Bound and Determined Read Online Free Page A

where you stand with him. By all accounts, he’s a nice guy but not the settling-down type, and he’s sure to have loads of experience. I’d say he’s perfect for the job.”
    Lexi nodded again. “Thea’s right. I hear he has to fight the women off with a stick, so he must be awesome between the sheets. Well worth giving him a try.”
    Electric-blue eyes and the memory of hard flesh under her fingers made her feel hot and cold and shivery all over. The man was seriously dangerous to her self-control. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
    “Why the hell not? You’ve complained about Marcus hitting on you for weeks so we know he’s interested. Hell, I wish he was interested in me. I’d ride him until my eyes crossed and I couldn’t walk anymore.”
    For a split second indignation flared inside of Asia. And just as quickly vanished as she realized how stupid that was. Marcus wasn’t hers and Thea was welcome to him. “Be my guest.”
    “Listen to me, Asia. If the opportunity presents itself, go for it. Have crazy monkey sex with the guy and then move on if that’s what you really want. At least you’ll be making some progress toward getting on with your life.”
    Asia wanted to tell Thea to mind her own business but the words stalled in her throat. Because the truth was, no matter how much she hated to admit it, she was torn.
    The wild and crazy part of her wanted to do just what Thea suggested—ride Marcus hard until she couldn’t see straight. She missed sex, but what if she couldn’t keep her heart out of it? Could she risk getting hurt like that again? The mousy wimp in her wasn’t willing to take that chance and that was the part that held her back. And so far, that was the part that was winning. Had been for the past two years.
    And she didn’t see that changing anytime soon.

Chapter Four
    “You’re certain you’re okay?”
    Asia picked at a stubborn bit of gunk stuck to the bottom of the cubbyhole she was cleaning and tried hard not to feel exasperated at the oft-repeated question. She knew everyone was concerned for her, but it was hard not to think about the robbery when everyone kept bringing it up. And she really needed to stop thinking about the robbery. “Yes, Gram, I’m sure. Don’t worry about me.”
    Peeking over the counter, which was currently covered with the emptied cubbyhole contents, she watched as her grandmother flitted from item to item in the store like some drunken hummingbird. An action Asia usually found comforting because it was typical for Gram, but right now her grandmother just looked troubled.
    What made her constant motion singularly amazing was that her grandmother was sixty-five years old. But she neither looked, nor acted, anywhere near her age. Which was just one of the many things Asia loved about her.
    “Don’t talk nonsense, child. Of course I’m going to worry about you.”
    Asia frowned at Gram’s sharp tone and stood, stretching her legs in the process. “Well, try not to, okay. To tell you the truth, I’m just relieved we didn’t have much in the till.”
    Waving away her concern, her grandmother pshawed the very idea. “I could care less about the money. It’s you I care about. I’m so glad Marcus was here to help you. Such a nice young man.”
    Asia rolled her eyes at Gram’s obvious matchmaking. “Yes, but I wasn’t in any danger by then.”
    “Still, you could have been stuck tied up for hours before someone found you.”
    Asia shuddered at the mere thought of it. She couldn’t bear to think of what that would have been like. Thirty minutes had been a half hour too long. “Well, I wasn’t, so everything worked out fine. I just wish the thief hadn’t been wearing a mask so I could have identified him.”
    Gram stared off in the distance, looking even more agitated. “Yes. A real shame.”
    What was up with her today? “Is something wrong?”
    “No, no. It’s just that I guess we’ll never find the thief. But that’s