Michelle: The Ties That Bind (Auction Night Book 3) Read online

  Michelle

  The Ties that Bind: Auction Night

  Ellie Masters

  JEM Publishing

  Copyright © 2020 Ellie Masters

  MICHELLE

  THE TIES THAT BIND: AUCTION NIGHT

  All rights reserved.

  This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted, or distributed in any printed, mechanical, or electronic form without prior written permission from Ellie Masters or JEM Publishing except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  Editor: Erin Toland

  Cover Artist: Kari Nappi

  Interior Design/Formatting: Ellie Masters

  Published in the United States of America

  JEM Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, businesses, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  AISN: B082VN8SH5

  Warning

  * * *

  This story contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and might be considered offensive to some readers.

  This book is for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country where you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely and where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my one and only—my amazing and wonderful husband.

  Without your care and support, my writing would not have made it this far. You make me whole every day. I love you “that much.” For the rest of you, that means from the beginning to the end and every point in between. Thank you, my dearest love, my heart and soul, for putting up with me, for believing in me, and for loving me.

  My husband deserves a special gold star for listening to me obsess over this book and for never once complaining while I brought these characters from my mind to the page.

  You pushed me when I needed to be pushed. You supported me when I felt discouraged. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. If it weren’t for you, this book never would have come to life.

  Also by Ellie Masters

  Sign up to Ellie’s Newsletter and get a free gift. https://elliemasters.com/FreeBook

  Light BDSM Romance

  The Ties that Bind

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA.

  Alexa

  Penny

  Michelle

  Ivy

  Contemporary Romance

  The One I Want Series

  By Jet & Ellie Masters

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA.

  Aiden

  Brent

  Caleb

  Dax

  Rockstar Romance

  The Angel Fire Rock Romance Series

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA. It is recommended they are read in order.

  Ashes to New (prequel)

  Heart’s Insanity (book 1)

  Heart’s Desire (book 2)

  Heart’s Collide (book 3)

  Hearts Divided (book 4)

  Dark Romance

  Captive Hearts Series

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA. It is recommended they are read in order.

  She’s MINE

  Embracing FATE

  Forest’s FALL

  Romantic Suspense

  Changing Roles Series:

  this series is about one couple and must be read in order.

  Book 1: Command

  Book 2: Control

  Book 3: Collar

  HOT READS

  each book is a standalone novel.

  Off Duty

  Nondisclosure

  Down the Rabbit Hole

  Romantic Suspense (standalone)

  each book is a standalone novel.

  Twist of Fate

  The Starling

  Redemption

  HOT READS

  Becoming His Series

  this series is about one couple and must be read in order.

  Book 1: The Ballet

  Book 2: Learning to Breathe

  Book 3: Becoming His

  Sweet Contemporary Romance

  Finding Peace

  ~AND~

  Science Fiction

  Ellie Masters writing as L.A. Warren

  Vendel Rising: a Science Fiction Serialized Novel

  Contents

  I. Michelle

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

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  Also by Ellie Masters

  About the Author

  Connect with Ellie Masters

  Final Thoughts

  THE END

  Part 1

  Michelle

  Chapter 1

  A glance at the clock and I'm T-minus sixteen hours from disaster.

  The sun barely crests the horizon, light spills into our living room, and I've been fucked.

  Twice.

  It's the perfect start to a troubling day.

  I don't care what any of my subbie friends say. Tonight is going to be a disaster.

  My heart isn't in it.

  I'm not ready.

  There's too much pressure.

  And I really think I'm going to disappoint my Dom.

  Failure isn't something I handle well. I may look composed on the outside, but the mess swirling around inside my head is a shit storm of Beware all ye who enter here!

  Okay, it's time to put down the pirate book. It's not like I'm really into the kinky story about pirates anyway. I've read the same page ten times and still have no idea what the hell's happening.

  There's a pirate.

  He has his wench captive.

  I think they're fucking.

  My mind is so distracted I don't even know if the characters I'm reading about are having sex or not. There's rope involved, and I love rope. A quick peek, and yeah, they're not fucking yet. He's just beginning the first of ten lashes because of her sassy mouth.

