Unwound

by Lorelei James

  if her mouth should never be parted from his. The only place he touched her was on her face and neck with achingly tender caresses as the kiss heated up and cooled down. Finally he broke his lips free and sighed softly into her hair.

  Yeah, she didn’t need to lecture him on the meaning of intimacy.

  Then he untied her hands and pulled her into his arms. “Sleep.”

  And she did.

  • • •

  AMERY woke alone.

  She slipped on her robe and went looking for Ronin. She found a note in the kitchen.

  Handling oversight on Saturday-morning classes. Then working on PT. It’ll be mid-afternoon before I’m done. Groceries will be delivered today—I’ll bring them up. Stick around. Please.

  No signature.

  At loose ends, she brewed a pot of coffee and opened her laptop to check her e-mail. She forwarded a couple things to Molly and clicked on the e-mail from Cherry Starr—the erotica author she’d created a sexy book cover for.

  Amery,

  The book reviews have been awesome so far—fingers crossed sales will reflect that! The cover has been getting serious buzz. Like, serious buzz. I’ve had several author friends ask who designed the cover after they’ve failed to find out more information online about Hard-Edge Designs.

  I know you weren’t sure whether this type of sideline would be worthwhile, so I haven’t given out your contact information. A really selfish part of me wants to keep you all to myself, but I realize that’s unrealistic .

  She laughed and sipped her coffee.

  If you’re interested, let me know—I’ll let you contact them. One of my friends has a sideline giving sex toy parties, but the kicker is, she’s teaching her customers how to make their own toys out of everyday household objects. And yes, this is classier than carving a dildo out of a cucumber. But she’d like a professional brochure done, and I immediately thought of you.

  Last thing . . . I don’t remember if I told you I’d planned a three-books out of these characters, and I’ve already started writing the second book. I’d really love for you to design the next two book covers in this series. I’m envisioning a man in bondage on the next cover—something sexy and edgy like you do so well. No rush. Let me know . . .

  Cherry Starr~

  A man in bondage. That could have some really interesting possibilities. A hot guy, bound up. . . .

  She’d snapped a couple of pictures of a really hot guy yesterday.

  Ronin.

  They’d gotten so involved last night that she hadn’t even looked at the shots. Not that she expected they’d be any good. Ronin was a beautiful subject matter, but she’d been so high on binding him and being in control of his pleasure that she’d more or less taken snapshots.

  Still, she couldn’t wait to see them.

  The door to the practice room was shut. She felt strange even briefly popping in because the space, more so than any other place in the house, was entirely Ronin’s domain. She saw the camera on the floor, grabbed it, and scooted out.

  Back in the kitchen, she found the first picture of the session and clicked on it.

  Holy shit. Her heart skipped a beat when she scrolled through the images. They were fantastic—Ronin couldn’t take a bad picture. The darkness in the background made the light glow on his tawny-colored skin. The flexing of his arm showcased the cut of his biceps and triceps. His well-defined chest was arched, leaving the candle wax hidden in shadow. The stubborn angle to his jaw and the way his head fell back allowed his hair to cascade over his shoulders like black silk.

  Ronin Black was a fucking god. Any one of the images would create a stunning cover. Too bad she’d promised him no one would ever see the pictures but them.

  After she fixed herself toast and eggs, she looked around the cluttered kitchen and living area. Ronin’s housekeeper hadn’t come this week, and it was testament to how out of it he’d been that this mess hadn’t bothered him. The man hated clutter.

  Turning off the snarky voice in her head about nesting in a place that wasn’t hers, she started to tackle cleaning the penthouse since they’d probably be staying in all weekend.

  • • •

  SUNDAY afternoon, as they were lazing in bed after another mind-blowing “lesson” in reestablishing intimacy, which included her being bound to a chair, Amery released a soft sigh.

  Ronin trailed his fingers up and down her spine. “Something on your mind?”

  “This has been a great weekend, just relaxing and hanging out.”

  “You mean locking us in the penthouse so you could make me rest.”

  She peered at him over her shoulder. “Your idea of rest is vastly different from the norm, Master Black.”

  “We spent most of the weekend in bed. That counts as rest.” He smiled unrepentantly.

  “Still, I should probably go home. I have to be in the office early tomorrow—”

  Ronin moved in closer. “Then we’ll go to bed at a decent time so you can be up early. But you’re staying here.”

  She hadn’t expected that vehement response.

  “What’s going on that you have to be there early?”

