Unbound Trilogy Boxset

by Coopmans, Kathy

  The one thing I can’t do is give you advice. So here it is, kiddo.

  In living, there is an overabundance of pain and suffering. So much sometimes that you don’t think you’ll ever get past it. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t experience it one way or another. When you do, it’s okay to cry, to feel sorrow and grief, to hurt. I promise you will arise and be a much stronger woman from it.

  But you, you are the only one who can control the stoppage of any emotion. No one controls those darn things except you. The good thing, no one can control those happy emotions but you either. Those are the best. If you haven’t figured out what I’m talking about when I say emotions by the time you read this, you will soon, and you’ll agree.

  They are tricky little stinkers, but they make up who you are.

  Life isn’t easy, Ellie. It’s hard. Even so, live it to its fullest, it’s the only one you’ve got.

  Don’t waste a day of your life dwelling on things you have no control over either. It drives me crazy when people do that. Control you. Do you and life will be content. I promise. Try and remember that a wasted day could be your last day because, like me, we don’t know how many days we have left.

  As of yet, I don’t know where in your life you’ll be when you read this letter. I can only hope that when you do, you are as happy as I want you to be.

  It would be my wish too that I’ll be around for a long, long time. Time will tell.

  Your dad might have told you this by now; we named you Ellie because it means shining light. It’s the perfect name for you. Let it shine around you, Ellie.

  Don’t ever forget that the day you were born was the day the brightest light was brought into mine and your father’s lives.

  Phew, I have so much to say. I could go on and on. I’ll stick with the important stuff that I think you’ll understand and appreciate, like boys or men.

  I want you to take that kind, light, and cheerful, loving heart of yours and find someone worthy of it. I want you to fall so hard for a man that you don’t want to get up. Love is delicate; it’s complicated, it’s passionate and to me, it’s the best emotion out there. Love it hard too, it hurts. Trust me, I wouldn’t trade your father in for all the money in the world, but we don’t have the perfect marriage. We love each other enough to pick and choose our battles. When you love someone with all you have, love is worth it. It’s the greatest gift from life because with love, comes a family.

  Remember, there are many forms of love, the same as there are many forms of pain. Like the kind of love you have for Renita and Norah. That’s a special kind of love, and I’m so happy that when I’m gone, they will be there for you every step you take on the walk of life.

  I want you to be healthy and happy and free and filled with everything you deserve. That’s all a mother ever wants for her child. And, that’s who you are. My child. My blood. My daughter. My life.

  The scars of life, of love, of happiness, whatever they might be will build, Ellie. The road, at times, will get bumpy. When it does, I want you to put the pedal to the metal and drive right over them. I want you to remember that you are my daughter. A fighter. A warrior.

  Right now, I’m angry because I can’t continue to raise you, guide you and show the world this creation that is the best part of me and the man I love with all my heart, but you know what? I’m going to ride off into the sunset, knowing that my daughter was loved, and that she was taught to be kind to others. That she knew how to love and express it freely, that is a must. Don’t be afraid to love, don’t be scared to trust someone with that heart of yours. If they love you, they will cherish it always.

  When I take my last breath, I’m going with peace in my heart knowing I was the best mother I could be, and that I showed you kindness and strength and to believe in yourself. And I never forgot you in my heart. For in my heart is where you live. In my heart is where you will stay.

  I’ve placed this letter in the box with my wedding dress. I figured it was the safest place for it. The dress is yours now, sweetheart. Wear it, save it, pass it on down to your daughter if you have one. Maybe you’ll have sons, who knows. It’s okay if you have to leave it in the box, but it’s yours to do with what you want. The same as your life is yours.

  I want you to know one last thing; I love being your mother because I love seeing your smile and hearing you laugh. Laughing is good, right? You and I have and will continue to laugh. It’s the cure to our soul. You laugh, Ellie. You laugh so much, do you hear me? You laugh harder than I ever remember you laughing. Don’t ever stop. If you do, then I’ll give Renita permission to set you straight.

