Page 124 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott

Distancingherselfhadbeeninstinctual. She avoided his calls and dodged plans for two days, making excuses and responding with texts. Was she proud of herself? No. Was it necessary? Yes.Was he confused by it? Probably.

Because he’d left that night not knowing anything was wrong. They’d danced, her arms wrapped around him, knowing what it would mean when she let go, that when he left, they would be over. So she enjoyed the last few hours she had with him; with Jonah as Jonah, like Cinderella at the ball.

In the driveway next to his Jeep, she’d kissed him like it would be the last time, because… it was.

She’d tried, she had. She rubbed against his erection, inviting him back with her. His hand had fisted in her hair, shaking; he’d been torn between his duty and his desire. But in the end, he hadn’t chosen her.

Confounding, how he could do that, how he had that discipline over himself. But he could deny himself—and her—and walk away. Meanwhile, she’d been aching, unfulfilled, and torn to shreds because she wasn’t going to be allowed the headiness of him again.

On Sunday, Becks called, demanding, “Name.”

“Moot point,” she’d responded. “It’s over.”

“What do you mean, it’s over?”

“He’s not who I thought he was.” It was the truth. She hadn’t known about that side of Jonah. He had something she was compelled to take from him, simply because she could.

“Ellie—”

“No, it’s done.” And she’d hung up. There was no point. She had to end this, for him.

She should have been more suspicious. After all, Lucy had tracked her down in the men’s bathroom, pushing her lips to the side as she’d peered down at her. Lying on her back, Elliott was attempting to repair the broken countertop. Lucy had asked a random question, but she’d paid no attention to it, all but shooing her away.

Speculation as to how the sink had been broken: bathroom sex. So she’d disinfected the heck out of the area before plopping down and attempting to re-align it.

Her spidey senses, however, should have kicked in when Jonah walked in like he knew where to find her. And he wasn’t surprised to find her beneath a sink counter with epoxy and an iPad, her foot braced on the underside of it. Nope, she was stunned that he was there, kneeling near her head, full of concern.

Stunned that he was there, not that he was concerned.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted out.

“I haven’t seen you.” His tone was confused, questioning.

She pointed upward, deflecting. “Just hanging out. I’ll be here a bit until the epoxy takes hold. Sorry you wasted your time.”

His gaze had been wandering over her position beneath the sink and the countertop itself. At her obvious dismissal, his attention snapped back to her. His confusion increased.

She was absolutely cruel.

“My time isn’t wasted.”

Heart. Wrung.

He leaned forward, ducking under the porcelain and surveying her handiwork. She watched his face, his frown. When he sat back, she was about to give him anI told you solook when he grasped her upper arm and thigh and gave a solid yank.

She let out a yipe as she was jerked out from under the sink. She looked to the fixture she’d been braced under for a solid twenty minutes; it held. And then it collapsed again. “Jonah!” She raised onto her elbows.

“Epoxy won’t fix that.”

She fell flat on her back, covering her face with her hands. There was an afternoon wasted. On one hand, she knew he was right… on the other, she didn’t have an excuse not to face him now that he was here. Sighing dramatically, she gave him an annoyed look. “Ten more minutes…” Sitting up, she gathered her things.

“Ten minutes or ten days, it wouldn’t have mattered. Time to call in the experts on this one, but your efforts are noted.” He stood.

Avoiding eye contact with him, she climbed to her feet and looked around the space to ensure she had everything with her before she headed out of the bathroom. Over her shoulder, she asked, “Do you want a beer? I know I’ve earned one, considering you derailed my afternoon’s hard work.”

“Elliott.”

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