Bound by Lies by Lynn Kelling Page A

confess. His failure to show Brayden even that much respect just tells Jenner that he is, at heart, exactly the kind of person he has always secretly despised. He is cruel, and selfish, and hurtful. Brayden’s green eyes dart side-to-side, his gaze skittering around once freeing itself from the tattoo, seeking the exit, an answer. In that moment, Jenner knows he has become Brayden’s tormentor. He’s not Brayden’s boss, he’s just the guy trying to make Brayden look the fool, knocking him down a few pegs and reminding him that he’s not as strong as he hoped he was.
    “I can explain,” Jenner hears himself saying, wondering if it’s true, if there’s anything at all he can say to explain himself.
    His mouth working, at first, Brayden makes no sound. He blinks, dazed, looking lightheaded, upset and overwhelmed. “No,” he manages.
    Brayden bolts for the room’s one exit.
    Jenner is ready for him, though. His training kicks in and he easily catches Brayden by the forearm when he tries to get past. In a terrible echo of the previous night, Jenner gets hold of Brayden’s other arm as well and twists them up behind his back, putting any doubt that might linger to rest.
    Brayden moans. The sound shakes Jenner to the soul.
    But, unlike the previous night, Jenner is free of the hood and all is silent. There’s no noise to hide behind. Every breath can be heard. Every gasp and whisper. Jenner’s lips move against the irresistible soft cascade of sun-kissed hair by Brayden’s ear and Brayden is barely fighting him, but Jenner can feel him trembling.
    “
Please
,” Jenner begs.
    Brayden’s skin pebbles under Jenner’s palms. Though he tugs at his trapped arms, Brayden finds he is held tight. Eyes closed, barely breathing, he hisses, “You. You
knew
?”
    “Of course I knew.”
    “You knew
the whole time
?!”
    Sensing Brayden giving in to the raw, scraping madness of terror, Jenner hushes to him, “I’m not going to hurt you.” Looping his right arm around Brayden’s chest, Jenner holds him in a tender embrace and gently drags his thumb over the jackrabbiting of Brayden’s racing heart. “I would never hurt you. I promise that you can trust me.”
    There’s no verbal answer but Jenner is strengthened when Brayden is able to take one shaky breath, then another. He’s calming down.
    “Come upstairs with me and we can talk about this in private. We don’t have privacy here. Max and Art have keys. They could come back if I don’t return home soon. That’s important to you too, right? Being discreet?”
    Brayden makes a small, hurt sound low in his throat. His eyes are still squeezed tightly shut.
    “I can be very discreet,” Jenner promises, knowing Brayden will likely have bruises on his arms in the morning and trying not to become perversely aroused at the idea. “You’re safe with me. If I was going to take advantage of you, I’d have done it already.”
    The realization of this sinks in, slow and deep. In that moment, as Brayden debates his choices, Jenner senses the distinct power shift between them, no longer simply employer and employee, or strangers meeting anonymously as Master and slave for one night of indulgence. Physically and financially, Brayden is trapped. Jenner feels the power that he has over Brayden. It thrums under his palms with the beating of Brayden’s heart. Little Brayden is fully cognizant that the man towering over him is stronger, quicker, and could do literally anything he wanted. There is nothing that could be done to stop it. There are no beseeching words Brayden could speak or actions he could take to get him out of this if Jenner didn’t want to let him go.
    Jenner Parrish feels the precise moment when Brayden Clare becomes truly afraid of him.

    There is no verbal agreement. Jenner gathers his things and Brayden, shell-shocked, follows him upstairs. They exit the bar and the door leading to the apartment is right there. Jenner unlocks the bolt and flips the switch