When Marcus unexpectedly yanks me down so I am splayed across his knees, reality dawns. Hell no, this is not happening again. “You're not spanking me to subdue my anger!”
“I’m not spanking you to subdue you! I’m spanking you so you’ll calm down enough to tell me why the hell you think it's appropriate to give my staff permission to curse me.”
I yank away from him, my movements so abrupt, I stumble in my heels. My face grimaces, unappreciative of the pain rocketing through my backside when I land with a hard thud. When Marcus moves to aid me off the ground, I shake my head. My anger is boiling to the point a slight sting to my backside doesn't even register.
After scrambling off the floor, I ask, “Brodie cursing you? That’s really your biggest concern right now?”
Marcus doesn’t answer me. He doesn’t need to. The tick of his jaw answers all my questions. This has nothing to do with Brodie and everything to do with Dexter and me dancing.
“You're such a hypocrite. I discover you hiding out with another woman who is wearing your trademark, but if I dare dance with a friend who is trying to keep your secret a secret, there is hell to pay.”
"A friend? If that's how your friends look at you, Cleo, you need to get new friends," Marcus responds, ignoring the most integral parts of my admission. The parts that expose Dexter is aware of his double life, and I am aware of Keira’s significance in his.
“He is not your friend, Cleo. Friends don’t look at friends like that.”
“And how exactly was he looking at me?” Even though I’m asking a question, I continue talking as if I didn’t. “Was it a similar look to the one Keira was giving you when you had your arms wrapped around her? The one that undeniably displays she has no intention of being your friend?”
Marcus’s nostrils flare, but his lips remain pursed, proving what I said is true. He knows as well as I do, Keira isn’t just his friend. I don’t know if that means they have a past or a future, but I do know one thing: it causes my earlier jealousy to return stronger than ever.
"What was the point in bringing me here, Marcus? To prove without a doubt I don't belong in this lifestyle? If it was, you wasted your time. I'm already acutely aware of that fact. I told you I was never going to be what you needed me to be, but you didn’t believe me. Maybe tonight will be all the proof you need."
“Goddammit, Cleo, I don’t want you to be my sub. I just want you—for once—to do as you're goddamn told.”
I brush away a sneaky tear that fell from my eye before Marcus has the chance to see it. "You don't want me as your sub?!"
“No!” he snaps back, his tone so low it vibrates the tips of my toes.
“Then why did you collar me as if I am?” I ask, loathing that my crackling voice exposes the catalyst of emotions pumping into me.
Marcus balks as if my words physically slapped him, but not a word seeps from his thinned with grimness lips. His silence hurts me more than his words ever could. It's by far my hardest limit.
“Because at the end of the day, no matter how much you try and deny it, you still want a submissive. I’m not a sub, Marcus. I don’t know how I can make that any clearer for you.”
My eyes burn with moisture when he maintains his quiet front, neither denying or agreeing with my assumption.
“If that's truly what you want, why don’t we just cut our losses now before real feelings start to evolve?” I suggest, pretending I haven’t already developed feelings for him.
The first tear trickles down my cheek when my suggestion is met with silence. Incapable of holding in my devastation for a moment longer, I spin on my heels and race for the door.
My heart shatters into a million pieces when Marcus lets me leave without protest.
* * *
To be continued. . .
Afterword
To be continued. . .
* * *
Get set for the last emotion packed journey in Cleo and Marcus’s story. Restrained is already released.
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Hunter, Hugo, Hawke, Enrique & Brax stories have already been released, but Ryan, Brandon, Regan and all the other great characters of Ravenshoe will be getting their own stories at some point during 2018 & 2019.
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Also by Shandi Boyes
Perception Series:
* * *
Saving Noah
Fighting Jacob
Taming Nick
Redeeming Slater
Saving Emily (Novella)
Wrapped up with Rise Up (Novella - should be read after Bound)
* * *
Enigma:
* * *
Enigma of Life
Unraveling an Enigma
Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked
Enigma: The Final Chapter
Beneath the Secrets
Beneath the Sheets
The Opposite Effect
I Married a Mob Boss
Second Shot
The Way We Are
The Way We Were
Sugar and Spice
Lady in Waiting
Man in Queue
Couple on Hold
Enigma: The Wedding
Silent Vigilante
Hushed Guardian
Quiet Protector
* * *
Bound Series:
* * *
Chains
Links
Bound
Restrained
Psycho
* * *
Russian Mob Chronicles:
* * *
Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance
Nikolai: Taking Back What's Mine
Nikolai: What's Left of Me
Asher: My Russian Revenge
Nikolai: Through the Devil's Eyes
* * *
RomCom Standalones:
* * *
Just Playin'
The Drop Zone
Ain't Happenin'
Christmas Trio
Falling for a Stranger
* * *
Coming Soon:
* * *
Skitzo
Trey
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following individuals who, without their contributions and support, this book would not have been written.
First to my husband Chris, when I said I wanted to write a book he simply replied with, “Okay great.” No hesitation, not even a small amount of consideration, he just offered his full support. This is very much in tune with exactly how my husband has been our whole marriage. I have an idea, and he supports me 100%. I'm so grateful to have him in my life, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. He is my most valued gift in life.
Second to my darling mum. She reads the entire first draft of every novel I’ve penned while attempting to assist in editing. I have never been good with anything grammatical, but she assists me where she can. For this, I'll be eternally grateful.
Third, to my editor, Krista. Thank you for making my manuscripts shine!
Fourth, but not at all least, to my readers. I appreciate each and every one of you. You are the reason I write something every day. It might only be a paragraph, or it may be ten thousand words a day, but it is your encouragement and support that keeps me writing. So THANK YOU!
Please remember to leave a review of my book.
Shandi xx
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