Bound (Bound Hearts #1) (25 page)

Excerpt

Prologue

..::Siddaleigh::..

“So do you know when you’re coming back?” I knew this would be a tough question to ask. The answer was going to be too much for me to bear, I thought.

Walking hand-in-hand with Konner down Clear Lake Shores was a memory I would savor. I knew our time together was limited with his team being deployed soon. I never wanted him to leave me, but he had a life as a Navy SEAL.

“I’m not sure when I'll be back. My C.O., my Commanding Officer, figures it'll be a quick in and out. So top three to four weeks or up to 2 months. I hope to be back by October. Right after my birthday but before yours. I’m gonna miss you Siddaleigh. So very much
muirnín
.” As a look of confusion showed on my face, Konner explained.

“That’s sweetheart in Gaelic. I know we have only known each other for six months but I know without a doubt I am falling in love with you. I’m twenty-five Siddaleigh, that’s an eight year age gap. You’re so young, so naïve about the world. To me though, in my heart, this feels so right. I can wait and let everything be perfect for us.”

I loved hearing the Irish accent he had. His ‘you’ sounded like ‘ye’ and some words mingled together. It sounded poetic and romantic. It always sent tingles down my spine when he speaks it to me. His voice was deep, strong and firm. The brogue was sexy and untamed. I didn't know anything when he talked to me in it, but I loved it. Sometimes when we went out or just relaxed at our spot right here on this lake, he would just talk to me in full sentences. And it sounded musical. It was a beautiful language. I researched the country after one of our evenings and it seemed as beautiful as he made it out to be. I promised myself that I would go there the first chance I got.

“Konner, this summer has flown by so quickly. I know this might sound petty and selfish, but I don’t want you to leave me. Yeah, so I’m seventeen, and you might think I’m naïve and young but I know what I feel. I know what I want. I hate this tightening feeling in my chest at the thought of your absence. An ache deep inside is starting to take hold and make itself a home when you leave.”

I looked away and when I looked up at the starry skies, I thanked God the chemical plants haven’t reached this stretch of land. My mind flashed to that first day we met. I had never been so embarrassed in my life.

Stuck in a never ending line at my favorite coffee shop, I looked around and that’s when my eyesight caught on the most intriguing man I’ve ever seen. He couldn’t see me because he was reading a newspaper, so I stared at him openly. His dark blonde hair had a short military cut to it and when he caught me staring at him, my face went from peach to cherry red real quick. Being caught red-handed ogling him, the hot hunk of perfect masculinity winked at me! He flashed a ‘yea I saw you’ type smile.

He made a bee-line right for me when I finally made my order. I hated coffee, but their Double Chocolate Chip Frap was to die for. Digging through my purse to find a five dollar bill, the oh-so hot rugged piece of man-flesh tossed the counter girl a ten spot. I had to look up to see his face he was so tall, at least a foot to my 5’4”. He gave me another heated, sexy smile and asked me if I wanted to sit down with him.

After only a few short months, I knew he was
the
one
. Excitement pulsed throughout my skin when he held me close, or when I heard his voice. So deep, accented with a deep brogue. Now
that
sound, somehow a little song-like voice made my nerve censors fire rapidly all over my body.

I felt my eyes starting to water when Konner wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

“Siddaleigh. I just received a notice of deployment in the early AM from my CO-”

I gasped and if he hadn’t been holding me, I definitely would have fallen to my knees. “No! No, Konner! How? When did this happen? It’s still too soon! Were you even going to tell me?”

He steadied me in his embrace and put a hand to wipe away the tears spilling from my eyes.

“You know my injury has been checked and I’ve been given a clean bill of health to return. My team needs me, love.
Banphrionsa
, please baby-girl, don’t you shed one tear. Every single one is a knife slicing into my heart. I didn’t expect us to be so inseparable, but that’s what happened and you have to trust me now. I should be back before your birthday. Oh, love and what a special treat I’ll have for you. My little witch. So fiery and passionate. My pyro-princess.
M’anam
.”

I tried to calm down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world for him to go out on a mission. I knew this was his life. He told me well enough about it over the time we had been together, however short.

“Don’t cry
banphrionsa
. This mission will come and go so quickly. That ache you feel now is incomparable to mine. We can keep in touch; you can tell me all about college. I’ll keep you posted with any information I am allowed to give. There will be times when I can’t write back as quickly, but I’ll keep up just the same, my love. I’ll always write back and you can keep that promise in your heart.”

He managed to calm me with his promises and I knew in my heart that it would turn out for the best.

..::Konner::..

I did not have to second guess, to really know that I was already in love with her, despite our age difference. Especially with all the things I’ve seen and done since joining the Navy. I was just promoted to Lieutenant Commander and it’s only been a year since I became a Navy SEAL. It’s been seven years of hard ass work and if I’ve been lucky, hard play. That all changed the moment I met Siddaleigh.

Meeting Sidda in that café was so unexpected. Getting to know her, her fire and passion for her dreams, I wanted to give her all that, and so much more. I felt so complete when looking in Siddaleigh’s eyes, seeing the innocence and yet determination that stirred up a spirit so fierce. I knew she wasn’t ready to hear it but I just couldn’t stop talking. Whenever I’m with her, it was like I could talk her straight to the moon. We talked about meeting the others parents when I came back. Never thought I’d be nervous meeting a girls’ parents but somehow
this
, this was important. I had to get my shit together and show them I could love her and love her well for the rest of our lives.

