Page 23 of Obeying His Rules

“Why do you want to ask me questions so badly, Rain? This isn’t enough for you?”

He’s smirking at me, but I can’t help but feel as though behind his devilish gaze, I see something else: a want, a desperation to be actually known by someone.

“You’re interesting, Marlon. I want to get to know you. What’s wrong with that?”

He simply shrugs, giving nothing away.

“Like what about that necklace I’ve seen you with? What’s the deal with that?”

It happens so quickly it takes my breath away: Marlon rockets to his feet, grabs me by the arm, and starts leading me to the elevator. On the way, he grabs his phone and makes a call. I assume Chris answers.

“Yeah, she’s coming down now.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I squeal as he holds me in front of the elevator doors. “What is your malfunction, man?”

“You’re leaving,” he growls. “We had a deal; you broke it.”

The elevator doors open, and without hesitation, he pushes me inside and presses the door for the lobby.

“You have some major issues,” I say, pulling my dress down.

“This is your fault. Not mine,” he replies.

The doors start to close, and I notice the places he stretched my dress out while he was yanking on it.

“You owe me a dress!”

6

MARLON

FIVE YEARS AGO…

I promised myself I’d never be that guy. The one who walks around the bookstore, holding the book he’s going to buy in one hand while he checks out the cute girl perusing the shelves.

But here I am, peeking over the top of the sci-fi section into the mystery and thriller area, where she is standing, her back to me, thumbing through the third book in the Skeleton Leaves series.

There’s no reason for me to be nervous going over to her, but for some reason I am. I must have wasted ten minutes pretending to be checking out other possible books I might buy–picking them up and putting them back down.

But now that she looks like she’s about to go up to the register, I go around the side of the shelf and step up behind her.

“Book four,” I say, causing her to turn and look at me. Her eyes sparkle like diamonds. I glance down at the book in her hand. “I’m on book four. Great series. You’ll love that one if you buy it.”

“Well that’s good to hear.” She smiles back. “The first two were fantastic. So suspenseful. I had to stop reading them before I went to bed. I just couldn’t fall asleep after!”

She giggles. Her laugh sounds like something out of a movie.

“So you’re a mystery novel reader? Or is this your first series?”

“Oh I love mysteries.” She nods with enthusiasm. “You should see my bookcase at home. Completely overflowing! I’m going to need to start boxing them up or donating them soon!”

“Not an e-book reader?” I ask.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I was, but I just love the feel of a real book in my hand. And the smell too, you know? Nothing beats the smell of a brand-new book.”

“Nothing?” I grin.

“Well…maybe a few things.” She smiles.

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