Bound by Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

Repression
                  Lunch proceeded, and Natalie began to wonder about her own motivations. She’d been bold that morning getting dressed. Tanner didn’t know yet, but was beginning to suspect something. Anxiety, or fear, combined with excitement destroyed Natalie’s appetite. She sipped casually at her wine, acting as normal as possible. What in the world could she have been thinking?
                  “Take your coat off,” Tanner requested. “It’s warm in here, and I’d like to see you.”
                  Natalie shook her head, and saw Tanner’s jaw tense.
                  His eyes roamed over the emerald green trench coat. He frowned.
    “Why not?”
                  Natalie glanced out the window at the expanse of New York, and for a moment, wished she could fly away. She was trapped. Hadn’t she planned it this way? Well, not really. She’d hoped to get home first. That had been the idea.
                  “I’m waiting,” Tanner reminded, impatiently.
                  Mustering courage she didn’t know she had, Natalie raised her chin in defiance, and looked at Tanner’s steely blue look. “I can’t,” she said, simply.
                  For a moment, Tanner didn’t respond. He thought he should understand, but didn’t. The look in her eyes gave her away. Suddenly, he knew.
                  “You aren’t wearing anything under the coat, are you?” He accused.
                  “Yes, if you count the blue satin lingerie set I got when we were in Paris.”
                  Natalie shouldn’t have been surprised at Tanner’s reaction, but she was. He was jealous, of others admiring her. The idea of her walking around New York, half-naked, incensed him. He was enraged and wanted to punish her, regain control, but they were in a public place.
                  Tanner rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on, fast.
                  “Are you okay?” She asked.
                  “You know about the headaches I get,” he barked. “I told you about those. I’ll take a pill when we get back.”
                  Interesting, Natalie thought. It had never occurred to her before. Apparently, repression could cause Tanner’s headaches. Sure, the doctors saw the connection between his prior car accident and the head pain. But, they knew nothing of his sex life. She did.
    He’d had to hold himself back, for years. He still did. Thus, his warnings of the danger he was to her, how he wasn’t good for her.
    Fortunately, he’d found out he wasn’t guilty of abusing that woman, Salina. But, Natalie knew he still feared his urges. His urge to punish her, now, after what he considered misbehavior, was strong.
    The clenching of his jaw, and the stiffening of his body, told her what he’d do, if they were alone. Or, what he might do later, anyway. At the moment, repression was the temporary control, and Tanner had a spitting headache.
    “Let’s get out of here,” he said, and took her hand, leading her to a more private setting.
    Feeling Tanner’s annoyance, a tinge of fear ran down Natalie’s spine. What did she expect? Why in the world did she go out dressed like she did? Seeking a thrill wouldn’t have been enough.
    She knew she’d incited Tanner’s anger, purposefully. Her inner nature begged for his punishment, his control. She wanted him, and inside, she felt that’s how he showed he cared.
    Once inside the limo, he seemed calmer. Natalie was confused when he turned to her, and lightly touched her cheek with his fingertips.
    “ You know you made me insanely jealous. You were virtually naked under that emerald coat, and every waiter, every customer, every passerby, was closer to your naked body than I ever want them to be again.
    You want punishment. You incited my anger.
    I think you like spankings,