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Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. A taste of heaven
CHAPTER 18JORDAN. I waited until the cafeteria had cleared out before turning to face Maryann.“What is this?”“Why don't you ask your little assistant?”Something in my expression must have told her that now wasn't the time for flippancy, because she quickly straightened and cleared her throat as she gestured towards Maze.“She and the secretary lady were being overly loud and I thought to warn them…but they got violent instead.”“The secretary lady,has a name—use it.”Maryann nodded,and I glanced at Maze’s stiff back. She hadn't turned to look at me, and I imagined it was because she didn't want me to see the tears that were probably shining in her eyes.“Someone… just sent me a video of the whole thing,” I began,my gaze back on Maryann. “I had to leave a meeting early because of it,why would you act so unprofessionally?”Maryann shifted,“sir…I…I didn't mean to cause a scene.”“But you did.”Her nostrils pinched and her face turned a dull shade of red as she
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. An almost escape
CHAPTER 19 MAZIKEEN “Wrong?” Jordan scoffed. “It was beautiful between us. You felt it too.” “I'm not talking about…how it felt.” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat as I leaned down to pick up my discarded scrunchie. No man had ever kissed me like that before,not that I'd kissed many. Graylin was the only one I'd ever been with and yet,none of his kisses had ever felt like this—so good it made me want to cry. “Then what do you mean then?” “This?” I waved between us. “It shouldn't exist. I'm about to get married and you…I heard something like this was why your last PA lost her job. Let's not make history repeat itself.” Jordan frowned,his face so beautifully pinched,I wanted to reach up and smooth out the confused crease in the middle of his brows. But instead I pulled my hair up in a bun and moved past him,towards the table I'd sat with Lin and picked up my phone. He followed after me,the rapid staccato of his shoes against the floor, matching the beat of my stu
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. First Easy Step.
CHAPTER 20MAZIKEEN. “Gran's in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's.” Linda explained as she led me down a silent hallway, with the walls lined with family photos and vibrant artworks.“It's my brother's turn to be with her today but he's running a bit late.”I gave her the most understanding smile I could muster as I nodded. “How long has it been since she was diagnosed?”“About four years.”We stopped in front of a door and she hesitated,casting me a slightly worried look.“My nan can be a bit too– forward with her words. She doesn't remember much,but her mouth’s as sharp as a ninja's saber.”I shrugged, chuckling.“I've survived worse.”I saw Linda's expression fall at my response and I knew we'd be talking about a lot,later.Slowly,she pushed the door open and stepped in, holding it open for me to follow after her.Soft golden light spilled from the open curtains into the room,casting a warm glow on the plush carpet as I quickly took in the figure sitting on a swi
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. The First Look
CHAPTER 21MAZIKEEN The next two days were the most fun I'd ever had in my whole life.And it was almost enough to make me forget Graylin's implied threat before he left.I dreaded his whips,the way he always left me broken and bleeding in some way.I glanced down at the engagement ring that was supposed to be the evidence of his love for me.Was it really though? Love was supposed to feel good right? Like the way things were with Lin…and Jordan,the way I felt with him.My lips tingled with the memory of our kiss, vivid and raw, making me warm all over.I wanted to feel that again.“A penny for your thoughts.” Lin said as she collapsed beside me on the beach towel,sand sticking to her damp skin from the swim.“I was just thinking about everything you said to me.”“Really? What part?”I closed my eyes as I looked up, letting the sun heat up my face.“Everything.” I answered. “About Graylin and I,my life…I should try finding out who my parents were, perhaps I even
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. After The Full Moon
CHAPTER 22 JORDAN. I stretched in bed as another tiny knock sounded on the door. “Jordan…” A smile broke across my face at the sound of the whisper,and I quickly threw the blanket off and moved to open the door. Anastasia stood there, clutching a red teddy bear to her chest,her hair hanging over face like she'd been messing with it. “I tried to put my hair in a bun,but it's so hard…” I reached forward and scooped up her small frame. “Why'd you mess it up after mom did it?” “She didn't do it…she doesn’t do my hair anymore.” I sat her down on my bed and pulled out the drawer on my nightstand. “So who's been doing your hair?” I asked her as I fished out a brush and a rubber band,then slowly began to untangle the hair strands wrapped around the purple scrunchie in her hair. “Joey does my haid,but mom said she can't come with us.” “Mom was right.” Joey was her human babysitter, and while she was allowed in the house on normal periods,the full moon was a very sen
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. An Awakening
CHAPTER 23 MAZIKEEN. Fear pumped through my veins as I curled my hands beside me,and sank deeper under the comforter. The shower was still on,but I knew it wouldn't be long before Graylin stepped out, with the towel around his waist and his hair plastered against his skull. He had barely spoken to me since he returned, and it was somehow worse than him yelling at me. My lungs tightened and my heart raced with trepidation as the shower stopped and a few seconds later,the bathroom door opened and the minty scent of antiseptic soap filled the room. “Get up.” My limbs trembled as I scrambled to obey,tears already blurring my vision as I watched him flip through his clothes until he settled on a pair of black jeans He faced me,his eyes on mine as he let the towel drop then slid the pants on. “You've not been very good to me,Maze.” I shifted as he began a slow walk towards the bed,until he was standing before the bedside desk. “You've disappointed me, again” he added,
