Bonded (The Raegan Mason Trilogy) by Cheryl Courtney Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cheryl Courtney
face flushing as his name crossed my lips. My heartbeat increased with the sudden understanding that I would soon be in his arms. I could feel the magnetic pull to him and fighting it was taking more energy than resisting. Jaxon turned and headed toward the buffet table of food and muttered something as he left. I didn’t hear him because all I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.
Kyler opened his arms inviting me to him. In three quick steps I was standing toe to toe with him. He took one of my hands in his as the electricity ripped through our joined hands and I gasped at the fire that erupted. He gently placed the other on my lower back sending tremors through my bones, but he didn’t pull me close like Jaxon did. He kept a circle of space between our bodies, but it didn’t matter. The energy surrounding us heated up quickly and consumed my thoughts. I laid my other arm on his arm. His skin was exposed on his black button-down shirt and fire ripped through my bare arm as it touched his. The white from his under shirt glowed under the lights. I could see the necklace he wore earlier today on his neck. My eyes traced up his neck to his strong jaw which was clenched tightly. His eyes were swimming with some sort of emotion I couldn’t find a word for. He looked down into my eyes and the world quit existing. It was just the two of us. He didn’t smile with his mouth, but his eyes seemed pleased, triumphant even. The slower music stopped and increased to a faster paced beat bringing me out of my trance. Kyler still held me in the slow dance embrace. People were bumping into us.
“Thank you.” I whispered to him.
He leaned down to my ear and sent fireworks through my body. “I couldn’t stand to see you so uncomfortable in his arms.” He straightened up as Jaxon approached with two cups of something to drink. He released me and I instantly felt cold. I shivered slightly as chill bumps spread across my arms.
“I know you said you weren’t thirsty, but you should stay hydrated with that sunburn. Geez, how long were you in the sun?” Jaxon handed me a cup of lemonade and took his place at my side, opposite of Kyler. He placed his hand over the small of my back and led me to the table Kyler was leaning on earlier. I turned to find Kyler again, hoping he’d follow us to the table to join us so I wouldn’t have to endure this much longer. Kyler smirked and followed slowly behind. His smile took my breath away and I turned forward to find a chair to sit in. Jaxon sat on my right, and Kyler pulled out the chair in front of us. He spun it around and sat on it backwards. He rested his arms on the back of the chair and just stared at me.
“So when do you head out, Army man?” Kyler asked Jaxon, but kept his eyes on me.
I was very uncomfortable feeling the humming buzz off of Kyler and the tension rolling off of Jaxon. This was not even close to fun.
“At the end of the week, after the bonfire. What about you, Valedictorian? What did you finally decide? Leaving soon?” Jaxon asked hopeful.
Kyler looked at Jaxon. “I’m staying right here.” He returned his overwhelming gaze to me.
My heart dedicated a drum solo to his splendid presence.
“Really? But you could go anywhere. Why would you stay here?” Jaxon was truly interested now, and so was I.
He returned his attention to Jaxon to explain. “I sort of have a full ride at the University here. My mother has a lab that I’ve helped her with all summer. I’ve grown rather fond of the area and want to pursue something here.” He returned his intimidating eyes back to me. “What about you, Raegan?”
The way his lips puckered to say my name had me wanting to feel those lips on mine. I was hypnotized by his presence.
“Rae?” Jaxon’s hand touched my arm and released me from the trance. Worry covered his face. “Are you
Kyler opened his arms inviting me to him. In three quick steps I was standing toe to toe with him. He took one of my hands in his as the electricity ripped through our joined hands and I gasped at the fire that erupted. He gently placed the other on my lower back sending tremors through my bones, but he didn’t pull me close like Jaxon did. He kept a circle of space between our bodies, but it didn’t matter. The energy surrounding us heated up quickly and consumed my thoughts. I laid my other arm on his arm. His skin was exposed on his black button-down shirt and fire ripped through my bare arm as it touched his. The white from his under shirt glowed under the lights. I could see the necklace he wore earlier today on his neck. My eyes traced up his neck to his strong jaw which was clenched tightly. His eyes were swimming with some sort of emotion I couldn’t find a word for. He looked down into my eyes and the world quit existing. It was just the two of us. He didn’t smile with his mouth, but his eyes seemed pleased, triumphant even. The slower music stopped and increased to a faster paced beat bringing me out of my trance. Kyler still held me in the slow dance embrace. People were bumping into us.
“Thank you.” I whispered to him.
He leaned down to my ear and sent fireworks through my body. “I couldn’t stand to see you so uncomfortable in his arms.” He straightened up as Jaxon approached with two cups of something to drink. He released me and I instantly felt cold. I shivered slightly as chill bumps spread across my arms.
“I know you said you weren’t thirsty, but you should stay hydrated with that sunburn. Geez, how long were you in the sun?” Jaxon handed me a cup of lemonade and took his place at my side, opposite of Kyler. He placed his hand over the small of my back and led me to the table Kyler was leaning on earlier. I turned to find Kyler again, hoping he’d follow us to the table to join us so I wouldn’t have to endure this much longer. Kyler smirked and followed slowly behind. His smile took my breath away and I turned forward to find a chair to sit in. Jaxon sat on my right, and Kyler pulled out the chair in front of us. He spun it around and sat on it backwards. He rested his arms on the back of the chair and just stared at me.
“So when do you head out, Army man?” Kyler asked Jaxon, but kept his eyes on me.
I was very uncomfortable feeling the humming buzz off of Kyler and the tension rolling off of Jaxon. This was not even close to fun.
“At the end of the week, after the bonfire. What about you, Valedictorian? What did you finally decide? Leaving soon?” Jaxon asked hopeful.
Kyler looked at Jaxon. “I’m staying right here.” He returned his overwhelming gaze to me.
My heart dedicated a drum solo to his splendid presence.
“Really? But you could go anywhere. Why would you stay here?” Jaxon was truly interested now, and so was I.
He returned his attention to Jaxon to explain. “I sort of have a full ride at the University here. My mother has a lab that I’ve helped her with all summer. I’ve grown rather fond of the area and want to pursue something here.” He returned his intimidating eyes back to me. “What about you, Raegan?”
The way his lips puckered to say my name had me wanting to feel those lips on mine. I was hypnotized by his presence.
“Rae?” Jaxon’s hand touched my arm and released me from the trance. Worry covered his face. “Are you