Beneath These Chains

by Meghan March

  It took everything I had to pull back and smooth Elle’s skirt down her legs. She stared up at me, the need in her eyes clear and sexy as hell. But I didn’t bring her here to fuck her in the middle of a swamp. I might not be a classy kind of guy, but she deserved better. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t fuck her in the middle of the swamp eventually, but not this time. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted more time and more space. I ran my palms up her sides and dragged my thumbs over the nipples taunting me beneath her shirt.

  She shivered at the contact, and my dick jumped again. I didn’t think I could get any harder without busting through my jeans.

  “This right here is a rain check. This is happening, Elle. You and me.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but I continued, “We’ll stick with the no expectations and no bullshit, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is happening. We won’t put a label on it if that’s gonna scare you off, but you need to know I’m staking my claim. You’re mine.”

  “I—I didn’t agree to—” She cut off her own words, and I swore I heard her brain kick into overdrive. If she overthought this, I could lose my shot. That wasn’t fucking happening.

  “Elle, stop.”

  Her forehead creased as she met my eyes. “Stop what?”

  “Overthinking this.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. It’s happening. And you’re going to enjoy the hell out of it, and me.” I flicked her nipples again, and her eyes clouded.

  I don’t know what tipped the scales in my favor, and right now, I didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to me was the shape of her mouth as she said, “Okay.”

  After I dropped off Elle, I was too keyed up to head home. It’d taken every ounce of my control to watch her walk up the stairs alone. But this—what we were starting—was worth taking slow.

  I headed to the gym instead. It was late, so I was surprised to see Reggie’s old truck still in the parking lot when I pulled in.

  I let myself in the back door, and was greeted by the quick, rhythmic smack and bounce of someone hitting the speed bag. Reggie’s smooth movements hadn’t lost any impact over the years. He paused and stretched his shoulders, and I crossed the floor toward him.

  “Still looking good, old man.”

  He swung his head around.

  “Hey, Lord. Whatcha doing here so late?”

  “Thought I’d hit a bag for a while. Haven’t gotten a workout in today.”

  “Why don’t you go get changed, and I’ll get in the ring with some mitts so you can get a good one in.”

  “You sure?”

  “I ain’t got anything better to do tonight.”

  I headed for the locker room and changed into shorts. Reggie was waiting for me in the ring, and I ducked between the ropes and bounced on the balls of my feet and stretched.

  I started to punch, and he started to talk.

  “Surprised you ain’t out living it up. You’re here with an old man instead.”

  “I had a date tonight. So don’t worry about my social calendar.”

  “A date,” he said, tilting his right hand for my uppercut. “Thought that was ancient history.”

  I laughed. “It’s sure been awhile since I’ve had a proper one.”

  “And yet you’re not in her bed.”

  I punched harder into the mitts. “It was a first date.”

  “And you’re being a gentleman?”

  “More like trying to make sure she agrees to a second one.”

  Reggie’s chuckle boomed across the quiet gym. “She’s playing hard to get so you’re turning it around on her?”

  We circled as I continued to bounce and strike. “Just trying to do it right.”

  “She must be a special girl.”

  “She is.”

  “Then you better bring her ’round so I can get a look at her sometime. I gave Con’s girl my stamp of approval on the first day. Gotta make sure yours is a keeper too.”

  Reggie’s concern warmed me more than the sweat I was breaking. Con may be the only biological family I had, but the one we’d built was a helluva lot better than the one we’d started with.

  “I’ll do that.”

  I kept punching and circling until my shoulders and arms were too tired to move. I’d be sore tomorrow, but at least tonight I’d be out when my head hit the pillow.

  And yet, I still dreamt of Elle.

