![Lora_Leigh_Bound_Hearts_2_Submission[1].pdf](https://fs.collectorofbookboyfriends.com/479824/thumbs/152x264/lora-leigh-bound-hearts-2-submission1pdf.jpg)
went
around half naked? Don’t tell me you’re firing me after only a few hours on the job.”
Lora Leigh
Submission
50
Chapter Ten
It was well after midnight before Charlie left. After James’ mocking statement and
his declaration that he was going to bed to let them discuss him in peace, Ella broke out
the wine. Some nights, there was nothing you could do but get a shade tipsy and
remember all the reasons why you didn’t want a man in your life. Charlie was eager to
go along with her. Evidently all that smooth male muscle and blatant sexuality had
been too much for her to deal with at one time as well.
Finally, her friend weaved her way to the limo waiting on her, thanked her aging
driver nicely as he opened the door for her, and crawled into the vehicle. Ella herself felt
she was walking reasonably straight until she closed the door and turned around. She
proceeded to walk into the embroidered chair that sat off to the side. She frowned down
at it in irritation before backing up and trying again.
She needed to go to bed. But James was in her bed. She stopped as she headed
through the kitchen. Of course James was in her bed. That was where he belonged, she
decided with a sharp, rather jerky nod before squaring her shoulders and heading to
the room.
He was waiting on her. How had she known he would still be awake and waiting
on her? His expression was cool, arrogant, as she removed her robe and started to lie
down.
“The gown.” His voice was dark, foreboding.
Ella stopped, staring at him in surprise.
“Excuse me?” she asked him haughtily. “I sleep in my gown.”
“Take it off or I’ll tear it off.” There was no mercy in his voice, no change in his
expression.
Lora Leigh
Submission
51
Ella snorted. “Some boy toy you are, James. I might have to fire you after all. You
are supposed to obey me, not the other way around.”
“Take the gown off. I won’t tell you again, Ella.” Her insides trembled at the dark
brew of anger and desire that throbbed in his voice.
She did as he said, suddenly too nervous not to. She watched him helplessly as the
silk gown slithered to the floor, leaving her bare before his eyes. What did he see, she
wondered? She was older; her body wasn’t as toned, as pretty as it had been ten years
before. She knew all her problem areas, had stared at them in the mirror more times
than she could count.
He pulled the blankets back then and patted the bed beside him. Watching him
warily, she got into bed, lying on her back as he stopped her from turning on her side.
His big hand moved to her stomach, caressing the flesh there as her breath caught in her
throat.
“I won’t be regulated to the bedroom, hidden, a secret you keep from everyone,” he
warned her coldly as he stared down at her. “Do you understand me, Ella?”
“What do you want from me?” She shook her head, her brain clouded with the
alcohol, her emotions sensitized from her friend’s warnings, and James’ demands.
“Why are you even here, James? In my bed. My life,” she sighed wearily.
“You have to figure that one out on your own,” he growled, his hand moving until
he could brush back the lingering strands of hair that clung to her cheek, her neck. “You
should have already figured it out, Ella, but you refuse to look beyond your own fears. I
won’t allow that to continue.”
His eyes softened only marginally as she stared up at him. In the soft light of the
lamp, his features were shadowed, savage yet softening with tenderness. She lifted her
hand until she could touch the roughness of his beard-shadowed jaw, loving the
warmth and roughness of his flesh.
“I dreamed of you,” she whispered bleakly. “For so many years, I dreamed of you,
James. You’ll break my heart if I let you. I can’t let you.”
Lora Leigh
Submission
52
His gaze became shuttered. “Go to sleep, Ella. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
He moved then, turning out the light before
around half naked? Don’t tell me you’re firing me after only a few hours on the job.”
Lora Leigh
Submission
50
Chapter Ten
It was well after midnight before Charlie left. After James’ mocking statement and
his declaration that he was going to bed to let them discuss him in peace, Ella broke out
the wine. Some nights, there was nothing you could do but get a shade tipsy and
remember all the reasons why you didn’t want a man in your life. Charlie was eager to
go along with her. Evidently all that smooth male muscle and blatant sexuality had
been too much for her to deal with at one time as well.
Finally, her friend weaved her way to the limo waiting on her, thanked her aging
driver nicely as he opened the door for her, and crawled into the vehicle. Ella herself felt
she was walking reasonably straight until she closed the door and turned around. She
proceeded to walk into the embroidered chair that sat off to the side. She frowned down
at it in irritation before backing up and trying again.
She needed to go to bed. But James was in her bed. She stopped as she headed
through the kitchen. Of course James was in her bed. That was where he belonged, she
decided with a sharp, rather jerky nod before squaring her shoulders and heading to
the room.
He was waiting on her. How had she known he would still be awake and waiting
on her? His expression was cool, arrogant, as she removed her robe and started to lie
down.
“The gown.” His voice was dark, foreboding.
Ella stopped, staring at him in surprise.
“Excuse me?” she asked him haughtily. “I sleep in my gown.”
“Take it off or I’ll tear it off.” There was no mercy in his voice, no change in his
expression.
Lora Leigh
Submission
51
Ella snorted. “Some boy toy you are, James. I might have to fire you after all. You
are supposed to obey me, not the other way around.”
“Take the gown off. I won’t tell you again, Ella.” Her insides trembled at the dark
brew of anger and desire that throbbed in his voice.
She did as he said, suddenly too nervous not to. She watched him helplessly as the
silk gown slithered to the floor, leaving her bare before his eyes. What did he see, she
wondered? She was older; her body wasn’t as toned, as pretty as it had been ten years
before. She knew all her problem areas, had stared at them in the mirror more times
than she could count.
He pulled the blankets back then and patted the bed beside him. Watching him
warily, she got into bed, lying on her back as he stopped her from turning on her side.
His big hand moved to her stomach, caressing the flesh there as her breath caught in her
throat.
“I won’t be regulated to the bedroom, hidden, a secret you keep from everyone,” he
warned her coldly as he stared down at her. “Do you understand me, Ella?”
“What do you want from me?” She shook her head, her brain clouded with the
alcohol, her emotions sensitized from her friend’s warnings, and James’ demands.
“Why are you even here, James? In my bed. My life,” she sighed wearily.
“You have to figure that one out on your own,” he growled, his hand moving until
he could brush back the lingering strands of hair that clung to her cheek, her neck. “You
should have already figured it out, Ella, but you refuse to look beyond your own fears. I
won’t allow that to continue.”
His eyes softened only marginally as she stared up at him. In the soft light of the
lamp, his features were shadowed, savage yet softening with tenderness. She lifted her
hand until she could touch the roughness of his beard-shadowed jaw, loving the
warmth and roughness of his flesh.
“I dreamed of you,” she whispered bleakly. “For so many years, I dreamed of you,
James. You’ll break my heart if I let you. I can’t let you.”
Lora Leigh
Submission
52
His gaze became shuttered. “Go to sleep, Ella. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
He moved then, turning out the light before
Similar Books
