Page 64 of Tethered to the World
For the next few hours the guys took turns keeping her occupied. While three of the guys played against her, one sat behind her, teaching her how to control the remote, teaching her how to cheat. Popcorn was tossed everywhere, snack food was delivered, and the laughter and shouting went on for hours. Even the ferrets came down to watch and cheer her on to victory, running along the backs of the couches and chairs, tripping over wires to help her win.
Logan’s mask dropped away, Mason didn’t worry about his beast, Xander actually smiled, while Camden absently reached over to touch her every ten or so minutes, seeming completely amazed at the texture of her skin, content for the first time since they’d met. He didn’t laugh often, didn’t smile as much as the others, but there was a new brightness to his eyes that had been missing—a spark of life—and a glimmer of hope for the future.
* * *
Morning light streamed through the windows of the living room, but something else woke Mason. Splayed across his chest like he was her own personal pillow was Annora. His shirt had worked up, her hands having found a way beneath it as she snuggled up against him.
They were on the floor, while the rest of the guys were scattered around them. Xander had his hand on her ankle, Logan had his arm thrown across her thigh, while Camden’s fingers were tangled in her long hair.
His morning wood strained against his pants, eager to be inside her. Something had changed last night when they came in from their discussion, like a last puzzle piece had finally settled in place.
His beast was fascinated by the little slip of girl who rested against them so trustingly. The violence that was so much a part of him was calm for the first time since his beast tore into existence when he was a teenager.
He felt…content. Like he’d found the treasure his kind compulsively searched for their whole lives.
Mason.
Annora stretched against him, unintentionally rubbing against his dick, and a rumble of pleasure escaped. The little bit of pain when she first touched him only made him want her more…a kitten with claws. He’d swear he could actually feel her inside him, a spark of pure pleasure, and a groan rumbled deep in his chest.
She jerked her head up, blinking sleepily when her startled glance landed on him. The wildness in her eyes calmed at seeing him, and a soft smile crossed her face, sending his heart flipping over in his chest. Instead of acting embarrassed or disgusted at being caught sleeping on him, she reached up to touch his face, slipping her hands into his hair, accidently brushing her soft fingertips against the crown of his horns, and he clamped his hand down on her hips, not sure whether he was trying to pull her closer or hold her away.
Knowing she had to be aware of his erection, he froze, feeling heat sweep up his face. Fuck, he’d never wanted anything so much in his life.
A frown marred her face, and she pushed up on his chest to straddle him. “What did you say?”
The other guys began stirring, looking between the two of them.
“I didn’t say anything.” He carefully lifted his hands off her, infinitely sad at the distance between them, his chest aching.
His eyes widened when she reached down and patted his chest and pure happiness burned in his chest.
Can you hear me?
She stopped dead, her eyes widening, and she popped off him like she’d seen a ghost. “What the fuck was that?”
But as soon as she was no longer touching him, the connection broke, and he slowly sat. Awe held him immobile as he stared up at her. Then he bowed his head. “My grá.”
Logan was on his feet in seconds, standing protectively in front of her. “What’s wrong?”
“She chose me.” Mason couldn’t stop the smile that broke across his face, unadulterated joy bursting in his chest. All the loneliness he’d suffered his whole life was suddenly worth it—it led him to her. “We’re mates.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Stop.” Camden growled, glaring at all of them until they fell silent. “Mason, clean up this mess. Logan, start breakfast. Xander and Annora go hit the showers. It’s Saturday, and we don’t have to report to the arena for two hours. We’ll discuss everything after breakfast when we’re all awake and have had time to clear our heads.”
Annora wanted to protest, demand answers, but the hard expression on Camden’s face brooked no arguments. She headed to her room, conscious of the others watching her, whispering behind her back. Xander cleared his throat as she moved toward the second set of stairs. When she turned, he brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. “The drugs wore off.”
He almost sounded sad about it. When she would’ve opened her mouth, he shook his head. “We’ll explain everything together. You have nothing to worry about. This is a good thing.”
He quickly dipped his head, brushing a kiss against her forehead, then turned and strode toward his room.
Coward.
He stopped dead, gripping the doorframe as if to hold himself back, then glanced at her over his shoulder. The heat in his eyes burned as he dragged his gaze over her body, stripping her bare. “Wear workout clothes. Then you can call me all the names you want.”
Her mouth dropped open when he strode into his room, closing the door behind him with a resounding snick. When he touched her, she could swear shefelthim. He wanted to lift her up and fuck her against the wall. She saw a movie of it play in her head in exquisite detail.
She took a step to go after him—but the intense emotions began to fade.
