Page 183 of Those Who Are Bound

He gave a slight shake of his head. “You’ll always have that from me.”

“No,” she denied. “I know it. I know what I do, and I don’t want to do it to you.”

“You’re panicking. Like on the Frisbee course. This is your first—”

“Jonah, you need to leave,” she interrupted firmly. She had to glance away because she didn’t want to see his initial reaction as the words snapped out.

“Leave?” It was a growl. It reminded her of the night he’d crawled up her body with a warning. And if that word, his tone hadn’t, he did. “I’ve told you never to ask me to leave you in the middle of the night. I’m not that man. I don’t need to be in your bed, but—”

“Tonight, you’re that man.”

There was more than one way to break a person, and she was certain by the look on his face that she’d broken him a little when she said those words. His lashes fluttered—just slightly—even as his nostrils flared. But she needed to break him a little now to save him from something worse later. She thought for a moment that he would do what Jonah always did: fight for her, for them.

He skirted the furniture and walked up to her, prowled. He stood so close she was consumed by him all over again. She could feel his hands, his mouth on her; could feel him moving inside her. Which one of them was more broken at this moment if these were her thoughts as she was trying to kick him out? She stared at him, willing him to unleash that primal part of him she swore was there, condemning them both.

Leaning forward, he let his mouth hover over hers, his lips brushing hers. Her heart beat once, twice, three times, as she waited for his move. Her breath caught; she tilted her chin in encouragement. Their breath mingled as he continued to hesitate. Her heart pounded so loud, she was certain he could hear it, feel it reverberate through the floor.

He pulled back. She frowned, confused. His expression was hard as he stepped back, his gaze sweeping over her. It reminded her of that seagrass sensation he’d originally elicited in her, only it cut instead of tickling this time.

He turned and walked to, then out, the door. No words, barely any sound. Even her heart ceased its clanging.

Because she was dead. She swore she was dead.

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