  Anticipation. That was the feeling buzzing through every muscle of my body. After I’d agreed to Lord’s proposition, I couldn’t stop my mind from going to all the places it had already gone, but in more detail. Anyone who said that women didn’t think about sex was full of shit. After our date, I’d gotten a little hands-on and given myself the release that had been burning low in my belly since he’d touched me. If you forced me to admit it, I’d probably tell you that Lord’s name echoed off the walls of my bedroom when I came. When he’d picked me up for work the next morning, I’d felt like what I’d done the night before was stamped on my forehead. Instead of a scarlet letter, I had an invisible tattoo that said: I scream your name when I masturbate. Knowing Lord, he’d probably be totally cool with that. Didn’t mean I was going to offer up the information.

  Work had been business as usual … for the most part. Except now, instead of holing up in the office, Lord hung out up front with me. I think there might have been twenty minutes out of the entire day when he wasn’t touching me or close enough for me to feel his presence.

  With anyone else, I would’ve felt claustrophobic, but with Lord, I could barely curtail the urge to rub up against him like a cat in heat. What was I saying? I took every opportunity to do just that. I “squeezed” by him to clean the top of the glass case for the fifth time today.

  “Woman,” he growled. “You rub that tight little ass of yours up against my dick again, and I’m going to bend you over, flip that sexy skirt up, and take you right here.”

  I turned on my sassy smile. “You like it … don’t deny it.”

  His hands landed on my hips, and he dragged me back against him. The ridge of his cock pressed against the seam of my ass.

  Cue another shiver.

  “You’re teasing the fuck out of me, and making it impossible for me to think. I gotta run some numbers in the back just to get my dick to calm the hell down so I don’t scar my customers for life.”

  “More like give them a hell of a show…” I said.

  His breath hit my neck before his teeth dragged down the tendon.

  This man was lethal.

  He turned me in his arms, his eyes dropping to my chest. Luckily, today I was wearing a bra that was lined, or otherwise I would’ve been the one providing a show.

  “I need you in my bed, Elle. Ain’t fucking around any more. I need to be inside you.”

  I bit my lip to hold in the moan. What I didn’t hold in was the whispered, “Okay.”

  Lord released me and stepped back. “Good. Now get back to work. I gotta do some shit in the back. You need me, just holler.” He walked away, leaving me all hot and bothered and frustrated. I watched him. Well, I watched how his worn jeans perfectly cupped his ass. He looked over his shoulder and caught me staring. His wink was just as sexy as the rest of him. I winked right back.

  The next couple of hours passed quickly—one customer after another buying stuff that I’d raised the prices on. A pair of diamond studs, an enameled locket, and a pair of sterling cufflinks engraved with a lion’s head. The last customer had just walked out, and I’d hauled out my coffee filters and homemade glass cleaner to wipe the fronts and tops of the cases down again. People just couldn’t keep their fingerprints to themselves.

  I was bent over, scrubbing at a particularly stubborn smudge when a hand landed on my ass and squeezed.

  A frisson of arousal skipped through me, and I backed up into the wide grip.

  “Fuck. That ass.”

  The voice? It wasn’t Lord’s.

  I shot up to a standing position an
d spun around.

  Rix.

  “Umm… That—That didn’t happen. Rewind. So sorry.” The words tumbled out in an awkward babble.

  “You just made my day, sweet thing. Don’t fucking apologize.”

  The endearment sounded so wrong coming from anyone but Lord. That was what he called me. No one else.

  I slipped around the edge of the case, putting some much needed distance between us before I snapped, “Don’t call me that. And don’t get any ideas. I thought—”

  “I know exactly what you thought, sweet thing. Don’t mean I’m gonna forget how fucking lush that ass felt in my hand. Ever.” His smug smile faded fast. “You let too many men put their hands on you, though. Don’t fucking like that one bit.”

  What the hell is he talking about?

  “I don’t—”

  “Did you let Jiminy put his hands on you or not? Because as much as it pisses me the fuck off, that has to really fucking piss off your man. If he really is your man.”

  “He’s—”

  “He’s right here, and can speak for himself,” Lord said. The low growl would’ve had a sane person running—but it didn’t work with Rix. “I took care of that shit with Jiminy. You don’t need to be worrying about Elle. She’s got all the man she can handle. In fact, I’d prefer you forget she fucking exists.” Lord’s body pressed up against mine, and I leaned into him.

