Page 22 of Bind Me, Sir

We walked in silence for a time, tree frogs chirping from the far-off trees, and I found myself comfortable with Natalie even though I didn’t know her all that well. Her sincerity of character proved itself to me every minute I spent in her company. She would be the type of woman a dominant would appreciate for a partner—the type I secretly yearned for.

“I feel as though I ought to start up a happier conversation,” she murmured, drawing me from my thoughts, “but everything that comes to mind seems inconsequential and boring.”

I chuckled. “You’re hardly a boring person, Natalie.”

She huffed a breath. “I am,” she insisted with a bit of force. “I work all day, clean up after my sister, do our laundry, and read at night once I feel it’s safe for me to relax. I never go out, never hit clubs or bars with friends in case Luna needs me.” A heavy sigh slowed her step a bit. “Hell, I don’t even have friends.”

“Sure you do. Lily and Adam.” I squeezed her hand against my elbow. “Me.”

Feeling her gaze on the side of my face, I glanced down to find her head tilted back, trying to study me in the lack of evening light. “You would be my friend after that whole picture situation?”

Soft laughter escaped me once more, and my chest felt lighter than it had in years. “I must admit to liking what drove you to take those pictures.”

She quickly glanced away, and I wondered if a flush covered her chest and face. “And now I no longer have them to enjoy when you’re gone back to Boston once more,” she murmured as though to herself.

The way she tended to spew her thoughts without filter pleased me greatly. I pulled up short and turned toward her, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear and saw her catching her breath. We stared at one another in the darkness, the draw to kiss her almost more than I could withstand.

“I could give you more to remember me by,” I murmured, rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand.

She blinked up at me, her lips parting.

Lust kicked me in the stomach, and I reached for her, not sure what I intended to do, but the ringing of her phone interrupted.

“Ignore it,” I whispered, but she pulled away, fished the cell from her dress’s pocket, and swiped the screen.

“It could be my sister,” she explained, stepping back and lifting the phone to her ear. “Hello?” She bit her lower lip. “Yes, this is she.”

Her focus flitted up to my face, the tension from earlier in the afternoon once more riding her shoulders and furrowing my brow.

“Is everything okay, Mr. Reiner?” she asked, her voice shaking.

I laced my fingers through her free hand, wishing like hell I could hear the voice on the other end.

“Oh God.” Natalie clenched her eyes shut.

“What?” I whispered, lowering my head to better see her face, my annoyance over the interruption giving way to concern.

“Luna stole a car from Ashwood Center, sideswiped another, and ended up in a ditch,” she told me, her voice small—scared. “Is everyone okay?” she asked Mr. Reiner, tugging her hand free of mine to wrap her arm around her middle.

He spoke for a time, a shudder rippling through Natalie as her eyes clenched shut once more and muttered curses slipped past her lips.

“I’ll head over straight away. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Reiner.” She lowered the cell from her ear and clutched it to her chest. “Luna’s in jail.” A sob caught in her throat, and I pulled her into my arms, needing to offer what little comfort I could, all thoughts of ropes and sighs on her lips dissipated at the bad news.

A million questions rose to mind, but I held her in silence, giving her time to process. Natalie held herself together better than I expected, a bracing breath sucking between her lips after allowing herself only a few tears, a few moments of leaning on me for support.

“It’s the best place for her, really,” I said, soothing a hand down her back rather than focus on the softness of her large breasts pressing against my torso. “She can’t escape and she’s cut off from all suppliers from whatever she’s detoxing from. Perhaps this will be the wakeup call she desperately needs.”

“I have to go,” Natalie said with a sniff, pulling away from me.

I grasped her hand, lacing my fingers through hers before she untangled herself from my arms completely. “She’s eighteen.”

“Yes, but—”

“Perhaps it’s time for you to stop rescuing her and let her learn a lesson the hard way.”

“My sister is in jail.” A slight bite laced her tone, one that made me want to bend her over my lap and watch her backside bloom red beneath my hand.

“Because whoever she stole that car from will without doubt press charges,” I said. “There is nothing you can do for her—but a lawyer might. Do you have one?”

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