All Chapters of Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies.: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

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

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,

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

CHAPTER 27 JORDAN After I heard Maze's breathing slow down, followed subsequently by a gentle,nasal hum…I'd carefully laid her down on her stomach before getting up to brush my teeth and take a quick shower. I then changed into a T-shirt and plaid bottoms,and by the time I climbed back into bed,it was almost one AM. But now,I was awake,it was still dark outside and one of Maze's shapely legs was strung over my stomach,her head on my chest. I took a deep breath as my body reacted in the way it always did whenever she was involved. But when I tried to move the leg off,I felt her breathing change and she yawned loudly. The bedside lamp cast a dim glow around the room but It was solely for her comfort,and right then,it just made things worse for me…her scent,her body against mine…it was altogether too intoxicating. “Are you uncomfortable?” she muttered,her voice a heady rasp. ‘Uncomfortably hard’ I answered inwardly as I shook my head.“Nah. Are you?” “No.” My skin sizzled a

CHAPTER 29 JORDAN Maze was still curled up on her side when I emerged from the bathroom. And a soft smile spread over my face as my gaze lingered on her sleeping form for a moment, before I headed into the walk-in closet to get ready.I was still in awe of the events of the early morning,her willingness,her ecstasy…. I'd definitely be thinking about everything at the office…I don't even know how I managed to shave my face without any cuts as flashes of her face,her sounds,the feel of her warm,wet walls gripping me,kept recurring.I was knotting my tie when I walked out and stopped dead as I found the bed empty.Rushing towards the bathroom,I sighed with relief as I heard the tap turn on.Then I felt a bit stupid for my reaction,like where exactly would she go without proper clothing? The balcony?I leaned closer,and although I heard the sound of someone brushing their teeth,I still knocked.“Maze?”Silence.I slowly pushed the door open and nearly fell to my