His to Keep: Book 3 in the Bound to Him Series, page 1
His to Keep
Book 3 in the Bound to Him Series
Sandra Antoni
Contents
Title Page
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Prologue
Willow
Willow threw a punch, hitting the thick focus pad that Jessica held out in front of her. She’d been coming to Jessica and Logan’s house at least once a week for over a year now. They had first been introduced by the social worker at the women’s shelter where Willow had been living at the time.
Her previous relationship had been a complete train wreck. Basically, he had been the train and Willow had always ended up a wreck. It had taken her quite a while, but she had finally escaped him and gone straight to the police.
The police had immediately gone to the house to search for Andrew, but he had fled. Willow had spent the next week in the hospital, healing from her injuries and wondering if he would come there looking for her. She wasn’t even sure the police could protect her.
Andrew had been on the run from the police for months after that, but they had eventually caught him. He was too self-absorbed and arrogant to remain hiding for too long, and they had found him at one of his regular clubs. Willow had been at the shelter for four months by the time Andrew was finally arrested.
Jessica had been a life saver when Willow had needed it the most. She had felt broken and lost after two years of abuse, just a shell of the woman she used to be, and she hadn’t thought she had any fight left in her. But Jessica had taken the time and talked with her.
Jessica had told Willow her own story, of being drugged and kidnapped and held for three days by a psychopath before escaping, and Willow had seen the pain on Jessica’s face. The pain that Willow felt every second of every day since escaping Andrew.
That was when Willow had finally realized that maybe all hope wasn’t lost for her. Although Jessica still had scars deep inside that haunted her from what she had been through, she had made a life for herself and moved past it.
She had found a man who loved her and cared for her, and Jessica had found happiness. Willow wondered if she would be able to do the same thing. Could she have a life where she wasn’t constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering where the next threat would come from?
It didn’t take her long to make the decision that she was no longer going to be anyone’s pawn. She was no longer going to let anyone beat her down. She would learn to protect herself, to fight for the life she wanted, and Jessica had helped her with that.
She had trained with Jessica for months. Initially, she had learned self-defense techniques, but when Jessica realized that Willow had a knack for it, they had moved on to kickboxing, and Willow had loved it.
She loved the exertion and the energy. She loved feeling her muscles burn as her fists punched or her legs kicked the bag. But most of all, she loved the sense of peace that it gave her. The feeling that she could handle almost anything that came her way.
That feeling made her feel safe. It made her feel protected, as if she would never have to rely on someone else again. It made her feel like she was finally taking care of herself, and that meant more to her than anything.
Just a few months ago, Jessica had begun teaching self-defense classes as well as kick-boxing classes through the security company that she and her fiancé worked for. She still taught one-on-one to women at shelters, but the classes had taken off from the start.
Initially, the company had done mostly private security, but when Jessica came along and decided she wanted to help women who couldn’t help themselves, they had started working on adding that project to the list of services offered. Now they owned a large building where they had several classrooms for training and a large gym.
After Willow had completed her one-on-one self-defense training with Jessica, she had asked Willow if she was interested in continuing her training. Once Andrew had been arrested, she had finally been able to move out of the shelter and start a new life. The self-defense classes had given her the courage to do so.
She had signed up for a kick-boxing class, wanting to build her muscles and continue improving her ability to stand up for herself. It was just a few classes later that Willow realized how much she really enjoyed it. Now, she was still working with Jessica one day a week at her house.
The public interest in the self-defense and kickboxing classes had been tremendous, and Jessica had asked Willow if she was interested in helping her teach. When Willow was ready, she would just be doing it part-time. She could use the extra money for sure, but she had to admit to herself, it was really satisfying.
Willow had had the opportunity to share her story with a few women over the last few months, and she always felt like she was helping when she saw the spark in their eyes. Just as Jessica had done for her, Willow felt like she was giving these women hope.
Hope that they wouldn’t always be defenseless and that they could overcome their fear, just as they had overcome their abuser. Getting away from their abuser was just the first step. Finally feeling safe…well, that part didn’t come easy.
When Jessica finally told Willow that they were done with this set, they walked over to the large punching bag that hung from the ceiling on the far wall. Jessica had a large room on the second floor of her house that was set up as a home gym, and that was where she taught her one-on-one sessions.
“Okay, I want you to give me a right jab, a cross with the left, and then a lead kick,” Jessica explained.
Willow spent the next fifteen minutes doing a series of punches and kicks before Jessica finally stopped her with words of praise.
Sweat dripped from her temple and perspiration left her whole body feeling sticky, but with the adrenaline still rushing through her, she felt ready to take on the world.
