Bound: Highgate Preparatory Academy, Book 2

I wake up with a delicious ache between my thighs and a warm lemon scented body wrapped round my naked back. There’s also something hard and unyielding, poking into my arse, and a throaty chuckle escapes me.

“God, I missed waking up next to you, Baby Girl,” Jax rumbles in the sexiest voice known to man, all gruff and husky from sleep. His arms tighten round me, pulling me against him even more, and he nuzzles into my neck as his hand starts drifting south.

Just as I’m about to reply, though he’s already turning my mind into mush with his touch, the door flies open and with a sense of déjà vu, Loki strolls in. Jax groans, pausing in his attentions.

“The fuck you want?” he growls at the angel faced intruder, who smirks in return.

“Merry belated Christmas!” Loki shouts, darting to the bed and grabbing my hand, yanking me away from Jax who snarls like a wolf and lunges to grab my other hand, missing by a hair. “Need to be quicker next time, He-Man!” Loki cries triumphantly, pulling me out of the bed.

“Hey! I am not a fucking dog toy!” I scold as Loki pulls me close, grabbing a handful of my arse as his lips descend onto mine.

I get lost in his kiss, drowning in all things Loki. My hands rub up and down his bare chest, teasing his nipple bar with my fingertips, eliciting a deep moan from his throat.

“Much as I would love to take this further…” he murmurs against my lips. “Ash and Kai want to give you their presents.”

“Presents?!” I screech, pulling away and starting to walk towards the door. “Why the fuck didn’t you start with that?”

“Um, Baby Girl?” Jax questions, so I stop and turn back, brow raised. “Not that I’m complaining, but you may want to put some clothes on, otherwise I don’t think it’ll be just gifts that are exchanged.”

“Fair point, well made.” I nod seriously, looking down at my naked, slightly flushed body. Turning back into the room, I head over to my bags, which are on a stylised carved wooden chair.

I do a quick pit sniff, decide I’m not too fruity given that Jax and I had a shower when we got in last night. I hear manly chuckles behind me.

“What?” I ask, my forehead creased as I turn to face them, one hand on my popped out hip.

“Need me to sniff your pussy to make sure that’s okay too?” Loki asks, trying and failing to keep a straight face. Jax outright barks a laugh, and then, I kid you not, they fucking high five like children.

“Fuck off, Loki,” I tell him, sticking my tongue out, then smirking as a diabolical idea comes to mind.

Reaching my other hand down, I use a finger to swipe between my folds. Both boys go deathly silent as I bring the finger up to my lips, darting my tongue out and licking the digit before sucking it into my mouth. My own flavour bursts on my tastebuds, musky, but not unclean.

“I’m all good, ta,” I tell them, turning back to my bag, and pulling out some underwear and clothes for the day. I go for red lace—obviously, given the festive theme—and a light cotton rainbow sundress with a full circle skirt.

Before I can so much as take hold of my knickers, strong hands spin me round, throw me over a huge shoulder, and then deposit me on the bed with a bounce and a squeak.

“Jax…” I warn, and he smirks down at me, getting to his knees on the bed. His smile grows wider as Loki joins us. “Ash and Kai will be mad…”

“Don’t worry, Pretty Girl. I’m sure you’ll enjoy their punishments,” Loki tells me seconds before they descend on me like lions on a kill.

Suffice to say, we are late, and all need a shower after all.

Once we’re clean and dressed, we walk into the living room area, where I get to appreciate the guy’s island villa that it’s daytime. It’s stunning. The far wall is floor-to-ceiling glass doors, revealing a stunning view over the water. There’s a swimming pool set into the deck with one of those disappearing edges so that it looks like you are swimming out to sea. We’re on a higher level, so the view goes on for miles, with small specks in the distance that I assume are other islands.

The room is all light wood, carved in an Indonesian style. There are brightly coloured textiles everywhere, making my inner creative very happy, and comfy looking light grey sofas, with throws and blankets, again in bright colours, thrown over the backs and sides.

On one side is a wooden open style kitchen, with wooden countertops and all the modern conveniences one could wish for. To the left of the glass doors is a beautiful carved wooden table and dining chairs, enough to seat eight people comfortably, and let them enjoy the view whilst dining.

“Merry Christmas, Lilly,” I hear Kai’s melodic voice, and I look to the side to see him approaching me.

He has dark circles under his eyes, his hair in its usual disarray, and my eyebrows draw together with concern.

