Lorelei James - Bound

But nothing about that realization made her happy.

“Why the sad face, doll?” Vincent asked when he reached across her for the coffee creamer.

“I’m not sad. Why? Do I look it?”

“A little.” He squeezed her forearm. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just thinking about the last time I had champagne. I made a few questionable choices.”

“Is this a juicy story?”

Amery laughed. “Not really.”

“Pity. I had perverted hopes you’d dish out a sexy story about you and the scrumptious Ronin Black.” He leaned closer. “Is it true what I’ve heard about him?”

“Depends on what you’ve heard.”

“That he’s into . . . all sorts of . . . things.”

She sipped her champagne and studied Vincent, Chaz’s tailor and longtime friend. “Can you be more specific?”

Vincent fussed with the sleeve of his shirt. “Just that Mr. Black doesn’t list all his services on his dojo’s Web site. But if you know who to ask, what to ask, and have the means, he’s available for hire.”

“For what? As a clown at kids’ birthday parties?”

“Hilarious. No, silly. For personal protection. Yes, he offers training, but for the right price he’ll also sign on as a bodyguard.”

She relaxed, relieved Ronin’s real proclivities weren’t the subject of rumors. “Now, where did you pick up that information, Vincent?”

He waved his hand. “I’m tailor to Denver’s elite. It’s amazing what one overhears when customers consider you part of the furniture. I’d forgotten a conversation I’d overheard until Chaz mentioned his concern about your involvement with Mr. Black.”

Why had Chaz talked to Vincent about Ronin?

“I can see Chaz didn’t share the information I shared with him with you.”

“Probably because it wouldn’t surprise me that Ronin hired out his services. He’s an advocate for self-protection and he’s highly trained in all areas. If I needed a man to guard my back, he’d be first on the list.”

“But doesn’t that scare you?” Vincent pressed. “That he might hurt you without meaning to?”

“Ronin would never hurt me. The man has unparalleled control in any and all situations.” Amery remembered Ronin’s icy coolness the night they were attacked—both during and after. Then her mind went back to how much he knew about stripping down and discarding a gun.

“Interesting.” Vincent stirred his piña colada. “Well, I’m glad to hear you trust him, because frankly, I never expected you to be attracted to that sort of man.”

“What sort? Hot? Older? Exotic?”

“A thug. A highly trained thug, but a thug nonetheless.”

Amery’s jaw dropped. “Wow, for a gay man who deals with preconceived ideas, you’re pretty goddamn judgmental.”

“And what would sweet, naive Amery call a man who teaches violent tactics and sometimes uses them himself for profit? Isn’t that the very definition of a thug?”

She hated his pseudo-reasonable I’m-talking-to-a-child-tone. She drained her drink and stood. “Excuse me. I need to use the facilities.” And get the hell away from you.

In the bathroom, she replayed the conversation with Vincent. The problem with her friends and the groups they hung around with? They intellectualized everything. They wouldn’t look beyond Ronin’s brawn to see his brain. If he capitalized on his skill and expanded his income base, it didn’t make him a thug for hire; it made him smart.

Despite her frustration with him, she missed him.

Back at the table she took a seat at the end opposite Vincent.

Chaz made a beeline for her and sat on the arm of the chair. “Amery, the girl who always brings her A game, what’s up?”

“Not much. Just enjoying your par-tay.”

“You could’ve brought Master Black, you know.”

“Might be awkward for him, with your prissy friends judging him.”

Chaz crouched beside her. “Ignore Vincent. He’s a flaming asshole.”

“I just don’t understand why you talked to him about your concerns regarding me getting involved with Ronin.”

“Well, sugar cube, Vincent is my friend. I talked to him around the time Emmylou had me freaked out. That’s all.”

“You sure?” When Chaz hesitated, she knew that wasn’t all. “Tell me.”

“I just hate the secretiveness that’s grown between us since you started seeing him. Don’t jump on me, because I’m not blaming him, okay?”

Chaz did have a point. She didn’t talk about her relationship with Ronin. “Okay.”

“Seriously, where is he tonight?”

I don’t know . “Contrary to what you and Emmylou believe, Ronin and I do lead separate lives.”

“I’m glad because that means you’re here with me. I’m selfish enough to want you all to myself to help me celebrate tonight.” He took her hand. “So we okay?”

Amery smiled, suspecting it looked as bogus as it felt. “Of course. We going dancing?”

“You know it.” He stood and hip-checked her. “But no bitching because it’s a gay club,” he warned.

RONIN texted her at two a.m. I’m at the back door.

She debated ignoring it. She started a snarky response about him forgetting his key and deleted it. She typed K and rolled out of bed to let him in.

The metal door screeched loudly. After he stepped inside, she said, “Why did I bother to give you a key?”

Ronin responded by wrapping his hand around the back of her neck and pulling her mouth to his. Kissing her softly, but thoroughly. He broke the kiss to press his mouth up her jawline. “Goddamn, I missed you so much tonight. I was an ass earlier today.”

It wasn’t exactly an apology, but at least he acknowledged his bad behavior toward her. She tilted his head back and stared into his handsome face. Such tired eyes. “Ronin, you’re exhausted.”

“Pretty much.”

“You never did tell me what you did last night that kept you from sleep all night.”

“A favor for a friend. Now we’re square.”

Amery frowned at the shadow beneath his jaw. “Is that a bruise?”

“Probably. Some favors are unappreciated.”

Vincent’s nasty comment from earlier echoed in her head. “He’s a thug. A highly trained thug, but a thug nonetheless.”

No, he was just a man. She kissed the mark. “Let’s get you in bed.”

“Love to hear you say that. Although all I’m up for tonight is sleep.”

She stopped and pointed at the back door. “If you’re not going to fuck me at least three times, you might as well get the hell out.”

Ronin laughed, as she hoped he would. “Let me get a few hours of shut-eye and I’ll be all over you.”

“Well, then. I suppose you can crash with me.”

RONIN woke her when the faint orange glow of dawn teased the edges of the curtains. He said nothing; he just brushed his mouth over her ear until she offered him her throat. He placed a soft kiss on her jawline and nuzzled his face against her neck.

At first she loved the prickliness of his facial hair abrading her skin. But when he rubbed in the same spot on her throat and then the tops of her breasts, it became uncomfortable.

As soon as she tried to touch him, he knocked the pillows to the floor, pinned her arms to the mattress, and trailed sucking kisses from one side of her neck to the other. Over and over. Then he did the same scraping sweep from one breast to the other. Keeping a firm grip on her wrists, he settled between her thighs and thrust into her. He moved with such desperation. Fast and hard, with no time for finesse. No time to catch his breath in the race to the finish line. He swiveled his hips and Amery arched up, reaching for that moment of pleasure. She came quietly, panting against his neck, and his silent climax followed hers.