Moon Sworn (The Bound Series Book 1)

by JF Holland

  "What the hell!" she managed to sputter, her breath sawing in and out of her lungs, as her heart began hammering behind her rib cage in fear. Especially when she heard a menacing rumble coming from the broad chest of the man presently glaring down at her.

  "Who the fuck have you been around?"

  "What the hell is wrong with you?" She snapped, trying to pull free from the hand that still had a death grip on her arm.

  "I asked you a question female. Who the hell you've been around?" he snarled the words this time, amber eyes slitting and nostrils flaring as he put his face closer to hers. He was trying to intimidate her, invading her space as he stepped even closer. He took a deep breath, sniffing at her neck. "I can smell him all over you, and that I will not tolerate. I'll teach you who you belong to female," he grit out from between his teeth, just before his mouth slammed down on hers.

  Maya tried to pull away, but his other hand moved around to the back of her head holding her in place. His mouth crashed onto her own again, his lips crushing hers against her teeth. She tried to keep her mouth closed against his onslaught, he was beginning to scare her with his rough manhandling. She couldn't think straight and panic took flight, her stomach knotting in true fear. She was alone in a secluded wood with a wall of towering testosterone, and no one was around to help her. What the hell had she been thinking to go running at dusk? She hadn't had she, she'd been agitated and had needed to just let off a little steam to help her relax enough to sleep. She hadn't been doing well sleeping the last couple of weeks, her dreams turning to nightmares and then followed by that hot, erotic voice whispering to her. Pushing the one arm he didn't have a hold of between them, she tried to use it as leverage to put space between them but it was a useless exercise. He was too solid, it was like trying to move one of the big oak trees that surrounded them. She fought against his strength, desperate to keep her mouth closed. Panic was beginning to set in, making her light headed due to lack of oxygen. Just before she passed out he softened his assault, backing off and giving her breathing room. She took a much needed breath but before she could get her wits about her his lips once again claimed hers. This time he was gentle, teasing at her mouth, teasing sips and nibbles. She was helpless to do anything but return his gentle caress, and he groaned against her mouth. The gruff sound reverberated through her body, making her instantly wet. She felt him soften even further. He again gave light teasing nips to the corner of her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip before nipping at it and laving the sting with this his tongue.

  "Open up, I want inside," Jaden whispered thickly against her mouth. Still keeping a hold of her so she couldn't get away. His cat was riding him hard, wanting to lash out and punish his mate for daring to let another male near her. Jaden knew she was scared, he could smell it on her, a nasty overwhelming acrid scent that burned his nostrils. The cloying smell clogging the back of his throat and making him want to gag, especially as he was the one who was causing it. He tried to pull back, but the cat was clawing to get out at his mate, incensed at finding the scent of another male on her. It was taking everything in him to try to hold it back, to stop the shift as it raked at his insides, desperate to get at its mate. Jaden hated that he was the cause of her fear, but he was helpless to pull back. He needed something to help calm the cat. The cat wanted her complete surrender and wasn't too bothered how he got it. The man though was a different matter, he wanted it voluntarily, preferably with complete abandon.

  Jaden tried to placate the cat by coaxing a response from her. First, he ran his tongue over the seam of lips, a sensual sweep before moving to her chin. There he gave a playful nip before kissing down her throat stopping at the pulse hammering there. He sucked on the sensitive skin covering the frantic beat, his tongue tasting it, before sucking it between his lips. He was leaving his mark as well as his scent all over her before this was over. He'd make sure no other male would come near her to appease the cat and the man. The cat was hissing and clawing at him incensed at the abhorrent scent of another male on his female. But the man, he was disgusted with his own behaviour, and not being able to control it. He was riddled with shame that he could have treated her so roughly, ignoring her fear. The problem was his cat was becoming antsy, and that was a dangerous thing, and not just to her. He needed to resolve the matter and quickly before someone got hurt. He sucked on her neck as he released his hold on her arm, but still cradling the back of his head in his hand. He ran the other hand over her, down her arm, rubbing where he'd grasped her so tightly. Then down to her hand, stroking over her fingers before running it over her stomach and up towards her left breast. He cupped the mound, feeling her nipple pebble as it pushed against his palm through the material. He kneaded the ripe flesh before tugging on her nipple, nostrils flaring as he caught another scent. Groaning against her neck as he picked up the ripe scent of her arousal. Jaden continued to suck and lick her skin as he tugged and kneaded her breast as he edged her backwards. He was moving them towards the cover of the big oak, the one he'd been hiding in as she'd passed underneath it. He let go of her breast and used his hand to cushion her back so the bark didn't dig into the delicate skin of her back. Once he had her there, and they were relatively sheltered, he kissed along the length of her neck. Moving back towards her mouth again, this time it opened as he ran his tongue along the seam. Pushing inside the warm, moist heat of her mouth he twined his tongue with hers, tangling and retreating. Hers followed each time he pulled back and then his lips locked onto hers, as his hands once again came up to fondle that breast that had fit so snuggly into his palm.

  'Jaden?' he heard the hesitant voice in his head, and he broke away in surprise. His dark amber eyes clashing with her slightly dazed ones. How had she managed to get in his head again? And how the hell had she gotten his name?