  Rix’s smile turned even smugger, and I couldn’t figure out why. Lord had just laid down the law, and I was good with the law he’d laid down. I didn’t want another repeat of the bottle incident. Fuck. The bottle. My eyes darted to Rix, and he smiled at me. I could’ve sworn the man was reading my mind.

  “You need some more Dom, baby, you just yell. I’ve got you covered. You already know I’ll deliver it right to your door. Anything else you need, too.” Lord’s hand clamped down on me as Rix gave both of us—or maybe just me—a chin jerk and headed for the door.

  The chime was still ringing when I turned around—not of my own volition—and faced Lord.

  “What the hell was he talking about? Delivered to your door? Is there something you forgot to share?”

  Lord’s eyebrows were drawn together, his blue eyes hard. He looked pissed.

  I swallowed. “Well … umm…”

  “Spit it out, sweet thing—before I lose my patience and jump to my own conclusions.”

  “He knows where I live.”

  Lord’s expression darkened further. “And you know this how?”

  “Because, like he said … Rix—or someone from his crew—left a bottle of champagne against my gate. You know, the one that leads up to my stairs.”

  The muscle in his jaw ticked. “I’m getting that. And you didn’t think this was worth mentioning? That he knows where you live and clearly hasn’t lost interest?”

  “It was Sunday—when you came and picked me up. I didn’t want to call you and ask you to come back and rescue me again. I’m a big girl. I’ve got it covered. I can handle myself.”

  “She can handle it herself,” was all he said before those angry blue eyes locked on mine again. “You think you can handle Rix yourself? Really, Elle?” My name cracked like a whip from his lips, and I decided I never wanted to hear him say it like that again.

  “I just—”

  “You listen to me, Elle, and you listen close,” Lord started, before cupping my jaw. “This is not shit you try to handle by yourself. And if Rix ever pulls another stunt like that—and there’s a good chance that he might—I better be the first call you make. Immediately. Not three minutes later, and sure as shit not three days later. I can’t keep you safe unless I know what’s going on.”

  “It’s not your job to keep me safe.”

  “I beg to fucking differ. You stepped into my world, and your safety absolutely became my job.” His thumb skimmed my cheek and his voice gentled. “Are you going to cooperate, or am I going to have to help you get there?”

  I didn’t know if it was the fact that he was touching me, or the low, husky tone of his voice, or the fact that he wanted to take care of me, but something inside me screamed no, I don’t need you to help me get there, because I’m already putting myself in your hands. Which is why I whispered, “I’m there.”

  The muscle in Lord’s jaw relaxed further. “Good. Then you won’t argue when I tell you that we’re stopping at your place to get your shit, and you’re coming home with me.”

  He was right; for once, I wasn’t going to argue.

  I should’ve felt jumpy with the still-not-totally-unpissed waves rolling off Lord as we pulled away from Chains, but something about it actually energized me. He was this worked up over me because of his concern for my safety. I’d had disinterest, annoyance, and downright disapproval from people in the recent past, but it had been a long, long time since I’d seen genuine concern. It was … different. And the warmth that bloomed inside me didn’t stop in the vicinity of my chest—it carried all the way through to other parts of me.

  I chanced a glance at Lord as he navigated us through the streets of NOLA in the big, bad Hemi ’Cuda. God, I loved this car. It made me wish I hadn’t laid down the law for myself that I’d never drive again. I could only imagine feeling the power beneath my hands as I gripped the steering wheel. I shoved the thought away—because it was just getting me even more worked up. I wasn’t sure what Lord’s plans were for the night, but mine were swiftly shaping up to be as naughty as I could possibly make them. The man beside me was solid, strong, and undeniably sexy. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I’d been envious of Vanessa when she’d started things up with Con. But now I was riding beside the older—and to my mind, hotter—version of him. I glanced out the window and up toward the sky. Thank you, whoever is up there, I said silently. I promise I’m not going to waste this opportunity. Because I knew—even if Lord wasn’t ready to admit it—whatever might happen between us was sure to be temporary in nature. I was too jaded to consider long-term commitment.

