Bonds of Desire Read Online Free PDF

for them.
    She stared at him. Her lips compressed before she leaned forward so her face was even with his. She peered into him, searching out things no one else had ever bothered to hunt for. It made him feel more exposed and vulnerable than the pain did. “It’s about me helping you. That’s all. No tricks. No judgments. No expectations.” Her voice was as gentle and honest as the truth conveyed in her eyes.
    What was it about her that had him wanting to believe and accept all she was offering? Because what she was presenting seemed like much more than a trip to the hospital.
    “Okay.” He cleared his throat, his face flushing at both the word and how pathetic it sounded. It’d been so long since he’d accepted anyone’s help that it felt as rusty as the tenderness had earlier. But then, he’d do just about anything to get the fucking night to end.
    * * *
    “Good.” Allie let her breath out, careful to keep her relief from showing. “You can trust me.”
    He glanced down, and she sat back, taking a second to mentally outline her next steps. His every action proved he didn’t hold faith in her pledge, which only made her conviction to help him even stronger. She wouldn’t be another in the apparently long line of people who had let him down.
    “I’m only going to the hospital,” he asserted, looking back to her. “That’s all.”
    She nodded. “Okay. That’s the priority.” She’d tackle the rest later. Taking a quick breath, she stood and stepped away from the chair. “I’ll get Seth to help you to my car.”
    “No.” His firm tone halted her movement. “I can do it myself.” He pushed up, raising his chest off the cushions. His breath inhaled as a hiss passed through his clenched teeth.
    “Stop.” Allie dropped to her knees and squeezed his forearm until he looked at her. “You’re hurting yourself.”
    He features were sharp and strong in an almost graceful way. Pulled tight in pain, his cheekbones and jaw defined his resolve. His eyes flashed blue sparks of determination as his pride snapped out to bite at her.
    “I can do it,” he grit out between deep breaths before his lips thinned and he pushed up farther. He shifted his knees under him before he gasped and locked his elbows to keep his arms stiff. His muscles trembled under the strain, defining the effort it took for him to hold the position.
    “Just wait.” Ignoring Tyler’s protest, she stood and called out to Seth. The stubborn man was going to hurt himself worse.
    The door flew open, and Seth stormed in on a wave of anger and worry. “What?” The deep demand burst through the open space. Tyler flinched then groaned.
    “I said wait.” She put a hand on Tyler’s shoulder to halt his movement and shot a glare at Seth. Dressed in all black, his mood was as dark as his clothing. “He needs your help getting up.”
    The next instant, Seth was there to grip Tyler under his arms. He lifted the man up, providing support as Tyler dropped his feet to the floor. He let out a muted whimper and sank into Seth’s chest. He dug his forehead into the solid shoulder, his shallow breaths as telling as his white-knuckled grip on Seth’s waist.
    “Christ.” Seth’s low curse had Allie’s gaze jerking up to stare into his face. There was remorse, pain and genuine concern etched into the strong features. But it was the tilt of his head toward Tyler’s, the closed eyes and the tender way he whispered soothing words to the other man that sucked the breath from her lungs.
    Her stomach tightened and her mouth went dry. The unexpected intimacy between the two men shocked her immobile. Were they a couple? Lovers? Master and sub? How did this world work? She was completely out of her element and had no idea how to proceed.
    The fact that her two closest friends had both found happiness being spanked by Doms didn’t mean she understood it. Did Doms have both male and female subs, or was Seth gay? Had she missed that fact when she was flirting