Page 197 of Those Who Are Bound

He was pleased and encouraged when she didn’t move away as he approached. She merely looked over at him—over him—with that lascivious way she had, which was in direct opposition to every protest she made.

Yeah, she wasn’t sticking to her guns, despite her declarations. That wasn’t to say she hadn’t gutted him that morning at the campsite, and again in the hospital. And then gone in for the kill the night she’d kicked him out.

But as he’d said, distance and perspective had brought him around to recognizing her contradictory actions. There was a reason she kept trying to shut them down, but there was also a reason she kept failing.

So he got right into her space, leaning one of his elbows on the bar alongside hers, his chest brushing against her side. Other than giving him a side-eye that didn’t hold the animosity she probably intended, she didn’t move. She just kept pushing a bottle of beer back and forth between her hands.

No, he wasn’t going home tonight.

“What’ll you have, Pastor?” Killion asked.

He answered, “The same thing she’s drinking.”

Straightening, she turned and modeled his stance. “Do you actually like it, or are you copying me to make a point?”

She was feisty tonight. Leaning in closer, he said, “You know my tastes by now, kitten.” As she gasped—although she shouldn’t be that shocked by his audacity—he added, “I believe you challenged me?”

Her cheeks flushed. “That wasn’t… No, that was a fact, not a challenge.”

Assessing her, he read the signs her body presented to him. Lucy was right, not that he needed his friend to point it out to him, but their chemistry was off the chain. And her gooseflesh, her straining nipples, even her hips that were rocked slightly forward—all signs of her interest. Just like in the parking garage, if he reached between her legs, he’d know how wet she was right now.

There was no way she was wearing panties in that dress. That knowledge made his cock twitch. He gave her a knowing look. She gasped, realizing what he knew.

And he grinned. A feral grin, not friendly in the slightest. Because he wanted to feast on her, lapping up every drop from between her legs until she screamed her surrender, gave up her fight for good.

Tonight. These games ended tonight.

The frantic pulse in her neck meant she understood his intention.

A bottle was plunked onto the bar at his elbow.

Jonah looked at Killion, who had his head down but was smiling to himself. “Thanks.”

When he looked back at Elliott, she was watching him warily, but also with a bit of resignation. He cautioned himself not to feel triumphant that the battle was almost won.

Lucy strolled up to them. “Barkeep, give me a shot.”

Killion laughed. “You’ll fall off your heels if you drink. You’re getting a soda.”

Walking behind the bar, Lucy gave him a wallop. Jonah recognized it as a move usually reserved for him, but he didn’t mind sharing the painful experience.

“You are such a jerk!” But she reached for a ginger ale. Popping the top, she informed them, “Tonight was a success.”

“It was,” Elliott agreed, facing the bar again. No ass-popping this time, but any angle she presented him was a masterpiece, as far as he was concerned.

“We have a lot of work to do in the morning to get it wedding-ready,” Killion said, looking over the space and people. “As many times as Lucy and I’ve rehearsed setting it up and whatnot, shit can always go sideways.”

“We’ll be fine,” Lucy determined.

“Remember, this isn’t the important part, as beautifully put-together as it is. All they want is to be married, and Pastor Vanessa will be here to make sure that happens,” Jonah said.

Lucy beamed at him with a head tilt, comforted. Elliott scowled at him. He almost laughed at the opposing expressions the two women in his life gave him. Because they werebothin his life.

Then Lucy started sniffing dramatically. She leaned over and sniffed Killion.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, jerking away, looking at her like she was insane.

“Have you been smoking?”

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