Bound Temptations: Stories of Temptation and Submission Read Online Free Page B

Smoothing a hand back
over her hair, she gave him an aggravated glance. "It's not like
you need the money, darling."
    "No, I don't. But you never
asked if I wanted to come. You told me to. And now that you're
here, all you can do is insult the owner. Mara...I don't even know
you anymore. And what little I do know?" He paused, reaching for
the words. He didn't want to hurt her.
    Mara crossed her arms over
her chest, one blonde brow lifted impatiently. "Yes?"
    "I don't like."
    She stilled. Finally,
something flickered in her pale blue eyes. But it was gone almost
as fast as it had appeared. "That's just silly, Cole. You know me.
I'm the same woman I was when you proposed—the same woman I was the
night you told me you loved me and wanted to spend the rest of your
life with me."
    "No, you're not. You used to
smile. And laugh. Now you only smile if you're mocking somebody. Or
being cruel." He looked away as he pushed off the door. "And that's
not who I want to spend my life with."
    Taking a deep breath, he
said softly, "This engagement is off, Mara. I'll pick up my stuff
and move out of the condo next week. I'll sign it over to you—you
can have it. And I'll honor my agreement on the store. But that's
it. We're done."
    "Cole, wait."
    He opened the door as he
looked back at her.
    "You can't do this," she
said, her voice shaking. "Not to me. Not here."
    "I didn't want to do it
here. But I can do it...and I am. I'm not going to spend my life
with someone who is obviously so unhappy. Life's too short, Mara.
Get out there and enjoy it—stop worrying so much about getting
ahead and just live."

Chapter Three
     
     
    "Getting close to time,"
Lacey mused.
    "I know." Rocki gave her
friend an amused glance and nodded toward the clock on the wall. "I
can read a clock, you know."
    "Bitch." It was delivered in
a friendly tone, along with an elbow in the side. Hard.
    "Hey!" Rocki slammed a hand
against the wall to keep from toppling over and glared at Lacey.
"You're the bitch. Bitch. Would stop trying to send me careening to
the floor?"
    "Can't help it...it was just
so funny the one time you did go down..." Lacey wagged her
eyebrows. That was one night she'd never let Rocki live down—hadn't
mattered that both of them had been drunk. "So...you going to let
some hot guy bid on you this year?"
    "Oh, puh-leeze." She sighed
and sipped from the one glass of champagne she'd allow herself for
now. She'd have more later. After this was all over. Champagne. Or
something stronger. Probably something stronger, so she didn't have
to think about that damn card. And the call she'd have to make
soon, because she knew the cards weren't going to stop.
    "You going to tell me what's
up with you?"
    With a smile, Rocki lied
between her teeth. "Nothing." She'd have to come clean with Lacey.
Especially if another one of those cards showed. Lacey's brother,
Clayton, was one of the friends she figured she'd call—he'd been
one of Brant's closer friends. He would take it seriously, too. But
until another one showed, she wasn't going to worry about it. If
another one came...then, fine. She'd deal. And she'd deal
appropriately. But not now—she had to get through tonight
first.
    "You know, if I didn't know
you, I could believe you," Lacey said on a sigh. "But I do know
you. And I know you're lying."
    "Sucks, doesn't
it?"
    "Bitch," Lacey muttered.
Then she groaned. "Speaking of bitches...here's the Wicked Witch of
High Street coming now. And she looks like she's up to no
good."
    Yeah, Rocki had to agree.
The glint of Mara O'Keily's eyes was all the warning Rocki needed.
As she sipped from her champagne glass, she glanced at her friend
Lacey. Behind the glass, she whispered, "If you disappear, I'm
going to deck you. And keep your trap shut, too."
    Lacey grimaced. "That woman
is a viper."
    "I know."
    Five seconds later, Mara was
there, smiling a hard, brittle smile. The look in her eyes was
bright, almost too bright. And disconnected. "Oh, there you are,
Rocki...I've