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. SOS
CHAPTER 24.MAZIKEEN. He charged at me and I moved like I'd never moved before.fought like my life depended on it,and probably because it did.I'd seen Graylin angry before,lived it,but never like this…this was so much worse.He struck me across the face,and I smelled the blood before it even seeped out of my nose.He hurled me by the hair,but I quickly twisted out of his grip.It was as if a fresh surge of energy was rolling through me,dulling the pain in my back, speeding up my movements.I picked up the whip and jumped on his back as I wrapped it around his throat.Graylin grunted, fighting until he sank to his knees,but I pulled harder.And I didn't stop even when I felt the silver strings sizzling the flesh of my palms,not even when Graylin fell back with such a force,my head bashed against the tiled floor and I almost lost consciousness..I wrapped my legs around him and held on tighter until I felt him go limp above me.I was hesitant to let go at f
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. Her Knight
CHAPTER 25JORDAN Shoving past the door,I hurried down the stairs, into the living room at a clipped pace.I moved towards the floor-to-ceiling window,sliding a hand through my hair and pulling on them as I tried to breathe.I couldn't keep looking at her without thinking of murdering that bastard. Even though it went against the most core rule of the Arkhontes. “A moonborn must never shed the blood of another, without a true cause.”Was him hurting Maze, a true cause?I released a shaky breath as I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, debating whether or not to pay Graylin Cullen a visit.I was leaning heavily towards that option,and the only thing holding me back was the fact that I had to check the extent of her wounds and help her care for them.But the anger,oh,the anger. It was unbearable. I felt energy sizzling through my veins, making my teeth ache from how hard I clenched my jaw.I dug my phone out of the pocket and immediately pulled up
Last Updated : 2025-03-02
Latest chapter
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. The mother plant
CHAPTER 42 MAZIKEEN “Maze Smith?”I nodded at the brown skinned woman, immediately captivated by her perfect smile and dentition.“I'm Dr.Woods ,but you can just call me Tania.”“Thank you,Dr…Tania,” I said as I shook the hand she offered before moving to sit opposite her.“I hope this doesn't come off as offensive but…” I paused, filtering my next words. “I was kinda expecting to see someone much older than you are…not that I think you're unqualified for your job because of your youthfulness but I…I…”“That's okay,” she cut in with a gentle smile,the full bun of dark coils behind her head, bobbing as she shook her head.“You don't have to explain, Miss Smith…I understand,I do get that a lot too.”“Oh,” I adjusted in my seat then sighed. “That's good then.”I watched as the pretty lady flipped her notepad open and scribbled something in it before raising her head and fixing me with a cool, attentive look.“Tell me your biggest fear,Maze.”“Oh…um…” all of a
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. The purest heart
CHAPTER 41JORDAN “Maze?”She looked up from the running tap,her eyes locking onto mine with an expression that wrenched at my heart.“I can handle anything but your silence…just..just talk to me?”Maze blinked then shook her head slightly as it to clear it.“Your hand…it looked like mine…from that night.” I watched her throat bob as she swallowed.Then she moved closer, raising the wet towel to my face and gently dabbing it at a cut I didn't even know was there.“I’m sorry.”Her brows furrowed and genuine confusion flashed in her honey coloured eyes.“Why'd you be sorry?”“I scared you…”Maze shook he head again,“I'm not scared,Jordan.”She pulled back and took my hand, dragging it under the sink and turning the tap on again.“I'm…surprised? Confused? Curious?” She held my hand under the running water with one hand,and with the other,she reached up and brushed my hair out of my eyes.“Your grew longer.”My jaw ached as I ground my teeth and nodded. “Yeah,
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. The true him...
CHAPTER 40MAZIKEEN. “Stay here.” Jordan said as he quickly rounded the desk, hurrying towards the door.“I'm the one he's looking for,” I replied, climbing off the desk and pushing my dress down as I hurried after him.“Let me handle this.” I said after I caught his arm,and he spun around to face me.Jordan's brows furrowed,as he shook his head. “No…no,I won't let him get even an inch close to you aga… ”“Mazikeen,I'm sorry!!” Graylin yelled from outside and I could hear the buzz of other voices too.“Come out now and I won't expose your dirty secreeet,” Graylin sing-songed and I turned a pleading gaze to Jordan.“Please,let me just talk to him?”For seconds that felt like hours, Jordan stared into my eyes…searching–thinking.Then he nodded and pulled the door open.I hurried out of his office, feeling grateful that we’d already dressed up before Graylin's…whatever it is he was doing.“There she is…” Graylin cheered as I stepped out, lowering the gun from hi
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. Perfect Symphony
CHAPTER 39JORDAN Linda's face lit up as Maze and I walked into the lobby. “Oh my gosh!Maze!!” she exclaimed as she rounded the marble desk, rushing towards us with her arms already open and stretched towards Maze.“I'm so glad you're back to work!” “I am glad to be back,” Maze replied as they hugged, “but then I won't be staying long…”Linda pulled back and examined Maze's face, “your first session's today, right?”“Yeah,” Maze replied. “Kinda nervous.”“Don't be…you look great,I'm sure you'll do great too.”Maze chuckled sweetly, “I don't see the correlation,but I love you.”Linda hugged her again,then pulled back just as fast and turned to me.“Good morning Mr. Black,” she said.“Morning Lin,” I murmured, suddenly distracted by the buzz of the phone in my hand-a call from Mathew.“Miss Smith,” I called and her eyes flitted to mine, knocking the breath out of me.“I'll be up soon,” she told me when I gestured to ‘up’ as I raised the phone to my
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. Sweet,sweet, distraction...
