Page 66 of Bound By Words

“I’m looking for candles or a flashlight or something.”

“Do you think maybe it’s in there?” He nodded at a box over my head, and I looked back, noticing the small letters spelling out SUPPLIES in red sharpie.

“Well, that’d be the obvious place to look, wouldn’t it?” I’d completely missed the words when I’d walked in here a few minutes ago. Likely due to the fact he’d turned me into a sex-obsessed nymphomaniac who was currently a livewire of arousal because he wouldn’t touch me until I gave him that checklist.

“Let me get it down from there. We don’t know how heavy it is.”

I nodded, ready to step out of his way, but he’d already moved forward, reaching above my head, the wet fabric covering his chest brushing against my cheek as he tried to pull the box down. He smelled like fresh rain and something uniquely him, but it wasn’t helping the situation in my pants from my little trip to the imagination station a few moments ago.

“That’s weird.” I frowned as I noticed that the box was taped shut. Why would a box of supplies be taped shut?

“Let me put this down. I’ve got a knife in my pocket.”

“Oh,” I laughed as I followed him out into the bedroom, where he carefully placed the box on the edge of the bed. “You mean you aren’t just happy to see me?”

He turned back toward me, his face barely illuminated, but I could still see his naughty grin. “You already know it’s a little bigger than a pocket knife, Kelly.” I stopped a foot away, my mouth opening slightly as he leaned in my direction. “But you’re not wearing a bra, so, of course, I’m happy to see you.”

“Just cut open the damn box already, so we don’t have to spend all night in the dark.”

He frowned, pausing as he looked over to where I was crossing my arms over my chest to cover the nipples that’d awakened with his blatant ogling. “Are you afraid of the dark?”

“No.”

He tilted his head to the side.

“Would you quit? I’m not afraid of the dark. I just don’t want to use all my phone battery to see.” And I was jumpy because I was horny as fuck.

“Hmm… I already brought one of the work lights inside. It runs off the same batteries as my power drills.”

“Well, aren’t you Mister Prepared?” I chuckled, the sarcasm in my voice heavy. “Pocket knives, battery-powered lights, you are just a regular Boy Scout.”

“Where do you think I learned the fine art of knot tying? And I’m not a regular Boy Scout. I’m an Eagle Scout.”

The smirk was back, combined with a naughty wink, before he looked back down at the box, pushing the button on the side of his knife to reveal a wicked-looking blade. It was several inches long and gleamed in the light. It’d make an intimidating prop in my earlier scenario. Fuck.

He carefully peeled back the flaps of the box, eyes widening as he peeked inside. He frowned as he closed one side and shined the small pocket flashlight he had attached to his pants at the label on the box.

“Well, I don’t think we’ll be finding a flashlight in this box,” he laughed as he quickly nested the flaps together and picked the box back up. He mumbled something under his breath that vaguely sounded like Fleshlight, but that couldn’t be right. Could it?

“Wait,” I put my hand out, keeping him from walking around me. What the hell kind of supplies were in that box if it wasn’t emergency supplies?

Although my brother was boring as fuck, knowing him, it was likely extra notebooks and a supply of red pens. Surely, it wouldn’t be something a little more adventurous. Fleshlights were sex toys, right?

“Don’t worry about it,” Nathan laughed, but my interest was piqued.

Grabbing my phone, I aimed the flashlight toward the label, frowning when I vaguely recognized the name.

“Who is Talia Stephenson?” I searched my brain for how I knew that name, and it clicked. “Isn’t that your friend? The one who you said you could get in touch with if I had any questions about….” I trailed off as I connected all the dots. “What’s in the box, Nathan?”

“I’m sure your brother and Chase wouldn’t appreciate us going through their things while we’re guests in their house.”

“Oh, fuck that,” I laughed, wrapping my hands around the side of the box and trying to pull it out of Nathan’s grasp. “You’re showing me what’s in this box.”

“Kelly,” he warned, but I was already tugging on it, stumbling back a step as I pulled it from his arms. “Don’t. This isn’t our business.”

“Try and stop me,” I taunted as I turned and rushed toward the closet, trying to close the door behind me with my foot.

Nathan’s large hand grasped the edge of the door and pushed it open, squeezing in the gap before pressing it closed.

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