BOUND BY HER DESIRE

CHAPTER FOUR

CLARA'S POV

A call coming in to ruin our moments was the least I expected. The sudden interruption left me frustrated and horny, my thoughts lingering on everything that had happened earlier. The feeling stayed with me throughout the morning. Even as I prepared for school, my mind kept wandering, making it difficult to focus on the day ahead. I lay on my bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling and trying to gather my thoughts. Eventually, I realized there was no point dwelling on it.

I slipped my fingers into my wet p***y, flicking and giving my c**t gentle pinches—moaning with my toes curled downward. My legs lifted slightly and widened them for more access as I imagined my fingers to be Julian's. His other hand flicked and pitched my c******s. His mouth wrapped around one of my n*****s. I imagined him hovering over me on the bed, one of his hands wrapped around my neck as he restricted my airways just enough that I wasn't out of breath. My n*****s tightened painfully more as I kept imagining him and rubbing my c**t faster, chasing that delicious high. My hips lifted on instinct as I was getting closer and closer to climax. I was dripping wet onto the bed, but I didn't care. It only showed how much I wanted him, which he will never get to know. I kept rubbing furiously and pinching my n*****s as I chased my high, just one more — ‘yes's’s yes’s’, I moaned out. My chest heaving heavily as I rolled to my side on the bed. God, I was ecstatic. The best I've ever had, with a sigh, I pushed myself up and headed for the bathroom. The cool shower helped clear my mind and wash away the restlessness that had followed me since the call. The water felt refreshing against my skin, helping me relax and regain my composure. After drying off, I applied lotion, brushed my teeth, and carefully got dressed in my school uniform. I packed my books, checked that everything I needed was in my bag, and took one last look in the mirror.

Feeling calmer and more put together, I grabbed my things and stepped out the door, ready to face the day and leave the distracting thoughts behind. I stepped out, and my driver was waiting outside the house for me.

“Good morning”

“Good morning,” I said. He opened the door and I sat in front. The drive to school was long and quiet as always. In the 30 minutes we were at school, I stepped out and waved the driver goodbye. I took two steps forward when I felt the hair at the back of my neck standing on ends, a shiver went down my spine and a sinking feeling filled my belly. I paused to scan the crowd for threats. I knew my guardian, Mr. Vance, had enemies, so I was always conscious of my environment. I knew Mr. Vance did send people to monitor me at school, but this was different. I turned to the direction, I felt the first pair of eyes on me and there was a man in a black hoodie at the far end of a class block. He turned away when I caught him looking at me. I don't know, but this one felt different from the usual ones I knew watched me daily. I spotted another watcher before I had even finished crossing the quad. He is good, I will give him that. Julian had his way. This is the third one this week. I have started giving them names in my head, mostly out of boredom. This is a gray jacket. Monday was a baseball cap. Wednesday was the woman with the stroller who definitely did not have a baby in it, judging by how she handled the turns and the new odd one at the far end. Gray jacket, he keeps a careful forty feet back, never quitting looking at me, always finding something fascinating about his phone whenever I glance in his direction. Julian trains them well. I adjust my bag on my shoulder and keep walking like I have not noticed anything.

School was the only place that pretended to feel normal.

Students hurried between lecture halls with coffee cups balanced in one hand and half finished assignments in the other.

The lecture hall is the usual chaos before Professor Adler arrives, laptops opening, the smell is coffee, someone's argument from last week's seminar still simmering two rows back. I take my usual seat near the window, which is actually my favorite seat. It also gives the gray jacket a clean sight-line from the courtyard below, making his job easy. I knew Julian gets reports and videos. I have seen the careful way he asks about my classes at dinner.

“Is this seat taken?”

I look up. Roland. I knew his name because he had introduced himself twice now. “It is all yours,” I said. I felt my face heat up. I knew I probably looked like a red tomato right now, so I looked down to try and hide my face. If he noticed, he didn't say anything, and a little color came up on my cheeks. He sits. He smells like a cologne that costs more than it should for a twenty-two-year old. “I am Roland, by the way. We had a group thing once together.” “I remember.” My eyes dropped to my notebook. Gosh, Rolland always had a way of making me small compared to others. I licked my gaze back to him and our eyes clashed together, my brown against stormy grey. My eyes widened. “I—I didn’t — I…” I stammered. “Clara.” “I know.” His smile widened. “Hard to forget.” Oh my, I just made a fool of myself, but it seems he doesn't care or doesn't want to make me more embarrassed. Woah, that was so sweet of him. I blushed harder, my face and ear were probably red by now.

I looked out the window and I noticed the grey jacket guy was just still. At my side, Rolland said something funny, dragging my attention back to him. I laughed wholeheartedly, “No you didn’t,” I choked out, my face flushed from laughter. He came close to my ears and whispered, “News flashed, I did,” My hands flew to my mouth, my eyes widening to the extreme. “No way,” I whispered in shock. “You didn’t,” but the longer I stared at him the more honest he looked. Roland didn't just dump rotten eggs on the annoying Rachel and her gang's sweaters. His courage was frightening, and he could commit crimes and do away with them with his charming smile and innocent face. “You are sweet,” I said, sounding breathless. “You don't have to. I am not used to people being this nice to me,” I said. It is not even a lie, it is just not the truth in the way he thinks. “Nevermore, I insist on walking with you today,” he said. Roland walks me as far as the philosophy building, talking about a brand I have never heard of and clearly hoping I have. We continued walking, laughing so loudly, and holding hands together.

“Please can I have your number,” he said. “Sure,” I said.

I gave him my number. “See you around, Clara,” he says. Looking pleased with themselves in the specific way boys look when they think they have won something. “See you around,” I echoed. We hugged each other and I let myself glance back once, over my shoulder, like I was a little dazed by my own darling. By the time I reach my last lecture, my phone buzzes. Dinner tonight. 7. Please don't be late. I smiled down at the screen. I will be there, I typed back. He offered to have an outfit delivered to my doorstep and asked for my home address. I did not even bother responding to the request. “Never mind, I will do that myself,” I finally replied. There was no point.

Julian Vance would never allow me to leave the house at that hour.