In Bounds

by Bronwyn Green

  Chapter Twelve

  Will tried to lay completely still. Why these bloody machines had to make so much noise, he had no idea. It was bad enough he was inside something that felt more like a coffin than a piece of medical equipment, but the noise made him want to run from the building and never look back.

  And he knew right where he was going to run—just as soon as he got the hell out of here and finished with the team meeting. As it was, the trip to London had already taken far longer than he’d planned. The test had to be delayed because of a tour bus accident. Multiple injuries—many severe—had tied up the machines in the imaging department of the local hospitals for several days. Routine scans like his had been postponed.

  His arm twitched as he tried not to think about how much longer he’d have to be in this thing.

  “Mr. Darby.” The nurse spoke into a microphone from behind the glassed-in room inside the examination area, “I’m going to have to ask you to remain still.”

  He sighed. “Sorry.”

  She sounded annoyed. But that was pretty much how every test like this went. Over the last year, he’d had her administer more than a few scans. And it wasn’t like this was the first time today she’d had to ask him to stop wiggling. Maybe it was her age or just her demeanor, but he always felt like a naughty schoolboy getting scolded by the headmistress whenever she had to remind him to stop moving.

  Lying still in one of these things felt like waiting for someone to close the lid on a casket. He took a deep breath, shut his eyes, and tried to think of anything else.

  “Hey, Wills?” Simon’s voice sounded over the speaker.

  “Yeah?”

  “Just a little bit longer. Why don’t you try to check out for a bit and think about who’s waiting to see you after we’re done at the arena?”

  Will made an affirmative-sounding noise, so Simon knew he’d heard him then he tried to picture Ivy.

  In nearly any other situation, he’d be worried about getting a hard-on thinking about her. Especially since he was wearing nothing but a standard hospital issue gown. But this fucking machine and the claustrophobia that was turning his entire body clammy killed even the barest trace of arousal. He wasn’t sure that Ivy naked and writhing against him in this fucking tube would be enough to get him excited. Anywhere else, he’d be hard-pressed not to come at that thought.

  “Just a little longer, Mr. Darby,” the nurse said. “Stay exactly like you are.”

  He ignored her and pictured Ivy’s silvery gray eyes. He’d texted her to let her know that he wouldn’t be back as soon as he’d planned, but that he hadn’t forgotten about actively attempting to seduce her via crossword puzzles. She’d responded, but they’d mostly talked about the kids and seeing the family off at the airport. Her playfully flirtatious, yet tentative, manner seemed to have vanished. He’d wanted to ask her about it, but he hadn’t wanted to say anything that might cause her to leave before he saw her again.

  He just wanted her to give them a chance. The chemistry between them was insane, and he knew he wasn’t the only one thinking about how much different—how much better—it would be now. That had been wildly apparent even before he’d kissed her. Christ, and once he’d kissed her, he’d known that whatever happened between them would be more intense than anything he’d ever experienced.

  The table beneath him jerked as the gears started to move him out of the scanner, and he was pulled back to the present. As soon as he was out of the machine, he sat up and waited for the nurse to come in and go through all the post-test medical legalese.

  She smiled at him as she entered. “I don’t know who you’re planning to see after your scan, but whoever it is must be amazing. That’s the stillest you’ve ever stayed for one of these.”

  He couldn’t stop the smile if he’d wanted to, but he wasn’t about to volunteer Ivy’s name.

  “Well, whoever it is, you should be sure to think of them during every test. They’ll go easier on everyone. Including you.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  She handed him a clipboard, and he signed the medical release form that would allow Simon to receive copies of the scans as well as the radiologist’s notes.

  “You should have the results in a week or so. Now, be careful with that knee. I want to see you on the pitch. Not in the hospital.”

  Yeah. Him, too. The distraction of Ivy had helped him dwell less on the possibility that he wouldn’t be cleared to play again. If that happened, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Football was the only thing he’d ever been good at. “I’ll do my best.”

  She nodded sternly. “See that you do. Now, go on with you. Go see your secret someone.”

  Will grinned and ducked into the changing room to get dressed. He wished he could head back to Ivy, now, but there was still the team meeting tomorrow. The one that had been delayed so he could attend. It would be a complete dick move for him to bail on it for a non-emergency.

  Once he was dressed, Will found Simon leaning against a wall in the hallway.

  “You are staying in town for the meeting, right?”

  “What? You thought I was just going to take off and head back to Ivy, right now?”

  “The possibility had crossed my mind.”

  Will sighed. “Would I like to? Yes. Am I going to? No. I’m going to go to the meeting, then I’ll get the hell out of the city.”

  “Fair enough,” Simon said as they navigated the warren of corridors to the exit. “Got anything going on today?”

  Will got the feeling that his friend would prefer not to be alone. Eric had continued to text and call, asking to see Simon. It had to be wearing on him.

  “I’ve got a little shopping to do and an order to place.”

  “Plying her with crème brûlée, are you?”

  Will shrugged. “Maybe. But I like to think of it as being proactive.”

