Page 85 of Tethered to the World
She was his, and he’d be damned if he let anyone take her away from him ever again.
“Go, take a shower.” He hauled her out of Logan’s hold, not the least bit perturbed by the other man’s affections. The kitsune needed her just as much as Xander did. He couldn’t begrudge the affection she felt toward the man who’d become like a brother to him.
She needed the kitsune to make her whole.
And whatever she needed, he would make sure she had it.
He watched her reluctantly leave, and he couldn’t help imagining her in the shower.
Naked.
Her porcelain white skin lathered with suds.
Wet and waiting for him.
When she passed him, she nearly tripped over her feet. He caught her close, noting her innocent eyes were wide. The way her breathing roughened, he knew she’d caught the naked images of her from his mind.
And he fucking loved that he could affect her that way, his cock so hard it hurt.
He watched her ass give a little extra wiggle as she sashayed away, his mouth going dry, wishing with everything in him that he would find her in his room, waiting for him, even though he knew it was much too soon. Despite her uncle being a sadistic asshole, she was sheltered—innocent.
He would rather die of blue balls than be the one to take that from her before she was ready.
* * *
Annora took a quick shower, wanting to linger in the luxury of as much heated water as she wanted, but she was exhausted. It was after midnight, and the adrenaline that had kept her going was long gone.
Stripped down to her panties and a tank top, she slipped into bed, slightly amused when she heard the rustle and crinkle of empty chip bags. The four ferrets lay curled up in a knot. As she eased the covers back up, one of them peered at her from their tangle on the second pillow. Only when he decided she was okay did he lie his head back down.
There was an accusation in his eyes, like he was upset for having been ordered home…which was silly. She must be more tired than she thought. She slipped her hand under her pillow, comforted by the feel of metal blades, and closed her eyes, allowing sleep to claim her.
But the near miss, almost being taken again, left her with restless dreams. She could feel her uncle searching for her, ready to grab her, and then she was back in that fucking underground hell. Her cell was twelve feet by ten feet—and the feeling of being trapped lodged her heart in her throat until she was unable to catch her breath, knowing she would never be able to escape a second time.
Then the lights in the cell went out, smothering her in darkness. She tried to hold her breath against the chemicals filling the room, but it was no use. When she felt her lungs would burst, she sucked in a breath, and immediately felt herself go woozy. She fought it, hunkered low to the ground, but the smoke followed her everywhere.
When her eyes opened, she was strapped to a familiar stainless-steel table, the icy cold metal burning her flesh, the shackles biting into her wrists and ankles. She could ghost and escape, but she’d learned it was better to take her punishment or it would only get worse. She couldn’t stay gone forever. If she remained in the afterworld too long, it was difficult to find her way back.
Not to mention what stalked her in the afterworld frightened her a hell of a lot more than her uncle.
Her uncle wanted her abilities, wanted to be rich, but he lacked ambition.
The stranger—he wanted something else.
He wanted…her.
How or why she didn’t know, and it frightened the shit out of her because she knew he would find her eventually, and there was nothing she could do to escape him.
She shoved away the fear, retreated in her mind, waiting for the torture to begin, the expectation of what he would do to her worse than the pain. Though she couldn’t see her uncle, she could feel him circling, drawing closer.
Then the sound of a blowtorch clicked and a flame seared the soles of her feet.
The pain hit her hard and fast, and she gritted her teeth, then gave her uncle a flippant grin that probably came off more like a grimace, but it would still piss him off all the same.
She knew what he wanted.
Compliance.
Obedience.
