Page 36 of Tethered to the World
Mason inched closer, drawing her attention, his lavender eyes dark, as if searching for the truth. “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay.” She glanced to where Logan disappeared, but before she could take a step, Camden blocked her way.
“We need answers.” He rubbed the back of his neck, guilt clouding his face, as if the whole mess was his fault. “What the hell happened? You were just supposed to pick up clothes, but you come back empty-handed and injured.”
“It’s not really my story to tell.” Annora glanced at Mason over Camden’s shoulder. “Can you keep an eye on Logan?”
Instead of the protest she expected, he nodded, his footsteps surprisingly light as he followed his friend outside.
Camden gave a nod, and Xander left as well, leaving them alone.
Annora was suddenly wary. “What do you want?”
He gestured for the table. “Sit. Please.”
She wanted to refuse and run after the others. Something about being alone with Camden felt worse than having them all crowded around her. When she didn’t move, he sighed, then walked toward her and calmly pulled out a chair. “You need to touch me, but it will be much better if you’re sitting.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, amused when he cleared his throat uncomfortably, his grip on the back of the chair white-knuckled. “In case you drop.”
She suddenly felt horrible.
She knew what it was like to be so isolated…afraid of touching anyone.
She had no room to judge.
Then she narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re planning to drug me.”
One way or another, he was determined to take away her pain, whether she felt it or not.
“You might not feel the pain, but it’s there. It’s your body telling you when to rest. A few hours of sleep will do you good.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Besides, we’ll be up late. You need to rest while you can.”
She couldn’t fault him for his honesty.
And he was right.
Against her will, her gaze swept over him, his invitation to touch him messing with her mind. Everything about him was powerful, a man used to being obeyed, but loneliness clung to him in a way the others didn’t have.
He isolated himself to keep the others safe.
It didn’t matter that the isolation was destroying him.
“Fine, but we’ll do this on my terms.”
He scowled, but didn’t object, already knowing to settle for what he could get. When she moved closer, he stiffened but didn’t retreat, and she wanted to comfort him. Another step and she was a foot away, and she watched his throat bob painfully.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he asked in that gravelly voice she loved.
She took the last step separating them, leaving only an inch between them, so close his scent of exotic wildflowers filled her senses. She leaned forward to sniff along his neck, then whispered, “No, but if we’re going to do this, we might as well go all in, right?”
She wasn’t sure whether she was being brave or stupid, but she wanted to live, and he and the others made her feel alive for the first time since her mother died when she was ten.
Her gaze dropped to his lips. The top lip was firm, but the bottom begged her to lean closer and taste. The scuff on his jaw made him appear even more dangerous, and though it made no sense, she found him fucking hot. As she looked up into his bright green eyes from under her lashes, she knew he would never make the first move, never put her in danger, and she found the thought of being in charge sexy as hell.
Very gently, she lifted her hands to his face, then trailed her fingertips lightly along the angles. The scruff on his face felt surprisingly rough, prickling along her fingertips playfully. He was all muscles and angles, so different from her softness. His breathing became ragged, and he carefully watched her from under hooded eyes for any indication that she was about to drop. When she ran her thumb along his bottom lip, his eyes slid close, and he leaned into her touch.
Then she drew back, rubbing her fingertips together, the toxins he produced had left a light film that smelled fantastic. When she looked up, it was to find him watching her critically once more, no doubt searching for symptoms.
“You’re still standing.” He lifted his hand to her face, but stopped short of touching her.