CHAPTER 38JORDAN I was never going to get tired of telling Maze how beautiful she was, infact…sometimes I felt like it wasn't enough to just tell her…there had to be a better way to show her.And as she moved to sit on the marble top table,I had to fight to keep my control and not scare her with the intensity of my need.I would never be able to let go the way I could,but that was okay,any part of her she choose to give me was enough.“Pull your legs up,” I said,my voice sounding more like a croak.And then she did that.“Maze…” I groaned as I felt pre-cum bead up at the head of my shaft and my knees wobbled as she moved her thong aside so I was staring at the glistening slit of her pussy.I couldn't hold back anymore,my movements jerky and rough as I pulled off my shirt and moved between her parted legs,my mouth descending on hers with an urgency bothering on desperation.My hands snapped around her waist, holding her in place as our tongues tangled,then m
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. Moth to Flame
CHAPTER 37MAZIKEEN “No,not yet.” Jordan answered softly, “but I know he will,we just need to give him time.”I swallowed, glancing down at my almost empty plate and feeling grateful that I'd at least eaten enough before my sudden appetite loss.“You're right,Maze.”I picked up the glass of water and raised it to her mouth, “right about what?”“There's something special about you.”I side eyed him as I drained the glass--and he looked like he was on the edge of a chuckling fit.“Why're you trying to be sweet in the middle of an important conversation?”“I'm not…” he pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose. “I'm talking about what you told me the other day, about…feeling like you have some sort of energy…inside of you.”“Ohhh,” I nodded. “See how fast the wounds healed? Barely a full week.” I didn't mind scars but I was glad all the injuries had healed with very minimal ones.Jordan nodded,then tilted his head to the side as he studied me silently.
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. The Miscommunication Thing
CHAPTER 36JORDAN Maze's quietness bothered me more than any tantrum or vehemence could have.The way she calmly focused on the ceremony until it was all over,but still sparing Anna a genuine smile when she ran over to use with her yellow belt.“No,I'll call a ride.” Was her response when I mentioned driving Anna to my mom's before taking us home,but at least she’d gone back to the penthouse... I'd half expected her to announce that she wasn't going to stay with me anymore.I exhaled deeply as I pulled out the day old cooked rice from the fridge and moved back to the kitchen.It'd been about three hours since I returned and although I could hear Maze moving around the room up the short flight of stairs–could practically smell the lavender musk of her scent—I left her alone.After two hours of work in my study,I'd decided to make some food.I paused mid-pouring the oil into the pan, “Damn,I should've talked to her earlier.”She'd probably think I was being
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. Anna's Slip.
CHAPTER 35MAZIKEEN “Okay then.”Jordan's long fingers gripped mine, firmly as he led me towards the main entrance of the academy,his strides confident and purposeful.The urge to scrape my fingers down his back—was almost unbearable—holding his hand wasn't enough and the sight of the dark green knit sweater stretched across his muscled back, wasn't helping matters.God,he looked so good. His hair wonderfully tousled and styled,and he smelled sooo good,a warm,earthy citrusy smell that felt like a soothing caress.I felt the gold band of the ring on his index finger as he squeezed my fingers reassuringly and my gaze fell to the subtle stretch of his jeans,fitted perfectly around his waist.Perhaps I was a vain woman but I really, really liked how Jordan Black looked in his jeans…in all his clothes.‘You like how he looks without them too,’ a tiny voice whispered and I chewed on my bottom lip as images of that first night flashed through my mind,how he felt und
Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies. On further notice
CHAPTER 34 JORDAN “Are you alright?”Maze chuckled but it sounded nothing like her usual ones. “I'm fine..I’m just…nervous about meeting your sister, that's all.”I shot her a look, trying to keep my apprehension hidden.Had I done something wrong?Did she no longer want to stay with me? Did she miss that bloody bastard?I swallowed, slowing down as the taillight of the car in front flashed.She'd been a bit too quiet since after the day I brought Linda and the brother to see her.And although we still kissed and cuddled a lot,we never did anything else and I never initiated anything because I could sense her anxietyIt was in the way she looked at me whenever she thought I wasn't paying attention,the way she held me in her sleep,like she was afraid I'd suddenly disappear when she woke up.It was in the way she had a delayed reaction to everything I said or did.Something was definitely worrying her,and it automatically became a burden to me.“You sure it's
