Bound By His Desire

by Nicole Flockton

  ‘You should be in bed.’

  Pam popped her head up over the top of the couch, shocked Nick knew where she was lying. Not wanting to let him think she’d been waiting for him, she told a little while lie.

  ‘You woke me when you swore.’

  Nick switched on the lamp sitting on the table by her head, causing her to blink rapidly at the sudden light shining in her eyes.

  ‘A little warning would’ve been nice,’ she huffed out, waiting to see what Nick was doing, when he lifted her legs and sat down at the end of the couch. He rested her legs on top of his and started to massage her left foot. The action was extremely intimate and, after what she’d thrown at him in the office, the temptation to yank her foot away from his massaging fingers was strong. But the pressure he was placing on her tense nerve endings was hypnotising. A soft moan escaped from between her lips when he deepened his touch.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ His apology, so tenderly spoken, threw her. Was he apologising for waking her, or did he think her moan of pleasure was a moan of pain?

  ‘For what.’

  ‘Tonight. Today. For being an insensitive jerk.’

  ‘I won’t argue with that.’

  His chuckle shuddered through her from where his fingers were on her foot to the top of her chest. Looking at him, she could see the sincerity shining in the depth of his chocolate-coloured eyes.

  ‘I’m sorry too.’

  He switched his ministrations to her other foot. ‘I don’t think you have anything to be sorry for. You were totally right. I have been sending you mixed messages and that’s not fair. Not fair at all.’

  It would be so easy to let him take all the blame but she knew, deep down, her snapping at him had been due to the issues with her house.

  ‘No, it’s not fair, but I was being overly sensitive. I wasn’t having the best day either.’

  His hands continued their gentle massage from the sole of her foot to her ankle, before slowly slipping beneath the loose pants she’d changed in to, to her calf. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ he offered.

  Again it would be so easy to ask for his help. To see if there was a way he could look into getting the caveat lifted from her property. But, according to her realtor, the only way to get it lifted would be by paying the outstanding amount to the company that had placed the caveat over the property.

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘A problem shared is a problem halved. Or so I’ve heard.’

  ‘I’ve heard that too, but really, this is something I need to handle myself.’

  ‘Well, the offer stands.’ He pulled his hand away from her calf and made the move to get up off the couch. She didn’t want him to go. She wanted him to continue his massage, over her whole body, not just her feet and legs.

  The chance to express her need for him to stay dwindled with each step he took away from her.

  ‘Don’t go,’ she whispered. He kept walking. He hadn’t heard her. This was her chance to go after something she really wanted. And she wanted Nick. She thrust aside the blanket and got off the couch. ‘Nick!’

  He stopped where he was, in the middle of the hallway. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I need you.’

  Three simple words, but with so much meaning and depth to them.

  ‘Why?’

  She didn’t want think about the consequences of them being together again, and his question required her to think. Her answer was going to be based purely on the emotions running through her now.

  ‘Because we both need this. We both need to forget.’

  Pam held her breath as Nick walked towards her. When he got close he reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand, warming the skin under his fingers immediately.

  ‘It will only be a bandaid. The problems will still be there tomorrow.’

  ‘I know, but I know we both need this. I don’t know what’s going to come tomorrow or the day after or the day after that. But what I do know is that I want to explore whatever is happening between us. Because there is something, Nick, and I know you feel it too.’

  As he closed his eyes, Pam thought he was going to take his hand away and turn on his heel, leaving her standing in the hallway to deal with her embarrassment of, for once, speaking her mind and asking for something she really wanted.

  Then he opened his eyes and the desire flared strong and true in their brown depths. ‘I don’t want to feel this,’ he muttered. ‘It goes against everything I believe in, but I can’t deny it either. I’ve tried all day to forget about what we shared on the weekend and it was impossible.’

  He finished by sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her to his room. Elation sparkled through her at the thought Nick felt what she felt. That he reciprocated the desire that had enveloped her from their first touch at Jasmine’s wedding.

  He shouldered through the door and then let her slide down his body until her feet touched his floor.

  ‘I can’t promise anything long-term, Pam. I don’t do long-term.’

  She placed her fingers over his mouth. ‘I’m not expecting anything, Nick. I’ve got so much going on with my life that I can’t promise long-term now either. Let’s just take each day and whatever happens, happens. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.’

  She replaced her fingers with his lips and pushed his jacket off his shoulders. His hands were once again at the hem of her sweater, only this time he lifted it up and off her. His hands swept up and cupped her breasts. She moaned against his lips. This was what she’d been craving all day. To feel his hands on her, taking her places only he could.

  Their clothes were quickly disposed of and Nick pushed her gently so she fell onto the bed.

  ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,’ he muttered against her belly, before trailing his lips to the heat between her legs. Pam lost all conscious thought and succumbed to the sensations of pure bliss coursing through her bloodstream as he delved his tongue through her slick folds. Her hands gripped his hair, pressing him closer so that he could deepen the contact. As his tongue stroked in and out, her hands lost their grip on his hair and fell uselessly to her sides. In a matter of minutes, she was shattering against him in a wild orgasm. With her body still trembling, he kissed his way back up, giving each of her breasts special attention.

