JOINED (The Joined Series) Read online

  JOINED

  By Alexia Stone

  Copyright © 2012 by Alexia Stone.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and you did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover Design by Melody Simmons at http://ebookindiecovers.com/.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION:

  I would like to thank my parents, my sister, Andy and my best friend, Mayara for supporting me. This book is dedicated to my loved ones who are no longer here with me: J. Chen, L. Pellicier, J. Supreme, and Dora. My deepest thanks to my readers. Your support is invaluable and I hope you’ve fallen in love with these characters as much as I have.

  CHAPTER 1

  I looked forward to seeing Sarah, my best friend and my brother, Brayden’s girlfriend. As soon as she met up with me in Penn Station, she informed me that we were going shopping, a task that I dreaded. No hugs after two years of not seeing each other. No opportunity to settle down and catch up. And she didn’t offer to help with my luggage either. Usually, when we hung out, we went to a café, or took a stroll in a park. Then, I reminded myself that we hadn’t had recent face-to-face contact. Video cam chatting and e-mailing each other wasn’t the same.

  According to her, my sweater and loose fitting pants were unacceptable; I should look more pulled together during my leisure time, even when I travelled. Gaining the freshmen fifteen was easy for me. After the passing of my sister, I easily gained more weight and I began to feel comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable.

  Most of the weight was in my breast, my thighs, and my rear. To my surprise, the weight gain made me feel more attractive, more alluring. I wanted to maintain my figure, not change it either way. I suppose that it made me feel less off the mark about my libido being basically non-existent, only experiencing fleeting seconds of arousal.

  “I am Rachel. How may I assist you?” A petite sales associate asked me.

  I forgot that I didn’t have much of a wardrobe. Most of my attire was too snug on me. My former roommate, Trish took most of my clothes. Admittedly, they looked better on her and she was a great cook, a convenient and cost-effective trade-off.

  We were in one of the booming clothing stores in the east village, which expanded to two entire blocks, right next to the leading designers that have been well established in the area for years.

  “Just looking for some some shirts, light sweaters, and pants, a casual look,” I answered, tucking my lips between my teeth. Most people in the store dressed casually, while still managing to look polished

  Sarah moved between us, swinging back her tightly coiled red curls and swaying her enviable Shakira-like hips. “Hmmm…that sounds good but you’ll need some blouses, skirts, and heels. Oh! And two or three suits for your interviews to start off with.”

  Rachel looked at me and I gave her a non-committal shrug. Tilting her head to the side, Sarah’s eyes darted over me from top to bottom. She set her arm around on Rachel’s shoulder like they were friends, much to my amusement. “We’ll take care of the clothes.” Snapping her head back to me, she added, “How about you go to the intimate wear section. I see someone has grown some tetas! They keep bouncing out at me!” She eyed my breasts like she was playing with juggling balls, trying her best not to drop one. She spoke loudly enough for other customers to look at us, reprimanding her without addressing her directly. “What?! It’s true,” she told them, and they walked away.

  After clearing her throat, Rachel lightly said, “Yes, that’s a good idea. Do you know your pant size?” she refocused the conversation.

  Softly sighing, I thought about it. “Sorry. I don’t. I’ve-ah-packed on a few since I last shopped.”

  Sarah brought my shirt behind me. “Becca shares the same size hips as me. She’ll be wearing low-rise jeans and slacks. Her waist is a little narrower than mine, as you can see. I have an idea,” she told Rachel.

  She nodded once in polite acquiescence. “I was thinking that you’re about Sarah’s side too,” Rachel told me.

  “Now, I’ll see if I can get any undergarments.”

  Sarah stopped me in my tracks. Reluctantly, I turned to face her, knowing if I didn’t quickly regard her, everyone in the store would look at us again. I dryly swallowed the small lump in my throat. “Spell it out: bras, panties, thongs, G-strings, maybe even a garter. Those are the items you’ll need.”

  Without missing a beat, I gladly started to the intimate wear section, remembering how much Sarah disliked my ignorance of all things fashion and for being reluctant to update my attire.

  “Hi,” another associate said, “Need help?” Approaching me with a friendly and pretty smile, she motioned me to follow her. I looked at her nametag: Consuela.

  “Yes. I need some bras and underwear,” I practically whispered.

  “I’ll measure you first. Let’s get the hardest part out of the way first. You wouldn’t believe how many women don’t know their correct size.” She measured me.

  “You have a very narrow back.”

  All of a sudden, I felt uncomfortable and more aware of myself. And it wasn’t because of Consuela. A smile ghosted over her lips. “What kind of bra are you looking for?”

  “Something comfortable. I think I’d like to try wire bras, for some extra support.”

  Subtly, she nodded in agreement. “Good idea because you need maximum support to prevent anymore stress on your back. The bra you’re wearing now isn’t so supportive.”

