
. Entanglements or not.

As I took off my heels in the living room, I spied Penny reading a magazine at the tiny kitchen table.

“Where's Lana?” I asked.

Penny bit her lower lip and shrugged. “She's in her room and she hasn't come out since she got back from campus. I think it's over with Dr. McDreamy.”

“Why?” He didn't look half bad. Except the hairy back.

“One of her busybody classmates found out about them and told the dean. Lana was called in and I'm sure you can guess what happened after that.”

I groaned. “Poor thing. Maybe I should make her some tea.”

“I already offered her candy, tea, and even an app on my phone where she could beat up a doll that had a picture of the dean's face on it. She just wanted some time alone.”

My phone vibrated in my purse. If it was Xavier, I wasn't interested in doing any work for him.

“Then I'll wait for her to come out,” I replied. “We should order a pizza tonight and watch something classic to brighten our moods.”

“You've Got Mail,”
Penny tossed in.

“I was thinking more along the lines of
Roman Holiday
.”

“Unrequited love. How about
Notting Hill
?”

We could do this for days. My phone rang again. “I have to see who's calling, but after I order the pizza later, we're going to watch
My Fair Lady
.”

“After we watch
Say Anything
…”

Once I reached the privacy of my room, I answered the phone. It wasn't Xavier.

“Sophie-
san,
I hope you don't mind this phone call,” Komiko began in Japanese, “but I felt the need to reach out to you.”

Now this was unexpected. I greeted Komiko, even bowing a bit while holding the phone. “I don't mind at all. How did you find my number?”

“I called your business and a lovely gentleman forwarded me to you.”

Good ol' Jesse.

“I see. What can I do for you?” I asked.

“It's something I'd like to do for you.”

I sat on the edge of my bed. What could I need from her?

“Sato is getting married in a few months.”

A tsunami crushed me, but I didn't miss a beat with a quick reply. “Please congratulate him for me.”

“He is here in Boston, Sophie-
san,
” she said simply.

She was silent for a bit, maybe to let that information sink in. “The way you two parted has not sat well with me. I've spoken to Sato about it and scolded him like a good auntie.” That made me smile a bit. “You were so sweet and had such a kind soul. When he told me not to contact you again two years ago, I suspected you had ended things, but later I learned from him that he was the one who cut off all ties with you.”

Hearing all this sucked the air out of my lungs. I wished she were in front of me right then so I could hug her—even though she wasn't much of the hugging type.

“I think it's time for you and Sato to meet. He needs to do the honorable thing and explain himself to you. I'll contact you soon to make the arrangements.”

When I wrapped up my phone call with Komiko, my heart was still beating so fast, I placed my palm to my chest to feel the rapid thumps. I sucked in a deep breath or two, willing myself to calm down.

Why was I feeling nervous about a man I tried to forget?

Because you need to see him one more time,
I reminded myself.

For closure.

Then my phone bleeped with a new message.

The afternoon went by faster than I'd expected. I sent a request, as well as an apology, to Sophie. She called me back and we spoke briefly. She said she'd make the arrangements for dinner with my brother.

“I expect you to be there, Miss Ashton.”

“Of course.” Her reply was pensive, but she didn't speak any further on the matter.

Not long before Chris took me to pick up Sophie, I got another phone call I'd been waiting for from one of my associates at Silver Sparrow.

“Sorry for the delay, Mr. Quinn. Our branch office manager in Shanghai got back to us on the symbols in the photo you emailed us.”

“And what do they mean?” I asked her.

“It's not a what, Mr. Quinn, it's a who. Sato Haruto is the son of the head of one of the most prominent banking firms in Nagasaki. According to the information I obtained, he went to school at Tokyo University and then did his graduate studies in NYC. After that, he began an internship at a firm in Boston.”

Now she really had my attention. “During what time period?”

The sounds of papers moving. “Two years ago. After that he relocated back to Japan and now he works for his family's company.”

“I see.”

Jealousy circled in my stomach, clinging to me in a way I didn't like. So all this time she wore something from another man. A man who didn't even live in the United States anymore.

“Thank you for your diligent work.” I said my goodbyes and ended the call. Naturally, my head swam with the information I'd acquired.