  Frowning he pulled back further, putting his hands behind his back, then into his jeans pockets as he paced before her.

  "How do you know my name?" He asked her curiously, watching her wipe her palms down the front of her shorts. A sign of her anxiety and he cursed under his breath, turning away.

  "I don't know, it's a name that I associate with a voice. That's your voice that I hear in my head, right?" She bit her lip, eyes darting to either side. Her feet began shuffling, as if she was about to take off. His chest rumbled and her eyes shot to him again, a frown creasing her brow.

  "Don't even think about it. Trust me, you don't want me chasing you." Maya blew out a breath, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before her hands came up - resting on her hips as her shoulders straightened.

  "I'm not scared of you," she told him haughtily, nose in the air and he grinned.

  "Oh really. Your scent tells me something else entirely," he purred, moving towards her again. He leaned down and ran his nose slowly down her neck and up behind her ear. Breathing deep, a rumble of satisfaction sounding in his chest. Her hands came up to push him away, but he pinned them to his chest with his own, not budging an inch.

  "I can smell your anxiety," he ran his lips up and down her neck and purred. "But I can also smell your arousal." He felt her stiffen and laughed as he pulled back and once again looked into those startled baby blues of hers. It was the first time he'd gotten a good look at her eyes, and they were beautiful. A dark, midnight blue, surrounded by black spikey lashes. They were a contrast to her golden wavy hair. He held her in place as he examined her features broodingly. One hand now holding her chin as he turned her head to examine her properly.

  "Jesus, would you like to check my teeth while you're there? I'm not a piece of meat to be examined. Get off me you oaf," she snarled, kicking out at his chins. He raised a brow and ignored her outburst as he continued cataloguing her features, amused despite himself. She really was a little hellcat, spitting and sniping at him. Training her could be fun, and he was definitely up for the challenge.

  "You'll do," he told her, giving her chin a tap. He heard her gasp before she began to splutter in annoyance.

  "I'll do
, I'll do for what? Because I can tell you now Mr tall, dark and mannerless. I'm not for bloody sale. I am not on auction to you or anyone. So your opinion on whether you think I'll do or not is of no interest to me. Now move. You're in my space, and stop bloody manhandling me." She snapped the last piece of information, poking him in the chest for good measure.

  Jaden laughed at that one, she really was amusing. She thought she had a say in how he touched her, adorable, she was his to do with as he saw fit. His mate, dictated by fate. Moving in closer he leaned into her.

  "You are mine," he whispered before pulling back. He watched her mouth drop open, but he'd also caught the shiver she'd give as his lips had brushed he ear. Before she could protest further, he grabbed her right hand and stepped back again, holding her hand out palm up. He then turned his own left palm over, showing her the marks that were mirrors of each other.

  "You've always been mine, and this proves it." Maya looked from his handsome features and hard eyes to their hands and gasped. The mark that had appeared on her palm on the night of her 21st birthday was the other half to his. The marks looked like a half crop circle had been burned into their skin. As if someone had pressed an old cigarette lighter out of car into their flesh but it had only heated on one side. If they joined their hands palm to palm the circles would be complete. She tugged on her hand, spluttering, floundering in something that made absolutely no sense. Had she hit her head and was at this moment lay in the rich dark soil unconscious.

  Jaden, watched the confusion cross her face. Her incomprehension easy to read from her face, even if her thoughts hadn't been screaming in his head. Seriously, she thought she'd been hit in the head and was lying unconscious at this very moment. He tutted as she stood there shaking her head, eyes wide and mouth opening and closing like a fish. He's had enough, he moved forward and pinched her arm.

  "Ouch, you pig. What did you do that for?"

  "See, not unconscious somewhere. You were born for me, you belong to me and this mark proves it." She shook her head, and he took hold of her face to hold her head still between his large palms. Giving her no choice but to look at him.

  "You were born for me. Think back Maya," he heard her sputter, eyes lifting to his in confusion. "Yes I know your name too," his top lip lifted in a parody of a smile, really just a cynical little twist of his lips. He was still a little peeved that she'd just plucked his name out of his own head, where he'd had to ask someone. "You've been listening to my voice for years, did you not think that strange?"

  "Well duh. I just thought I was losing my fucking mind, I thought you were a figment of my imagination. Seriously, who hears voices in their head, come on who?"

  "Mates do, that's who and you are that to me."

  "You're delusional, and I don’t believe any of this." She wrenched her face out of his hands and took off before he realised her intentions.

  Maya was on complete panic mode. Wrenching out of his grasp she ran blindly. Then realised she was close to her own back garden. She pushed the back gate open, and dodged inside, slamming it shut behind her. Then slapped the bolt home for good measure, leaning back against it. She was out of breath and breathing hard, air sawing in and out of her abused lungs. She closed her eyes as when she heard a thump and a curse from behind her, smiling as he swore viciously. He had some truly inventive words, some she'd never before heard, and shook her head as she began to move towards the safety of her house. She'd just gotten near the back then when her attention was caught by a noise behind her. Turning she was in time to see Jaden clear her 6-foot fence, landing in a crouch in her garden. Her mouth dropped open in shock.

