Bind Me (Pact of Seduction 1)

Chapter One

Aching feet, too many martinis, and dancing the night away at a club located in the heart of Baltimore led Marley to this moment—her twenty-fifth birthday celebration, to be exact. She plopped down on one of the pillows along the floor, surrounded by her three best friends. The two-story colonial-style house located in the quiet eastern neighborhood of the city had been home to all of them since college.

"Okay, girls, I have an idea,” Bella said.

Sadie's large breasts—thanks to Dr. Lee—bounced as she squirmed on her pillow. “Oh...do tell."

"I can hardly wait to hear what you've come up with now.” Kyra snorted, flipping her black silky hair over her shoulder.

As usual, Marley didn't know what Bella was up to. She always attempted to make their lives interesting. “Okay, spill it. What trouble have you planned for us now?"

"Well.” Bella's crystal blue eyes sparkled with wicked intentions. “Life has been boring lately, right?"

"Mm hm,” Marley responded. That was an understatement. Not saying her job at the elementary school didn't fulfill her. Heck, she'd worked hard to get the full-time position as a sixth-grade teacher. Yet her life held no spunk. Same routine. Normal hours. Nothing ever changed.

Sure, Marley had had a few boyfriends, but none of them made her feel anything but friendship, and she grew tired of searching for Mr. Right when they all ended up being Mr. Wrong. She'd given up dating altogether a year ago.

"Let's make a pact of seduction,” Bella said.

Sadie spit out her wine, and it sprayed on Marley's face. “Oh shit, Marls. I'm so sorry."

Marley groaned as the warm liquid dripped off her nose. She wiped her face, annoyed, yes, but too stuck on what Bella had said to care. “What do you mean a pact of seduction?"

"Exactly what you think I mean. We each have to fulfill our hottest fantasy. You know, the one you've always wanted to do but never thought possible. You've got to make it far past what you think you are capable of, something only imaginable in your dreams."

"You can't be serious!” Kyra exclaimed.

Bella frowned. “Of course I'm serious. Come on, let's ruffle things up a bit. We're all single. Marls is twenty-five now, and the rest of us are all approaching our birthdays too. In a few years we'll likely be married with kids. All settled down with a life more normal than the one we live now. Let's do something crazy, fulfill our ultimate fantasy while we still have the chance.” She paused.

Marley blinked.

Bella continued. “Two rules: the first, no judging. We're here to help each other find our fantasy, not laugh at it. The second, whoever commits cannot back out. Friends’ oath."

Marley looked to Sadie, who shrugged, but her eyes showed undeniable interest. Kyra nibbled her bottom lip. What to do? Could Marley make such a pact? Their friends’ oath was solid and unyielding. The exact reason their friendship held so tight. They'd never broken a vow to each other, and Marley did have a fantasy.

She spent her days guiding youths to do right, and had always been the one in control—she wanted to give that all up. She wanted a man to show her how to behave properly, and punish her for her disobedience. A man who had a body she could drool over, maybe even smoldering eyes, and one who could lift her tall frame with little effort. Add sex into the equation and heat exploded into every molecule of her body.

Before she agreed to anything, Marley needed to see if this had been just another thought passing through Bella's busy mind or if she meant what she said. “Exactly how do we decide who goes first?"

"We draw straws.” Bella grinned.

"Draw straws to get it on.” Kyra laughed.

"Yes, exactly,” Bella retorted. “Tell me you're not a little interested. We'd never fulfill our fantasy alone, or be brave enough to do it. So let's make a pact. I don't know about you all, but I'm bored as hell. I need something to spice up my life. Don't you?"

Marley considered this. If she made the pact with her best friends, there would be no escape. Did she have the strength to make good on her word? She glanced around to her friends, and excitement showed on their faces, even Kyra's. Marley would let her hesitations go too.

This was her chance to do something she'd never do if not forced. Maybe this could be a turning point for her. A way to break this boring cloud that had settled over her life, and maybe she could meet a man who could stir something more than friendship-level feelings. She drained the rest of her chardonnay, wiped her mouth, and smiled. “I'm in. What do we do next?"

Bella took a pad of paper and a pen off the end table and handed each of the women a sticky note. “We write our fantasies down; then we'll share them.” She lowered her head, and Marley did the same.

By the time it was Marley's turn to read her fantasy, she had discovered Kyra wanted two men, Sadie wanted a firefighter, and Bella had an interest in being with a woman.

When all eyes focused on her, Marley cringed. She had a hard enough time thinking these thoughts, let alone voicing them. “I can't read this to y'all."

"Oh, it's gotta be good.” Bella snatched up the paper and read the note. “Our Marley here wants to be dominated."