Page 22 of Twist of Fate

No. Not Connal. The guy. Keep it generic.

It would make it easier to do what Luke was going to have to do to keep himself in one piece. Luke glanced down at what the undone clothes revealed and swallowed hard. Literally.

“Why do you smell afraid?” Connal paused with his freaking breeches around his hips and stared across the room.

Smell…who the hell was this guy? Better yet, what was he?

“Look, as I said before, you need to take me back. I appreciate you saving me, but I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Unlikely.”

What? Luke kept his expression clear, his innocent college boy act back in full force.

“What do you mean?”

Connal locked gazes with Luke, sending a shiver down his spine. “They were after you, which shouldn’t happen in your world.”

In his world? What did Connal know about his world? “Seriously, you need to take me back.”

Connal grunted and pulled his pants off. Of course, that left him naked. “As I said before, no.”

Luke ground his teeth as Connal tugged back the ornate covers on the bed. He was going to have to fight, and he’d already witnessed Connal’s brute strength firsthand. Luke’s skills would be put to the test, especially considering he couldn’t see a way to escape from this godforsaken room, no matter how hard he tried.

“You understand that you’re already in big trouble, right? Kidnapping is a serious offense, and if you do what you seem to be planning without my consent, that’s going to add a whole other⁠—”

“What?” Connal lifted his head and scowled.

“Kidnapping, Connal.”

Dammit.

Luke needed to stop thinking of Connal as a person. He was going to have to hurt him, or possibly worse, to get out of this.

Connal waved his hand, dismissing the word as if it meant nothing. “I brought my mate home.”

“Against his will. That’s what kidnapping means. And I am not your mate.”

Connal snorted. “You are my mate. But what was the other thing you said, my Luke?”

“Not yours. Just Luke, as in Skywalker.”

Connal scowled. “You are not a sky walker. Foul creatures. Now, do as I say, my mate, and repeat what you said.”

Luke moved behind the only chair in the room, putting his backpack on the seat so the straps couldn’t be used against him.

Connal growled and stalked toward him.

What the hell had he said? Luke tried to recall the conversation without getting distracted by rather impressive appendages.

“Um…I said you would be in more trouble if you touch me without my consent.”

Connal finally stopped moving. “You are my mate.”

That really didn’t explain anything to Luke, but it seemed to be a real point of contention. “That doesn’t mean you get to touch me without permission.”

“I do not have your consent?” Connal seemed to be truly baffled by the statement.

“No, Connal, you do not. You didn’t have my permission to bring me here⁠—”