Page 186 of Those Who Are Bound

“Thanks for coming, man,” Killion said, stunned.

Elliott turned her head and looked. Sitting, he scooted the chair closer to her. Holy hellfire, he looked fucking fantastic. Somewhat casual in jeans and a short-sleeved button-down. Tanned, a few weeks’ worth of beard growth, all making his gemstone eyes pop. He lookedrelaxed.

Like a vacation from Elliott had done him a world of good.

“Luce just texted me,” he explained to Killion—to them—in a low whisper.

He laid his arm across her chairback as though it was the most natural thing for him to do—encase her—his thigh riding along hers. Silently claiming her; nonverbally taking her back. Or was that wishful thinking on her part? She was between the two of them. He didn’t want to be disruptive. Or more disruptive than he’d already been.

Too late. I’m disrupted.

Then his attention shifted to her. And he smiled. Fuck her, he smiled. No animosity, no hardness, just a gorgeous, panty-dropping smile. “Hi, Elliott.”

He was leaning in, his chest against her shoulder, and it didn’t look like he was interested in moving anytime soon. She didn’t care; she didn’t mind. Of course, if her panties got any wetter, she’d slip right off the chair and onto the floor, making all the room for him he’d need.

“Hi, Jonah.” Her voice sounded husky even to her own ears; it made him give her a knowing look. Reaching up, she lightly caressed his jaw. “I like the scruff.”

His knowing look intensified.

That made her nipples harden further; they’d been on point since she realized it was him. The throbbing between her legs was insane, about to reach critical levels…

“I thought you’d gone back home to Oregon,” she said. Instead of looking into his eyes as he informed her that he was here on a visit, she watched her hand as she traced the new hairs on his face.With a small jolt, she realized she was practically petting him, as though she still had the right—and he wasn’t answering her. Snatching her hand away, she glanced up.

He was amused, confounding her; looking pleased, actually. He should be pissed, giving her the evil eye, or at the very least, treating her merely as an acquaintance. But that wasn’t Jonah’s style. He answered, his look pointed, “I am home.” Reaching out, he tucked back a tendril of her hair.

The air stopped moving, or existing, or something, because she couldn’t breathe. Her head was fuzzy, and her body was tingling. “Oh.” Because he was trying to make a point.

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh.”

“I mean… I heard you’d gone to Oregon.” It wasn’t the deflection her stunned mind was scrambling for.

He looked curious and satisfied at the same time. Like, maybe he was curious why she cared about where he was? Checking up on him? And satisfied because it appeared as though she missed him.

It was all true.

Trying to pass it off, she shrugged a shoulder. “I think Lucy mentioned it, anyway.” And then she leaned back in her chair, tearing her gaze from his amused expression, and faced front.

Lucy was talking into the microphone. Pictures were flashing across the screen. People were laughing, and she was having a hard time concentrating… because he was here, and so close. She could smell him. He smelled so damn good. The heat from his leg burned her in the best way. But the most distracting thing—mind-bending and sensory overloading—he did was to start caressing her back with his thumb. Casual, small movements, as though absently doing it, but she felt it everywhere.

Her heart pumped blood through her veins fiercely, fueling her initial responses to him. The contact—his touch—the rhythm… she wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but he may as well have been stroking her clit. She struggled not to shift, not to squeeze her legs together, even though the need to do so was crippling.

Because of his position, he could be watching every sign on her face. He could be looking for any telltale movement that he was affecting her. A sigh, a breath too quickly taken, and he’d know. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to miss the pulse hammering in her neck or the sheen of sweat. And try as she might, her breathing had increased. Of course, again: nipples. Prominent and proud, trying to please him with their display.

Damn him.

Suddenly, another burst of laughter erupted from the audience. This time, however, Killion turned and looked at her, looking as though she should share the joke. Startled, she looked back at him, and then at Lucy, who was grinning at her in adoration.

She’d missed the joke she should have been in on. In an attempt to recover, she lifted a shoulder and shot a cheeky grin at Lucy. It either fooled her, or Lucy took pity on her, because she moved on with the program.

The deep chuckle next to her left ear told her everything she needed to know: he was well aware of her distraction, and she’d been caught out.

Killion shook his head at her, a happy gesture this time, and gave her leg a playful knock with his. He faced the front again.

Elliott turned and tossed Jonah a glare. His stare was dead on her.

With a challenging look, she shifted her chair away. It wasn’t more than a centimeter—she didn’t have that far to go—but she wanted to make her own point, too. He licked his lips, glanced at hers, but moved out of her space.

Ha. This round went to her.

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