  Simon shook his head and smiled. “Go do your shopping, and I’ll meet you for dinner?”

  “Yeah. Pub by your place?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Several tube stops later, Will was picking out a few things to surprise Ivy with. As much as he’d love to use a riding crop on her sweetly-rounded bottom, he didn’t think that would be the best way to introduce her to his kinks. Forcing away that image, he paid for his selections and headed to his flat, calling his favorite restaurant on the way.

  Everything was set for tomorrow. Now, he just hoped that Ivy was still at Charlotte’s. She’d said she was, but she’d also kissed him goodbye and lied to his face about it. And he still wasn’t sure why. Had she simply been trying to take the path of least resistance? Had he been pushing too hard? Though, he didn’t think that had been the reason. After all, she’d kissed him first. Or was it simply her fear of Caleb and Charlotte finding out what had gone down at the wedding? At some point, he and Ivy were going to have to have a serious discussion about why she’d seemed so desperate to hide their past from his family.

  That question was still in the forefront of his mind as the train traveled through the countryside the next day. He’d texted her to let her know he was on his way back, but she hadn’t responded. That had been two hours ago.

  Two hours wasn’t a terribly long time. She could be taking a nap. Or a long shower. Or a walk. Or she could be on her way to the airport. Or already in the air.

  And if she was—what then? Admittedly, his first instinct was to follow her, but he shoved that thought aside. It wasn’t like they had a relationship or anything. If she left, it would be because she wanted to. Or she was scared. Either way, stalking her to her home wouldn’t help anything, and it wasn’t a move he’d make. But he’d have to do something.

  As the train pulled up to the station, he stood, clutching the takeaway container, and grabbed his bag. His gut lurched as the engine ground to a halt. He was pretty sure his nervous stomach had a lot more to do with Ivy than the jerky stop.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ivy paced with an armload of clothes b
etween the dresser and her suitcase that was lying open on the kitchen table next to the dryer where the last load of her clothes still tumbled. Panic clogged her throat. Will was on his way back, now. Maybe she should just leave the wet clothes and run as far and fast as she could. But she couldn’t quite make herself go without letting this attraction between them play out.

  A few days ago, she’d convinced herself to stay, but now that she was faced with the reality of him returning and the absence of any kind of buffer like Caleb or Charlotte or the kids, she couldn’t think straight. Hence the wandering back and forth between her bedroom and the suitcase, completely at a loss for where to put her clothes.

  On her third or fourth trip back to the dresser, she heard the sound of a clearing throat behind her. She froze then slowly turned.

  Will stood there with a large takeout box in one hand and a gym bag in the other. Looking better than any man had a right to, he nodded toward the pile of bras and underwear and the lone t-shirt in her arms then raised an eyebrow. “Coming or going?”

  Her arms dropped to her sides, and most of her clothes landed on her feet. She swallowed thickly then murmured, “I...I don’t know.”

  He set his bag down on the table next to her suitcase then walked to the fridge and stowed whatever food he was carrying inside. She watched as he made his way back toward her. He picked up all the clothes that had fallen from her grasp, and holding her gaze, gently removed the few she still clung to. “What do you want to do?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  His eyes softened, and he didn’t look away from her. “Okay, let’s break it down like I’ve seen you do with Pheebs.”

  Confusion furrowed her brow. “What?”

  “When something is too large a concept for her to grasp, you help her by breaking it down into smaller pieces. That’s what we’re going to do.”

  “Oh.” The word came out in an embarrassing little squeak of sound, and her cheeks heated uncomfortably. Unable to maintain eye contact with him without jumping him, she glanced down, only to see her bras and panties clutched in his fingers. The sight of the silky fabric crushed in his large capable hands sent longing thrumming through her body to pool in her groin. Her breath caught, and her gaze jumped back to his.

  “So, first thing first. Let’s not worry about where to put your clothes.” He walked to the couch and set her stuff on a cushion. “Okay?”

  She nodded as he walked back to her.

  “Now that we have your clothes sorted...have I done something to frighten you or make you uncomfortable?”

  She snorted. “Define uncomfortable.”

  He didn’t smile, though, and her stomach flipped nervously.

  “I’m not looking to coerce you into anything. You know that, right?”

  The concern in his expression made it hard to swallow. “I know.” She shoved a slightly trembling hand through her hair and glanced away. There was no way she could admit what she was about to admit if she were looking at him. “But if I’m being honest, there’s a part of me that wants you to coerce me.”

  He swallowed hard, but he didn’t speak. The silence between them grew so heavy she could barely remain upright under the weight of it. Finally, he slid his fingers beneath her chin and raised her face so she was meeting his gaze.

  “And do you want to be coerced because, then, you don’t have to feel entirely responsible for whatever happens between us? Kind of like drunk sex in closet at a wedding?”

  Her entire face flushed. Somehow, he’d managed to put feelings she could barely even acknowledge into words. Words that made her feel more than a little shameful. “Maybe.”

