Bound for Christmas Read online

  Making sure his father’s feet were set, a little awkward, but in the best position possible. “Now just take a step, Dad.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Lily said she’d been working with you for months now and your legs muscles are strong you just don’t use them. One step.”

  “I can’t.”

  Evan took a deep breath, feeling the trembling in his father’s body; fear. He understood at that moment that it had been easier for the last seven months for James Douglas to lie in the bed and not try than to admit his strength failed him.

  “Dad, it is just you and me. I’m right here. I won’t let you fall and I’m not going anywhere.”

  The shaking increased, but finally his father moved, barely an inch but he took a step.

  “Let’s try another one, dad.” Tears were making his eyes blurry but Evan kept his voice steady, refusing to let his father hear the soft emotion. With one hand on top of his dads and the other around his waist they took another step. This time on his father’s good foot.

  It took twenty minutes for his father to walk four feet, both of them were sweating but by the time Lily showed up both of their faces were wet and his father was in a better mind frame for physical therapy.

  Evan stayed and assisted Lily, more like received training from her in how to work with his father when she wasn’t there, now that James was willing to learn to walk.

  “Okay, dad, I have plans for tonight but tomorrow we’ll do it again.” When he helped his father into bed over an hour and a half later, got him set up with a cold glass of ice water, two of Zoey’s holiday cookies and started the recorded episode of his western marathon there was just a little light in his old man’s eyes. Not quite a sparkle and there was no smile on James Douglas face but the two of them had started in the direction of crossing a bridge.

  “You going out with Zoey?”

  “Yes.” Evan waited for the normal ridicule that would come from his father.

  “You two are quite a team.” His father’s eyes were beginning to droop; Evan doubted if he’d make it through the opening of the movie.

  “It’s looking that way. We’re trying,” he confessed.

  “Don’t mess it up,” James said seconds before he drifted off to sleep.

  Evan closed the door, leaving it open a crack. He went into the kitchen where Theresa was reading a book to let her know that his dad was resting. Then he jogged up stairs admiring all the holiday changes in the house. He knew it all was Zoey’s doing. The woman had come into their lives and changed more things in the house than the decorations.

  His father had advised him not to mess things up and he didn’t plan on it. Tonight was going to be an important night in their relationship. It would prove whether or not it was even possible for him and Zoey to have a relationship together. He was prepared to reveal all; he hoped she was ready to receive it.

  Chapter Ten

  “I missed you.” Evan said to Zoey after he’d freed her mouth from a passionate kiss. However, he still had her pressed against the wall with her legs wrapped around his waist.

  “Well, hello to you to.” She giggled. “I missed you as well.”

  “The house looks amazing. It hasn’t been decorated for years for the holiday.”

  “That would explain the level of dust in the boxes and all the missing or worn down items.” She ran her hands along his short hair. It was longer now than when she’d first met him, but he still kept it tapered and above his collar.

  “Definitely.” He kissed along the side of her neck as he squeezed her ass.

  Rotating her hips against the hard bulge in his pants she asked, “You just want to get naked and stay in tonight.”

  He groaned as he stepped back and allowed her to plant her feet on the floor. “Oh, my angel, I’d love to say yes, but there’s some place I want to take you.”

  “A surprise?” she asked feeling giddy, she loved surprises.

  “Not really.” He moved to the center of her living room shoved his hands down into the pockets of his pants as he gazed at her. “You once asked me how I dealt with all my emotions from my father and myself.”

  She wasn’t sure how to feel at the moment. Happy that he was willing to confide in her, but nervous because his tone had changed some. Gone was the passionate man who greeted her, now he appeared serious and slightly withdrawn.

  “Okay. Whatever that is I want to know. It’s a part of you, therefore, important to me.”

  He nodded. “I hope you still think so once you see.”

  Now she was almost scared, but she’d never been one to back away from a challenge before. “Am I dressed okay? Do I need sneakers or a sweat suit?”

  Currently she was wearing a satin green top, cream pants and her boots.

  He frowned. “Where do you think I’m taking you?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know a boxing gym or something.”

  “I’m not even dressed for a workout.” Moving his hands up and down his body he indicated his own apparel.

  That was true. Dressed in all black, he wore khakis, a t-shirt and casual shoes. His coat and scarf were black as well.

  “Just so I’m clear before we walk out the door, you’re not involved in any kind of wicked worshiping are you?” She needed to know if she should start running the other way…far away from him if he was.

  His bark of laughter made her feel a little more at ease.

  “No. Not at all.”

  “Good. So, what do I need to wear…black maybe?”

  “Let’s see what you have and I’ll help you choose something appropriate if you don’t mind.”

  “Anything that keeps me from sticking out like a sore thumb I’m game.” She led the way into her bedroom.

