Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)

by Lauren Roberts

I fire the arrow, not bothering to wait and see where it lands before I’ve thrown my bow to the ground, spun around, and gripped her wrists instead. I pull her toward me, staring into her startled eyes. Her lips part, either in surprise or because she’s about to tell me off, I’m not sure. “Don’t,” I pause, swallow, exhale slowly, “play with me like that.” She stares at me. Her mouth opens and closes again, clearly hoping words will fall out. I hold her gaze as I guide one of her hands to my arm, dropping her other wrist to pull her closer by the waist. Her palm meets my skin and it’s almost like I remembered how to breathe again. I press my hand on top of hers, holding her skin firmly against mine. I smile now that she’s finally, fully touching me, rather than taunting me with the tips of teasing fingers. A single touch from her, or the lack of it, is enough to drive me mad. What has she done to me? I take my hand off hers, fingers trailing down her arm before dropping it to my side. But she doesn’t drop hers, instead leaving her palm in place. She stares at where her skin meets mine before her gaze finally trails up to my face. She smirks, but it’s as weak as her voice. “I didn’t realize a single touch could affect you so much.” “Neither did I.” Her eyes dart away from mine, almost looking timid as she lets her hand trace down my arm before dropping it completely. Then she cranes her neck, looking around me at the target behind. She smiles at what she sees. “You lost, Azer.”