Page 157 of Those Who Are Bound

“Let’s just say I think I’m waterlogged.” But her tone was full of humor. She glided toward the sandbar and playfully punched Jonah as she passed him.

Elliott watched him approach, anticipating. With the looks and the sexual tension singing between the two of them today, she was ready to jump back into the canoe and hand-paddle their way back to the campsite. She was unbearably charged up. There was no way their little tent was going to contain the energy they would put off. As it was, he was going to have to keep a tight hand over her mouth to stifle any sounds—and there were going to be sounds—from interrupting his church buddies.

Or the rest of the campsite.

The thought almost had her spontaneously combusting in the middle of the river: the mental image of Jonah’s hand over her mouth as he fucked her into oblivion.

When he reached her, no words were needed. She embraced him around his neck, and he lifted her out of the water. Her legs circling his waist, their mouths met in a desperate and heated exchange. Lord, this man and what he did to her.

She was so on fire for him, there was no conscious thought left in her. Using her leg muscles, she rubbed herself against him. He groaned, his grip tightening. He started moving, taking them deeper into the river’s current, the water rushing over their hips.

Breaking the kiss, he chuckled. “Do not give me a hard-on in front of Lucy.”

Curling her fingers in his hair, wriggling herself against him again, she teased, “Lucy’s known you all her life. I imagine she’s seen you with a hard-on.”

Jonah shook his head. “Lucy is… protected.”

“Protected?”

He made a face. “Sheltered. There’s still a naivete about her.”

Elliott tilted her head. Clearly, he wasn’t aware that during Lucy’s interview, she’d unbuttoned her blouse and tried to hitch up her skirt. Lucy wasn’t as naive as her older male friend believed. “There’s some misogyny in that remark.”

“I don’t mean there to be.”

Maybe it was true; maybe he looked at Lucy like a little sister. If Gage was still here, it was entirely possible… No. No, she’d blown any illusions Gage might have had about the sweet innocence of his sister out of the water.

Elliott softened. “I love that you’re protective of her.”

Jonah’s expression turned equal parts appreciative and desirous. “I love that that’s the verb you used.”

Elliott blinked. “I…”

Giving her body a jerk, he shook his head at her. “Don’t overthink. Don’t panic.”

It wasn’t panic; it was heartbreak.

“Just be with me, here in the middle of this river; you and me.”

She gave him a small nod. She could do this for him. For today; one day. It was easy, actually. Being with him was so easy. This wasn’t the hard part, wrapped around his delicious body, while he looked at her like he wanted to eat her; like he wanted to claim her for all time; like he wanted to cherish her.

The hard part was pressing back against the part of her that wanted to take advantage of that in him and use it against him. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Elliott?”

“I’m here,” she said, loud enough to be heard over the sound of the water. “Right here.” Leaning forward, she kissed him. Lips caressing, tongues entwining, setting fires all over again. She tightened her grip with her legs. Her fingers dug into his hair, pulling him in.

He responded enthusiastically, holding her closer. Their bodies were pressed so tightly against one another, water wasn’t able to pass through—forced to redirect around their fused bodies. Despite the chill of the water, and his playful chiding moments ago, she felt his growing erection against her; it encouraged her to roll her hips.

He groaned into her mouth.

Against his lips, she asked, “How discreet can you be?”

His eyes popped open in surprise at her question.

“I mean, we are waist deep,” she pointed out. She glanced behind him at the sandbar. Greg and Lucy weren’t even looking at them, they were looking at food products in Lucy’s hands, chatting.

Besides, she was so jacked up that the moment he slid his hot cock inside her, she had no doubt she’d come. Jonah was the first man to provide her the gift of a purely vaginal orgasm.

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