Page 108 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott

LucyandElliottstoodin the middle of the expansive lawn, looking at the broken trees and limbs littering the landscape. Lucy, likely prepared for muggy weather, was dressed more casually than Elliott had seen her before, in a pair of jean shorts and a bedazzled KC Royals tank top, her hair back in a ponytail.

“Well, fudge monkeys,” Lucy mumbled.

Elliott gave her a side-eye.

Catching her look, Lucy explained, “Trying this not cussing thing. There’s this dude, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. The not cussing thing, you know. Or the other.” She shrugged.

Elliott didn’t comment. She wasn’t one to give out relationship advice even though, with every step, she experienced the delicious discomfort of a woman who had been thoroughly and roughly used. Her thighs clenched more to increase the sensation; she enjoyed the feel of it, the memory of what he’d done to her.

But to stop cursing to please a man? Yeah, no. If Jonah had made that a condition, she’d have decked him. Thankfully, he hadn’t tried to change her—he wasn’t that man.

Focusing, Elliott nodded toward the lawn littered with storm debris. “We need this cleaned out before Saturday’s event. There’s a company we’ve worked with in the past; call and see if they can get here today. They know the property, the parameters.”

Lucy turned and looked back toward the facility. “I’ll have them start in the parking lot and work their way down here. The lawn wasn’t part of the deal, so if they get to this last, that’s okay. But I don’t want someone wandering out here and getting hurt.”

Elliott nodded. “I agree.”

“At least there’s no damage inside.”

Elliott was relieved about that, too. Glass repair would have taken a lot longer. Turning, she headed toward the facility. Lucy followed her.

“Have you ever thought about, I don’t know, eventually…” Lucy rambled, “about an on-site, for-real maintenance guy?”

“I don’t think one guy can handle all of this tree damage.”

“No, I know, not for something like this,” Lucy said quickly. “But if something like last night happens again, you’d have someone on-site to take care of the generators, or if something goes wrong.”

Elliott cut her a look. She hadn’t mentioned the generator. She hadn’t mentioned anything about the night before. Stopping, Elliott turned and faced Lucy expectantly.

Lucy’s mouth dropped. “Shit. Shoot! Fuck. Goddammit.Fudge monkeys!” Stomping her foot, she confessed, “You make me nervous!”

Elliott’s brows drew together in confusion. Why would she make her nervous?

“Okay, so, he didn’t say anything, like, personal. He mentioned he came to check on you—there was an issue with the generator. And he texted this morning saying he was here, not to bother showing up… I put two and two together.”

She was babbling. She’d make a terrible spy. Elliott hadn’t asked her anything, and she was word-vomiting. Jonah was right: Lucy had no filter.

“I haven’t talked to him or seen him. But, you know... generator went out last night… he was here this morning… I’m not stupid. You’re dating, so—yeah—I mean, it’s cool; it’s natural.” She ended with an awkward, “Yay.”

Perplexed, Elliott tilted her head.

Flustered, Lucy turned and continued in a stomp toward the facility, muttering, “I hate him for having a damn cock!”

Elliott grinned as she cast a glance around her property. She was grateful for Jonah’s cock. Struggling to wipe the goofy look off her face, she followed Lucy. “What do you mean by a for-real maintenance guy?”

Lucy huffed, “Not that you can’t do some of the stuff, but wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else manage it all? And if you traded board for a wage, you wouldn’t have to pay much.”

Elliott frowned. “You want me to room with someone?”

“No, I mean the room behind the office.”

That comment brought Elliott to a halt. “The room…?”

Lucy glanced back, then stopped herself, looking guilty. She cussed, “Shit!” She said, “I kind of just found it.”

“Did you go in?”

---