  I squirm a little thinking about talking back to my Dom. Tank doesn't allow that kind of behavior and I have wound up over his knee more times than I should.

  The screen lights up on my phone and pulls m
e from thoughts of Tank…and they were delicious thoughts.

  It's a text from Katy about tonight. She keeps checking in on me because she's concerned I'm going to back out.

  I won't.

  I won't because I'm a stubborn bitch and once I say I'm going to do something, I do it…even when I think it's the worst possible thing.

  I also won't back out because I want tonight to be perfect for Katy. She's under a lot of stress running the Gala at The Ties that Bind without her Master for the first time. We're all still mourning his loss, but as his slave, Katy feels Master Andy's death more keenly than the rest of us.

  So, I won't back out. Besides, how could I say no to Tank? My lovable mug of a man is really looking forward to a chance to prove me wrong.

  There's very little I don't do to please my Dom. I'm simply wired that way and that's a problem. Too often, I leap before considering what the fallout might be.

  Like with Tank…

  And agreeing to tonight.

  He wants something I don't, and if I'm not careful, I'm going to give him something I'm not ready to give, then I'll resent him. And then…I don't want to think about anything beyond that.

  It's a disaster.

  Like nuclear explosive bad and I'm the one lighting the damn fuse. I don't know if nuclear bombs have fuses. Maybe I'm just holding a damn stick of dynamite, lighting the tip, and gripping the damn thing to see what happens instead of throwing it far away from me.

  I'm a fucking idiot.

  "Hey luv, you okay?" Tank wanders in from the bedroom. A towel barely wraps around his hips and he's still dripping wet.

  I swear the man doesn't know how to get out of a shower and dry off. What is so hard about using a towel to…I don't know…actually dry yourself? Not that I really mind. I'd love to lick those beads of water. Hell, I want to devour him.

  Tank is built like… well, a tank. He's an ex-Marine and an ex-prize fighter. The man has a body women get stupid over. He's tall and broad, with a body cut out of granite. Sculpted muscle and polished perfection, his body is an artist's dream of clean lines, hard edges, and ripped muscle.

  Until you get to his face.

  Marred from an artillery explosion, a fine network of scars covers over half his face, and his nose has been broken so many times it finally gave up on ever being straight. His ears are what you would expect from a boxer clubbed too many times during a fight. His face is a lumpy mess of the most imperfect beauty.

  Other women swoon at his perfect body then pull away when they see his face. I swoon at the twinkle in his eyes and the smile he reserves solely for me.

  He bends down. The fresh scent of his soap floods my senses and I can't help but breathe him in. Tank cups my chin and turns my face up to his. My gaze meets the tenderness of his expression and I kind of melt a little on the inside. He always makes me swoon, because in his eyes, I'm the only woman in the world.

  I blink because I need a moment. After years together, this man still sweeps me away. Slowly, his question penetrates the lusty haze of my thoughts.

  What did he ask? Oh, am I okay?

  "Um, yeah." I manage two words. That's all I have in me.

  Two words.

  One lie.

  He lowers enough to kiss my forehead. This gives me an up close and personal view of the rippling muscles of his six-pack and the delectable V-groove angling down to what I know is an impressive cock hidden beneath that towel. My jaw still aches from the blow job I gave him in bed, but I'd go for it again. I love being the force behind his pleasure.

  "You sure?" He pulls back and cocks his head, assessing me and trying to determine if I told him a lie.

  But, I'm good at lying and I bat my baby-blues while peeking up through my lashes. I'm a knockout and I know exactly what that does to men. It turns them stupid and I get away with a lot of shit I shouldn't.

  Tank is more immune than most, but he still draws in a deep breath and the towel jerks as his cock reacts, becoming thicker and longer. If I'm not careful, I'll wind up on my knees or flat on my back.

  We had sex this morning.

  Twice.

  But Tank can go another few rounds. I can too, and it wouldn't be the first time we spent all day wrapped around each other. But my thoughts turn a little too far inward.

  "I'm sure." I wiggle in my seat and place the pirate book to the side.

  His astute gaze narrows in on the cover.

