Page 86 of Bound By Words

“Hey!” she greeted, her voice chipper. “You are alive. I was wondering since you only responded to me in three-word texts. Kelly finally let you up for air? One more week, right?”

“Not exactly,” I responded, hating that this would ruin her good mood, but I needed her help.

“I just got some fun stuff in yesterday,” she continued, missing the tone of my voice. “I know you don’t like it when I meddle, but this lingerie company sent some things you’d probably like to see on Kelly. Lots of lace with leather accents. It’s hot stuff. Emory loves it. He’s already shot like a hundred pictures of me modeling it.”

“Tal,” I interrupted.

She paused for a moment, sensing the shift in the conversation. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re going to come back to Boston in the morning. I need your help.”

“Yeah, of course,” she responded quickly. “Just tell me what you need.”

“Kelly has been getting some threats from a man in her office. I think she needs someone to confide in who isn’t me. I’m helping her through it as much as possible, but maybe you can talk to her once we get resettled. I know your situation was different, but I….” I trailed off, my voice raspy. The thought of Trent hurting her like Miles had hurt Talia was not something I wanted to contemplate.

“I can do that,” Tal responded immediately. “Em and I can bring dinner over. You can introduce her to us. I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Thank you. I’m just worried this will make her withdraw. She’s been anxious and seeking more affection over the last few days. I’m doing what I can to keep her mind occupied, but you know how quickly things can change.”

“Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you guys,” Tal responded quietly, her voice more subdued.

“I will. I’ll text you once we’re back at my place. I need to ask if she’s alright meeting you guys once we get back. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

The remainder of my afternoon was spent finishing the framing on the first floor, and the rest would have to wait. I knew a few contractors who owed me a favor and who could come in and finish the rest. I was sure Evan would understand that Kelly’s safety was my priority.

I debated texting him to let him know we were leaving, finally settling for something innocuous. If Kelly wanted to tell him what was happening, that was her business. I felt bad enough telling Talia, but I knew while their situations were different that she could help her navigate this.

Nathan: I need to return to Boston tomorrow, and Kelly is coming with me. The first floor is framed, but I’ll make some calls to have someone finish the rest. I left the plans on the workbench in the garage.

He responded within a few minutes.

Evan: Be careful with my sister. She’s crazy. Don’t let her convince you to do anything reckless.

I laughed as I texted back. The only reckless thing Kelly had convinced me to do was fall in love with her, but she didn’t know that yet. I pushed any confession of my changing feelings to the back burner, partially because I was terrified of telling her that I loved her and then watching her go back to Chicago, but mostly because she was under a lot of stress right now, and I didn’t want to add to that.

Nathan: She’s safe with me, I promise. No crazy stuff. I’ll let you know when we get back to my place.

Evan: She knows the security code for the house. Just lock up when you leave.

I returned to the task and loaded the equipment trailer with the rest of my tools. I needed to return it to the barn, but I wasn’t leaving Kelly alone.

She watched from the front windows as I hitched the Bronco and pulled the Airstream out into the driveway, moving it onto the access road so I could put my work trailer inside the garage.

I debated moving Evan’s car into the garage, but I knew Kelly would never agree to leave the car there. She’d planned on driving it back to their condo before they got back from their honeymoon, but it didn’t mean that I’d like it. She’d have to follow me back to the city tomorrow. I could survive a few hours without her company, although I’d become quite addicted to her presence.

When I had the Airstream packed and re-hitched it to the Bronco, the sun had started setting. Kelly wasn’t in the living room when I entered the house. I spied two suitcases sitting in the front entryway, ready to go. The kitchen and the living room had been straightened, the dirty dishes from breakfast were gone from the drying rack, and the counter had been wiped down.

“Sunshine?” I asked as I moved toward the guest bedroom, hearing the shower. Part of me was sad that she hadn’t come to find me before she took one, but as I listened to a soft moan carry across the room, I realized why she hadn’t.

I unbuttoned my shirt and pushed the door open, listening carefully for her soft cries underneath the shower spray.

Not wanting to startle her, I quietly removed the rest of my dirty clothing, leaving it on the floor in the bedroom before I pulled open the glass door. Her head was leaned against the forearm she had propped in the corner of the shower, one leg on the shower bench as her other hand moved between her legs.

She paused, taking a deep breath as my finger traced down the center of her back, with me watching how the water droplets tracked down her soft skin before disappearing.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” I whispered as I stepped closer, melding my chest to her back. She shuddered in my arms as I pulled her into me, tracing my palm down her stomach and pulling her hand away.

She shook her head, softly moaning as my fingers continued what she’d started, sliding between her legs. My other hand cupped her throat, stretching her back against me, using my fingers to make her quake in my arms. Her clit throbbed under my fingers, and I twitched against her back, desperate to be inside her again but knowing that wasn’t what she needed.

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