  An hour later, they were in the car driving to destination unknown and Zoey found herself dressed in a white corset that she had in her closet from a costume bachelorette party last year when she and her friend’s had gone out bar hopping dressed as naughty nurses. Evan had her put on a grey mini that was almost too tight to be decent, something she’d bought at the request of her ex but could never bring herself to wear outside of the house. Her only other apparel was her white leather boots. She was thankful to have it all hidden under a dark trench coat, but she dreaded the moment she took her coat off.

  “How was your dad when you left?”

  “Because today was sort of a good day, I will let you talk about work…for a moment.” He glanced over at her from the driver side of the car.

  “Thank you.” Right now she needed something familiar and that’s what work was for her. “What happened?”

  “My father took some steps with his walker.” Pride radiated in his voice.

  “Oh, Evan that is wonderful. How did Lily convince him to use it?” She turned a little in the seat and stared at his profile.

  “Actually, I got him up. With a lot of threats, but he did it.”

  She leaned her head to the side against the headrest. “With you…that is amazing. Maybe now you both can start moving forward.”

  As they passed beneath a street lamp she notice there was a little light now in his eyes.

  “I hope so.”

  They talked a little more, but before she knew it Evan was pulling up beside a large brick building in the row of other warehouse. The parking lot wasn’t packed but there were a lot of cars around them.

  She saw a few other people going in with long coats on, leather of different styles. When the door opened she could hear loud music and she wondered if it were one of those underground rave parties.

  “While we’re in here, Zoey, remember that I will always be beside you. You will not be forced to do anything you don’t want to and whenever you are ready to go just say the word.”

  Do things? What kind of things? God please don’t let this man be into swinging or drugs.

  She nodded and he got out of the car. Coming around he opened her door and she stepped out. He kissed her lightly on the mouth, and
then took her hand. The last thing he told her before they entered was that while they were there he was going to call her Nightingale and she needed to call him Flyer.

  Next thing she knew, Evan allowed a big burly man at the door to scan his card and then she was inside of a world she had only heard joked about by her E.R. nurse friends.

  Evan removed her coat and gave it to an attendant standing at the door of a small room. The woman had on a school girl skirt no top and what Zoey assumed were nipple clamps on her bare breasts. Zoey tried not to stare, but couldn’t help herself.

  Claiming her hand again, Evan told her about the large room with the stage, he had to lean close to her in order to speak in her ear over the loud techno-style music.

  People in all state of dress, undress, black, leather and rubber were dancing, drinking or staring at people in cages beside the stage.

  “Come.” Evan urged her forward.

  They walked through another door and she started to comprehend a little more. Evan was into kinks and fetishes of some sort.

  Silently she let him lead her passed women and men being whipped, spanked, paddled, caned and bound with rope and so many other things she could not completely figure out.

  Swallowing and licking her lips, she finally turned to Evan and asked, “So, how long have you been involved in this world?”

  “Before my brother died. A colleague introduced me to it. I enjoyed it, started learning techniques and improving my skills, but it wasn’t until after Derek died that I needed a place.” He kept his gaze locked on hers but guarded. “Not all the time but when I could get away. While in the military I kept away from clubs and just stuck to home events. More low key.”

  She realized that he was being completely open and honest with her. She needed to try and understand him, not judge.

  “Which one of these things did you bring me here to do to me?”

  She was trying to stay calm, but she knew that even though she cared for Evan deeply, possibly even loved him already, there was no way she could let him inflict pain on her. Which meant it might be over for them this night and that knowledge broke her heart.

  “What interests you? In the lifestyle it is not only about what the person in charge wishes; the one that submits has just as much choice.” His hands slid up her arms.

  His touch was warm but she still felt chilled and exposed.

  “To be honest, I don’t do pain and the thought of someone hitting me with an object scares me shitless.”

  “That’s good to know. Now I will tell you something. Even though I’m proficient with a lot of the things you see, I really only have one true dark desire.”

  Oh, God. “What’s that?”

  His gaze searched her face. “Will you trust me to show you?”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Please, Nightingale. If it becomes too much just say blaze and we are out of here.”

  Blaze. She recalled when they entered the guard at the door told them that the safe word for the night was blaze. Evan had explained to her what that meant.

  Over the past few weeks, she’d seen this man struggle to maintain his pride, bear his guilt, get emotional about his pain and help his father on the path to recovery the least she could do was try.

  “Do I have to get naked?”

  He smiled. “Not unless you want to.”

  “Nope, the semi-nude state I’m in is more than enough.”

  “Okay, come with me.”

  They snaked their way through the room until they ended up in the back where there was a queen size bed against the wall with something black on top of it. Beside the bed was a blonde man in all black, similar in dress to Evan with a lime green vest. At each of the stations there had been other men and women wearing the same vest.

  Evan introduced them to the man named Skins.

  “This man is a scene monitor. He is here to ensure you are safe and not being forced to do anything against your will.”

  She nodded.

  “Do you recall the safe word?” The blonde man asked her.

  “Yes.”

  The scene monitor frown.

  “Nightingale he needs you to repeat it. When you do, use sir at the end.”

  Okay. “Blaze, sir.”