  I’m so proud that you’re my daughter.

  Thanks for making me a mom. You will always and forever be the best accomplishment I’ve done. Nothing has made me prouder than you.

  I love you, Ellie Mae Wynn.

  Mom.

  I clutch the letter to my chest, refusing to surrender to the grief of all that’s happened to me. I fight it with every breath I take as I surround myself with my parents.

  I block it all out. It doesn’t belong here. It never did.

  But I do.

  “It’s taken me a long time to be happy and fall in love, Mom. I’m there. From this day forward, I won’t waste one second of any day. You said you would listen. I’m hoping you can hear me now. I made it past the hardest part of life and now because of that man; I’m freer than I’ve ever been in a long time.”

  Later, when Logan picks me up off the floor, I don’t cry for what I’ve lost. I do the opposite.

  I smile for everything I’ve gained.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Logan

  Coming up for air, I watch Ellie as she leans her head back, spreads her arms straight out behind her to float in the water, and closes her eyes. I’m not complaining as this gives me a full view of her perfect body.

  Stunning.

  Jesus, she looks like a goddess. So breathtaking that the more time I take scanning up and down her figure, the more my dick stiffens, and the harder it is for me to breathe since all my blood has been slowly dripping south for the past couple of weeks.

  Exquisite.

  I never thought watching someone swim would be a turn-on. With Ellie, it is, it was, it will be.

  Need rumbles inside of me. It’s been too damn long since I’ve pleased her.

  It isn’t easy being cooped up in a house with a raging hard-on while watching the woman you desperately want unwillingly tease you when she curls up against your back in the night, pressing her perfect breasts, her hot pussy against you. My patience wore off days ago. Thank fuck she got the all-clear from the doctor this morning because I need to fuck her.

  Badly.

  But I want to take my time getting reacquainted with every curve and valley with my hands and my tongue. I want to worship from the tips of her freshly painted pink toes to the top of her head. I want to kiss that mouth the way it’s been begging me to every time Ellie bites down on it. More so, I need to cure both our sexual frustrations because if there’s one thing I’ve learned over these two weeks, besides getting to know Ellie better, is having patience sucks especially when you have a woman who wants it as badly as you do.

  And want me she does. In all the essential ways a woman wants a man.

  Love, honor, trust.

  The list is endless.

  After finding Ellie curled up in a ball, holding her mother’s wedding dress, and a letter that, once I read it, about buckled me at the knees. Our lives have been as typical as two people trying to heal can be.

  She scared the hell out of me finding her that way. That is until she started laughing and showed me the letter while she sorted through the clothes.

  That letter gutted me, not her though. She was on cloud nine to have something so personal from her mother.

  Rolling the stiffness out of my shoulder, I lean against the side of the pool, stretch my arms out, and enjoy the view.

  The pain has subsided tremendously
. I wasn’t sure if it would. I didn’t tell Ellie by picking her up; I felt something pull. It wasn’t until we climbed into bed, and the pain became worse that I realized I needed to slow the hell down and take care of myself.

  It didn’t take much on my part since Ellie was a step ahead of me. She hasn’t let me do a goddamn thing around this place that involves the use of my shoulder. I felt like a pussy watching her wait on me hand and foot. Funny though, how whenever I stopped and thought about it, it didn’t make me feel less of a man, it made me feel like the luckiest bastard in the world.

  Recalling every minute we’ve spent together, talking and laughing has pushed me toward newfound happiness I never thought would be possible for me. It has me seeing life differently. I’m determined to take it and live. Preferably with her by my side. Showing her off as mine, making her happy, and giving her everything she deserves.

  Can’t even lie that besides missing our families, the daily phone calls from Lexi asking when Ellie is coming home, and watching her struggle through the physical pain, they’ve been the best days of my life. But we need to talk about where home is for many reasons amongst other things.

  First, I need to fuck her.