  “Yeah, my friend brought it to my attention.” I grinned.

  “This is our best selling. All of our women love them.”

  Consuela handed me the lingerie set, a nice bright red lacey material. Inside the cup there was a smooth thin cotton lining.

  “You know what? I love it.” Consuela piqued my interest. Honestly, I aimed to get ten basic bras, a ton of underwear, and select the cheapest clothes from what Sarah and Rachel found for me and then leave.

  “Good. I am going to get your size. We don’t have it out here.” She gesticulated her hands to the long array of undergarments. “Look around and if there’s anything you like, I’ll get it for you. We have a deal: buy three luxury bras, get the third for fifty percent off.”

  She went to the back and I browsed the almost never-ending options. My uneasiness increased. I wondered how long it would take her to find me something in my size. I only had ginger tea that Trish prepared for our last breakfast together before she brought me to the Greensburg station. I was getting hungry.

  Dropping my cell phone in my linen tote after I saw that I didn’t have any new messages, I looked at the floor and saw a tall wide shadow, near me.

  “The forest green silk bra and matching bottom would look perfect against your lush curves.” I turned around, and the man before me said it as if it was the most natural statement to make to a complete stranger. My breath dipped anxiously, vibrating with anticipatory energy. Sounding completely unyielding and unapologetic, he made every cell in my body respond to him. The undeniably masculine scent, coupled with his light aftershave, rendered me speechless.

  The small hairs on my neck and arms raised, as his eyes no doubt still bore into mine. And I already hated him for it. A man never addressed me so bluntly before, never demanded by h
is presence alone that I acknowledge him. The electric pull to him was the kind of attraction I always wanted, couldn’t contemplate having before, the kind of response I thought people exaggerated about. Something else about him that I couldn’t identify made me want to be in his company. Scolding myself for my response to him, I remembered that I had other matters that I needed to focus on, such as preparing to live with Brayden.

  He stood eight feet away from me, not invading my personal space, compensating for what appeared to be a great distance, by scrambling my thoughts, triggering the onset of a lust that I’d never felt before. There I was, imagining what such nice lingerie could do for my self-esteem and my lack of sexual identity. With one look, he conjured up graphic images of him and I in my mind that I didn’t know I’d feel for a long time. So, I looked away from him as if the lingerie fascinated me more than him. As a result, his posture relaxed, tittering at me, which made me want to take my linen tote and hit him over the head with it. Why? No matter how much I tried to deny it to myself, he wasn’t just obviously beddable, he was insightful, and could read my posturing better than my loved ones.

  His grin widened. “Also, the black nylon silk bra and boy shorts would be,” Unable to help myself, I met his gaze. Prominent dark brown eyes compelled my attention. “delightful against your skin.”

  I dryly swallowed, thinking that any second I would wake up from this situation. Placing my shaking hands to my mouth, I tried to appear deep in thought, mentally occupied with anyone but him.

  “I’ll take that into consideration,” I murmured, disbelieving that I was actually absorbing his suggestion. He smiled at me, as if rewarding me. Enthralled by him and anxious about it, I hastily added, “I am sure women appreciate your input, but I’ll take it from here.”

  He took a step away from me. All I wanted to do was pull him right back to where he stood. Mentally, I pictured tracing my tongue on the length of his body, feeling the soft thickness of his dark brown hair between my fingers.

  “I don’t usually approach women.” Watching me, his gaze smoldered and he took a confident step back towards me. “In fact, I’ve rarely ever had to approach a female for anything personal. Ever.”

  I wasn’t surprised that he was the one usually pursued, and I felt like I made myself look like a jerk, so I didn’t respond to him. The women around me probably didn’t have imagined passionate lives like I did. They probably didn’t beg their bodies to feel a sexual urge, conflicted with what their minds wouldn’t translate into their bodies.

  Adding to my inability to be unaffected by him was the fact that every other handsome man I’ve seen failed in comparison to him. While he was classically attractive with his symmetrical face, he had a rugged edge to him as well. People say that men are visual creatures. Women are too and he was just the visual I needed to spark something inside me that lasted more than five seconds. My gynecologist explained that after a loss of a loved one, it wasn’t uncommon for women of all ages to have problems with their libido. Even my school psychologist said the same thing. But that was two years ago and I knew that this was unhealthy.

  He was about six feet, with thick broad shoulders, a corded neck and a firm chest. Even in his lined suit, I could tell that his thick and muscular legs were proportionate to his upper body. I hated to admit it to myself, but he was breathtaking. My sudden surge of needfulness made me anxious. I curled the ends of my hair around my finger, trying to find another excuse not to meet his darkening gaze any longer.

  “I am Mateja Guvo.” He extended his hand to me. A hint of laughter flowed out of his deep voice.

