Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

“Can we go now?” I whispered, heart beating rapidly as I resisted the urge to burrow into his side. “Please?” “We’ll go when we’re ready to go,” he said in a voice so low and soft that it was barely audible. “Put your head up, Shannon like the river.” Moments later, he draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me in to his side. “No one’s going to hurt you.” Relieved, I moved closer, too close for strangers to sit, but I didn’t care. He was big and strong and I got the distinct feeling that he was telling me the truth. I believed him when he told me I was safe with him. “Those girls?” he asked, tilting his face down to look at me as he spoke. “What’s the story?” “There’s no story,” I croaked out, clutching my bottle with a death grip. “Why do I find that hard to believe?” I shrugged and ducked my chin, letting my hair fall forward, wishing I had Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak draped around my body so I could escape this situation without more pain. I couldn’t take anymore. “Look at me.” I didn’t. “Look at me,” he repeated, tone calm and coaxing. I couldn’t. I felt him shift beside me and then his fingers were on my chin, tipping my face up to his. “You’re safe,” he whispered, cupping my cheek in his hand, eyes boring holes straight through my soul. “I promise.” That word. God.