  “I found blueprints in the closet of the room when I was hanging up my mother’s clothes. I noticed the initial LM on the bottom. That wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”

  Well, shit. Not exactly the discussion I wanted to have right now, but I was a teacher of seduction. I can turn this around and kill several birds with one stone.

  There’s a softness to her tone too that I’ve come to expect as much as respect whenever she asks something about me. It makes me realize how damn lucky I am.

  Slowly she uprights herself by grabbing hold of the edge of the pool, dragging herself out and sitting on the side, dangling her feet in the water. The lights from the deck giving me a better view of her.

  Water drips down her skin, making my mouth dry.

  Jesus, there’s nothing to the bikini she bought at the second-hand store she went shopping at today. She came home with two bags full of stuff. The excitement in her features shining bright when she told me the same lady owned it and was thrilled to see Ellie. It’s red, it’s sexy as fuck, and it’s about to come off.

  “Lose the bikini top, and I’ll tell you.”

  Her brows shoot up, tongue darting out to lick her lips. All the indication I need that she’s as worked up as I am.

  “Am I being taught a lesson?” She laughs, the sound of it going straight to my dick. I’ll never tire of hearing her laugh. She’s done a lot of it lately. So have I.

  My laugh dies when she leans back onto her hands, the gleam in her eyes indication she’s strumming up her own erotic thoughts.

  Knew from the first time I was buried inside her, she was a handful.

  “If this were a lesson, I’d have had you on all fours while I fucked your perfect round ass over giving me glimpses of it for days.” I say that because there are several truths to it. First being, her ass is perfect. Second, up until today, she’s washed and worn her robe because it felt good against her wounds. The problem for me was every time she bent over, my dick groaned in protest. And the third holds more truth than I’ll let on. I don’t want her having a complex over the scars.

  Sitting forward, she slowly reaches around her neck, unties the barely-there top and holds it in place, covering herself while she does the same to the strings tied at her back.

  Our eyes lock, and it’s in those blues of hers where I don’t mind becoming lost. Not if the sea in front of me holds promises of straying off course together.

  Unstoppable.

  We were destined to collide.

  “Fuck, Ellie,” I sputter when she drops her hands, the material falling with them. Hard and erect nipples, tits that fit perfectly in my hands are waiting for my mouth.

  “What? You said to lose the top.” She laughs again, which causes her breasts to bounce.

  Backfire.

  I’m positive of it.

  Teach her how to please a man, my goddamn ass. She’s a natural seductress. Only this time, she’s playing with not only a man who can sense the taunt and tease, but he can also stop it with one quick swipe of his tongue across many places on Ellie’s body that sets her off.

  Guess she’s going to need a lesson after all.

  “Answer my question, Logan.”

  She tweaks a nipple, bats her lashes, and I damn near forget what she asked.

  She’s going to pay for this in the most pleasurable way.

  “Yes. When I was younger, drawing was something I liked to do.” I tell her everything there is to know about my love for drawing. I tell her how I’m not interested in going to college, but intrigued about starting a business and having others work under me. With each word, I inch closer to her while she keeps her eyes on me, her fingers rolling that nipple.

  I fight the temptation to swim the rest of the way to her, spread her thighs, and fuck her until the sun comes up.

  This scene isn’t what I envisioned when we had this talk, but goddamn does it make it easier as much as watching her makes me hard.

  “You keep that up, and you’ll be in trouble.”

  A moan leaves her throat — fucking hell.

  “What about the club? Who’s been running it while you are gone?”

  Her question comes out breathless and needy.

  “No one. We sold it. I need to go back the day after tomorrow.” I proceed to fill her in with the little knowledge I have regarding the club.

  The papers to list the building were what was in the file waiting for me to sign. I have no idea what Lane did with the contents of the building. I haven’t asked him the few times we’ve talked. I don’t care what he’s done with any of it. He could have hauled in a dumpster and tossed it all for all I know.

  Behind Closed Doors doesn’t exist anymore. Lane cut checks of reimbursement to every single member whether they wanted it or not, sent them a friendly letter along with it. There won’t be any repercussions, not when people don’t want their name to be dragged into the open.