  “Good. You may precede Flyer.” He stepped away, far enough so they had a little privacy but still close enough to hear if she shouted for help.

  “This is a suction bed,” Evan began.

  “What does it do?” She stared at the bed.

  “When a person is inside the covering it will suck out all the air and seal the rubber around the body.

  “Even the face?” She was getting freaked out again.

  “Not this style. However, there are some that are completely encasing.”

  Yikes.

  He must have read her expression, because he asked, “You still okay with this?”

  “Yes, sir.” She was at least going to try.

  “Remove your boots and get up on the bed.”

  After she’d done as he asked, Evan helped her into the rubbery covering. In a supine position she laid still as Evan skipped the bag-like item up to her chin and situated the edges around her face.

  Moments later she heard Evan push a button beside the bed and suddenly all of the air was being drawn out of the bag around her. The rubber was become tighter along her body.

  When the suction stopped she realized that she couldn’t move. Not a finger or even wiggled a toe. She felt trapped and all she wanted to do was get out. She started bucking. “Ev--…Sir-r…Fly-er, Flyer…”

  Evan leaned over her, stroked her face and spoke in a composed voice instructing her to remain calm and trust him.

  “I’m right here. I promise I’m not going anywhere.” He caressed her cheek.

  At first she thought she couldn’t hear him because of the material over her ears, so she read his lips.

  She calmed a little, but still trembled and soon began to hear his words, low because of the material but clear.

  “I want you to close your eyes and just focus on breathing.”

  She inhaled slow and deep then exhaled. He waited patient and finally she closed her eyes.

  “Clear your mind. Feel how secure you are. Safe. Protected. Nothing to worry about, I’ll take care of you. You can trust me.” More light touches and soft words.

  Her body relaxed even more. Soon all she could do was listen to Evan’s husky timbre and feel. Evan was with her and everything would be okay.

  His caress moved from her face along her neck. She was amazed at how intense his touch felt through the rubber. She shivered, this time not from cold or fear but desire.

  That was something she had not anticipated feeling in this place but she did. As Evan continued to whisper and brush his fingers along her form lust began t o pump through her veins. As he played with her breasts, her stomach and thighs she felt her sex pulse.

  “Flyer…” she began wanting to tell him what was happening to her body.

  “Shh,” his fingers brushed her lips, silencing her.

  Doing as she was told she stayed quiet as her arousal built into a crescendo of need. Before she could control it or try and stop it, she was coming hard, the deep bite she held on her bottom lip kept her from screaming. Even though her body was held tight the bed shook beneath her.

  By the time she became aware of anything around her, the cover had filled up again with air and Evan was unzipping her. He dragged her into his arms and held her; whispering words of praise and pride as he stroked her back.

  When her tremors subsided he asked her, “You all right?”

  “Yes.” His hard cock was making an impression into her ass. It was good to know she wasn’t the only one affected.

  “You think you’re ready to go home or you want to try something else?”

  “Home, please.”

  “You got it.”

  * * *

  “Now that you know my kink, that I have to be in control in the
bedroom and that I like my woman restrained and fully dependant on me for her pleasure do you think you can handle it? Tolerate me?” Sitting before Zoey’s apartment in his car, Evan shifted so that he was facing her.

  Even though she’d climaxed in the suction bed, that didn’t mean she wanted to do it again, wanted him again. If she told him to go to hell and stay away from her, he would respect her wishes no matter that his heart was already invested.

  Reaching out, she took his hand and held it between hers, similar to what she had done at the zoo. “I will admit that I was a lot out of my element and comfort zone there. I’m not even sure if I’d be willing to go again.”

  His heart sank into his gut as he waited for the other shoe to drop.

  “However, I want you. I care about you. I also kind of like the whole held down, restrained thing,” she whispered the last part as if she thought one of her neighbors may hear. “Does that make me weird?”

  “Kinky, but not weird at all.” He chuckled, feeling relief. “Would you let me tie you up with straps or ropes, even cuff you?”

  He could feel her intense gaze across the dark interior as he waited.

  “Absolutely.”

  Exhaling the breath he had been holding, he said, “Good because I have silk ropes in my bag that I have been having erotic dreams about putting on you.”

  “Then I suggest we hurry up inside so we can finish the rest of this night.”

  Between kisses, caresses and laughter they managed to grab his bag out of the trunk and get inside of her apartment. With each step to her bedroom they lost another article of clothing until she found herself naked on her bed.

  Admiring the sexy naked man beside her bed, she licked her lips.

  “If you don’t stop looking at me as if I’m your favorite cookie I may not last.”

  “You won’t hear me complaining.”

  “Saucy vixen.” He opened his bag and pulled out blue ropes.

  She batted her lashes at him.

  “Place your hands up over your head and spread those luscious thighs.”

  She did as instructed. Coming to her, Evan crossed her arms one over the other and began binding her wrists with the rope. When he was finished he tied it around the thick slat at the base of her head board. Tugging he made sure it was secure.