“Hey, Logan. Do you mind being a guinea pig for us for a little while?” Willow heard Jessica ask and spun around quickly.
She hadn’t even noticed Logan, Jessica’s fiancé, standing on the landing at the top of the stairs. He strode into the room with a kind smile on his face.
“Hi, Logan,” Willow said, giving him a quick wave before grabbing a towel and wiping the sweat from her brow. Then she reached for her water bottle and took a long drink, savoring the refreshing taste as it slid down her throat.
Willow had met Logan numerous times over the last few months, but this was the first time that Jessica had asked him to participate in her training.
She wondered what Jessica had in mind. When she set the water bottle down, Jessica motioned her to the mat in the center of the room.
“Okay, here’s what I want you to do, Logan. Come up behind Willow and grab her by the wrists. You are much stronger than I am, so I want you to try and contain her,” Jessica said before glancing over at Willow.
“Do you think you can do this?” she asked gently. Willow gulped before nodding hesitantly.
Standing in the middle of the mat, she glanced once up at Logan then at Jessica. Jessica gave her an encouraging nod, and Willow turned her back to Logan.
The moment his hands were on Willow’s arms, she felt herself beginning to panic. Closing her eyes, she remembered to breathe. This was just training, but one day, it might not be.
Willow probably took longer than she should have to react, but Logan didn’t do anything more than just hold her arms. After a few deep breaths, she finally opened her eyes and thought about her training. She could do this.
Concentrating on his hold, Willow made her move, feeling for the subtle movements from Logan that would indicate his reaction to her pull. Then she focused on responding to his movements.
Before she knew it, she had Logan flat on his back on the mat, and she looked down at him with a startled expression. Jessica giggled and Willow looked over at her, surprised by what had just happened.
Her expression must have been priceless because Jessica burst out laughing. Logan chuckled, and Willow looked down at him as he sat up on the mat.
“I’d have to say, you two ladies really know how to take a guy down a notch,” he said. That made Willow laugh.
“Willow, that was amazing! You moved just like you were taught, and then you followed through with instinct, relying on that to respond to how Logan reacted. You are a natural!” she exclaimed, laying her hand on Willow’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“I think you are ready. If you want to look at my class schedule, I’d like to add you as soon as possible. Maybe one day a week to start, but I think you’ve got this."
"You can do a few classes with me until you feel comfortable, and then I think you will be ready to teach your own class,” Jessica said with an appreciative smile on her face.
“You’re sure Ezekiel is okay with me being on the payroll?” Willow asked her hesitantly.
She hadn’t met Ezekiel yet, but he was the one who owned the security company that both Jessica and Logan worked for. The classes were held in the company
“I spoke with him before you even started the extra training,” Jessica admitted, surprising her again.
She hadn’t even agreed at that point, but when Jessica winked at her, she had to laugh again.
“Okay, if you think I’m ready, I guess that means I am,” Willow replied, feeling satisfied now that she had officially made the decision.
Logan held out his hand and she shook it. “Welcome to the team,” he said, and Willow grinned up at him.
She had never been a part of a team like this one before, and she was excited for the opportunity to help other women. She liked to think that maybe she would be keeping someone from enduring the pain and suffering that she had been through over the years.
Phoenix
Phoenix pulled into Logan and Jessica’s driveway a little after 6:00 that evening. He was helping Logan extend the patio on the back of the house enough that a hot tub could be added.
He had offered his help for free, but Logan had offered him use of the pool and hot tub whenever he wanted. He couldn’t help agreeing to that arrangement. He definitely wouldn’t turn it down.
As he shut off the truck, he noticed the woman standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. She didn’t seem like she was there to meet Jessica or Logan and was facing away from the house, several yards from the front door. She looked like she was waiting for something or someone.
The woman was attractive, probably in her mid-twenties. Quite a bit younger than Phoenix’s thirty-three. He was feeling every single year since he had turned thirty.
Not that his body ever gave him any pain because his wolf kept him in top condition, but ever since losing his mate, he just hadn’t had the same interest in life. Each year that went by just made him feel older.
He had met Tabitha when he was twenty-seven. She had been from a neighboring pack, and they had only found each other by happenstance. It had been the annual Christmas party held at Brady and Sasha’s house.
Usually, just members of their pack were invited, but since Tabitha was the daughter of the alpha of the other pack and was visiting Tucson, the invitation had been extended to her. She had been twenty-four at the time.
They had both known immediately what they were to each other, and they were both eager to seal the mate bond between them, but it would have to wait until after the party.
So, they spent the evening getting to know each other. They made plans to meet the next day for lunch, and then Tabitha would be going back to Phoenix’s house.