  You’d think I’d be unhappy knowing how much it meant to my father, but I’m not. I’m glad it’s dissolved, and I honestly believe my father wouldn’t want it any other way. Not when I’m happy, and undoubtedly when Lane and Seth aren’t.

  That building along with what went on inside single-handedly sucked the life out of me and my brothers. And we let it. It consumed our lives. Greed and corruption and fraud. We were the center of it. A lifestyle that brought empty physical pleasure.

  “Really?” Ellie expels on a shaky breath. A smile that indicates she’s happy spreads across those healed plump lips.

  “I think you should do it then.”

  “Do what?”

  I know what she means, my thoughts are long past that though. I want her to unravel from my touch. I want to make her lose her mind the same way as watching her play with herself is doing to me.

  “Start a business.”

  I look under the water to where her toes are curling as she slowly swings them back and forth. I trail up her legs to the tiny scrap of material covering her pussy. As sexy as it is, they need to come off too.

  “Is that so?” I smirk when I reach her, grab hold of her ankles and run my hands up her legs, parting them wider until I reach the ties dangling at her sides. I untie one, lean in and lick up her stomach. Loving the way her body shivers from my touch.

  “It is so. You can do whatever you want to do.” Her breathing is picking up, panting even.

  What I want to do right now is fuck you until it’s physically impossible for me to fuck you anymore. I don’t say that. Instead, I reply with a question of my own.

  “And where should I do this? Here or Louisiana?” I move to the other tie, undo it, and with a little upward shift of her ass, I yank them off, grip her by the waist and with a startled yelp out of her mouth, I pull her into the water, rubbing that pussy across my still cover
ed dick.

  Tits press against my chest; long legs wrap around my waist, arms around my neck. Hot breath inches away from my mouth as I strain not to slip out of my swim trunks and put us both out of our misery.

  Heaven.

  “Here. With me. I’m not going back to Louisiana to live. I’m staying here. I told you this is home and my home is with you.” There’s no hesitation in her voice. No doubt, no sadness, no pain. Just me and her and her sexy as hell little whimpers.

  “Then here it is. I’m done talking for now. It’s been weeks. I need to taste, lick and fuck you. Goddamn, I’ve missed being inside of you,” I murmur, hands palming her ass.

  Nose to nose. Lips are almost touching. This woman, the only thing I can see. I feel the beauty of our future that lies ahead in her eyes until she leans in, swipes my lip, closing her eyes as a tremble rolls right through her when I suck on her tongue. She pulls me in as close as she can get me, breathing in the same air as she fights for domination she won’t win.

  Spinning.

  I palm an ass cheek, tangle the other in her hair, and walk us out of the pool without breaking the connection.

  I kiss her until I can’t see straight. I consume her until she’s all I ever want to taste again. I can’t stop kissing her. Not even when I take us to one of the chaise loungers, position us so she’s on top of me. My tongue travels around her mouth. I’m taking pleasure in her and devouring the last traces of a past that tried to break us at the same time.

  We’re both breathless when I pull away and tug her higher up my body. I dip my head to trace a line with my tongue down her neck, her chest and nibble a hardened, peaked nipple in my mouth. I don’t speak, I listen to her moans, her lusty pants, feel her trembling legs and I don’t stop the torture on her nipples until I’ve had my taste.

  “God, look at you. I love you so fucking much.”

  Water is dripping down her moonlight glistening skin. I know damn well she’s wetter between those legs.

  Fuck. Me.

  Her eyes flare, and the sexiest moan I’ve ever heard leaves her mouth when I haul her ass upward to straddle my face. I swipe a finger along her slit. It’s insanely sexy watching and hearing her fall apart. She’s aroused, wet, and all mine. Her smell annihilates my senses. Fuck, I need to taste her, and then I’m going to tip her over the edge, watch her completely lose it with my touch. I’m going to devote, admire, and watch her fall apart under my hands. My tongue. My fingers. My cock.