Bound by Their Kisses(17)

“As for tying you up,” Zander began with a smirk. “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Allowing one or both of us to take control so that you are free to just enjoy all of the pleasure we give you can be very intense and sensuous. We’d never do anything to harm you or that wouldn’t feel good to you, Tessa.”

“Why don’t you tell us what your fears are? Tell us what in your past has you so convinced that you won’t like being in a relationship with us,” Tag finally said. He was tired of trying to convince her without knowing what they were working against. She needed to be honest with them so they could soothe her fears.

“I can’t belong to someone who won’t let me have friends and locks me up so I can’t go anywhere. I can’t ever go back to that kind of life or I’ll go crazy. I’d rather die than become that person again.”





Chapter Five




Tessa watched as her words sank in with the two men. Zander looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach, but Tag looked as if he wanted to tear someone into tiny pieces. She started to stand up so she could run, but his hands whipped out faster than she could move and pulled her onto his lap.

“Tell me who did that to you. I want his name, Tessa. Now!” His already deep voice sank even lower. A growly noise reverberated through it now.

“I–it doesn’t matter now. It was a long time ago. It doesn’t change the fact that I can’t let you take over my life like that. I’m sorry, but I just can’t do it.” She hated that there were tears in her eyes. She liked Tag and Zander. They’d been nothing but kind to her, but she couldn’t be what they wanted.

“He didn’t deserve you, baby girl. He didn’t deserve to breathe the same air you breathe. No man, Dom or not, should ever treat a woman like that. No one in this town or in our circle of friends would ever allow a man to treat another woman that way. If we heard about it, we’d put a stop to it,” Tag promised her.

“Tessa. He locked you up? How? Why couldn’t you go anywhere?” Zander asked, using his finger to wipe a tear from her cheek.

“If he was going to be out of town on business, he had a room in the basement that he’d lock me in. It was comfortable enough, I guess, but I didn’t like being down there and not be able to get out.” She heard both men growl, but she continued. “He worked from home for the most part, but occasionally had business meetings. Then he’d put a chain on my collar that kept me in the bedroom. I could get to the bathroom and there was a mini-fridge in the bedroom, but I was still on a chain and couldn’t go anywhere.”

“I don’t fucking believe it! Is that where the little scars on your neck came from? He had a metal collar on you?” Tag demanded, lifting her hair so he could see better.

Instantly her hands went to her neck to cover the tiny white lines that marred her skin there. She had never realized that they were that visible before or she would have never worn her hair in a ponytail.

“I–I’d get claustrophobic sometimes and fight against it. All I did was cut myself on the rough edge of the collar. I didn’t know they were that easy to see or I would have covered them up,” she said. This time she couldn’t stop the small sob that escaped.

“They aren’t that noticeable, kitten. Tag and I are super aware of everything about you. We knew something had happened to you by the way you avoided us and kept saying you wouldn’t be a submissive,” Zander said.

“How long, Tessa?” Tag asked.

She drew in a deep breath and forced her head up so she could see his eyes. “Three years. He wasn’t like that at first. When I first met him in college, he was kind and sweet. He took me out and gave me flowers and candy. I’m not even sure when he changed or when it started. After he moved in with me, I quit school to work while he finished his last year, then instead of me going back to college, I ended up staying at home to take care of him. Somewhere in all of that, I lost control of my life.”

Tag closed his eyes, but she saw the flash of rage that filled them before he did. No doubt her weakness and susceptibility disgusted him. She knew he wouldn’t want anything to do with her now. Now when she realized that they were nothing like her ex, she was going to lose her chance at something that might have been really good. She fought back more tears and tried to get off of Tag’s lap. He tightened his hold around her and stroked her hair.

“Easy, Tessa,” Tag said in a gruff voice.

“Did he hurt you physically, Tessa?” Even Zander’s voice had changed. It sounded hard, cold—unyielding.