  "I'm truly not impressed with this game Maya," he hissed as he stood in one lithe movement. He began moving towards her, and she turned tail and ran the last few feet to her back door.

  "I told you not to run," he hissed. "I warned you that you wouldn't like the consequences," he ground out. Just as she got the door open, she was pushed inside and the door was slammed shut. Locking them both in her now tiny, dark kitchen. Maya turned around, about to give Jaden a piece of her mind but she stopped, her mouth dropping open again as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and threw it behind him. She couldn't help it, his chest rippled with his movements and her eyes dropped over the naked skin now revealed. He had a couple of what looked like claw marks visible on his side, and she frowned as she looked back up and noticed his eyes gleaming, like that of a predator and swallowed. She began backing further into the room. Heading towards the hallway and front door, another possible escape route. Her car was in the drive, maybe she could grab her keys off the tray on the table by the side of the front door and get in her car before he was on her.

  "Don't," he spat out as he took a menacing step towards her. His words rumbling from his throat, the sound had a gravelly quality to it that she'd not heard from him before. He hunched slightly and changed his stance as if about to pounce, top lip lifted and she got a look at what looked like a sharp canine visible and froze.

  "See now Jaden," she said, visible shaking as her hands came up. She held them out in front of her to warn him off. "Come on now be reasonable. You can't just come into my house without an invitation, that's very impolite." She told him as she took another step back. A growl erupted from his throat and she froze again, like a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding vehicle.

  Maya swallowed, what the hell was going on? He didn't even look human at that moment and she paused, then something inside seemed to rise up as her own hackles rose. She was furious to find herself trapped in her own home by a man that had been haunting her dreams and threatening her in her head for longer than she cared to remember. Her shoulders straightened and her own top lip lifted, a growl rising up from her throat and she hissed at him.

  Jaden halted, shaking off the thrall of his cat as he took a good look at his mate. Her human canines were showing, her eyes gleaming, and her human hands had come up, in clawing positions, as if she were going to swipe at him. He burst out laughing, it was like he was being threatened by a kitten, a human one. I mean the whole idea was absolutely preposterous.

  "Are you intending to you use those?" he asked, leaning his hip on her sink counter top by the side of the door as he absently turned the key in the back door. Then he crossed his arms over his chest as if he was completely harmless, never once breaking eye contact as he worked out his next move. He watched the confusion cross her face as she looked down towards her hands. She seemed perplexed at their clawing pose and dropped them, clearing her throat and then resting those same hands on her rounded hips. His eyes now trailed down her body, taking in her shape. He'd been stuck on her eyes earlier, and the way her nipples pressed against her bra. Now he was doing a full body visual on what was before him. She wasn't slim, but she also wasn't big either. She was well shaped, solid and curvy and his eyes were once again drawn to those hips. He unfolded his arms and took a step towards her, and her eyes slit again, glinting at him, staring without blinking.

  "I really hope you are prepared to lose a body part because I'll tell you now, come one step closer and you will definitely lose something." His brow rose at the threat and he smirked as he took another step in her direction. Noticing too late the nice blade she pulled from the block on the counter behind her. Her own brow now rose, and a smirk played across that lush mouth he wanted to lose himself in.

  "You're going to what, stab me? Cut off my dick, come on mate exactly what are you going to do to me?" he goaded, taking another step until around 12-feet separated them. Then he pounced and was on her in a heartbeat, the knife back on the side and her hands held behind her back with his own. He rather liked this new position, with her bent backwards slightly it pushed her groin into his. He especially enjoyed how her lush curves cradled his harder frame and purred against her neck. She tried to twist away hissing at him but he ignored her as he waited for her to realise the vulnerability of her position. He had all night and he would get his way, he'd win her around, after all he had n
early 200-years' experience on her.

  "You can do that for as long as you like, it's rather pleasurable," he whispered into her ear before giving the lobe a punishing nip. She yelped and again tried to twist from his grip, but he sucked the soft skin into his mouth, running his tongue over it to take away the sting. "You really don't want to try to get violent with me mate, you don't want to see me upset. You really wouldn't like it," he heard her snort and pulled back with a frown. She was no longer fighting, her eyes were now shining with mirth and her mouth twitched.

  "Seriously, you just used that line. What are you the hulk, are you going to grow bigger and turn green?" he tugged her towards him.

  "Oh I'm definitely growing bigger. I've not noticed it turning green though," he informed her as he rubbed his erection against her. Her mouth snapped closed and her cheeks heated with colour, he rather liked the flush to her skin.

  "I'll ask one more time what I asked you the other night, and believe me when I say this. A truthful answer is very important for your own comfort. Are you a virgin?" her cheeks seemed to glow now with embarrassment and she snorted.

  "I'm telling you exactly what I told you the other night. It's got fuck all to do with you because you won't be touching…" The last word had hardly left her mouth when his lips took hers in a punishing kiss for defying him. As soon as she tried to suck in a breath his tongue slipped inside, stroking over her own. Gripping both her hands in one of his left him with a hand free to begin roaming over her body. A double assault as his mouth reluctantly left hers to do some wandering of its own.