“Merry Christmas, Kai,” I say back, a catch in my throat as he stops in front of me, holding a thin, long deep red box in his hands.

“I’m—” he starts.

“Kai—” I say at the same time, then we both chuckle ruefully. “You go first,” I offer, desperate to reach out to him, to wrap myself around him, but a little nervous given his reaction last night on the boat.

“Lilly, darling, I’m so sorry about last night. I—” he cuts himself off, one hand running through his hair and mussing it more as he sighs. “Going back home…it brings up bad memories for me. It takes me to a dark place, and well, I guess I was still there, even though I was with you.”

He looks up at me, his eyes full of torment, and I know that I’m not getting the full story. I know that things were bad with his uncle, his training horrific and brutal. I’m starting to think that it is worse than we all thought, and my stomach churns at the idea of him suffering even more at the hands of that evil man.

“Kai, there’s nothing to apologise for. You can’t help instincts, love,” I tell him, not able to help taking a step forward, my hand reaching out to cup his cheek automatically. I pause in the movement, and he huffs, closing the distance.

The relief that floods my body when my palm makes contact is so strong that tears sting my eyes. I blink them away, seeing his whole body relax as he steps closer, our bodies flush. A deep exhale comes rushing out of me. I can feel his warmth through our clothes, and my soul sings as his hand alights on my own cheek, his thumb rubbing it.

“Fuck, Lilly,” he whispers, leaning in further until his lips hover over mine. I can taste his breath, a mixture of mint and the green tea he favours, and I breathe him in until he’s once again a part of my very being. “Don’t give up on me,” he pleads, and his words make the breath catch in my lungs.

“I will never give up on you, Kai. On any of you,” I assure him, my own fingers moving into his hair and gripping tightly, pulling him closer until I no longer know whose breath is whose. “We are bound together, you and I, Kai. And nothing in this world, or the next will be able to keep us apart.”

His lips slam down on mine, swallowing my moan as he kisses me with such desperation I can barely keep up. It’s as if I am all that lies between him and the darkness, a darkness that is threatening to overwhelm him completely.

He breaks away panting, his eyes a little wild. Clearing his throat, he holds out the box in trembling hands.

“This is from all of us,” he tells me, a slight tremble in his voice.

I take it, a small smile on my lips, my heart still thudding from our kiss. Looking down, I see it’s wine red velvet, beautifully soft under my fingertips, and tied with a black ribbon in a bow. I pull one of the ends, the knot unravelling, and the ribbon falls free. Opening the box, I gasp as a platinum silver charm bracelet winks back at me. It’s already got several silver charms, which I take to represent the guys and me; a lily, a sugar skull for Ash, a koi for Kai, an angel for Loki, and a Norse style wolf for Jax. There’s also some more; a silver Big Ben to show my birth city, a fairy to represent my favourite Shakespeare play, and a silver American flag for my senior year.

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it hard to say anything.

“Do you like it, Princess?” Ash asks, his low voice sending a shiver across my skin like the caress of a nighttime breeze. I look up with a watery gaze seeing that the others are all standing in front of me, all four of them waiting to hear my answer.

“I love it, thank you,” I manage to whisper out, kissing Kai on the cheek, then stepping to Ash and Jax, doing the same. Loki, my wonderful Loki, breaks the serious moment by polishing his cheek and presenting it to me, making all of us laugh.

“Can I give you guys your gifts?” I ask, excited anticipation running through me as we all go to sit down on the sofas, picking up drinks from the side tables as we pass. They’re all soft drinks or juice, as Jax’s doctor said to lay off alcohol for a bit too, just to clean out his entire system, and make sure that he doesn’t slip from one addiction to another.

“I thought you’d never ask, Pretty Girl!” Loki exclaims, his arms along the back of one of the sofas.

I get up, walk over to the palm tree that has been decorated like a Christmas tree including twinkling lights, and grab the four black gift bags, bringing them over and handing one to each of the guys. They are specific, so I wrote gift tags to make sure they each got the right one—See! Not just a pretty face!

They all look up, and when I nod in encouragement, they tear into them, and for a split second, I wonder if they’ve ever received a real gift before. One with no expectations or strings attached. The thought makes me frown until I hear Loki roar with laughter as he pulls out a bright pink fluffy bunny onesie.

A grin splits my lips as Jax holds up a huge Incredible Hulk onesie, his lip twitching. Kai takes out a stormtrooper one, a boyish grin on his handsome face, and all traces of darkness gone for the moment. Finally, Ash takes out a red devil one, and they all look at me with adorable confusion.