  The girl is bound to the mast, back bared from her shoulders down to the crack of her ass, and the anit-hero asshole pirate holds a whip in his hand. There's a lusty expression on his face and the cover sizzles from the sexually charged scene.

  Tank wants that kind of power over me. He wants to be able to do anything he damn well pleases…with me, to me…for me.

  My Dom wants to be my Master.

  This terrifies me.

  And it terrifies the heroine of my book. Her face is a mask of fear as she glances over her shoulder to stare at her pirate captain.

  And I don't like how much it scares me. It's not like I have any reason to doubt Tank. He's a phenomenal Dom, aggressive when I need him to be, tender when I least expect it, and unwavering in his control. He's a natural born dominant and not afraid to express his sexuality.

  If anyone was born into the lifestyle, it is the man standing in front of me. I don't think he's ever had a sexual encounter that didn't involve dominant sex.

  He's a pillar of our community, well-respected and sought out by other Doms for mentorship within the lifestyle. He's one of the Old Guard at The Ties that Bind, and now he wants to take our relationship to the next level.

  "Do I need to call in and tell them I'll be late?" His deep voice is smooth, controlled, and brimming with promise.

  Shit. He's too damn perceptive.

  Chapter 2

  In our community, taking things to the next level doesn't mean putting a ring on my finger, marriage, and kids. It means snapping a collar around my neck and claiming all of me.

  All of the tiny pieces I keep to myself.

  Like the tiny white lie I just told.

  The insecurities I feel about myself.

  And the fears I face.

  I shouldn't have fears, insecurities, or a mouthful of lies.

  "No, Sir, that's not necessary."

  His tone flips a switch within me and I'm no longer his girlfriend, Michelle, but rather his submissive. And just like a switch, my body responds. I'm achy and needy, greedy to feel his cock stroking between my legs. I need to taste him, submit to him, and be devoured by him.

  "Then tell me why you lied." Low and rumbly, his words come out more of a growl and the towel moves as his cock reacts to the natural rhythm of our dynamic.

  I'm a submissive. He's a dominant. Together, we're explosive.

  "I'm just stuck in my head and I didn't want to bother you. I know you're running late and it's really nothing." I cast my gaze down to the floor. "I'm sorry."

  He squats before me and places his hands on my knees. His thick meaty hands swallow my bony knees and his fingers dig into my quads.

  "You're never a bother, luv. If you need to talk…I'm here for you. If you need something else…I'm here for that too."

  When I get too far into my head, or when the stress of the day overwhelms me, Tank is able to reset my head with the heaviness of his hand and the love in his heart. At least, that's how I think of it.

  It's like there's too much buzzing in the world. Submitting to him, really going deep, shuts out all the extraneous noise. I can simply exist with him. It's a place of intimacy extending far beyond the connection sex brings about.

  He knows this need within me and fulfills it admirably, taking me deep into my submission.

  I'm not big into metaphysics and all that crap, but our souls connect when we fully embrace our natural selves. I'm a submissive who needs the strong guiding hand of a dominant man. Sometimes I need nothing more than his love, other times I need to burn.

  I don't nee
d that now.

  I think?

  There's a smile on my face before I can think to put it there. Tank really does love me and he'll do anything to prove it.

  "Thank you, but it's okay. I was just reading my book and thinking about…"

  "Tonight?"

  "Yes."

  More than tonight.

  This book is making me think about a lot of things. What would it be like to hand over all control of my life to him? There's a sense of bliss, I think, that may come from that, but there's also fear.

  I worry that I will worry. And that friction will drive a wedge between us, destroy a dynamic which is working very well for us both. I just know it.

  I have concerns.

  He knows my thoughts. We've discussed them endlessly.

  It doesn't change the fact that he's naturally drawn to complete domination, absolute mastery, and uncompromising leadership of our path as a couple.

  "I'll call in." He announces it as if it's a done deal. That is what a Master would do.

  A boyfriend would discuss it with me first.

  "No." I grip his hands, holding them on my legs before he can get up and move. "I really don't want to ruin your day. You know me…I just think too much. And I'm sorry for lying. I know I shouldn't." I give his hands a little squeeze. "I'm trying to be better about sharing my thoughts, just give me time."