Bound for Nirvana: (The Bound Trilogy Book 3) (22 page)

Laughing, he slowed to a halt, and holding me tight against him, gently slid me down his body. “Oh, I am.” I felt the tautness of his bulging erection at the apex of my thighs, the pressure through the denim causing a delicious friction in just the right spot. “
Enormously
pleased. The slipper was in my back pocket.”

Then his smiling lips closed over mine as he claimed me with a deep, searching kiss, his tongue flicking gently against mine. Suddenly, I was moving backwards and pressed up against one of the large wooden pillars of the pagoda. His hands went to the backs of my thighs, lifting me, and I folded my legs around him, clenching him to me.

He moaned quietly as I ground my sex against his swollen cock, the pressure sending instant pleasure spiking through the sensitive bundle of nerves between my legs. Ethan deepened the kiss, his tongue delving hungrily in search of mine.

Knowing exactly where this was headed, I pulled back, breaking the kiss. “Ethan, we can’t. Your parents might see.”

Shifting slightly to see around the pillar, he peered over my shoulder toward the house. “Nobody can see, Angel.” His gaze focused back on me as he thrust his hips forward, his smile widening as I gasped with obvious pleasure. “You should have worn a skirt. I could fuck you here and now and no one would know.”

My mouth opened in surprise. “I would know. I couldn’t, not with your parents in the house. It doesn’t feel right.”

Ethan looked appalled. “Angelica Lawson, I do hope you’re not going to start getting all decorous on me now you’ve met the parents.”

“It won’t do you any harm to wait until we get home.”

“Home?” He looked as if I’d slapped him. “If you think I’m waiting until we get home, you’ve got another think coming. I’ll have you when I want and where I want. I thought the Salsa club taught you that.”

Oh Jesus! His salacious, demanding tone did nothing to help my waning self-control, but the look of horror in his eyes at the thought of abstaining for a day was enough to bolster it again. I bit down on my lower lip and as I scraped it through my teeth, I tilted my hips forward and wriggled provocatively against his pulsing length.

Ethan’s eyes gleamed in surprise, but just as quickly narrowed into a chastising frown. “I’ve a mind to haul you over my shoulder and carry you right through the house and up to our room, where I can strip you naked, spank you hard, and fuck you until you scream for mercy.”

Oh, the thought!

I gasped, my chest rising and falling hard with the power of his words. Shit, I was irrevocably turned on. I shook my head in a feeble refusal.

Ethan blinked as arousal saturated his eyes, his eyelids becoming heavy and hooded. He released one leg, allowing it to slide to the floor, his hand moving to cup me between my thighs, the heel of his palm pressing into my trembling sex. “I’ll make you a deal.” His voice was hoarse against my lips. “If you’re wet, you allow me to give you an orgasm here and now. If you’re not, I’ll wait.”

“That’s not fair.” I shook my head, the plea hissing from my lips.

Paying no heed to my objection, his fingers got to work, dexterously releasing the button of my jeans and my zipper, his hand pushing past the denim and into my panties. I wriggled a little in a halfhearted protest, but Ethan just raised his brows. “Be still and let me check.” His fingers moved lower, skimming over my clit to the heated, totally drenched folds of my sex.

The edge of his lips curled into a victorious smirk. “Just as I thought, you dirty girl.” Leaning in, he kissed me gently on the lips, his fingers sliding gently inside me as his palm began to move in lazy circles over the sensitive nub of my clit. “Now relax. I want my Cinders to come against my hand. You need this release, baby. You deserve it.”

I groaned in helpless submission as his fingers worked their magic, slipping and sliding in and out as he gazed lasciviously into my eyes, watching as my body betrayed me and sent me hurtling toward orgasm. I thrust my hips in time to his plunges, inviting him deeper as my muscles clenched around his fingers in a delicious climax. His mouth tugged into a smile as it closed over mine to stifle the resounding moans of my pleasure, and gradually he slowed, working me calmly back down to Earth.

Feeling suddenly exhausted, I allowed my forehead to fall against his chest as he withdrew his hand and released my leg from around his waist. He kissed the top of my head, his hands working to fasten up my jeans. “Better?”

Sighing sedately, I tilted my chin to look at him. “How is it you know what I need before I do?” I asked in awe.