  Each time they’d made love, Nick worshipped her body. Made her feel like she was a queen. She wanted to do something for him. When feeling returned to her arms, she raised them to his shoulders and pushed until he was lying on his back.

  ‘My turn,’ she said as she straddled the lower part of his body, his erection nudging against her belly.

  ‘Really?’ A slow, wicked grin broke out over his face. ‘What do you plan on doing?’

  Pam leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips. ‘Wait and see.’

  She swept one hand down his chest until she came in contact with his hard cock. The skin was smooth and warm. Seeing as she liked it when Nick stroked her, she moved her hand slowly up and down his length, all the while watching to see if he she was doing the right thing. When she smoothed her hand across the tip of his erection a half grimace, half smile contorted his features. She stopped, wondering if she’d hurt him.

  His eyelids lifted slightly. ‘Why did you stop?’

  ‘I thought I was hurting you.’

  Nick’s hand came up and rested against the one still wrapped around him. ‘Don’t stop.’ He then encouraged her hand to start stroking again. With his hand over hers he guided her, showing her what he liked. Soon she had a rhythm going and his hand moved from holding hers to caressing her breast, teasing her nipple. Sensations were building inside of her again and she knew she wanted to have Nick filling her once again.

  As if reading her mind, he grabbed a foil packet and handed it to her. ‘Put it on, please.’

  She opened the packet and gently rolled the latex over his hard length. When she was done, he lifted her until her pussy was resting on his tip. With a gentle push down from him, and a lifting of his
hips, he entered her.

  Pam sighed in pleasure at having Nick fill her completely. She didn’t move. She just enjoyed the sensation of them fitting together so perfectly. Then instinct took over and she slowly, carefully rode his length.

  A moan escaped her. Being on top created a new set of feelings and desires she’d not felt the previous times they were together. She liked being in control. Liked being able to move swiftly and then slowly, torturing them both.

  Her orgasm was building, the muscles in her belly were clenching with each upward thrust from Nick’s hips. Flinging her head back, she left herself be carried away on the wave of her orgasm. So lost in the emotions swirling around her like a warm summer breeze, she wasn’t aware of being flipped over by Nick until the soft sheets met her back.

  Nick drove into her, sustaining her orgasm, until with one long thrust he groaned her name as he came inside her. Her heart was beating so rapidly she was sure it was going to burst out of her chest.

  How was she ever going to be able to walk away from Nick? She may have sounded all brave telling him she only wanted the here and now with him, but with Nick lying on top of her, their bodies still tightly joined together as one, as if she was made for him and he for her, Pam knew right then she wanted more than a quick fling. She was falling for Nick and could imagine a future together with him. How was she going to convince Nick that he wanted a future with her?

  A feathery touch trickled down Pam’s spine. She arched her back into it. Wanting more than a light touch. Lips replaced the fingers and she moaned in delight.

  ‘Good morning,’ Nick murmured against her skin, as he kissed his way up to her neck. Pushing her hair aside, he nipped at it before leaning over to gently suck her earlobe. His heat encompassed her, making her feel cherished and safe.

  ‘I could get used to wake up calls like this.’

  Immediately she said the words she wished them back. Even though in her mind she was ready to take their relationship further, she knew Nick wasn’t. The stiffening of his body and then the coolness brushing her skin as he moved away confirmed she’d said the entirely wrong thing. But how to salvage the situation without making a fool out of herself? How to make light of the words she’d spoken in carelessness?

  ‘I’m going to take a shower.’ The words were fired at her as Nick thrust back the covers and got out of bed. As he stalked towards the bathroom, Pam admired the clean lines of his back and his taut butt, all the while mentally kicking herself.

  With the closing of the door she rolled over and grabbed a pillow, hugging it close to her. It was still warm and Nick’s scent wafted up to her. She had to fix this somehow. Had to make him understand she knew the ground rules, even though she was breaking them. He didn’t have to know what she was feeling. As the sound of rushing water reached out to her, an idea formed in her mind. Dumping the pillow on the bed, she got up and made her way to the bathroom. She’d read in many books that shower sex was pretty awesome; she was going to find out if it was true, or just pretty words.

  Quietly, she opened the bathroom door. Steam greeted her but she could see Nick, in all his naked glory, standing under the stream of water. His face lifted into the spray as his hands slicked back his hair. Her body loosened in desire. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the stall. She opened it before she thought too much more about it and chickened out. She plastered herself against Nick’s body, wrapping her arms around him. In seconds, her hair flattened against her scalp from the cascade of warm water.

  ‘Pam?’

  ‘You were expecting someone else?’

  ‘No, just surprised.’ He turned in her arms so they were chest-to-chest, hip-to-hip. There was no denying Nick didn’t mind her crashing his shower. The evidence of his happiness was nudging at her belly.

  ‘Good surprise or bad surprise?’ She ran her hands down his back until she cupped the butt she had been admiring not so long ago, squeezing the firm flesh. He felt so good, and right at this moment he was all hers.