  “I am Rebecca.” After a few seconds, I noticed that I didn’t shake his hand yet. Once I placed my hand in his, he gave me a tight handshake, which loosened when I looked at him again. He seemed satisfied.

  “Very nice to meet you Rebecca. My recommendations?” My breath burned in my lungs, amounting to all the effort I exerted to contain myself. I felt like I ran up and down a flight of stairs without respiration. When his lips curved into a faint smile, I imagined running my fingers over his lower lip, and then his upper lip. His lips were shapely.

  I tried to smile, surprised that I struggled to have an even voice. “I think they’re…great.” But my husky tone betrayed my lack of self-control.

  Even worse, he seemed to take pleasure in that. Smiling broadly, his perfectly straight teeth sparkled. Bastard! Before I realized that my focus returned to his wonderfully soft looking lips, he traced his index finger on his lower lip and on his upper lip. I trembled, wondering if his cock would be as smooth to the touch, imagining myself gripping onto his shoulders for dear life, while he grounded into me and pressed his lips together to prevent himself from groaning. Only once I caught him looking at me below my neckline. So, was he only getting a thrill from rattling me? Was he just entertaining himself at my expense?

  CHAPTER 2

  “Follow me,” he commanded. I didn’t know where I was following him to, but we crossed the huge store, passed many people and entered the men’s dressing room section. No one seemed to take notice or show alarm. When I turned around, three employees in the store surrounded the entrance. He led me inside to what looked like an office or storage room near the regular dressing rooms. He brought out his key, unlocked the room, and held the door open for me.

  “Ladies first.”

  Rolling my eyes and taking in a deep sigh, I walked into the room. He laughed behind me and closed the door. I didn’t know I was so amusing. He took out a small remote from his pocket and ambient light filled the room. It must have been a wheelchair accessible dressing room at one point because it was huge. A beautiful and small leather brown sofa was in the middle of the room, two dark wooden chairs, which didn’t look nearly as comfortable were on either side of the couch. The room smelled liked fresh flowers. To my right, there was a vase on a long desk. A wide zinnia plant with yellow, deep pink, and white flowers were in the vase. It was simply beautiful and I couldn’t help but walk over and dip my nose into the flowers. Up close it smelled even better. I never smelled anything as fresh, light, and feminine as those flowers. From a distance, the air conditioner filtered out the floral scent.

  “Do you like them?”

  “Yes,” I answered. “I’ve seen the Zinnia plant and flowers on gardening shows, once at a flower shop.”

  He smirked at me, motioning his hands toward the sofa. “Take a seat on the couch.”

  I sat down and leaned into the sofa, bringing the footrest out.

  “Thank you. A special lady I once knew couldn’t stop raving about the Zinnia plant and flowers. Whenever I got them for her, she forgot about her troubles for a time.”

  “That’s very sweet. She must be a very special woman.” I ran my hand over my forehead, relieved to find that I wasn’t perspiring.

  Lowering his eyes in my direction, he nodded in agreement. “Would you like anything to drink?” Touching the white flower delicately and slowly, he seemed to somewhat zone out.

  “No, thank you. You must be a very important customer to have this…room when you shop here.”

  “You change your mind, let me know.” He stood in front of the plant and I felt a twinge of sadness by looking at him. “I shop here frequently and I’ve told my business partners to come here, bring their companions too. The owners are very grateful.”

  “How…nice. But why did you want to see me…in here?” I searched his face. He expected me to ask him about his intentions. Was there anything that he was unprepared for?

  “Rebecca, I am getting a good look at you…alone, where no one else can see what I am marveled by.” My ears, my neck, and my throat prickled at hearing his words. He glanced at my lap and I quickly got up. Following his gaze, I realized that I had a bra and panty fisted in one hand, wrinkling it. “I was going to take it from you, but it seems to be your version of a comfort blanket”—the corners of his lips quirked in amusement—“and I couldn’t withhold a comfort from you right now.”


  In two quick strides, he was right in front of me and I dropped the lingerie set. Unease flickered over his face as he towered over me, our bodies apart by mere inches. Already intoxicated by our close contact, I was about to close my eyes to settle myself when he brought his finger under my chin, drawing my eyes back to him. I couldn’t breath. For a slight second, I thought that this moment couldn’t possibly be taking place. This dashing male couldn’t be looking at me ravenously. But he was and I wanted to find out what his look and touch could reveal. Bringing his head down to me, he covered my lips and stroked my lower lip with his tongue, carefully, yet, aggressively. The sides of our noses briefly touched. In a gasp, my lips parted, and his tongue flashed against my mouth.

  In my attempt to lean in closer, to feel his chest and underneath the suit, he moved back. Only our mouths touched now. Joining him in an exchange of give and take, our tongues worked in sync, the immediacy of my desire overwhelmed me from just a kiss—his kiss. Drawing my head away from him, we soughed. With hooded eyes, he gave me a goofy smirk.