Page 161 of Those Who Are Bound

When he started to turn his head, Elliott shook hers. Whatever Lucy had to say was going to have to wait. “No. I need you.”

“Jonah, there’s an emergency. You’re needed.”

Jonah turned from her this time, looking over his shoulder at Lucy and the other two men. “What do you mean?”

“It’s Tao. He needs to go to the hospital, but he won’t go without seeing you first.”

“Shit.” Facing her again, he pulled her in and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. “I won’t be a minute.”

“Jonah.” She practically clawed at his shirt, not believinghe was going to walk away.

“I need to go. I’ll be right back. These people; they’re my responsibility.” He pulled her fingers from his shirt and stepped away. He gave her an apologetic look before he turned to the two waiting men, letting them lead him away.

Elliott took one step after him, biting her lip to keep from calling out. She needed him.Sheneeded him, just for a second, to ground her for a moment, but he’d walked away.

“Are you okay?” Lucy asked. “I mean, the rope and all.”

Elliott wrenched her gaze from Jonah’s retreating back as he walked up the hill toward the tents and focused on Lucy. She blinked, battling back her emotions. She managed a curt nod.

Giving her a sympathetic look, Lucy informed her, “It’s his job. He’s theirs, first. He will always belong to them first. I mean… he’s their pastor. When there’s an emergency, he needs to go.”

Elliott just stared at her. Lucy didn’t understand the need. Neither did Jonah, for that matter. And hers wasn’t the same as Tao, the man Jonah needed to rush off for. Sniffing, she turned, folding her arms over herself and rubbing in a self-soothing gesture.

“You can leave the stuff in the canoe. Someone else will come get it. Come on, I imagine you want to shower before dinner. I’ll take you to our tent; I’ve already moved your stuff.”

Elliott whipped back around. “Our tent?” She and Jonah were sleeping with Lucy and Greg?

“Yeah. It was going to be you, me, and Vita, but Vita will probably be going with Tao.”

Elliott slowly made her way out of the water, processing this information.

Separate tents. He wouldn’t be sharing her tent; they weren’t going to be together tonight. Her heart picked up pace, but it wasn’t from lust, and she was far from swooning.

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