Bound (Dark Horse #1)

by J. S. Scott

  He deposited my ass on the counter of the bar, then fumbled like a teenager with the fly of his jeans. “I’m going to hate myself for this, but I can’t wait.”

  Dressed in a vintage full skirt, I shimmied it up my legs and slipped off my panties, letting them drop to the floor.

  Kane slid me to the edge of the counter roughly, and in one swift stroke, impaled me with his cock, making me cry out in ecstasy when he was balls deep inside me.

  The lights were turned down, so I wasn’t particularly worried about someone seeing us. Even with all the lights on, it was difficult to see much inside the diner because of the blinds on the windows.

  I moaned, “Oh, God, Kane. Please.” I needed to feel him, touch him, convince myself this was really happening after months of misery. My hands fisted in his hair as he pulled back and impaled me again.

  “Jesus, baby. You were so fucking ready for me,” he groaned.

  I was beyond ready, and as he gripped my ass to hold me steady on the counter, my legs gripped tighter around his waist. “Tell me this is real,” I panted as he started pummeling inside me with a heart-stopping intensity.

  “It’s real. I know how you feel. It feels like forever since I’ve been inside you.”

  “I love you,” I told him breathlessly.

  He reached between our bodies and fingered my clit, the friction nearly setting me off. “I. Love. You,” he said gruffly, stroking an index finger over the bundle of nerves, aided by the slickness between my thighs.

  My body responded to the desperation we were both experiencing, and I relished every pounding thrust of his cock as my body began to tremble with my impending climax.

  I moved my hands and braced them on the countertop, leaning back as my orgasm started to rock my body.

  “Kane,” I screamed, letting my climax take me, knowing he needed to come just as badly as I did.

  “Fuck. Yeah.” He pounded harder, deeper, never letting up as he groaned his satisfaction as my spasming sheath milked him of his own release.

  We stayed locked in that same position as we both savored the post-orgasmic bliss of the short but intense joining.

  Finally, I had to drop my legs, and Kane put himself together before lifting me gently down from the counter.

  I picked up my panties and stuffed them into my pocket, knowing I wasn’t going to wear them after they hit the floor.

  My body was limp and sated as Kane held me close, his strength surrounding me, keeping me on my feet.

  “You’re going to end up knocked up if we don’t start being more careful.” He sounded more eager than afraid.

  I swallowed hard and buried my face against his chest. “I’m already there,” I admitted nervously.

  “What?” Kane shouted loud enough to be heard from the street.

  “I’m pregnant.” I took his hand and put it over the slight swell of my belly. “Four months.”

  “Fuck! And I wasn’t here for you,” Kane said in a shaky baritone that exuded so much remorse and pain.

  I had been scared when I’d found out, but after I’d gotten used to the idea, I’d pulled my head out of my ass for my child. Our child. “You’re here now,” I reminded him. Everything that had come before this moment didn’t much matter anymore.

  I pulled back to look at his face. “Do you mind?”

  He grinned. “Kind of late to be asking that question. I would have hounded you until you married me.”

  That was exactly why I hadn’t wanted him to know. I didn’t want him to care about me just because I was having his child.

  Then he did something so out of character for Kane that it had tears of surprise and happiness coursing through my body in a matter of seconds.

  Kane got on his knees, buried his face in my skirt, and pressed his head against my stomach. “I swear I’ll never leave either one of you alone again,” he said, making it sound like a vow to both me and our unborn child.

  I don’t know how long he stayed there, but it was a profound moment of joy that I knew I’d never forget.

  Kane had made a promise, and I had no doubt in my mind that he’d make good on every word.

  I ran my fingers through his hair, trying to comfort him while I cried because I was certain this was a new beginning for the both of us.

  On a wintery night, Kane had entered my life and showed me what it was like to love someone with all my heart.

  His actions were trying to tell me he’d never take that love for granted again.

  When he finally rose, he kissed me with a tenderness that told me everything was going to be okay.

  “Let’s go home,” he said gently when he had lifted his mouth from mine.

  I went and gathered up my purse, then locked up and followed him to his vehicle. I never asked where we were going. I didn’t care. Because I was with him, I felt like I was already home.

  EPILOGUE

  Gavin

  A few days later…

  I stood beside two gravestones, watching the poignant interaction between Anna and Kane. Yet despite being at a funeral, I was pretty damn content since it was obvious that Kane was madly in love with Anna, and it was about damn time he found some happiness.

  There was only a handful of guests. Kane’s two brothers had flown in from Seattle, and I assumed the few others present were family friends of Anna’s. It was a sad day, but this was exactly what Anna needed to finally find closure after her parents’ death, so she could move on to be happy and start a family with Kane.

  I was so fucking excited for them, and couldn’t wait to see whether they ended up with a miniature version of Kane or Anna—or maybe the perfect mix of the two of them. Not that Kane cared whether they had a boy or a girl, as long as Anna and the baby were healthy. He already worried like a mother hen about the both of them, and I had no doubt that they’d be his main focus for the near future.