  Shaking his head, he brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “Look, if you want to give up control to me—submit to me—that’s fine.” His gaze heated. “In fact, I would love that. But if you want me, you’re going to have to own it first.”

  It was hard to focus with the roughened pad of his thumb teasing her sensitive skin. Especially, when she had the near out-of-control urge to suck it into her mouth.

  Unable to deny herself a second longer, she moistened her lips, flicking the tip of her tongue across him before drawing the digit between her lips and into her mouth. She sucked hard on it, watching as his eyelids briefly fell shut.

  Just as quickly, they popped open again, and he pinned her with his heated gaze. He withdrew from her mouth and dragged his thumb over her lower lip and chin, then down her neck, leaving a damp trail in his wake.

  “Much as I want your mouth on me, I need to hear the words, love.” He slowly circled the hollow of her throat, his eyes never leaving her face. “And I think you need to hear yourself say them just as much as I do.”

  She knew he was right, but she’d almost rather blame anything that happened between them on getting carried away. Getting carried away with her best friend’s very adult little brother seemed far less grievous than actively consenting to fuck said little brother’s brains out.

  “You’re not wrong,” she said.

  “About?”

  “About it being easier to avoid taking responsibility for wanting you.”

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  His tone was conversational, but the challenge beneath his words was as impossible to miss as the genuine curiosity in his eyes.

  What was she going to do? She knew what she wanted to do, but guilt crept in around the edges, souring her stomach as she remembered Charlotte telling her Will was off limits. Well, she hadn’t used those words, but the message had been pretty clear.

  Will had said he wasn’t looking for forever or a commitment. He just wanted to explore their attraction. Couldn’t they just do that? Once would probably do it. They could both move on, curiosity and arousal sated, and there would be no need for Charlotte to ever find out.

  Ivy cleared her throat and opened her mouth, but despite the decision being made, finding the words was harder than she’d anticipated.

  “Yes?” Will finally asked.

  “I really want you to kiss me again.”

  He stepped forward and slipped his hand behind her nape and drew her forward, crushing her mouth with his, stealing both her breath and her thoughts. He kissed her until all she knew was his taste on her tongue and his strength pressed against her and wrapped around her. His other hand convulsed on her hip, and she groaned into his mouth. Finally, he broke the kiss, lifting his head and leaving her breath ragged and her panties damp.

  She stared at him, unable to form words.

  “Is that all?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “Is that all you wanted?”

  She shook her head and bit her lip.

  “Well?”

  She took a breath and tried to turn away, but he caught her chin and compelled her to look at him.

  “Tell me. Not the floor or the wall. Me.”

  Her eyes closed, but she forced them open. “I want you to fuck me. In all the ways you imagined doing after that first time. I want you to use that leather...thing on me. I can’t remember what it’s called because it’s too hard to think when you’re looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?” His voice was so quiet she had to strain to hear it.

  “I...I don’t know. Like you want to...devour me.”

  “But I do.”

  Her breath stalled in her chest.

  “What else do you want?”

  “I want you to cover my mouth when I come. I want to know if what I remember is true.”

  “I thought you didn’t remember anything,” he chided, his lips twitching.

  She closed her eyes and willed away the ever-present embarrassment. “I remember that I never came harder in my life before. Or since.”

  This time, it was his breath that caught. He put his hands on her hips and walked her backward until she was trapped between him and the wall, his hard cock pressing insistently against her. Her cunt ached, and her hips canted forward, rocking against him.

 
Lifting his hand, he gently wrapped his fingers around her neck, and screaming arousal flooded her at the sensation. Will brushed his lips across hers and whispered, “I’ll give you everything you want. And more.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ivy’s mouth fell open on a gasp, and her nipples pebbled against his chest as Will exerted a bit of pressure on her neck. She clutched at his shoulders, practically turning to liquid in his arms. He delved into her mouth, thoroughly tasting her as she squirmed against him, seemingly desperate to get closer.

  He was just as desperate, but he forced himself to lift his head and release her neck.

  She whimpered at the removal of his hand.

  “We’re not done, love. But we need to sort a few things out first.”

  “What’s to sort?” She looked down. “Other than the fact that we’re both still dressed.” She reached for his waistband and popped the button on his jeans before he caught her hand and pinned it to the wall next to her head.

  “Not so fast.”

  She stared at his fingers wrapped around her wrist, eyes widening.

  “Have you ever been restrained?” he asked.

  She shook her head, her gaze riveted to where he immobilized her.

  Never restrained? His cock jerked against his fly, and he couldn’t stop himself from grinding against her like he was a teenager and they were in a fucking closet again.

  “Spanked?” he managed to choke out.

  “No.”

  Christ. Now, almost more than anything, he wanted to see her rounded arse pinken beneath his hand.

  “Submitted to a lover in any way?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Oh, love,” he breathed. “We’re going to have such fun, you and I.”

  Her pupils were huge, the blackness nearly swallowing the smoky irises, and her was breathing erratic. “You could let me touch you. That would be fun.”