Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

Releasing an unsteady breath, I reached up, grabbed Johnny’s neck, and pulled his face down to mine. And then I kissed him. I had no clue what to do next, my bravery deserting me in my moment of need, as I knelt on his bed and held his face in my hands. Johnny’s eyes were wide open and locked on mine, clearly stunned, as I pressed my lips to his. But he wasn’t kissing me back. In fact, I was fairly sure he wasn’t breathing. My actions had turned him to stone in my hands. My eyes were wide and bulging in my head as I broke the kiss and stared in horror right back at him. “I’m so sorry,” I blurted out, mortified. “It’s okay,” he told me, breathing hard. “No.” I shook my head furiously. “No, it’s not okay.” “Shannon, it’s okay—” “Oh my god! What did I do?” “Shannon,” Johnny coaxed, tone firmer now. “Stop. It’s okay—” “It’s not okay,” I strangled out as I scrambled off the bed and backed up, hitting his chest of drawers in the process. “I just—oh god!” Staggering backwards, I shook my head and held a hand out to warn him off when he took a step toward me. “I’m really sorry.” “Shannon, it’s okay,” Johnny said as he held his hands up. “Just stop moving around for a second and talk to me, will ya?” I didn’t stop moving. And I didn’t stop to talk. Because I couldn’t. I was in full-force panic mode, and for once, my flight instinct had kicked in. “I need to go,” I announced, mortified. “No, you don’t,” he replied calmly. “We can talk about this.” “No!” Shaking my head, I slipped ar...