  Not that it mattered. I was already working on a new project, and Kane’s expertise wouldn’t be needed until much later. And in the meantime, Anna would be coming back to Seattle with us, and selling her diner here.

  Though she enjoyed cooking at the diner, her real passion was still her avalanche research, and she wanted to continue with that, knowing how many lives could be saved. They’d be spending some of the winter in Colorado, and then, when closer to home, she could do some work in the Cascades.

  Not that Kane was terribly happy about it after what had happened to Anna and her parents. Yet he understood her desire to get back to her main career, though I had no doubt he’d be tagging along every time Anna went into the mountains, just to make sure she stayed safe.

  Kane’s bachelor days were over, and truth be told, I was looking forward to skipping nights out at bars and clubs, even if most of our evenings out were nothing more than a way to blow off steam when the pressures of work were making both of us crazy.

  Personally, I’d be happy to just stay home and focus on my projects. I’d never been much into picking up women, and other than the occasional drink, I didn’t party. Besides, my horse-sized, troublemaking pup needed to be taught some manners, and that was taking up every spare moment I had these days.

  I looked over at Kane, wondering just how full his hands would be once their baby was here. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to have a newborn, though maybe someday…a family would be nice. Except that I still had far too many demons haunting me, and love definitely wasn’t in the cards for me.

  Yet, for Kane? This couldn’t be any more perfect, and it was good to see him starting a whole new chapter in his life.

  Not that it eased my guilt any.

  That night in prison…what I did to Kane…I didn’t think it’d ever stop weighing on my soul, though I could breathe a little easier now that Kane was finally happy.

  That night still affected me—in more ways than I cared
to admit. Dating? Sex? It was still a struggle to fight off the horrifying flashbacks of what I’d done to Kane in prison. I knew he’d forgiven me, and we were close—the best of friends. But I’d never forgiven myself for it, even though I’d been under the influence of all those drugs, and I hadn’t really been able to separate right from wrong. The incident still haunted me, and I wasn’t certain I could ever let it go.

  Though maybe…maybe now that Kane was happy…I might finally be able to move on, too.

  Fuck! I hoped so.

  I knew Kane hadn’t told anyone about it—except maybe Anna now. But she didn’t treat me with disdain, or look at me like I was depraved. In fact, she seemed to care about me because I was Kane’s partner and friend. I liked that. She’d obviously never blamed me.

  I just wish I could be as forgiving of myself. Maybe then I could find a way to get on with my life and leave the past behind.

  I escaped from my own thoughts the moment I realized that the short service was wrapping up, and Kane and Anna were leading the way out of the cemetery. I followed behind Kane’s brothers, watching as my best friend and the woman he loved wandered back to where we’d parked our vehicles.

  I was glad Anna had gotten closure. Maybe she’d never quite get over the incident, just like I’d never get over what I’d done to Kane. But I was hopeful that she’d finally be able to move on with her life now. With a baby coming, and so much to live for now that she had Kane, I was fairly certain the pain and memories would fade for her.

  For a brief moment, I mourned the fact that I just wasn’t the type of guy to ever fall in love as hard as Kane had. My past still haunted me, and it was a hell of a lot easier to lose myself in my programming and code, allowing me an escape from my reality. And it was that complete immersion that made me so damn good at hacking and cyber security.

  As for meeting someone and finding the sort of happiness Kane had with Anna, I’d yet to meet a woman who could pull me away from my computer for more than a night.

  I shrugged off the sense of loneliness that had me momentarily rethinking my isolation when Anna left Kane’s side and came to hug me, thanking me for coming.

  It felt awkward for a moment, but then I hugged her back, letting myself enjoy the brief embrace of a female who cared about me like I was a close friend.

  “Thank you, Anna,” I whispered in a voice rough with emotion as I held her tightly before letting her go.

  “For what?”

  “For making my best friend so happy. For getting to know Kane and loving him enough to give him a second chance.” What else could I say? It was the truth.

  “Someday you’ll find your own happiness, too, Gavin. And maybe even fall in love,” she told me with a small smile.

  I found that extremely doubtful, but I smiled back at her anyway. “See you back in Seattle. I think you’ll like calling it home.”

  “I have no doubt.” Anna waved goodbye as she made her way back to Kane. I was pretty sure she’d enjoy living in Antarctica if she and Kane would end up together. The two of them looked just that happy.

  I shook my head as I got into my vehicle alone, wondering what it would be like to have a woman care that much about me. Not that I’d ever know, despite Anna’s words.

  Few women would put up with the hours I worked, and those who were willing to take on a computer geek like me, wouldn’t be hooking up with me because they truly cared.

  It’d be all about the money.

  A wife and kids had never been in my future because of my past, and that fact would never change. I wasn’t marriage material. Never had been; never would be.

  As I drove back to the airport, I consoled myself with the fact that at least I had Thor for company, since it looked like Kane was going to be going on a very long honeymoon.

  By the time I boarded my private jet at the airport, I’d shaken off my thoughtful mood and my emotions. All I needed was to get back to my computers, and back home to Seattle, where I belonged.