“Are we going dogging?” Loki asks, and all eyes swing to him.

“What the fuck is ‘dogging,’ dude?” Jax grumbles, throwing a cushion at him, which Loki dodges like a wanker.

“‘Dogging is a British English euphemism for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place, or watching others doing so,’” Kai interjects, reading off his tablet.

“For fuck’s sake, Loki!” I exclaim, my jaw dropping at his suggestion. “How did you even come to that…No, we’re not going dogging, Jesus. Just keep going.”

They do as I say, pulling out the large black boxes, and I watch as they each open them up and take the top layer of black tissue paper out.

“Fuck yeah!” Loki shouts, pulling out the paintball gun, aiming at Ash, and pulling the trigger. What a cuntcake!

Ash just raises a black brow, not even flinching as nothing happens. Loki looks down, pouting at the gun.

“You need to get the ammo at the centre, fucking imbecile,” Ash says, rolling his eyes and setting his bag and box aside on the floor.

He gets up, all leisurely insouciance, and stalks towards me. He’s wearing some grey linen trousers without a shirt, and all of his inked up muscles are on display, distracting me to no end.

“Thank you, Princess,” he says once he reaches me, stepping close and pressing a light kiss against my lips.

“How long until you’re healed again?” I ask against his lips, his kiss setting a fire in my core. Having to wait for him is like the most delicious torture I’ve ever been through.

He chuckles, the sound seeming to vibrate right down to my clit, and a moan escapes my lips, passing into his.

“Another five weeks, maybe four. I’m a fast healer.”

I let out a shaky breath as he pulls away, stepping behind me to the palm-Christmas tree. The others have all gotten up, and they too thank me, pressing kisses on my lips and making me feel so loved up it’s almost sickening.

“We each got you some other presents too, Princess,” Ash tells me as Loki takes my hand and leads me to take a seat on the sofa once more. From there, I spend the next forty-five minutes being absolutely spoiled rotten.

Kai gives me a book of American poetry, plus a huge bag of Bordelle lingerie; basques, harnesses, bras, bodies and thongs. I squeal, throwing myself in his arms, scraps of lace and straps flying everywhere.

Loki presents me with five—yes, fucking five!—Irregular Choice shoe boxes, all new arrivals including yellow Shirley Bass rainbows, rainbow dinosaur Nick of Time’s, and red Full House boots with gold stitching that reads ‘Queen of my own destiny.’ He also gets a shriek and a full tackle hug.

Jax gives me a gold pair of boxing gloves with matching wraps. The gloves have ‘Baby Girl’ written across the wrists, and Jax tells me that training starts when we get back. I’m a little more careful with his praise, sitting in his lap and kissing him when he growls that he’s not, and I quote, ‘a fucking pussy invalid.’ He also gives me several sets of silk cami and shorts PJs with a knowing smirk and a comment that they should see me through the next term. Ballbag.

Then, finally, Ash kneels in front of me, a medium-sized black velvet square box in his hands.

“If I didn’t know you better, Ice Knight, I’d say you have a flair for the dramatic,” I tease him, earning a small tilt of his lips as he opens the box so that I can see the gold collar and matching cuffs nestled in red silk inside. There’s a chain that links the cuffs, although they look like they can be separate too.

“Something to look forward to,” he tells me with a devilish grin that sends shivers cascading down my spine and causes my nipples to harden.

By the time we’re done, it’s lunchtime, and although it’s not a full Christmas dinner—it’s way too hot and all of us, bar Jax, are suffering from jet lag—there is a wonderful buffet laid out on the table for us by Mama Dewi as they call her. She’s an older Balinese lady, with a face as wrinkled as a walnut, and a wicked dirty laugh.

She lives with her family on the next island over, and the guys give her several gifts and kiss her weathered cheeks before she leaves. Ash tells me that she has been taking care of the Vanderbilts since he was in nappies, so when Julian let her go some years back, Ash employed her. Apparently, Julian owns a different island—fucking rich peple—but Cempadek belongs to all the guys outright.

Loki helps her down to the pier where a grandson is waiting with a boat to take her home for the day. When he returns, we all sit round the table and begin to tuck into the feast that she left for us.

Obviously, I show my appreciation for her cooking by way of moans and groans about how fucking awesome the food is, earning heated looks from the guys. Deciding to tone it down, otherwise I’ll never get to finish my meal, I turn to Jax who’s sitting next to me.

