Free Bound (Bound Hearts #1) by S. N. Garza Page B

and damn if she was staring at my ass. “Up here, Adelaide.”
    She coughed and turned her head back to the TV.
     
    ‡
     
    We were half way through the movie and she had finally relaxed back, when I started playing with her hair. I was still paying attention to the TV, but when she felt my hand twirl a few locks, she stiffened and straightened her back just enough to not be too noticeable. I could see her breathing start to accelerate and I could see the pulse in her neck flaring wildly. I slowly untwined my hand from her hair and played it off to drink some wine. I really didn’t care for wine. Too bitter for my taste, but it had seemed to calm Adelaide down, until now.
    I sipped slowly and she relaxed again. Maybe she had a thing for when people touched her hair. Hmm. I didn’t try touching her hair again, but I laid my arm on the back side of the couch and she relaxed enough that the motion let her curl into my side. When she went to move, I put my hand on her shoulder.
    “Stay. It’s okay. Relax.” I wanted her to feel safe with me. I didn’t know how else to tell her. She took off a hair tie from her wrist and toppled her hair into a messy bun on the crown of her head and she curled back into my side. I loved feeling her there.
    She fit just right in the crook of my shoulder. Like she belonged there. She did belong there. I was not going there. Nope.
    She was nestling more into me when I heard her whisper, “You still wear that?”
    I looked down at her. Her diamond blue eyes full of questions. “Still wear what?”
    Her hand reached up and traced the shells of the necklace she gave me years ago. Her eyes were stuck on it when I reached my knuckle to tip her chin up so she could look up at me. “Why wouldn’t I wear it? Adelaide, it’s the first present I ever got. Besides JR you were my best friend Adelaide. The only times I ever took it off is when I shower or when I was in the Marines. Couldn’t wear it while on active duty. I kept it with me though. In my inside pocket. I’ll wear it until it falls apart and when it does, I’ll keep it on me until the day I die.”
    Tears had fallen from her face at my confession and now that I said it, I wasn’t taking it back for nothing. It was the stone cold truth. No one had ever given me anything before then. Chet always gave me baseball caps. Or guy gifts.
    “Really, Courtland?”
    I knew she needed reassurance , but the only thing I could do was lift her face up to mine and plant an easy kiss to her lips.
    “Really, really.”
    She hugged me tight and snuggled into me. “I remember making it. I had no idea how, until the woman at Hobby Lobby told me. For some reason I was so adamant in making you one. I had a shell obsession phase. I loved them. I would never have thought you would have kept it all these years. It does look really good on you. Especially with all those tattoos you sport.” She started laughing.
    “Laughing at me? I think the beach boy in me is appalled at your mockery.”
    “Beach boy? HA! My ass. There is no beach boy in you.”
    She was right, but I couldn’t resist in tickling her sides in retaliation.
    She started laughing and squirming and trying to wrestle away , but I was having none of that. Her body turned and I ended up crawling over her, one hand on the sofa kept me from crushing her, as I tickled her with the other.
    “Stop! Courtland! Oh my goodness! Please!”
    She was panting and puffs of her breath splashed on my face. I couldn’t remember smiling so big, and she was laughing and coughing, trying to get her bearings.
    My hand stayed attached to her hip, kneading the soft flesh where her shirt had visibly risen. Her eyes were closed, and a smile played on her face.
    “Paybacks are-
    I couldn’t resist, she lo oked so damned hot and tempting. I leaned down and placed my lips on hers. Gently at first. I didn’t want to scare her, but I licked the crease of her lips easily and softly sucking in her bottom lip. The