  ~*~The End~*~

  Forced

  Book One in The Blackthorn Brothers Series

  Copyright © 2016 by Cali MacKay

  Published by Daeron Publishing

  http://calimackay.com

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher or author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. The story contained within is the work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual person’s living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This story contains explicit sexual scenes and adult language and is only for readers over the age of 18.

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Printing, 2016, edition 1.0

  ISBN: 9781940041438

  For Faith. For always squeezing me in, and putting up with my inability to make a schedule. A million thanks!

  For more information or to join a mailing list for updates, please visit http://calimackay.com.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1 Ash

  CHAPTER 2 Wren

  CHAPTER 3 Ash

  CHAPTER 4 Wren

  CHAPTER 5 Ash

  CHAPTER 6 Wren

  CHAPTER 7 Ash

  CHAPTER 8 Wren

  CHAPTER 9 Ash

  CHAPTER 10 Wren

  CHAPTER 11 Ash

  CHAPTER 12 Wren

  CHAPTER 13 Ash

  CHAPTER 14 Wren

  CHAPTER 15 Ash

  CHAPTER 16 Wren

  CHAPTER 17 Ash

  CHAPTER 18 Wren

  CHAPTER 19 Ash

  CHAPTER 20 Wren

  CHAPTER 21 Ash

  CHAPTER 22 Wren

  CHAPTER 23 Ash

  CHAPTER 24 Wren

  CHAPTER 25 Ash

  CHAPTER 26 Wren

  CHAPTER 27 Ash

  CHAPTER 28 Wren

  CHAPTER 29 Ash

  CHAPTER 30 Wren

  CHAPTER 31 Ash

  CHAPTER 32 Wren

  CHAPTER 33 Ash

  CHAPTER 34 Wren

  CHAPTER 35 Ash

  CHAPTER 36 Wren

  CHAPTER 37 Ash

  CHAPTER 38 Wren

  CHAPTER 1

  Ash

  My father was dead.

  Murdered.

  And I was about to make a deal with the devil to keep my family safe and get the revenge my father deserved.

  I mulled over the terms I was about to agree to, and not for the first time these past few months, I decided that I must be not only insane, but a masochist. I’d be permanently linking myself to Patrick Turner, one of the most dangerous criminals on the West Coast—and even worse, I’d be marrying his crazy daughter.

  The mere thought of her made my heart feel like it was being wrenched out of my chest and twisted into a knot, even as my cock went hard for her. Because Wren? Fuck…Wren was a goddamned mess, is what she was.

  And yet she was also the only woman I’d ever loved.

  But there was more to it than just that, because I knew to an extent, I was probably the one responsible for sending her off the rails. My only excuse was that we’d both been so young, and things had been getting far too serious, far too fast. I’d been in my early twenties, and she was the only daughter of a downright scary fucking man. Add in the fact that even back then she was a crazy handful, and was it really any wonder why I’d walked away from her before things got far too serious?

  Yet here I was, with my life coming full circle. Fucking fate.

  “If I marry Wren, you’ll take care of whoever was behind the attack on my father? And you’ll make sure that all the parties involved pay for his death, so tha
t my family will finally be safe?” It was the whole reason why I was doing any of this—to guarantee the safety of the rest of my family.

  They’d attacked my father, landing him in the hospital, and then set his house on fire, nearly killing my pregnant sister-in-law, and then finished the job they’d started, by murdering my father just as he regained his health.

  I refused to lose anyone else.

  But there was more…

  I wanted revenge for my dad’s murder.

  “I’ll do all I can to guarantee your family’s safety, and make sure the men who killed your father are punished for their crime.” Turner took a long sip of his bourbon, his once muscular and vital form now weak and cancer-ridden. “As for your end of the bargain…Wren won’t be happy to see you, I’m afraid. But you can tell her that she won’t be receiving her inheritance, her trust fund, or her monthly allowance if she doesn’t marry you—immediately. She may hate you now, but you were the only person to ever make her happy, so I’m counting on you finding a way to make that happen again. And it goes without saying that it’ll fall on your shoulders to keep her safe once I’m gone. Am I making myself clear?”

  Every fiber of my being told me this was a huge mistake; that I should get up and walk out that door, and never give any of this another thought. And yet, I couldn’t risk losing anyone else I loved, the ache in my heart from my father’s recent death still like a gaping hole in my very soul, in my very existence.

  My family and I were close—always had been, despite there being six of us, all brothers. Losing anyone else just wasn’t an option, and as the oldest, it felt like it was my responsibility to step up to the plate—even if it meant making a deal with the devil. Because my poor mother…she’d been devastated to lose my father, but if she lost any of her children after the loss of her husband, I feared she’d die of heartache.

  “Don’t worry. I understand the terms—as long as you take care of your end of the bargain.” I tossed back what remained of my whiskey, savoring the burn as it slid smoothly down my throat, knowing I’d need every bit of fortification for what I was about to do.