“Siddaleigh, I know this might sound crazy but I know you’re the one. Each and every day it only gets clearer and stronger for me.”

I had no problem waiting for her. The previous months while I was recuperating an injured shoulder, I was bored out of my mind until I saw
her
. She made a massive impact on my thoughts about life and what I really wanted out of it. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. Looking back on the day I met her was still fresh in my mind.

I was only two months out in injured leave with at least six more to go until I could get the all clear. Taking a damn round in the back shoulder was a bitch and I hated staying stagnant. Luckily for me, my Uncle Braeden had some work for me in between helping with my dad’s construction company. Uncle Bray sent me on some recon for his security business, and since I was early, I needed some much needed caffeine.

I was supposed to meet with an informant in twenty minutes, and it was only 0810. Thank God I was meeting her close enough to where I could get a cup of coffee ‘cause Christ, being up all night looking over a client’s security system made me irritatingly cranky.

I was reading the sports section. Damn, Dynamos killed another one, and drinking a black with an extra shot of espresso when I felt eyes on me. Not seeing anything in my peripherals’, I slowly shifted my newspaper down. That’s when I saw her. Fresh, looking right out of high school, fresh. God, practically a baby. That didn’t stop my dick from getting semi erect. I’m a disgusting pervert looking at a girl like that. She was all curves, though. A little on
the thicker side, but with an hour glass figure. Reminded me a bit of Marilyn Monroe, just with different hair. Her hair hung down to the base of her spine, kind of wavy and crazy curly in spots. She looked to be a hot mess. Shorts that topped her knees, and an off the shoulder blouse in fuck me red, although it didn’t seem like she would call it that. She looked so bright and beautiful. Of all things, she was wearing some red Chuck Taylor’s to match.

Her tits? Stacked. Ass to die for? Check. Her face, same color as her top when she figured out I caught her ogling me. Most people probably thought her homely and plain, but where I’m from, my home country of Ireland, women had curves and this young thing had it in troves. Beautifully classic. Her make-up was subtle; maybe some mascara, and eyeliner that brought out the green-blue of her eyes and her lip gloss that seemed to plump her so damn kissable lips. I flashed her a smile to let her know I seen her staring and she quickly turned just in time to make her order.

I took that as my cue. I hurried to open my wallet and as I heard the counter girl give the girl her total, I pulled out a ten and threw it on the counter. That’s when I noticed how small she actually was. At least a foot from my six foot four.

I knew I couldn’t let her go without talking to her, my meeting was long forgotten and my uncle would understand or have to get over it.

Looking at her now, I hated seeing her so upset. With the information I’m about to tell her, she’ll be even in more distress. God, why is this so hard? Saying goodbye, even if it’s only for a short time, was filling my chest with lead.

So I wrapped her in my arms and steadied my eyes on hers. This girl who took my heart. My soul. She’s my everything and for all the love I have serving my country, I didn’t want to leave her. Such precious cargo I had wrapped in my embrace.

“Siddaleigh. I just received a notice of deployment in the early AM from my C.O.,” with this, Sidda sobbed a refusal. She almost accused me of withholding the information, which made my blood want to simmer. If I didn’t know it was because of how much she wanted me to stay, I’d argue with her and set her straight. But I did know, and seeing her tears fall was killing me to the quick.

“You know my injury has been checked and I’ve been given a clean bill of health to return. My team needs me love.
Banphrionsa
, please baby girl, don’t you shed one tear. Every tear is a knife slicing into my heart. I didn’t expect us to be so inseparable but that’s what happened and you have to trust me, now. I should be back before your birthday. Oh, love and what a special treat I’ll have for you. My little witch. So fiery, my pyro-princess.
M’anam
.”

My promises seemed to calm her somewhat and I did the only thing I could think to do. I kissed her. I kissed her hard. I kissed her deep. Pouring my heart into this last kiss we’d share until I came back
.

First, I have to thank God for giving me the imagination I have. This story was very easy to write and I wrote it quicker than I thought I could. So thank you.

My husband who didn’t complain (much) when I was up late at night tapping away at the keyboard. I love you forever. My children who played nice (they are 4 and almost 2) for the most part and didn’t wreck the entire house. Much.

Cambria Hebert for her blurbing skills. Totally mad blurbing skills or else bound wouldn’t seem as interesting as it does.

Airicka Phoenix for the beautifully hot cover. I couldn’t imagine seeing Courtland look any better than the cover you made. I will continue to sigh over it every time I look upon it.

April Howard, who took out the time to look over Bound and edit it, and being excited to read over it as much as I was. And who is awesome for catching every dumbass ‘AND’ sentence beginner. I mean really? How did I not notice all those Ands!? Crazy. You are the shiz-nizzle

Keren Hughes, author of Nothing Like the First Time, who read the ARC and said it was awesome! Thank you so much for reading it! I hope we become fast friends! You’re awwwweeesome!

The set of girls who took the ARC’s and thought the book was awesome. Thank you so much.

For all the readers out there who purchased this book, you help make my dream of being an author become a reality. Thank you so much for your unwavering support and excitement for each new book I put out. Thank you so much from the tips of my toes to the split-ends of my hair. You are awesome!

Please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon after reading. I would love to hear any feedback.

Until next time, stay sweet, sexy, and sinful!

Stephanie G