Page 194 of Bound By Her

Kaydon’s hand was hot on her calf.

“The initiation pool?” he asked.

She nodded. “I thought it was fascinating. The water was so black, like an ancient mystery.”

Her first time hadn’t been scary. Adria might even say her first time at the council was fun.

“Two years later I saw a man slashed and burned in that cavern. And after they dumped his body in the pool, the mystery was gone,” Adria said, flatly.

She could hear Kaydon set down the nail brush. Feel his hands on her ankles. Slowly, he pulled her left leg into him as he massaged her calf.

“I heard about that,” Kaydon said, his fingers rubbing at all the tension in her leg.

When he moved to her right, Adria felt warmth between her legs. It was hard to believe she was turned on while talking about a summit meeting, but somehow Kaydon had managed it. Sunglasses on, she peeked down at him.

Watched him diligently touch her skin, his eyes focused on his task. Adria could watch him touch her for hours and still it wouldn’t be enough.

“But you don’t want to hear about archways and torture,” she said, lust creeping into her voice.

Kaydon knew what happened down there. Anyone close to an ascended or heir knew.

“Just seeing it won’t assuage your doubts,” Adria said, and Kaydon’s hands froze.

“You were seventeen?” Kaydon said, and she looked down at him.

Lowering her sunglasses, she took in his face. “Bryson is the most stubborn person I have ever met.He’ll make it,” she said, before putting her glasses back on.

Ascension was hard. The further she swam the darker it got, which was amazing considering how dark the water was to start with. The pressure on her ears and head pounded into her, and she felt like the blood was pouring from her veins faster.

All the bodies, all the dead that had been dumped into that pool, they all waited for her. They wanted to greet her. She didn’t see any of them, but she knew they were there. Where else would they be?

But Bryson wouldn’t be one of them, Adria was sure.

Kaydon spread her legs apart and sat on the lounge chair. His thighs rubbing against hers. He was flushed from the heat, and Adria noticed his eyes watching her mouth.

“I just hate that he has to do it alone. We are supposed to be a family,” Kaydon said, his hand moving to rest on her thigh.

“Alessandro was there with me,” Adria said, remembering the kind words he had spoken to her just before her dive.

Kaydon’s eyes darkened as he said, “I don’t trust that guy.”

Shocked at his candor, Adria sat up, taking off her sunglasses. “You don’t trust Alessandro? Why?”

They were close now.

Adria expected him to lean away. To give her space.

But he didn’t.

“I just don’t.”

Kaydon’s words lingered between them, thick with unspoken meaning. Adria stared at him, dumbfounded. Alessandro was the nicest member of the Triune. He always had her back. Always spoke on her behalf when she needed it.

And yet, Kaydon’s distrust was written across his face.

A flicker of doubt itched at the back of her mind.

She shook it off.

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