  Pam lifted her head and looked into his eyes. They were dark with want for her. ‘Good morning, Nick.’ She rose up on tiptoes and kissed him. His arms tightened his hold on her. She gave herself over to the kiss and to being back in Nick’s arms. Nothing mattered except living in the moment, and she was going to live one hundred percent in the moment right now.

  Nick’s body was still humming from the shower sex he’d had with Pam. If he didn’t have the issue with the contract for the deal to sort out, he would have blown off work and stayed in bed all day with Pam. She was so giving in her responses to him. Her body came to life under his touch and, if he was truthful with himself, his body responded likewise.

  But it wasn’t only in bed that they were compatible. He thought about the day they’d spent looking around the city. The conversation had flowed easily between them. No awkward silences. Nothing. Just a peacefulness and completeness he’d never felt with any other woman in his life.

  Normally his relationships lasted a couple of months at most. Recently, he’d been steering clear of women. Having to fight them off at the office had made the idea of cultivating a relationship with another woman unpleasant. With Pam, it wasn’t like he had to try hard. She liked even the simplest of things. While they’d waited for a cab this morning, she’d spent the time talking to Rob the doorman, asking after his family. She’d laughed when Rob had told her a funny story. He couldn’t imagine any of the women he’d dated previously taking the time to talk to his doorman. Usually they were too busy on their phones to give Rob more than a cursory hello.

  Yes, Pam was different, and it was those differences that were troubling him. Her words when they’d first woken had freaked him out. He didn’t want her to get ideas that this arrangement between them was permanent. But he couldn’t deny he enjoyed having her with him. Enjoyed the ease with which they lived together. The fireworks they sparked off each other in bed was an added bonus.

  ‘Nick.’ Her soft voice sounded around the office and he smiled. He could hear a slight hesitation in how she’d said his name.

  ‘Yes, swee — , Pam.’ He couldn’t believe he’d almost called her ‘sweetheart’ in the office. What if a staff member was standing beside her and heard him over the loudspeaker? He only hoped she’d lifted the handset when she’d buzzed through to him.

  ‘Ethan’s here to see you.’

  ‘Right, send him in.’ Hearing that it was Ethan, he doubly hoped she’d lifted the handset and hadn’t had him on loudspeaker.

  As his door opened, Nick looked up and scrutinised the man walking in. His face impassive, showing no signs that he’d heard Nick’s almost faux pas. Relief coursed though him, but also caution. He couldn’t let what was happening between him and Pam affect his business. He’d worked too long and too hard to let a woman derail him. He wasn’t going to let a woman ruin his life, like his father had.

  Two hours later, Nick closed the door on Ethan triumphantly. He’d finally got him to buckle under and withdraw his outrageous demands. At last the deal had been sorted out and he had to give credit to Pam for digging through the previous negotiations and finding that the people Ethan was representing had been favourable to the terms of the contract when it had been initially presented to them. Nick knew Ethan had been deliberately stalling negotiations with petty little things and once he had the proof, Ethan backed down. Now the deal was all signed off and Nick could move onto the next acquisition for the Morelli Corporation.

  The corporation had many branches. They had resorts, investment banks, property development deals. Nick was sure there was more they could look into, but he’d have to speak to Luc to see what avenue he wanted to take the company down now.

  The thought troubled him. With Luc settled with Jasmine and expecting to become a father soon, he may not want to expand the company further. It wasn’t like they really needed to. They both had more wealth than they could possibly use in a lifetime. But Nick didn’t want to get stagnant. He lived for the drive of acqui
ring struggling businesses and turning them around. Had Luc lost the drive for it, now his personal life was becoming his number one priority? There was only one way to find out.

  He got up and strode to the door and opened it, only to stop when he saw Pam sitting at her desk. She was busy typing up the notes from the meeting and hadn’t noticed him. He took the time to watch as her fingers flew over the keyboard. Those same fingers had flown over his body too. Bringing him pleasure and pain. The desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her was strong. He wanted to push those papers on her desk aside and lower her to the hard surface, before sinking deeply into her. But he held back. They were at the office; any member of staff could come across them.

  ‘Did you want something, Nick?’

  So caught up in his thoughts of kissing and making love to her, he hadn’t noticed that she’d stopped what she was doing and was looking at him expectantly. What would she do if he did lean over and kiss her? The faint dinging of the elevator reminded him it wouldn’t be the best idea.

  ‘Can you call the pilot and get a flight plan lodged to go back to Perth tomorrow, please?’

  ‘We’re going back?’ Her shock was visible. He could see the flash of disappointment dull the normally bright green eyes.

  ‘Yes, the deal is done. Your efficiency in getting the mess my previous assistant left behind sorted out, and finding that information about our initial negotiations, helped seal the deal. You really are worth your weight in gold.’

  ‘Great. That’s great, and of course I’ll call the pilot. I’ll do it right now.’

  He heard the forced enthusiasm in her voice and it hit him, why she sounded so disappointed. This wasn’t his first trip to New York, but it was Pam’s. She enjoyed being in a place that was new and exciting.

  He leaned down and whispered in her ear. ‘Wear that nice white dress tonight, I’m taking you out on the town.’