Free Bind by Sierra Cartwright Page B

were excitedly barking, Lara returned Suzy-Q to Mrs. Fuhrman.
    “Thank you, dear. She must love you.” Mrs. Fuhrman shook her head, but not a single one of her blueish-purple hairs moved. “She’s usually much better behaved than that, as you know,” the woman said.
    Lara didn’t correct her neighbor even though Suzy-Q visited, in her exuberant, behaviorally challenged way, almost every day.
    Once Suzy-Q’s leash was back in the older lady’s hand and the woman had slipped back into one of the shoes she’d somehow lost, Lara went inside to change and wipe off the dog’s expression of affection.
    An hour later, she wasn’t convinced that coming home early had been the right choice. Being alone, with too much time and not enough to do, was never a good thing.
    She’d already weeded the garden, pruned some flowers and tidied the house. And she hadn’t been able to escape her thoughts.
    She grabbed her laptop and did an Internet search on submission and Dominance.
    Images populated the results, some of them appealing, most of them a bit frightening. She read a few well-written articles that explained both, from different perspectives. And it seemed that people did have varying expectations.
    But she was quite certain that, despite what he’d said, she’d have to become a bit of a puppet to him.
    She told herself that there was no way she was going to his home this evening. A marriage of convenience was a business deal that should be discussed in a boardroom or a neutral place. And that way, she could make sure he kept his hands off her. She’d already learned that a single touch from him could undo her.
    Decision made, she closed the computer’s lid.
    Now she only had a few more hours she needed to fill before she could start getting ready for the next day.
    After changing into running clothes and securing her hair into a ponytail, she headed out, down the street, focusing on her footfalls, looking ahead, trying to shut out the world as she normally did.
    It didn’t work. Unbidden, Connor’s words returned to tumble through her memory. It wasn’t just what he’d said. It was the certainty with which he’d said them, and the corresponding reaction that had slid through her.
    Lara turned a corner and picked up the pace, even though her breathing was already labored.
    As he’d suggested it might, his introductory taste had tantalized her. The way he’d tugged on her nipples had made her clench her thighs. Other men she’d been with had been afraid of giving her what she wanted, but clearly Connor wouldn’t be. She wasn’t sure if the idea appealed to her or terrified her.
    Despite her best intentions, her mind wandered back to his talk about punishment. What the hell had he meant by that? Part of her railed against the idea. Who the hell did he think he was? What gave him any idea that she’d be agreeable?
    And still… Curiosity made her panties damp.
    In that moment, she wondered who she was fighting—Connor or herself?
    She slowed her pace and headed for home.
    Running in Houston’s signature blend of heat and humidity was never a good idea. It zapped strength and energy. And it hadn’t banished a single thought of Connor.
    She let herself back into the house but nixed the thought of sitting on her leather couch in her damp clothes. Instead she filled a glass with filtered water before going outside to sit on the swing.
    The overhead fan provided a welcome relief as she took several long drinks.
    A hummingbird darted by, distracting her. With its unmistakable fluttering sound, it hovered for a second, then paused to sip some nectar from one of her lantanas before darting off.
    She pulled out her scrunchie and told herself she wasn’t going to Connor’s loft tonight. Not only that, but she wasn’t going to call him until tomorrow. Or the weekend. When she talked to him, it would be to let him know that a business arrangement was a solid idea but that she had no intention of being a submissive. That