Page 28 of Obsession

“I drove you. You fell asleep in the car, so I carried you inside.”

“And how did you get in this morning?”

“I never left.” My mouth went dry. Had we slept in bed together? Why did the thought of missing it disappoint me? It should feel like a violation. “I slept on the couch. I didn’t want you to be alone until I installed everything. One of our guys delivered the equipment this morning.”

Butterflies erupted in my stomach. I couldn’t remember that last time anyone took care of me like this. Carried me to bed. Tucked me in. Protected me.

“Thank you.” I hid the crack in my voice by taking another sip of my coffee, playing it off as the natural dullness from just waking up.

“Assume from now on you’re being watched.” He glanced at me over his shoulder and my thighs tightened. “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want me to see.”

“Like what?”

“Changing your clothes.”

Hot espresso burned my throat as I choked. My cheeks inflamed, but it wasn’t the warm liquid. It was the idea that Nathan would be watching me. He would see everything I did. That should not turn me on. But my pussy clenched anyway.

“You’re out of the camera’s sight in the bathroom.” I nodded, hoping he didn’t notice the effect he had on me. “Come on. I’ll show you how it all works.”

He stepped off the ladder again, gathering it, his tools, and his coffee cup. I followed behind as he walked back into the kitchen. He was pulling a tablet and a phone from his bag as I sat down on one of the bar stools.

The purple glitter case caught my attention. “Is that my phone?”

“I needed to download the programs.” His head tilted as he turned to glance at me. My mouth opened in shock. My brows pushed together in annoyance. His eyes swept over my features. “Are you mad?”

He sounded so… sincere, like he didn’t want to upset me. I forced my face to relax. He was doing a nice thing. “Just surprised. How did you know the password?”

“Your birthday isn’t a secret code.” He chuckled.

“Now, I’m annoyed.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What am I supposed to use?”

“A random number letter combination.”

“Oh, something I’ll forget. Perfect.”

“Sarcasm?” He said it like a question. It was endearing how he spoke without sarcasm. Without hidden meaning. I enjoyed it. But I was just realizing that maybe it was because he didn’t understand it.

“Yes. I’m sorry.” I hated that I might have offended him. “You’re doing this wonderful thing for me and I’m being rude.”

“No, it’s not you.” His mouth pulled down and his serene gaze became clouded. “I can be… frustrating, is the nice word. I’ve been told that I test people’s patience. Mostly because I can’t discern sarcasm and emotions. People get annoyed.”

Pain resonated in his voice. He tried to hide it. Shove it down behind his cool exterior. But I heard it as clear as a bell.

It was different, but I knew what it was like to have your feelings pushed aside. To be told you were wrong.

Without thinking about it, I reached across the counter and grasped his hand. He stilled for a second before turning his palm and intertwining our fingers. Tingles raced up my arm from where we touched.

“You’re not annoying me.” I squeezed him tighter for a brief moment. “I like having you here.”

His brows pulled over his eyes. He stared at me like he was studying my features. Like I was something foreign to him. Something that captivated him.

My skin heated. My heart beat faster. I felt little sparks of electricity along my body.

Being looked at like that was intoxicating. With so much focus. Such intensity. Desire.

Nathan cleared his throat, pulling his hand from mine and turning his gaze back to my phone. The connection was severed and I was left wondering if it was all in my head.

17

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