  “You bring stuff just for tonight?” Lord’s deep voice carried over the low rumble of the car.

  I wasn’t sure where he was going with his question, so I jokingly asked, “Why, are you expecting me to move in with you?”

  His eyes left the road for a second to flick to me. “Come again?”

  “Just wondering what you’re getting at with your question.”

  “I’m seeing what we’re working with here.” He turned a corner and slowed in front of a house built on stilts with a set of freshly painted white stairs leading to a covered front porch. It was bright blue with white shutters and was neat and clean. New, post-Katrina, was my guess.

  “This is your place?”

  Lord pulled up the two gravel tracks alongside the house.

  Guess that answers my question.

  “Yeah. All mine.”

  “It’s cute.”

  I wasn’t sure what I expected from him in response, but the crooked smile I got and the quick, “Thanks,” worked just fine.

  Lord put the car in park and climbed out. I gathered up my purse and bag and grabbed my door handle, but he was already pulling it open from the outside and reaching in to take my stuff.

  Okay, then.

  I followed him up the stairs and waited while he unlocked the double deadbolts. Apparently this wasn’t the safest neighborhood either. But looking around, I wasn’t surprised. It still wasn’t fully revived following the hurricane. There were a few houses in varying states of decay, a few new ones, and a decent multi-family unit across the street. Lord’s was, by far, the nicest. Sort of the opposite real estate tactic I’d always heard—buy the crappiest house in the nicest neighborhood … but something told me that Lord wasn’t worried about resale value.

  I quickly catalogued again what I knew about him—he’d been booted from foster care early on, ended up in the military, and had moved back to town after he’d been honorably discharged. His life had been constantly in flux, and this place could possibly be his first real ho
me.

  “Here you go—tour takes about sixty seconds because it ain’t big. Two bedrooms, a bath and a half, living room, kitchen, laundry, and storage.”

  The house was clearly a bachelor pad. A wide, gray couch and a black coffee table sat with a darker gray rug beneath them. A flat screen TV was mounted to the wall across from it, above a black entertainment unit.

  The floors were a paler shade of laminate wood, and from what I could see, the rest of the living area was sparsely furnished. A small table and four chairs sat in the tiny breakfast nook just off the kitchen. A narrow hallway ran toward the back of the house, and I counted three doors. Probably the two bedrooms and the bathroom. A few bar stools were pulled up to a black and silver swirled countertop.

  Lord dropped my bags on the end of the couch. “You wan—” His question cut off mid-word, and I knew he’d been about to offer me a drink.

  “I’m good,” I said, replying without elaborating.

  “Water?”

  “Is this really what we’re doing here, Lord?” I asked, short-circuiting the conversation.

  His blue eyes locked on me, and for a moment we just stared at each other.

  “What do you think we’re doing here?”

  “I think we both know how this is gonna go down. And I’m perfectly fine with that.”

  There she went again, charging after things before I’d decided how I was going to play the situation. No one could say that Elle was timid or unsure. She was bold and in-your-face. I guess it was lucky I wasn’t the kind of man who had a problem with that. No—it just turned me on even more. Shit, there wasn’t anything about her that turned me off.

  “You in some kind of hurry?” I asked.

  “No, just want to make sure we’re on the same page with how tonight is going to go.”

  She wanted to lay it out? We’d lay it out.

  “I didn’t bring you home just to fuck you, Elle.”

  Her perfect red lips dropped open and her eyes widened. “But I thought—”

  “That me taking care of you means that we’re fucking? Not necessarily.” Her forehead wrinkled in confusion, and it fit with my thoughts from a few days ago about keeping her off balance. Shit, I’d been off balance since she’d walked into my life and thrown my world into chaos.