Page 77 of Tethered to the World
The amusement travelling through the connection broke off abruptly, but Annora couldn’t make herself ask Loulou to stop. She was too fascinated.
“He likes to tie the girls down so they can’t touch him. And he wears gloves. No one is allowed to touch him. If you break his rules, even just try to kiss him, he cuts them off and pretends they don’t even exist.”
She couldn’t imagine going through life without being able to touchanyone. Instead of being worried, she was actually glad he discovered a way to find some comfort, if only fleeting.
The connection between Camden and her quieted, then she’d swear she could actually hear him speak in her mind.
You’re different from the other girls.
You matter.
“Then don’t forget about Xander.” Loulou fanned her face, then leaned across the table and whispered, “That man is intense. I can only imagine what he’s like in bed. Rumors have it that he hires professionals so no girl will get attached. Others say it’s because he’s horribly deformed.”
Annora knew the truth…his scars had nothing to do with it. He didn’t want to get close to anyone else because of his father and childhood.
Or I was just waiting for you.
Her heart hiccupped in her chest when she received that stray thought from Xander. There was nothing but contentment and a low simmer of heat from him.
Afraid where the conversation would lead next, Annora downed the rest of her hot chocolate, then shoved the remaining piece of her muffin toward her backpack, startled when a ferrets’ greedy little hands yanked it out of her grip then disappeared with its prize back inside the bag. “Look at the time. I believe the guys and I are due to patrol the grounds tonight. I should be getting back.”
Loulou smiled brightly, then bounced to her feet. “Of course! We’ll have to do this again.”
But when she glanced at the guys, Loulou stilled for a second, then whirled and grabbed her hand and hustled her out the door. When Annora would’ve turned to look behind her, Loulou shook her head.
“Don’t.”
But it was too late.
Surrounding the table was a pack of beautiful, giggling girls fawning over the guys. Lionel looked pissed, while Logan looked bored, neither man really paying attention. The girls were blocking the view, so the guys didn’t even notice them leaving. One girl spun, then seated herself on Logan’s lap, completely missing the way he tensed.
Then she slipped her fingers around the back of his neck, preventing him from escaping and slammed her lips against his. She was so focused on seducing him she completely missed the way he stiffened.
“Annora, we should go—”
“Wait.” Annora shook out of Loulou’s hold, part of her wanting to rescue him. She should be jealous, suspecting the girl was a past lover, but her connection with Logan made it clear he was actually pissed off.
She couldn’t help but tease him, not liking the darkness of his thoughts.
Enjoying yourself?She whispered through their connection.
His response was instant.
He jolted to his feet, dumping the girl on her ass, his eyes wild as he looked toward her booth.
Laughter bubbled out of her, and he immediately swung toward her as if he heard the sound over the noise. When he saw her through the window, he calmed. Then he narrowed his eyes, promising retribution, and began to shove through the crowd, Lionel only a few paces behind.
“Okay, now would be a good time to go.” Annora backed up, dragging Loulou with her, excitement flickering to life as he gave chase.
Loulou giggled as they turned and raced down the sidewalk. “You knew that would happen.”
“What?” Annora glanced back over her shoulder to see the guys had gotten hung up at the door and only just managed to escape. Darkness had fallen, the streetlamps barely illuminating the path, but there was something in the air that made her want to scurry back inside. No matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t pinpoint what was making her uneasy.
“How did you know he would choose you?” Loulou insisted. “You didn’t doubt him for even a second.” Then a beautiful smile lit her face. “You knew because you’re mates! I knew it!” She fist pumped both hands in the air, doing a little shimmy dance. “He doesn’t want anyone but you.”
Annora opened her mouth, then closed it, not sure how to respond. Before the guys had a chance to catch up with them, the boy from the party stepped out of the shadows, and she stopped short, suddenly leery despite they guy making no move to approach them.
The ferret struggled to get out of the bag, but she held the zipper shut.
