Page 64 of Those Who Are Bound

But she reached over her head andgrasped the top of the wooden structure, feeling like Rocky Balboa, even though it was the wrong sport. With a whoop, she threw her leg over and hauled herself rather gracelessly onto the other side, falling to the planks with a startled yelp. She lay there for a second and laughed, looking up at the open metal beams above her—she’d made it up the wall, and on her first time, too.

There was a thundering sound on the wooden structure, and she realized someone was running up the stairs. Sitting up, she scrambled to get out of the way; it seemed like someone was on a mission.

And then Jonah appeared, the grin on his face stopping her heart. She fell back onto her elbows, and then her back, as he enthusiastically dove onto the floor with her. She laughed as she threw her hands in front of her in a mock defensive move. Grasping her wrists, he pinned them to the floor on either side of her head as he covered her body with his, a fluid caress, his mouth crashing down on hers.

Gasping under the torrent of sensations his actions caused to rip through her, Elliott immediately submitted to his dominant pose, his hold, returning his kiss as fiercely. She rolled her hips toward his, seeking him. He obliged her with a single thrust. On a low growl, he pulled back, biting her lower lip, which increased the heat between her legs.

Lifting his head, looking down at her, he said in a low, intense tone, “I’m not testing you. You aren’t a car whose tires I’m kicking. I know I want you. Three days ago, that panicked you.”

She corrected him, “You think you know that.”

His brows came together out of concern. “What are you afraid of?”

A thud startled them, followed by the shocked and chiding query, “Oh, uh… sorry, man.”

Elliott looked over Jonah’s shoulder even as Jonah shifted to see who had come over the wall. Their position had to look… well, like what it was, a make-out session—until it hadn’t been. Releasing her wrists, Jonah pushed off her and said to the guy eyeing him warily, “No, man, we’re sorry. Got carried away.”

“Not the place for it, dude,” the guy said, slowly making his way to the stairs to ensure they wouldn’t go back to what they were doing. “My kid sister’s coming up behind me, and she doesn’t need to be seeing any of that.”

“Got it; it won’t happen again,” Jonah assured him, getting to his feet. He held his hand down to Elliott. She took it and got to her feet, looking up at him sheepishly.

As they started to descend the stairs, a grinning girl around the age of twelve popped up over the side. Her dark eyes bright with achievement, she greeted them, “Hi!”

Jonah and Elliott smiled back as they continued down the wide stairs and simultaneously returned the greeting, both overwhelmingly relieved that they hadn’t traumatized a child.

Back on the floor, Jonah asked, “Which wall do you want?”

“I want to watch you.”

He shook his head. “I’m not dressed for it.” He indicated his jeans and boots. “Next time, if you want to come back.”

Turning to face him, she assured him, “Jonah, I do. This is fun.”

“Okay, then. Which wall? Only one more, so make it count.”

“Why only one more?”

“Fatigue. Know your limits,” he said.

“What if your limits aren’t my limits?”

Jonah gave her a slanting look. “Never be so stubborn that you get yourself into trouble.”

Elliott chuckled. “That should be on a T-shirt.”

He shook his head in amusement at her. “I’ll get you one.”

Elliott looked at the walls. “How about the same wall, but one level up? What’s the next color?”

“Blue.”

Elliott tackled the same wall, taking on the blue grips. Although she managed to do pretty well, she didn’t make it over the wall again. Every time she fell, however, Jonah was there to catch her, expertly grasping her hips and guiding her to the mat. He’d chalk her hands each time to ensure her grips were solid. After an hour, she was tired and had to admit that he was right—she was falling more often, and she’d hit her limit.

On her last fall, which was more of a jump, she blew out a breath and leaned back into him as she looked up at the wall. “I didn’t make it.”

“So you come back and try again.” He caressed her hip, pulling her closer against him, dropping a kiss on her temple.

Self-consciously, she ducked away. “I’m sweating.”

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