“How’s it all going, Jax?” I ask, looking him over and seeing that he’s not digging in like the rest of us, but is pushing his food around his plate which is unlike him. I worry my lower lip, a move which has Jax reaching out and tugging it from under my teeth.

“I’m okay, Baby Girl. Just not as hungry as I usually am at the moment, I guess,” he tells us, his thumb still brushing over my bottom lip. “Loss of appetite is normal. And I’ve been sleeping a lot. Again, all normal, so nothing to worry about.”

I still can’t help looking him over, in his loose sweatshorts and tank top. Is he looking slimmer? Maybe he’s not eating enough, and he does look really tired…

“Lilly,” he growls out, and the sound of my name in his deep voice is enough to shock me out of my spiralling thoughts. “Come here,” he tells me, scooting his chair out a little and patting his thigh, which still looks huge, to my relief.

I get up, grab my plate, and sit down on his lap, wiggling until I’m comfortable. His big palm comes to rest on my waist, and the tension flows out of my body at his touch. I’m completely lost to all these guys, dependent on them like I’ve never been before. A part of me knows it’s dangerous, especially given their families and the violent nature of their lives. But it’s too late now, we complete each other in a way that few ever get to experience, and if the sudden horrific death of my mum has shown me anything, it’s that life is too short not to take every blessing, every piece of love and hold on to it fast.

Taking a piece of satay chicken in my fingers, I twist in Jax’s lap until I’m facing him, holding up the morsel to his lips.

“Eat,” I command in a firm tone. He raises a brow, one side of his lips tilting in that almost smile of his, but does as I ask and opens his mouth, letting me slip the chicken in. “Good boy,” I tell him with a smirk of my own.

His fingers tighten on my waist, his other hand coming to rest on the apex of my thigh, over my dress. He applies a little pressure, enough to make my eyes widen and my breath catch. I can see by the gleam in his blue eyes that he’s letting me know who’s the boss here.

“Kai, any luck on finding out more about that picture?” Ash asks, interrupting our stare-off.

“What picture?” Jax enquires, turning his head to look at Ash, his forehead wrinkled.

“There’s a picture of Lilly’s mom in Chad’s study, with all of our moms at a Black Knight Corp gala,” Ash tells him, that look of unease back in his eyes.

“What? Why?” Jax asks, looking up at me.

“I don’t know, she never mentioned even coming to America,” I say, placing another bite into his mouth. “Let alone having any connection to your company.” And yes, I’m still a little pissed at being so out of the loop where she’s concerned.

“So, interestingly, I managed to get the guest list from that gala,” Kai informs us, pausing to reach over and grab his iPad, bringing up a list of names. “Your uncle is on there Lilly, Adrian Ramsey, but his plus one is someone called Violet Rochester. No mention of a Laura Darling on the list at all.”

I can feel my eyebrows drawing together, my stomach fluttering, as he looks up at me.

“So I did some digging into Violet, and it turns out she and your uncle were engaged, and then she disappeared completely, about nineteen years ago. Never to be found again.”

“What?” I murmur, my whole body suddenly feeling overheated, and sweat trickles down my spine, even though we have the air con on.

“That must be the heartbreak the newspaper articles were talking about when we looked up Ramsey,” Loki adds, and my head whips in his direction.

“I’m sorry, what? You looked into my uncle?” I ask, my tone a little caustic and my body stiff. Loki rubs a hand across the back of his neck, looking away as his cheeks flush.

“Hey, Baby Girl, it’s okay. Take some deep breaths, baby,” Jax says in a soothing tone, his palm leaving my waist to rub comforting circles on my back.

His words make me realise that I am indeed panting, so I do as he suggests and close my eyes, taking some deep, long inhales and exhales until I feel better.

“I’m just so confused,” I tell them when I open my eyes again, my gaze immediately finding Ash’s grey one. His eyes are hard, brows dipped, but there’s a softness there that I know is for me. “Your parents don’t seem the sort not to have everyone’s names on the list. And it seems so strange that Violet disappeared around the time my mum was pregnant with me.” My head is swirling, and I can feel a headache coming on, the food lying all but forgotten in front of me.

I feel Jax’s hands alight on my tense shoulders, rubbing and kneading them until I’m relaxing and trying to hold back moans at how good it feels.

“We’ll work it all out, Princess,” Ash tells me, his tone resolved, letting me know that he’s taking this seriously. “Trust us.”