Torn Bond (Bonded Duet 1)

“I’ll get plates and glasses,” I told the group, but I wasn’t sure if any of them was listening. I was in a daze as I moved into the kitchen, a

nd I knew Ford was aware of me as I pressed my back to the wall. I was covered where I stood, so no one in the living room could see me. It was a conscious choice I’d made, and as soon as Ford turned his head and his gaze met mine, he knew it too.

“So, you’re coming to the lake house too?” I whispered, tilting my head to the side. “What happens now?”

He took two slow steps toward me and placed his palms on either side of my head. His breath flowed over my face, but not one part of his body touched mine. “What do you mean what happens now?”

“I…” I swallowed and swayed forward, not able to stop myself. “With my mom and dad? With us? I…I don’t want to sound like one of those needy girls—”

Ford’s low chuckle cut me off, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Baby Belle.” One of his hands moved to my face and down to my neck. “You’ll never be one of those needy girls.” He paused, his hazel eyes connecting with mine. “I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I do know I don’t want to stop.” He pressed closer to me, his body touching mine, and I exhaled in relief. “I don’t think I could look at you and not want to kiss you.” His thumb rubbed over my bottom lip. “But your dad—”

“Will kill you,” I finished for him. I was half joking and half serious. I had a feeling it would be my mom who killed him, but that was just semantics. “We can keep it a secret?” I asked, my voice low.

“I hate secrets,” Ford growled and pressed his forehead to mine. “But for you, I’ll do it.”

Our lips were so close, all it would take was for me to move an inch and they’d be touching, but there was something about the wait for his lips that had me dying for more of him.

“Our secret,” I whispered, and a thrill went through me. Keeping a secret was hard work, but when that secret was Ford, I somehow thought it would come easy. I pushed a little closer to him, and his eyes flared. “I hope you’re ready for bikinis at the lake.” I bit down on my bottom lip, fully aware of what I was doing, but loving every second of it.

“Don’t test me, Baby Belle,” he growled out, and goose bumps spread over my skin at the tone of his voice. He pressed his lips to mine in a firm, closed-mouth kiss, and then pulled back so he could say, “I won’t hesitate to go caveman on you.”

I laughed and dipped under his arm, keeping my gaze connected with his. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” I snatched up some glasses, not really taking anything in because I could feel the burn of his eyes on me. He tried to reach for me, but I managed to skirt away from him.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Belle,” he warned.

“I know.” I wet my lips. “But I’d only play it with you.” I spun around and headed back into the living room with a grin spread across my face.

Chapter Eleven

FORD

“You know we’re only going to the lake house for a week, right?” I asked, trying to push the huge suitcase into the trunk of my car. I knew Belle didn’t pack light, but Jesus Christ, this was ridiculous. Didn’t she already have things at the lake house?

“Yep.” Belle smiled at me, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t be mad at her, not when she was standing next to me with Lottie beside her. The pair of them knew exactly what to do to get their own way. “I have many things.” She shrugged and tried to act innocent, but I knew she was anything but that.

“Get in the damn car, woman,” I demanded, but my tone wasn’t the one I’d wanted to use. I couldn’t help but be softer when it came to Belle. It had always been that way, but since I’d been staying with her for the last couple of months, it had gotten worse. If this was any other case, and any other person, I wouldn’t have let them get away with half of the amount Belle did. But fuck, I couldn’t help myself.

“Okay, okay. Jeez. You’re so bossy.”

I slammed my trunk shut and dived for her, wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground. Her back was pressed to my front as she squealed and then laughed.

“I’m only bossy when it comes to you,” I ground out in her ear, and I heard her breath hitch. There was no way I could deny the way her body reacted to mine. I’d tried to ignore it from the moment I’d walked back into her life and demanded to follow her every move. “Now get in the car. We have a long journey ahead of us.” I slowly let her down, relishing in the way her body slid against mine. Seven days. We wouldn’t be able to touch like this for seven days. We’d be surrounded by her whole family. Her dad—my boss. We had to keep a low profile, we both knew that, so I was going to take my fill while I could.

Belle didn’t say anything as she opened up the door, and Lottie jumped into the back, but she did turn to face me a second before she slipped into the car, and with that one look, I knew this vacation wasn’t going to be easy.

Torture was in my very near future, but it would be the best kind of torture a man could ask for. I was used to having to hide parts of me, so I knew I could put a front on with everyone. The question was whether Belle could. She was always so open and honest, and I feared she’d slip up.

I spun around and headed around to the driver’s side of the car and yanked my door open, then took one last look at the apartment door. I’d given Stella access to the cameras while I was gone, but I also told her that while we were away, she should probably stay at Justin’s place. Even though I didn’t think anything would happen, it didn’t hurt to take precautions. The cartel didn’t care if you had nothing to do with the situation. If you had even the smallest connection with someone they wanted, they’d use you.

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I pushed into the car and turned the engine on. The trial had been going for a full week now, and the DA was hopeful that by this time next week, we’d have a verdict. I wasn’t so sure, though. Trials could last for months, so even though we’d wanted a speedy trial, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a bad thing. What if he got off? What if the judge was replaced with someone else?

“Hey, you okay?” Belle asked, her hand landing on my arm. Goose bumps spread over my skin at her touch, and I pulled in what felt like my first breath for hours.

I glanced over at her face, soaking in the sweet smile she flashed at me. “Yeah, sweetheart, I’m good. Just thinking.”

“Well, don’t think too hard.” She laughed and slipped her hand off my arm. “It may hurt you.”

“You’re lucky I’m driving,” I warned her, and she bit down on her bottom lip. Belle was quick-witted, she always had been, but there was something else to it now. Some kind of connection that I’d never had with her before.