Page 226 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott

Elliottsteppedbackfromthe heavy bag and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She watched as Killion sauntered up. He glanced over her, stopping short when he noticed the bruises on her ankles. His gaze snapped to her wrists, but of course, she was wearing gloves. And her wrists were fine. No marks on her forearms, either.

“You know, I don’t need to know about the freaky shit my pastor’s into,” Killion said, but his tone was light.

Elliott placed her gloved fists on her hips and demanded, “What about your boss?”

He shrugged. “Kinda peggedyoufor being freaky. But, I mean, he’s from Oregon. And a pastor.”

Elliott cocked her head. “What does Oregon have to do with it?”

Killion scratched his bald head. “Dunno. Just a thing. Oregon seems squeaky-clean.”

She gave him a look. “Doesn’t Portland have the sign, ‘Keep Portland Weird’?”

“Maybe it’s the Lucy effect; she’s so sweet and innocent. Well, shewasMiss Innocent until…” He glowered at her.

“Until she started long-distance dating an older man?” Elliott ventured. It’d only been a couple of days, but both Lucy and Becks were burning up the ether with their communication. She didn’t even know Becks was capable of that level of chatter, or even knew how to text.

“Yeah. I’m hoping that fizzles out.”

Killion would have to get in line behind Jonah. “If they’re happy, leave them alone.”

“Look at who’s little Mary Sunshine now.”

Elliott shook her head in amusement. “Shut up. Did you come out here to harass me, or are you going to glove up?”

Killion was about to answer when his attention was diverted. He indicated toward the driveway, where a black Jeep was making its way toward them. “I think our session got postponed, boss.”

Elliott was both excited and shaken.

Jonah knew. Her secret—some of it—was out there. He hadn’t judged her. He’d freaking embraced the rope play, as mild as it was. Of course, he was under the impression that she just liked to be tied up.

There was so much more.

Killion shoved her playfully. “Maybe now’s a good time for Lucy and me to run out to Lenexa and check out that new event center, huh? And that cookie shoppe.” He chuckled, waving at the Jeep as it pulled up.

“Nothing’s going to—”

Killion covered his ears as he backed away. “Gah, no.”

Elliott shook her head and rolled her eyes. Comedian. But at least he wasn’t holding a grudge over Becks. Of course, if Jonah wasn’t, then Killion had no reason to.Then again, she hadn’t had time to discuss Becks with Jonah in depth. Their relationship then, and how it would look going forward. Because as twisted as it was, Becks was her only family now: he held all the memories of her past. He was going to be in her life.

And possibly in Lucy’s life. Jonah would need to come to terms with Becks at some point.

If she and Jonah endured, that was. Because he still didn’t know everything.

Her attention was swiftly directed to the man as he approached. He smiled as he checked out her ankles, too.

“I like seeing marks I’ve caused on you,” Jonah said, pulling her into his arms. “There’s something…”

“Feral? Primal?” She raised up on her toes and bit the tip of his nose playfully. “You remind me of a wolf.”

“A wolf?” he asked, but she could tell he liked it.

“If you’re going to call me a kitten, I can call you a wolf.”

“I’m not complaining.” He growled and ran his nose along her throat before lightly biting her shoulder. Leaning back, still holding her loosely, he looked pointedly at her. “Are you okay?”

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