Were they still together? I shook my head. Sophie wasn't that kind of person, and yet, as I considered what I'd been told on the phone, I couldn't shake the feeling that kept surging. I wanted to storm over to her place and rip those cuffs off her arms.

I picked up my phone, but stopped.

What the hell are you doing, Xav?

You have to be delusional to think you're falling for this woman. You're crossing a line you told yourself you wouldn't.
Even if someone else has branded her as his, you can't have her that way.

I always have a reason for doing what I do. That is my way. So what reason did I have to care about Sato Haruto?

When I couldn't think of a reason not to finish my phone call, I went ahead and dialed the number I needed.

To hell with lines. A barrier never stopped me in the past.

I arrived at Sophie's house a bit before seven thirty. To my delight, she wasn't ready. Catching her off guard was becoming one of the highlights of my day.

Lana answered the door with a grin, pizza in hand. Compared to the other times I'd seen her, she appeared a bit more out of it today. Her Green Day T-shirt swallowed her body.

“I was hoping to see you again,” the redhead said. “I didn't know if you'd left town yet.”

“My business isn't finished. Please call me Xavier.”

“Sure…Xavier.”

“Don't you have another roommate?”

“Oh, she's out on a date, too. Just me by my lonesome. Me and my books,” she said with a disappointed sigh. She extended her piece of pizza. The tip had been bitten off.

“Oh, no thanks. I'm about to eat dinner.”

Then she realized she'd offered me a “used” piece. “I'm so sorry. Why don't you have a seat?”

“I'll go wait for Sophie in her room, if you don't mind.” The box in my coat pocket seemed heavier, but I managed to ignore it.

“Oh, sure.”

On the way to Sophie's room, I noticed the door was open. I knocked and softly called her name.

The look on her face made me suck in my breath. She stood on the other side of the room in a silky, rose-colored robe that went to her mid-thighs. Her brown hair was pinned up, but a few tendrils stuck to her shoulders, the tips of them wet from her shower.

“You're here early,” she said.

“You're running behind” was my reply.

I approached her, my gaze hungry to see what lay underneath that robe. The opening to her robe parted, revealing the perfect curve of one breast. A jolt kicked my stomach as I watched water fall from her hair down between her breasts.

“I dress fast.” She turned away from me, effectively blocking my view. As she promised, she grabbed some clothes from her closet and put on a dress. Panties came next.

While she dressed, I took in her room. The space was small compared to the studio apartment bedroom, but everything had its place, from her tidied desk to all her cosmetics arranged by size on her vanity. A vase full of white flowers I didn't recognize sat next to what had to be her perfume. The scent from the perfume filled my nostrils and made my body ache.

Sophie briefly sat on her bed to open the bedside drawer. Her back was so elegant as she bent over to withdraw her leather cuffs. I sat beside her, but she continued to face away from me. Was she upset about how we parted at the cigar club?

Quickly, she put on her cuffs, closed the drawer, and used a key on her key ring to lock it.

So she had secrets…

I ran my fingers along the soft white petals to the green vines. The plant reminded me of the morning glory flowers my mother liked. “What is this?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Those are moonflowers. They're my favorites. I managed to kidnap them back from Penny's room. That little thief waits for me to leave during the day.”

Moonflowers.

“They're beautiful,” I said.

“Definitely. Their true beauty is revealed at night.”

Just like my Sophie. My thoughts flashed to the garden of night flowers and the way Sophie came undone as I touched her. I wanted to touch her like that again and hear her soft moans, but this wasn't the time.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and pushed those thoughts elsewhere.

I circled her room again, this time stopping when I saw the marks on her white-painted metal bedposts. There were places on the outer bars where the paint had been scraped off to reveal the gray metal underneath.

I ran my fingers along the bedpost. “This is unusual.”

She put on her shoes, not even giving me a side-glance. “It's an old bed.”

Soon enough she picked up her purse to leave. I grabbed her forearm.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“There's something I need to say before we go.”

She paused and I gathered the strength to do something I hadn't in a long time.

“We've only known each other for a short period of time, but I feel like…” I tried to find the right words. “I feel like I've known you for a lot longer.”

“Me too.”

“You're making it harder for me to want to finish this deal…”

She blinked in confusion. “What are you saying?”

“I like you, Sophie. I like you a lot.” I placed my hand in my pocket and pulled out the box.

“What's that?” Her eyes grew wide.