He had been on cloud nine when he left the party that night. If her father had not already arranged to pick her up, she would have willingly gone home with him that night. This way was better anyway.
They could have some more time to get to know each other first, and Tabitha would have an opportunity to speak with her father tonight and explain that he was her mate. Phoenix would be meeting him tomorrow as well.
He saw it on the news first thing the next morning when he sat down for breakfast. It had been a drive-by shooting, and Tabitha had gotten caught in the middle of it.
Her father had stopped at a gas station to fill up after picking her up, and the shooter had hit both Tabitha and his intended target.
The bullet had immediately pierced her heart and she had been killed instantly. She hadn’t even had a chance to switch to her wolf to try and heal her. She was dead before her body even hit the ground.
It had taken Phoenix years to get past that, and if he were being honest with himself, he still wasn’t over her. They had not sealed their mate bond, and that was the only reason that he was still sane, but he had felt a hole in his heart that he knew would never go away. There was only one mate for a shifter, and his was gone.
He studied the woman standing on the sidewalk for a while. She had dark-brown hair that was pulled back in a tight ponytail, but several strands had come loose and were hanging down over her shoulders.
She was dressed in running shorts and a sports bra and had a small gym bag in her hand. He figured she had been training with Jessica. She had a water bottle in the other hand, and she seemed to be clutching it nervously now that he had pulled in the driveway.
He got out of the truck and walked towards her. She watched him approaching and her eyes followed his movement. He was more than a foot taller than her, and when he was a few feet away, she’d already had to tip her head back to see his face.
“Hi, I’m Phoenix,” he said with a smile, introducing himself to the woman. “Are you here to see Jessica?” She visibly relaxed after the introduction, and that surprised him a bit, but he kept the smile on his face.
“Oh, no. I just finished with her. I’m just waiting for my ride. I’m Willow, by the way,” she said, and an adorable smile spread across her face as she reached out her hand.
Phoenix couldn’t help thinking that the smile made her even more attractive, stunning really. He shook her outstretched hand, his completely swallowing her small one, and then he studied her a moment longer.
She had an amazing body, and her curves were even more pronounced in the workout clothes she was wearing. Perfect breasts that strained against the elastic material would be the perfect size for his palms.
He quickly averted his eyes before she could tell what he was thinking or notice that he had been studying her breasts. He definitely didn’t want her to notice that his cock was beginning to strain against the front of his jeans.
He was relieved when a moment later he heard a car pulling up the long driveway, and he turned to look at the newcomer.
“That’s my ride,” Willow said softly. Then she gave him another dazzling smile. “It was nice to meet you, Phoenix,” she said, her words sounding sincere.
“You as well,” he replied.
He watched her as she walked towards the cab and opened the backdoor and got in. Then it pulled out of the long driveway. Phoenix turned and walked inside the house.
By the time Phoenix and Logan began working on the back patio, all thoughts of the young woman were gone. He turned his attention to the work, anxious for it to be finished so he could try out the new hot tub. He was definitely taking Logan up on his offer.
Chapter 1
Willow
My full time job at the hardware store wasn’t exactly my dream job, but the position had come available when I had needed it most. I had the experience that got me hired on as an assistant manager and, although the work wasn’t necessarily fulfilling, I did enjoy the interaction with the customers. That, and it paid my bills.
Years ago, I’d had a different plan for my future. There was no way I could have imagined that I would be at the point I am now in my life. No one dreams of going through the things that I’ve been through, but this is what my life was now, and I’d learned to make peace with it.
For a long time, it had simply been about survival, but Jessica had shown me that I could still make something of myself. She had shown me that I could still find a balance between living and just surviving, and I owed her for that. Now, I saw it as an opportunity.
When I had finally got on my feet again and left the women’s shelter, I had immediately rented a studio apartment. It wasn’t much, just one large room and a bathroom, but it was just me and it was really all I needed. Having the studio meant I didn’t have to buy as much to furnish it, and that was what had originally caught my attention.
I had a futon couch that converted to either a bed or a sofa, but I usually just left it laid out as a bed. When I needed to sit, I just sat on the edge of it. I had a small television, but I didn’t spend a lot of time watching it. Usually, it was just turned on for background noise.
Since discovering kickboxing, at Jessica’s suggestion, I had purchased a kickboxing DVD and trained at home on the days I didn’t go to her house or the gym for classes. It was actually relaxing, not to mention a great full-body workout, and it gave me something to do that was challenging.
Over the last few months, I had realized that for the first time in a long time I was actually sleeping well. I felt rested when I woke up and, thanks to the workouts, I was tired when I crawled into bed. The nightmares were becoming less and less as well, and for that, I was grateful.
