Read Online Bound Temptations: Stories of Temptation and Submission by Shiloh Walker - Free Book Online

tugged on a lock of her hair, much as he'd done when they were
younger. And she reached out, swatted at his wrist, much as she'd
done. It was a familiar thing, something that settled her, soothed
her. "You've got plenty of reasons for your mind to wander. But I
need you think, to focus."
    He slid a look toward Cole.
The way he was sitting, it wasn't very likely Cole would have
noticed, but Rocki saw it. "I've got a few more questions to ask
you. Would you like for me to do it privately?"
    Way to be subtle, she
thought tiredly. But she just shook her head.
    She'd already decided she'd
tell Cole. Why? She wasn't sure. But she just felt like she should.
She felt like he needed to know—like she should tell
him.
    "Just go ahead and ask." She
looked at Cole, their gazes connecting. If he didn't feel casual
about her, then he needed to be aware she came with a bit of
baggage, she figured. If he couldn't deal with that, then better
she know early, right? "I plan on telling Cole later on,
anyway."
    Clayton stilled.
    She looked at him, saw the
way his eyes narrowed, the way his mouth tightened. "Is that so?
Things that serious with you two already?"
    In her peripheral vision,
she saw Cole push of the wall. Quietly, she said, "That's not
exactly your concern, is it, Clayton? You're my friend. That
doesn't give you license to inquire about my personal life." She
glanced at Cole and then away. "Come on. Whatever you need to ask,
get it done."
    "Shit, Rocki." Clayton
grunted and shoved a hand through his hair.
    "Fine." He shoved off the
desk and started to pace. "How likely is it that this is connected
to...before?"
    Before.
    Terror hit
her. Images flickered through her mind. Hands hard and cruel. A
low, ugly whisper...She swallowed the bile churning its way up her
throat and blinked away the dots trying to crowd in on her
vision. No, damn it—you're not controlling
me like this, bastard. Not now. Not again-
    Taking a
deep, slow breath, she closed her eyes. She wasn't helpless. She
hadn't been then, she wasn't now. Closing her hands into fists, she
opened them, flexed her fingers. Breathe,
Rocki...breathe...
    As the black dots faded
away, she looked at Clayton. "Honestly, I don't know. It's been
years. Eleven years. You know that. Would he still be out there,
trying to freak me out?"
    "He had an obsession for
you. You tell me."
    Rocki shuddered. "Hell. I
don't know. I just don't know."
    Clayton nodded. "Okay. Well,
he's going to be the first person I check out." He sighed. "Go on.
Get out of here. Get some rest." Then he added, "And damn it, be
careful. Anything else happens, I want to know.
Immediately."

Chapter Six
     
     
    The walk to his car was
quiet. Snow came down around them in a gentle, steady fall. Already
their tracks from just a short while ago were nearly covered. Rocki
grimaced and kicked at the ground.
    "I'm getting tired of
snow."
    Cole muttered, "Me, too." He
glanced over at Rocki, felt his heart stutter at the sight of her.
There were snowflakes in her hair. She had her head tipped back,
and even though she was scowling, there was a smile on her lips.
"You know, for somebody who claims to be tired of it, you aren't in
any rush to get out of the snow."
    Rocki sighed. "Well, maybe
I'm tired of it in theory. Maybe only partially tired. But there's
something peaceful about it, too. I could use some peace right
now."
    "You're safe, you know." He
brushed her hair back from her face. He meant to push it back
behind her ear. Really. But he found himself rubbing the dark,
thick lock between his thumb and forefinger. Tearing his gaze from
her hair, he looked into her dark eyes and said, "You can
relax."
    She scowled. "I don't think
I remember how."
    "Try." He forced himself to
let go of her hair. "Come on. It's cold. We can enjoy the peace
from inside the car, too."
    Moments later, they were
doing just that. As the car took to the roads, Cole glanced over at
Rocki, saw that she was staring out at the falling snow,