Lips kinking into his sexy smile, he said, “Because you’re my girl. It’s my job to know.”

“I love you, Prince Charming.”

“You don’t know how happy that makes me. I could live on that knowledge alone. You happy and in love with me is what makes my heart beat.” His fingers skimmed over my cheek, and I closed my eyes and leaned into them, thanking God for this man. “You are happy, aren’t you?”

My eyes opened to find a hint of the concern from before returning to his pools of blue. “Of course. I told you, I feel stronger and happier than ever.”

He nodded, but then as if he needed further confirmation added, “Even after what Mom said about your dad?”

Taking a second, I had a quick word with myself to check if I was being true to my feelings. Reassured that I was, I answered. “So the old man couldn’t stand the sight of me, anyway.” I shrugged. “I’d always assumed that the day I lost my mom was the same day I lost the love of my father. That I’d forfeited my right to be loved because I’d ripped her from his life prematurely. Knowing he didn’t love me to begin with… well, it’s strangely comforting. I didn’t lose his love. I never had it.” I smiled. “So why the fuck should the asshole deserve mine?”

Ethan sighed with relief. “I was so afraid all this would set you back. You’ve come so far and—”

“I know,” I interrupted him, reaching up to cup his face. “But you don’t need to worry on that score, I promise.”

He smiled, but something else lingered in his expression.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It doesn’t make any sense that your dad wouldn’t mention anything. He would have known who my parents were, so he must have known about our connection, about our moms’ friendship.”

I shrugged. “I stopped trying to figure out how his mind works long ago. But I suspect it was for this very reason. If he’d have warned us, then we wouldn’t all be reeling from the shock of it. Perhaps he just got a kick out knowing something we clearly didn’t. Don’t let it bother you, E.” I kissed him softly on the lips and reached down between us, closing my hand firmly over the still substantial bulge beneath his jeans. “Now, what are we going to do about this?”

Closing his eyes, he puffed out his cheeks and let out a breath. “I know what I’d like to do with it.”

“Mmm, me too, but I think you’d better hold that thought for the time being, Charming.” Rolling his eyes, he stood reluctantly back to adjust himself. “Come on. Let’s go see your parents.”

We found Richard and Veronica in the sitting room where we’d left them, flicking through the pages of the photo albums. They looked up as we entered, their expressions laden with apprehension, as if they feared their disclosure had somehow harmed our relationship. Their blatant concern touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting, and I felt suddenly eager to set their minds at rest.

My mouth softened into a warm smile as I closed the small gap between me and Ethan, his arm encircling my waist in a clear display of togetherness. The room seemed to heave a sigh of relief as both Ethan’s parents stood, their expressions transforming into ones of pleasure.

“You see?” Richard said softly to his wife, as if our actions were reaffirming what he’d already assured her of.

Veronica walked toward us and when she was within touching distance, she reached out and squeezed Ethan’s arm, smiling affectionately. What she said and did next took my breath away. “Welcome…” She opened her arms in invitation. “Welcome back, Angel.”

Without hesitation, I stepped into her waiting embrace, my eyes brimming with sudden tears of joy as she held me closely. For a few seconds I couldn’t speak at all, but when I finally managed to squeeze something past the overwhelming emotion, it was just two words. “Thank you…”

Later, Veronica showed me around her beautiful home while Ethan showed off the Bugatti to his dad. The two of them brought our overnight things up to the room Ethan and I would share, and we freshened up for a late supper.

We ate a mean lasagna cooked by Maria, the Wilde family’s long-serving housekeeper, washed down with a couple of bottles of delicious wine, followed by a fresh fruit salad. The conversation revolved mostly around how Ethan and I had met—again—omitting the obvious, more private bits, of course. I told Richard and Veronica all about my love of photography and the gallery, and they recounted anecdotes from our childhood friendship, which either had us practically crying from laughter or cringing with embarrassment.

After supper we left Ethan and his dad to discuss business for a while, Veronica requesting that Maria bring us a pot of good, strong coffee out onto the patio. Outside, a beautiful Venetian chiminea was already burning, the ample heat keeping the chill of the evening at bay. The large, comfy patio furniture was swathed in fur throws, reminding me of home, and as I settled into the seat, Veronica picked one up and placed it over my legs, tucking it under my feet. The gesture seemed innately maternal, like it was her job to mother me, and despite me being unaccustomed to such tenderness, it felt right, comfortable.