  “I’ve gotten behind in the last week and need to catch up.” Not entirely untrue. She’d scheduled an early coffee date with Molly to run the Okada deal past her. Amery couldn’t take the job without her only employee’s support. Since Molly was in grad school, Amery needed a better idea on Molly’s future plans. She probably should get Ronin’s input, since he ran a successful business, but for now she wanted to weigh her options outside of her lover’s purview.

  “I realize you’re behind because of me. But I don’t feel guilty enough to let you leave tonight. And that brings up something I wanted to talk to you about anyway.” He rolled on top of her and pinned her down. “I want you to move in with me.”

  Stunned, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

  “This isn’t a temporary thing between us. We were headed that way before I fucked it up.” He rested his forehead to hers. “I love you. I need you in my life. I don’t want to be apart from you for even one night.”

  By the way his body tensed up, she knew that wasn’t easy for him to admit. Even though he had been using the L word at every opportunity. But she couldn’t make this decision in the space of one week. She kept it light. “You sure you wouldn’t rather move in with me? There’s a great organic foods grocery store within walking distance of my cramped hovel.”

  Ronin laughed—like she’d hoped.

  “It’s a big step for us. I’ll think about it, okay? But I need some time before I can answer you.”

  “Okay. In the meantime, I’ll give you another reason to make this permanent.” He pushed up. “I’m cooking dinner. Pulling out all the stops to wow you with my culinary expertise.”

  “You’re making hot wings?” she asked hopefully.

  He sighed. “I’ll make spicy chicken breasts.”

  She smiled. “Close enough. See? I’m willing to compromise on some things.”

  A dangerously possessive look flitted through his eyes. “Understand that when it comes to what I want from you, I’m not willing to compromise. At all.”

  • • •

  AMERY picked up croissants and fruit tarts on the way to her place Monday morning. The coffee had just finished brewing when Molly yelled, “Amery?” from the bottom of the staircase.

  “Come on up.”

  Molly looked professional in a western-cut tweed blazer, a dark brown A-line skirt, and tan riding boots. Something had prompted her employee to care more about her appearance both on and off the job in the past two months. With a flattering new hairstyle, different makeup, and age-appropriate wardrobe updates, she’d transformed herself from geek to chic. Molly had also lost the baby fat in her cheeks, and overall she was much more toned since she’d started taking classes at Black Arts.

  “Hey, woman, what an awesome outfit.”

  Molly blushed. “Thanks.”


  “Seriously. You look great.”

  “I credit kickboxing at the dojo three times a week. Deacon is a mean bastard, but I won’t let him chase me off or convince me I’m too soft.” She checked out the food on the counter. “Wow. Now, here’s a breakfast spread. What’s the occasion?”

  Amery filled two cups and slid one across the counter. “I wanted to—” She glanced up sharply when Molly gasped. “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re firing me, aren’t you? This is a goodbye breakfast.”

  “God, no. Take a breath, okay? This is just breakfast.”

  Molly nodded and wrapped her hands around her coffee cup like it was a lifeline.

  “I needed to talk to you about something before we tackle the Wicksburg Farm project.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I had lunch with Shiori Hirano on Friday.”

  “No wonder you were so distracted.”

  “I wasn’t sure what she wanted. I’d suspected she wanted to clear the air since I’m involved with her brother again.”

  “But?” Molly prompted and reached for a blueberry tart.

  “It ended up being a business meeting.” Amery sipped her coffee. “About the pitch I made to Okada Foods.”

  “Please tell me she asked you to pitch something again?”

  “No need to. Long story short, the multiple major design companies they checked out for the same project we worked on were bypassed in favor of our designs.”

  Molly’s jaw dropped. Luckily she slapped her hand over her mouth before blueberry filling spilled out. She swigged her coffee and blurted, “Omigod. Amery, that’s huge! And this is not one of the times to cut the story short. I need details.”

  So Amery filled her in on everything, and Molly still wore a look of shock.

  “I knew our designs rocked because they were so different, but I kinda worried that might be a detriment.”

  “Evidently not. Here’s where we stand and what Okada offered.” She pulled out the contracts. “Try not to get blueberry stains on them.”

  Molly stuck out her tongue.

  Amery finished three cups of coffee and sorted her laundry while Molly scoured the documents. She’d pulled a notepad out of her purse and jotted down notes.

  “Okay. You can stop pacing now,” she called from the kitchen.

  “What’s the verdict, MBA candidate?”

  “Well, the contracts are specific, and extensive, but they seem fair. I’d definitely have a lawyer look them over and see if any loopholes show up.”

  “So which, if any, option do you think is best?”

  Molly looked taken aback. “Why are you asking me? You’re the owner.”

