Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

“I’m going to hug you,” Johnny whispered in my ear. “Tell me if that’s not okay.” Sniffling, I turned inward and buried my face in his side, answering his question with actions. Johnny’s arms came around me, pulling me close, and I clutched his shirt in my hand, fisting the fabric tightly as sobs racked my body. “I’m here for you,” he told me, voice gruff and thick as his hand moved in slow circles over my back. “If you need someone to talk to”—he pulled me closer—“I’m right here.” I couldn’t stop crying and I wasn’t sure if it was the fear of facing my father pushing me over the edge, or my mother’s miscarriage, or the emotions building up inside of me because of this boy whose arms I was currently in. Unable to get a handle on myself, and desperately seeking the comfort and safety that oozed from him in waves, I did something incredibly reckless. I crawled onto his lap. Johnny’s entire frame tensed, and his hands fell away from my body, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. With my knees on either side of his thighs, I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck. “What do you want me to do, Shannon?” Johnny strangled out. “Tell me what to do here.” “Hold me,” I sobbed, burying my face in his neck. “Don’t let go.” “Okay.” One of his large hands cupped the back of my head and the other moved to my back as he held me to his chest, slowly rocking me on his lap. “I won’t,” he whispered, folding me up in his arms. Trembling, I clung to his body and prayed for him to be ...