Grabbing a couple of long slender forks from beside the chiminea, she made herself comfortable. “Do you still like marshmallows, Angel?” I narrowed my eyes, confused by the sudden question, but nodded in answer. Smiling broadly, she produced a bag of large, fluffy marshmallows and sticking one on the end of a fork, passed it to me.

For a few minutes we sat in a comfortable silence, waiting while Maria brought our coffee and toasting marshmallows over the searing heat of the chiminea.

“Good?” Veronica asked as I bit into the sweet, sticky substance.

It was amazing. I closed my eyes and nodded in blissful delight. “I’ve never toasted marshmallows before,” I said with almost childlike excitement as I popped another one on the end of the fork and into the chiminea.

Veronica’s smile wavered a little at my reply, her head tilting thoughtfully. “She loved you
so
much, you know.”

The comment caused a hard lump to form in my throat, prohibiting an immediate response. Veronica sensed my difficulty and continued while I gathered myself.

“She would be so proud at how you’ve turned out, so strong and independent.”

“Oh, that’s all down to your son.” The chance to commend Ethan restored my poise. “He was the one to put me back together again. I didn’t think a whole lot of myself until I found him. Again,” I added as an afterthought.

She smiled kindly, her eyes reflecting the amber flames from the fire. “He loves you very much too. Inherently, it seems. Like he was born to love you. I think he might actually have it written through his bones.” She paused on a chuckle. “But I’m certain if you asked him, he would verify that you were already a strong, beautiful, independent woman before he came along. I think maybe he just helped you to see it yourself.”

I frowned dubiously, but didn’t comment.

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “You do know you’re worthy of his love, don’t you?”

Momentarily confused by the question, I answered instinctively. “I’ll never take it for granted. I thank God every day that he’s in my life.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as you know Ethan is equally grateful. You deserve his love and he deserves yours.”

“What about my dad?” The question bolted from my mouth before I even realized.

“What do you mean?”

“I always assumed I lost his love because of what happened. But now I know that I never had it. I wondered if you thought I deserved it.”

Veronica looked astounded. “Oh, Angel, of course you did. Every child deserves the love of their parents, just by… simply being.” She paused. “Can I be brutally honest?”

“Yes. Please.” I was grateful for any information which would help me build a more accurate picture, rather than this bizarre jigsaw puzzle with millions of missing pieces conjured from pure conjecture.

“I didn’t know your father well, but I knew enough to know he was a grade-A prick.” Her cheeks flushed as she spat the words with unyielding conviction. “The truth is, he was so painfully egotistical, he couldn’t see beyond his own needs. He wanted your mom’s undivided attention and sharing her affection with you was never on his agenda. It used to exhaust her, trying to keep him happy, but at the same time trying to be a good mom to you.”

“Is that why I stayed with you at the weekends and holidays, to give them some time together without me around?” An angry tear fell unbidden onto my cheek, suddenly furious that my father had deprived me of the short time I’d had with my mom.

Veronica eyes filled with sadness as she reached out and brushed it away. Then to my surprise, she patted her leg. “Come, lie down.” Without hesitation, I tucked my legs up on the sofa beside me as she gently guided me to lie on my side, my head in her lap to face the blaze of the chiminea.

Ordinarily, tactility wasn’t my thing, so unused to physical affection—apart from, of course, the intimate warmth I shared with Ethan—but oddly, this felt like a completely natural thing to do. I wasn’t sure if it was her connection to my mom, or how important she was to Ethan, or simply that despite only just becoming aware of it, I’d actually known her all my life and had probably done this a thousand times before. But here I was, curled up in her lap, being soothed by her hand stroking gently through my hair.

“Your mom brought you to us because it’s where you were the happiest, not to suit him. Plus, in the last couple of years, she had the twins, so it was never just the two of them. They relied on your mom less than you did; he insisted on hiring a nanny to help with them so they didn’t consume her time. Maybe that was the reason he wasn’t threatened by them in the same way.”