Free Bound to Danger by Thalia Frost

Chapter 1
     

    When Ivy Sharp reached her apartment, her stomach dropped. Too many police cars with lights flashing and people milling around couldn’t be good.
    “What is it now?” She rolled her eyes and parked in the only spot she could find.
    Generally, the neighborhood was quiet for one in Birmingham, but big city crime had its place here, too.
    Ivy grabbed her laptop full of work projects and inched her way to the front door of the complex.
    A neighbor she knew by first name stood on the steps watching. Ivy cleared her throat, hoping to get his attention as he stared into the distance. As usual, she could hardly speak when she got close to him. With a nearly-shaved head and a stud in one ear, he screamed hot sex and bad boy all rolled into one.
    “Hey, Ivy.”
    “Hi, Finn. What’s going on?”
    He gave her a long look, one that made her want to shiver. She knew her short skirt showed her long legs off to advantage and that he had noticed.
    “You haven’t heard. Oh. Jane Dixon was murdered sometime last night. Her mother came by for a visit and found her. It’s terrible. I don’t know any details yet. Hey, are you okay?”
    Finn came toward her, her vision of him blurring as her legs buckled.
    “Not really.”
    He steadied her, and she leaned against him, feeling hot and cold at the same time and wanting to throw up. “I’m sorry. I should have prepared you. You and Jane were friends, right?”
    “Sort of. I went to a party at her place a few months ago, but we never really had time to get to know each other.” And now we won’t. Ivy swallowed a lump. Murdered?
    “That’s too bad. She seemed nice enough.”
    Ivy moved out of his embrace, her face growing hot at how long she had stayed there. “Sorry. Thanks.” She looked up at him, trying not to study his chiseled features for too long. There was something dark about him that was only hinted at by the piercings and leather.
    “No problem. You okay now?” He gazed into her eyes, and she cleared her throat.
    “Yep. Just got dizzy thinking about Jane.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked away from him.
    “It’s sick, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah, it is. Listen, I’ll catch you later. I have a bunch of stuff to get done, and after this, I think I need a hot cup of tea.” She gave him a quick smile as his eyes flickered over her. Ivy noticed the strange tawny color of them for the first time, the eyes of a cat on the prowl.
    What a thought.
    “Enjoy it, and take care. If you need anything, Ivy, don’t hesitate to come by. I’m usually there. If I’m not, slip a note under the door.” Finn touched her arm.
    “I will. Thanks.” She turned away, her heart galloping in her chest.
    He was flirting with me. Great. All I need is a freak interested in me, but he is hot...
    Ivy put the kettle on for tea, feeling ashamed at her thoughts when Jane was dead. She wanted to know the details. The thought of her acquaintance being murdered there in the building made her get up and run to lock both bolts on the door.
    Ivy flipped on the television. The story was blaring.
    “An apparent sadistic, sexual murder... a deviant.”
    “Oh my god.” The idea of it made her shake as did her own demons. Had Jane Dixon liked rough sex and bondage?
    They had never talked about it, and who would with just a few casual meetings between them? Ivy wished they had, and her longing for a female confidant who could understand her returned. It would be wonderful to know she wasn’t alone. She thought of her several encounters with the few men who would tie her up and dominate her. The memory made her go hot all over.
    But this guy murdered Jane, and maybe she didn’t want what he was offering.
    “No shit,” she whispered softly. Ivy moaned, putting her head in her hands . Sounds like the kind of guy I’d date.
    Finn’s face flashed through her head as she swallowed a gulp of the bracing Earl Grey. “Ridiculous. I don’t even know his last name.”
    Doesn’t