Page 23 of Eternally Bound

My belly clenched with feelings, or was it excitement? I had to confess to myself that when it came to this man, being older definitely didn’t make me smarter. I felt like that young woman that fell for the dark stranger at the coffee shop all over again. My heart still skipped a beat each time I remembered it. He towered over me, his dark hair and eyes in such contrast with my features, but I loved it. His charming smile as he offered to buy me a coffee sealed the deal. I was his.

In McLaren family members it took a fraction of a second to fall in love.

I rolled my shoulders, trying to relieve the tension in them. “Now what?”

A slight twist of his sensual full lips made him appear less harsh.

“Now we eat.”

Glancing out the window, I wondered exactly how late it was. “In the middle of the night?”

“It’s almost midnight,” he shrugged his shoulders coolly. His dark eyes remained closed off, though they sparkled with that familiar burn I seemed to remember. “You didn’t have dinner, so we’ll eat.”

“And how do you know I didn't have dinner?” I challenged. The corner of his lips turned up with a knowing smile. “You have been stalking me!” I exclaimed. It was him who I sensed the entire time. “So you are a stalker now too, huh?”

He shrugged. “I do what I have to for the people I care about.” My chest warmed at his words. Mental check was in order, but fuck, he said he cared about me. Did he? Ugh, I wanted to tell him to say it clearly where I didn’t have to guess at the meaning. He strode towards the bedroom door, without a backward glance. “Be ready in five minutes. You might want to change.”

“I wasn’t ready to be kidnapped by your crazy ass,” I muttered, more agitated at myself than him. I hated that I cared so much about his feelings for me. I was a grown-ass woman, a mother, and here I was debating whether Daniel loved me or not. I just needed a flower with petals, and I could start plucking them to see what destiny said.

A strangled chuckle escaped me as that image flashed in my mind.

His eyes searched out mine, a curious gleam in their darkness. “What’s so funny?”

Well, I would not be answering that question honestly.

“Umm, nothing. Just kind of silly eating in the middle of the night,” I told him instead. “It’s not good for my waist.”

His eyes roamed down my body, something dark and exciting in their depths and a shiver ran down my neck and my spine. Just a look by him, and I was too frazzled that I couldn’t think of anything else but his hands and lips on my skin.

“Your body is perfect,” he purred in a dark voice and my insides combust into flames. Oh, this was bad, so bad. Or could be good, so good. Goddamn it, I had to keep my smarts. Before I could think of anything else to say, he continued in that deliciously dark voice that promised the best kind of sins.

“I expect you to follow my wishes, Ainslee.” The image of him ordering me to take my clothes off and get on the bed played in my mind. I was my own worst enemy. “Your dress has a stain on it.” My eyes followed his, and he was right. There was a stain on it. I frowned, not recalling how I got it. Maybe when he freaking attacked me? Jackass. “Clothes your size are in the armoire. Pick something. If you find anything missing, let one of the staff know. They are under instruction to procure you anything you want.”

There were so many things I wanted right now that my ears burned as if I expressed my desires out loud. I wanted him desperately. Our gazes clashed, fire burning in both of us and the last twelve years of hunger lingering in the air.

Did he want me as much as I wanted him?

It was as if we battled wills and our own desires, neither one of us was willing to look away. I almost wished he’d ravish me now so we could get it over with and this hunger for him could be sated.

I should just tell him I wasn’t hungry for food and pray he got the hint what I was hungry for. Where in God’s name did my self-respect go? Maybe Eve’s books and the smut my mother was reading was catching up to me.

Daniel was already the sexiest man alive. Mix that with my slutty ideas and I was burning with flames that only this man could sate.

The irritation at this situation, and that Callen had gotten me into the clutches of my ex-lover, made me act irrationally. It wasn’t as if I had a meek temper to start with, but everything about this situation made me want to throw a tantrum. Not an attractive tantrum either. I wanted the passion he gave me twelve years ago, I wanted the tenderness and love he offered me before, and most of all, I wanted Daniel Carrington.

“Don’t make me wait.” Daniel’s voice sent shudders through my body and straight to my core.

This is so bad!

He strode out of the room, leaving me standing and staring after him with a pulsing ache.

Chapter Nine

Ainslee

Standing in front of the armoire, I rifled through the collection of outfits. This man had thought of everything. The closet was stocked with various items, from jeans to evening gowns. Everything in it was expensive and top quality. There were even shoes my size and jewelry, which most decidedly I wouldn’t touch. Although it was slightly tempting. I always did love glittery, shiny stuff.

I opted for a pair of jeans and a green blouse. Though it was one of the simplest outfits in the closet, the blouse was still exquisite, with a low-plunge. Glancing at my feet, I debated whether going barefoot would be appropriate. It seemed ridiculous to get changed and dressed for dinner so late in the night.

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