Bind

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Burning
and a
Sexometer
of
3.

The Donovan Dynasty

BIND

Sierra Cartwright

Book one in The Donovan Dynasty series

Only one man can help her. Is she willing to pay his price?

Faced with the potentially overwhelming loss of her family’s fortune, Lara Bertrand turns to the one man who can help her, the gorgeous and powerful Connor Donovan.

She knows he’s dangerous to her on every level. Only desperation would drive her to make such a risky proposition. After all, she knows all about his ruthless nature and relentless determination to succeed.

When the classy, elegant Lara walks into his office with an outrageous proposal, Connor is stunned and more than a little intrigued. Ever since he first met her, he’s been attracted to the cool beauty, but she’s more than kept her distance.

Connor is absolutely willing to help her out. For a price. He not only wants her hand in marriage, but also her total submissive surrender…

Dedication

For Sierra’s Super Stars. You are simply the best!

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

iPad: Apple, Inc.

iPod: Apple, Inc.

Indiana Jones: The Walt Disney Company

Prada: Prada Group

Shiner Bock: The Gambrinus Company

Chapter One

“Let me help you with that.”

At the sexy, intimate sound of a man’s voice, Lara stopped shrugging into her coat and turned to glance over her shoulder. Her pulse slammed to a stop.
Connor Donovan.

When he’d entered the hotel’s ballroom an hour earlier, she’d immediately noticed him. Even at an event attended by Houston’s power elite, the man had commanded attention.

Her friend Erin had introduced her to Connor, her older brother, and president of Donovan Worldwide.

He’d been polite, though courteously distant, as if his attention was focused elsewhere. She’d found that his icy demeanor was the perfect complement to his cool, intimidating gray eyes.

In spite of herself, she’d continued to watch him.

After only fifteen minutes, he and a couple of other men had made their excuses and left the ballroom. Since all were moguls, their absence had been noted.

Connor had been the first to return, and she’d seen the delicious way that he’d adjusted one of his starched, white cuffs.

And now, he was standing only inches behind her.

“May I?” he prompted.

His voice was friendly, but his implacable tone sent a shudder through her. She realized it wasn’t really a request. “I’d appreciate that,” she said.

When his fingers brushed hers, she felt his touch as if it were a sliver of lightning.

Their proximity felt intimate, making her aware of how devastatingly handsome he was. She made a conscious decision not to let him know how much he flustered her. She’d grown up around authoritative men, but he possessed a unique aura of command.

He continued to hold the jacket until she’d settled into it.

“Thank you,” she said as she turned to face him. Though she was tall and wore cripplingly high stilettos, she had to tip her head back to meet his gaze.

He looked at her without blinking, and for a moment, she was the focus of his attention.

“It’s my pleasure to help a beautiful woman.”

She told herself not to take him seriously. The man hadn’t been named president of Donovan Worldwide at such an early age without learning to consider the impact of his words. Still, his genteel Southern manners impressed her. No one could have faulted him for walking past the coat check area. But he hadn’t.

He turned his hand palm up, indicating she should precede him through the revolving glass door.

Outside, a cold rain fell in wind-whipped torrents. Thank goodness the portico was covered but, of course, there were no vehicles waiting in the taxi lane.

A sedan pulled up, and Connor said, “I’ll give you a ride.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Just then a valet hurried over. “Taxi, ma’am?”

She nodded as she brushed her hair back from her face.

The valet went to the curb and blew a whistle to summon the cab.

“Are you certain?” Connor asked.

The idea of being in the back of a vehicle with him even for a few minutes gave her shivers in a way that had nothing to do with the outside temperature. “I promise you, Mr. Donovan, I’ll be okay.”

The cab arrived.

Connor waved off the valet. Despite the weather, he opened the door to the taxi and handed her into the vehicle.

“I’ll see you again soon,” he said. The words were laced with promise.

His gaze lingered. His eyes no longer seemed as cold, yet they appeared ten times more dangerous.

With a decisive move, he closed the door then walked away, each stride purposeful.

In the scant few minutes they’d spent together, she’d felt the vortex of his authority. She knew she could have refused his help, but there had been something mesmerizing—something seductive—about the way he’d instinctively taken control of the situation.

She gave the driver her destination and tried to shake off Connor’s effect.

* * * *

“You should ask my brother to marry you.”

Shocked by the statement, Lara jerked her hand, causing wine to slosh over the rim of her glass.
“What?”
Even the thought of suggesting such a thing made her heart stop before rushing on in a fury. Absently, she reached for her napkin to blot at the red stain that was seeping across the white tablecloth.

“You should marry Connor. You remember him from the cocktail party, right?”

As if she’d ever forget.

“You two would make a fabulous couple.” Erin Donovan reached for her glass of chardonnay and sat back, wearing a huge smile. “So there you are. It’s the perfect solution.”

“Perfect? I don’t see how marriage changes anything.”

“First of all, you’d have access to Connor’s advice.”

“I’ve already hired advisors.”

“Who aren’t running companies as successful as Donovan Worldwide.”

“I can’t argue that,” Lara agreed.

“If he thinks it’s worthwhile, he may help with the financial issues.”

Which her father would never consider.

“Surely you could get him a seat on the board if he were your husband?” Erin persisted. “You’d have someone to back your position. And most of all, you’d have a lover to share the emotional burden with. Stop scowling. You’ll give yourself frown lines.”

Lara stared at Erin. They’d known each other since graduate school, and they’d continued to meet once a week to discuss business, as well as other issues in their lives. Years had made them more than friends, it had also made them confidantes.

Until this moment, Lara had considered Erin to be extremely intelligent and a gifted problem solver. But her suggestion that Lara marry someone she didn’t love, especially the aloof and dynamic Connor? Even though her father’s stubbornness meant BHI’s situation was dire, marriage wasn’t the way to solve the problems plaguing her family’s business. “You’ve lost your mind.”

After taking a sip of wine, Erin put the glass down and leaned forward. “You should think about it.”

“Not in a million years.” Even though her interaction with Connor had only been a few minutes long, its impact had stayed with her. The next day, she’d caught herself thinking about him, wondering what might have happened if she had let him drive her back to her bungalow.

Probably nothing, she’d told herself. Just because he’d offered a ride didn’t mean he was sexually attracted to her.

Unfortunately, she’d been so turned on by him that it had taken several ridiculous days and lots of determination to free herself from the hold he had on her.

Now, more than three weeks later, the tendrils of the memory still unnerved her. “Rumor has it he’s not in the market for a wife.” Not only that, but according to reports, he rarely dated.

“Which means you looked him up!” Erin pronounced.

“I didn’t say that,” Lara protested.

“How else would you know?” Erin grinned cheekily. “I think you’d be ideal for him. You saw him. He’s too damn serious about everything, always has been. Since Dad died, it’s gotten worse. Not that I can blame him. But he’s recently become even more of a hard-ass than he used to be, like he doesn’t deserve to be happy. He needs a vacation. Or someone to shake up his careful little world. Aunt Kathryn agrees.” She tipped her head to the side, as if considering Lara’s suitability.

“Don’t look at me,” Lara said. “I’m not that woman. My life is complicated enough.” When she went out, it was generally for happy hour with a group of friends. She could kick back, have fun, have an occasional hook-up, but keep her time free. “Besides, I like a different kind of man.”

“That’s absolutely true,” Erin agreed. “You like men who are milquetoasts.”

“I prefer the word uncomplicated.”

“Uh-huh,” Erin said. “Remember Randy? He was milquetoast.”

“He was a nice guy.”

“It took him four dates to kiss you.”

“Three,” Lara corrected.

“Which is three too many.”