Page 80 of Bound By Her

Shifting, Seth crawled into Kaydon’s arms and collapsed. Adria removed the plug from the half-conscious Seth and threw a blanket over the pair.

“Let him rest for a bit, and then help him get cleanedup. He’s coming out with me tonight,” she said to Kaydon.

Kaydon ran his fingers through Seth’s sandy-blond hair and nodded to her.

Adria cleaned up the rest of the supplies and moved to leave the barn.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” Kaydon whispered into the space.

“What?”

“You heard me,” Kaydon said, still petting the sleeping Seth. “He’s healthier than I’ve ever seen him. You did that. Whether you want to admit it or not.”

Adria’s cold, dark heart cracked.

“That’s all Seth, it has nothing to do with me,” she said, shutting the barn doors.

Adria rifled through her closet, frowning. What did one even wear forthiskind of task?

This evening marked the start of phase three with her unruly twenty-year-olds—unfortunately, beginning with Seth.

Eric had assured her that if she stuck to the program, the boys would fall in line. The problem wasn’t reaching the finish line; it was the view along the way.

And when it came to Seth and Kaydon, Adria didn’t like what she saw.

“Ready?” Eric asked, coming in from the hallway.

Sensing her hesitance, he said, “Adria, we talked about this. It has to be done for things to move forward.”

“I’m just not sure about Seth.”

Eric sat on the blue linen chair in the corner, hands resting on his knees.

“Kaydon is Bryson’s Right Hand. Gaining trust isgoing to be harder, but I am working on it. Seth has the prior domestic violence history. He’s the target with this one, trust me.”

Trusting him wasn’t the problem. It was herself she was worried about. How far down this rabbit hole could she go and still come out? How much manipulation could she stomach?

CHAPTER 21

NORTH CAROLINA

Seth hovered in the front drive.

Adria tried to be patient with him.

“Seth, you are going to have to get used to being seen in public with your Dom. Your buyer might want to bring you places.”

He didn’t respond, instead his eyes and body shifted back towards the house. Like an invisible tether was pulling him.

“I’ll bring you back in one piece,” Adria joked.

The look he gave her made her realize his concern.

“I’m not trying to get rid of you,” she said, and when he didn’t look convinced, she put her right hand in the air. “I swear to bring you back.”

She kissed her ring finger, sealing the deal, ignoring the pain that panged in her heart when he visibly relaxed.

“All right,” he said.

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