Page 169 of Those Who Are Bound

Jonah

JonahwashotonElliott’s heels, reaching for her arm to halt her progress as she headed toward some random dude sitting on his custom built green motorcycle. The guy was looking over his shoulder at them, impatience stamped on his face.

He was waiting for Elliott. Like, what thefuck?

He’d almost missed this entire exit of hers, but Lucy had gasped, her jaw dropping to the ground with an “Oh, shit.” He’d planned to take a short walk with a couple of the men—he needed to clear his head and gain space from Elliott’s mood—and had looked back to see what Lucy’s dramatics were about.

That’s when he saw Elliott striding across the road wearing her gear. Toward this dude. And Jonah had immediately given chase.

Elliott, either noticing or sensing Jonah’s hand, yanked her arm away before he could grab her. “Stop it!”

“You aren’t leaving. Not with him. If you want an argument, I’ll give you one, but you have to stay to have it.”

“I don’t want to fight. I told you last night I was done. I’m going home; let me go.” She stopped by the guy’s bike and finished zipping her jacket one-handed. Her helmet was in her other hand.

“I brought you here; you go home withme,” he insisted. “You don’t know this man.Idon’t know him. I donotwant you on his bike. I don’t know if he’ll care for you.”

Motorcycle dude scowled at that. “Been riding a long time.”

At the same time, Elliott answered, “His name is Josh.”

Jonah shifted his attention impatiently, not giving a damn about the man’s name. “No offense, man, but she’s my priority and my woman, and I don’t want her on the back of your bike.”

“Doesn’t look like she’s your woman anymore,” Josh sneered back.

The words stunned him; pissed him off. It made him want to grab her up and drag her back to… where? A tent? His furious gaze turned to hers, demanding while at the same time mocking:thisguy?

She looked down as she brought her helmet up.

“And I don’t have time for a lover’s quarrel.” To emphasize his continued impatience, Josh revved the throttle before kicking up the stand, allowing the bike to roll forward, the threat clear: he was ready to leave her behind.

“I’m coming!” Elliott tugged the helmet over her head. She was really going to get on that bike. She fumbled with the fastener beneath her chin as she turned away.

Jonah reached forward, taking over the task himself. If she was going to be this foolhardy, he’d make certain her gear was on properly. It was all he could do to keep her safe. His heart was thundering; his stomach was turning. This wasn’t right. She stared up at him, her own expression thunderous as he drilled his fury—and worry—into her.

The scene was so tense, not even birds dared to call out. He felt Josh’s glare on them and heard the revving of the engine. Jonah, for perhaps the first time in his life, wanted to do serious bodily harm to a person.

Helmet fastened and tightened, he grasped it and jerked her to him. “Don’t make me be the man who lets you get on another man’s bike. Don’t do it, Elliott. I’m not that man.”

She jerked out of his grasp. “Pray for me. You’re good at that.” Her tone was full of sarcasm.

“You know I will.” His response was deadly serious.

She made a face of distaste as she climbed onto the back of the bike, grasping Josh’s jacket. That asshole jerked the bike forward, causing her to let out a short scream as she more solidly threw her arms around him.

“Goddamn it.” Jonah lurched forward, his stomach clenching, ready to rip her off the machine. But the bike was already in motion, tearing down the dirt and gravel path, slipping a couple of times in Josh’s haste to either get away, to show off, or force Elliott to cling more tightly to him—which she did—as they roared out of sight.

“Fuck!” Jonah yelled, grasping handfuls of his hair as he watched the dust plumes fade. He searched the empty road. “Fuck!”

A small body slammed into his chest and embraced him: Lucy, attempting to comfort. He automatically draped his arms around her, even though he kept scanning the spot where Elliott had disappeared.

His fucking heart had just been ripped out and ridden away with astranger. She’d chosen someone completely unknown to any of them, over a conversation.

“Who is he? How does she even know him? Why is she… What the hell just happened?”

Lucy tilted her head back and looked up at him. Her expression was full of guilt and apology. “We met him last night, with his friends. They’re a nice group. He mentioned going back for work today, and… I mean, why were you two fighting?”

His mind was spinning. They’d been off and on all day yesterday; their sexual tension battling with flat-out strife. It had caused him to act in a manner outside of his norm. He hadn’t been sure at times if they were going to physically fight or spontaneously start having sex. The sensual animosity had swirled around them all day.

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