Bound To You

No Self Control

I stood there shocked that he was able to get my car back for me. He did it so smoothly. "How did you get my car here?" I asked.

"I have my ways, Ari." He winked at me and just when you thought he couldn't get anymore sexier, that small gesture just proved me otherwise. I turned towards him, looking into his eyes.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." We both stood there staring into each other's soul. I could feel it, the tension. It wasn't bad in fact, it was lustful. I knew he could feel it too. Neither one of us wanted to lose control, but I was failing miserably. Clearing my throat, I looked away as I tried to find my voice.

"I-I should probably go in and start on dinner."

"That would probably be best,” his eyes flickered with unimaginable desire and this was his way of warning me to get away while I have the chance. The only problem? I didn’t want to. I wanted him just as bad as he wanted me. He had this magnetic pull towards me as if our souls were made to be intertwined. I walked passed him expecting him to grab my arm and pull me close to him. I was disappointed when he didn't, but I was mad at myself for thinking that he was attracted to me in the first place. Maybe I wasn't his type. Maybe he wanted someone that's more petite or maybe I just misread him all of this time. I don't know. My doorbell rang and I was grateful for the distraction. I answered it and regrettably it was Robert.

"Ari, please talk to me. Look, I'm sorry for making a move on you like that."

"Robert, I told you we were done and I meant it." He's so aggravating. I don't know what gave him the slightest idea that I was interested in him again after all of the s**t I went through with him. I attempted to close the door, but he stopped it with his foot.

"I f****d up. I can admit that."

"Yeah, no s**t, three times. You wasn't even sorry until you got caught,” I replied. "I moved on and you need to do the same." He eyes flashed with anger.

"You moved on? Ari you can’t move on I still love you!"

"Well, I don't love you anymore!" I yelled. In an instant, Zane was standing behind me shirtless and spoke in a dangerously low tone.

"You just can't take no for answer, huh. She moved on and I advise you do the same." I was shell shocked. "If you call her, text her, or come anywhere near her, then you will have to answer to me and it won’t be so friendly.” He saved me again. Robert was extremely angry now.

"So you moved on with the boss now, huh?" He spat. "You're just f*****g your way to the top all because daddy wouldn't give you his company." He looked me like I was a dirty piece of meat. His gray eyes were cold and empty. "You f*****g worthless slut."

Suddenly, I was being pulled back as Zane charged at Robert, tackling him to the ground. "Stop!" I screamed as Zane punched him in the face. "Zane! Stop!"

Robert groaned in pain and touched his bloody nose.

I grabbed Zane's arm and he stiffened to my touch. "Zane? Please stop. Let's go back in,” I begged him. I didn’t how but he began to calm down instantly. "By the way, you're fired,” he emphasized to Robert as he got off of him. We went into the house and I locked the door. I looked down at Zane's hand and noticed it was all red and bloody.

"Your hand."

"It's fine,” he waved. I led him to the my sofa and pointed at it for him to sit.

"Sit down. I'll get you some ice." He didn't say a word, just stood there. “Zane. Please sit."

Reluctantly, he did. The whole scene replayed in my head. Zane had no self control. He wasn't thinking with his mind, until I touched him. It was like I brought him back to reality. I grabbed the ice and placed it into a bag making an ice pack. When I came back, he sat there deep in thought. I gave him the ice and he pressed it against his hand. "You should get that checked out. I can call Riley an-"

"I'm fine, Ari,” he said with a hint of annoyance .

"What about your wound? You were shot yesterday."

"You don't have to keep reminding me."

“And you don’t have to keep being a d**k! But you’re right, I'm sorry." I stood to go to my room. He grabbed my hand and that sensation I was craving before came rushing through me sending electrical impulses throughout my body.

"I'm sorry,” he sincerely apologized .

I took in a deep breath, “It's okay."

"No, it's not. You didn't deserve that and you definitely didn't deserve what he said to you." He still held on to my hand as he spoke. I could barely focus on what he was saying.

"What made you date an asshole like him?" He wondered. "You deserve so much better." I sat back down but he still held on to my hand. Just that small gesture alone made me feel safe.

"Robert wasn't like that when we first got together. He was so caring, so sweet.”

"So what happened?" He probed.

"I gave my virginity. I thought he was going to be the one I spend the rest of my life with. He was good until, I recalled. “Until he started drinking. He changed after that. He started to come home late, he was always drunk, and he smelled like s*x all the time. We would argue about his drinking habits and he would get mad when I reject him because I knew he was just with someone else."

Just thinking about it now makes me nauseous. "I still gave him the benefit of the doubt. I guess I didn't want to believe that he was actually cheating on me, but I knew he was. He came home again another night, with that same scent. I made sure I was fully dressed just so he couldn't touch me."

"Ari, you don't have to tell me all of this." Zane assured me, but I wanted to. I don't know why but I found comfort in telling him. Like my heart was telling me that I could trust him.

"It's okay. One day, he sent me a text saying he was going to be out late. I already knew what he was going to do, but for some reason I was fed up with it. So, I followed him from work and he arrived to this house and when he got to the door, a woman was standing there in lingerie, waiting. She threw herself around him and he shut the door." I felt more at ease talking to Zane about something so personal. We wasn't bantering and it made everything a little more simple. "I walked up to the window and I see him inside of her. No protection, nothing. She was yelling his name and he told her he loved her." I stayed quiet being trapped into that memory.

"Hey, hey. Look at me." Zane pulled my chin up to look in his eyes. They were the softest and warmest eyes I've ever looked in. "You are an amazingly strong woman. A real pain in my ass, but I commend you for sticking up for yourself and walking away from him." I was speechless. Was he actually complimenting me?

"You will find a man that is worthy your beauty, time, presence." He rubbed his thumb across my chin as he spoke in a low soft tone. I was lost in his eyes. Those mesmerizing eyes that ties me into its web every time I looked into them. God, I wanted him to kiss me.

Suddenly, my oven went off, breaking the trance I was in. He lets go of my chin and I stood wiping my hands on my pants. "Dinner is ready. Set the table while I prepare our plates, please."

The dinner table was silent. Both of us are in our own worlds. He was definitely a lot better than yesterday and if he wanted too, he could've went home after he got my car, but he came back and stayed. "This is really good,” he complimented.

"Thank you. It's a family recipe,” I smiled proudly that he liked my cooking.

"Really?" He brown perked up. I nodded answering his question.

"Sure is." I took another bite of this delicious Brown chicken stew.

"Tell me the secret,” He winked and I smiled shaking my head. Giving in, he threw his hands up. "Fine, I guess some secrets are made to be just that."

"Damn right,” I laughed. I really enjoyed his playful side. It was cute. Then his face turned serious.

"Seriously Ari, dinner was amazing and thank you for taking care of me. I'm going to go home tonight. I have to be at the office early. You can take the next two days off." Sadness washed over me but I understood.

"That's fine, I get it. That couch can become a little uncomfortable,” I murmured.

"Your couch was fine." He corrected me as he stood up to leave. "Do you need help with the dishes?

"No, I got it. Just be careful and take your meds."

"Yes, mother." He joked. I rolled my eyes at him as we walked towards the door. He opened it and turned towards me.

"Ari?"

"Yes,” I smiled, hoping he was going to change his mind and stay, but that was wishful thinking.

"Goodnight.”

"Goodnight, Zane." He slowly walked away like he was forcing his body to move and I watched him until he drove off before I closed the door. So much for having no self control.