Page 59 of Shackled to the World
A feral growl rumbled from him, and it was all he could do not to push her back, strip her and taste her directly. The only thing that held him back was he wasn’t sure what effect his poison would have on her after prolonged contact. Until they knew for sure, he had to keep his hands to himself.
Case in point, when she looked up at him with those sultry brown eyes, he had to shove his hands into his pockets or he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions.
Fuck!
He’d had sex before but never like this, never skin to skin. He’d always remained fully clothed, wore gloves for their protection, and always wore three of the thickest condoms he could find. No kissing permitted. No hugs or cuddling afterward.
After a while it left him cold, and he simply stopped trying, the company of his own hand enough for him.
Then Annora walked into his life and turned it upside down.
That he could touch her…he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets to resist temptation, nearly groaning when he bumped his cock. The fucking thing was so sensitive, it throbbed with the need to be inside her.
Control.
He needed control.
She was everything to him.
He couldn’t risk going any further until he knew what long-term effects it would have on her.
When she continued to gaze at him, her lips bruised from his kisses, her eyes still dazed with lust, he had to force himself to back away from her. “Not here, and not now. I want more than a quickie in a public bathroom.”
Annora narrowed her eyes, then jumped down off the counter, taking a step toward him, and he backed away like a virgin protecting his virtue. He wasn’t sure if he was afraid she’d eat him alive or more afraid that she wouldn’t.
The cold wall hit his back, knocking the breath out of him with an oomph.
Then she was right in front of him, lifting her stubborn chin up in challenge.
“Then we’ll wait until we get Logan back. We don’t have to have sex, we can go as slow as you need, but I will prove to you, once and for all, that you don’t have to be afraid of touching me. I’ve never felt safer than when I am with you and the guys. Nothing will change that.” She reached up on her toes and brushed her lips against his jaw, then pulled away. “We should head back before the rest of the team starts to worry.”
When she reached for the door handle, he slumped against the wall, not sure if he was happy with the way things ended or if he should be kicking himself for foolishly turning her away. As she sauntered away, he cursed, then pushed off the wall to follow.
Knowing smirks and even a few hoots rang out as they re-entered the café, making it obvious that the bathroom was a known hot spot for couples. Unfortunately, the few minutes away from the watchful eyes of the university had relaxed him, and he had to scramble to get his head back into the game and protect her.
The café had erupted in chaos after the demonstration, most of the people still lingering to keep an eye on them. The other half had already left, eager to share the news with their packs and covens.
Fuck!
She might as well just have stood up and yelledcome and get itto a pack of starving animals. While the shifters could be vicious, witches were worse.
Even if she survived her father, neither group would stop hunting her—unless they could prove that she was a bigger and badder threat than the rest of them combined.
Chapter Sixteen
As they left the café, the cold air hit her like a slap in the face, and Annora shivered, still not used to the freedom of being able to walk outside at will…or the way the weather could change from one minute to the next.
But when Camden followed her outside and stopped next to her, she no longer felt the cold. He scanned the street, noting the pedestrians, even the drivers of the cars that went past. He was back in protector mode, quickly guiding her across the street. The sun was about to set, shadows were already stealing across the world, which meant they would be leaving to rescue Logan soon.
Nerves churned in her stomach.
Nothing could go wrong tonight.
Too much rested on this mission.
They were halfway home, each lost in thought, walking through the quad, when the air around her began to darken and stir. Instinct took over. Annora leapt away, barely missed having her head removed by a freaking sword that swooshed through the air, close enough that a breeze fanned her face. Black flames trailed after the blade as if it was eating away the metal.
The sword was there one second and gone the next.