  “But you’ve got a stake in this too. You worked on the project for free. You haven’t cut your hours back even when I’ve cut your paycheck. You’re very much a team player. I need to know if you want to be on my team and, if so, whether it’s long-term.” She held up her hand when Molly opened her mouth. “Hear me out completely first.

  “You’re in school. This job was supposed to be part-time, no pressure, a way to give you a chance to work with your creative side. Not everyone can get an MBA, and your business classes are just going to get harder in the next two years. I’m not implying that you can’t do both—I just want you to ask yourself if you think it’s worth it.”

  “What? Getting my MBA? Or working here?”

  “Either. Both. If I decide to sign the contract, I can’t do all the work myself. I need help. I’d love for that help to come from you. But then again, this is my business, and I’m not sure if you want to be invested in my vision. I hope you understand I’m saying that with zero malice, Molly. You are a bright, fantastic young woman with a thousand roads open to you. I don’t want you to feel you’ve gotten stuck on this one with me.” Amery stopped to take a breath.

  “Well, if you’re done listing all the reasons I should cut tail and run, maybe you’d like to hear my perspective?” Molly said curtly.

  “By all means.”

  “I applied to graduate school in Denver because I knew if I didn’t, I’d be stuck living at home, working as a number cruncher for my uncle Bob’s insurance business for the rest of my life. So I never had a burning desire to get an MBA as much as I had a burning desire to get the hell out of Norfolk, Nebraska.

  “I spent my whole life goal oriented. My nose stuck in a book. Believing the world I lived in with my family would always be enough. I think I still sort of believed that even after I moved here. But my ideas began to change after I went to work for you. You never made me feel dowdy or like a hick girl in the city. You took the time to teach me, to build up my self-esteem, to show me that yes, maybe someday I could be as cool as you—working in a job I love, having friends to hang out with and not just wacky relatives. I could have a better future than I ever imagined for myself.”

  “Molly, you’re going to make me cry.”

  “Suck it up because I’m not done. So while I’d like to continue taking business classes, if I have the chance to go to work for you full-time, earn a good salary, help you grow and expand your business, then I’ll drop out of school tomorrow.”

  Amery laughed and discreetly wiped her tears. “Okay, then. You’re on board. Before we dissect the contract options, I want to say my goal, while making money and doing work I’m proud of, isn’t to become obsessed with this and work myself to exhaustion or to the point I hate it. Finding balance in life is key.”

  “I never understood what that meant until the last couple of months, when I’ve actually built a life outside of school, books, and bad TV.” Molly smiled. “I don’t know if I can ever thank you enough for chewing me out for my shit attitude.”

  “I just wish I could’ve done it without you being physically assaulted first.”

  “But you wouldn’t have met Ronin.”

  Amery smiled. “There is that.”

  “How are things going with him?”

  “Good. He’s almost back to his normal pushy, bossy, impossibly perfect self.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I know his instructors at the dojo were really concerned about him after you guys broke up. Every time I saw him, he looked like crap. Like he’d been on the receiving end of . . .”

  Her gaze zoomed to Molly. “Of what? Did you know Master Black had started fighting again?”

  “I didn’t know specifics, but all you had to do was look at him to see something was up.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me he was a mess?” Amery demanded.

  Molly gave her a defiant look. “Because you didn’t ask me, Amery. Not once. You knew I went to the dojo, and you never asked me if I’d seen Ronin or how he was doing.”

  “And if I had?”

  “I would’ve told you the truth. He was a wreck. You were a wreck.”

  “I was not,” Amery protested.

  “Puh-lease.” Molly rolled her eyes. “Within hours of your breakup with Ronin, you ran away for an entire week. You spent the next week in your loft eating ice cream and crying while you watched martial arts movies and romantic tragedies.”

  She blushed.

  “You snapped out of it a little in week three. The beginning of week four, you burst into tears when the cover you did for Cherry Starr went live on the book vendor sites, and you were worthless the rest of that week.”

  It’d seemed so surreal looking at that cover and the image of herself. Almost like it’d never happened. Adding in that Ronin hadn’t called her or chased her down had made her believe maybe she had been under some kind of spell.

  “Week six—”

  “Jesus, Molly, how the hell do you remember all this when I don’t?”

  Molly offered her a smug smile. “I wrote it on the calendar. Chaz and I took bets on how long you and Ronin could hold out and stay away from each other. I said six weeks, he said eight. And since I always lose, I had to cheat—” She slapped her hand over her mouth.

  That’s when Amery knew. “You’re the one who
sent the package to Ronin with the peace offering and the note, aren’t you?”