Page 72 of Obsessions of the Heart

The one I learned the most about was Roux. He was usually in the background, the one who always helped with the tasks, making sure nothing was forgotten. He also left the house more frequently than Ravi and Rion, always leaving at odd times without really telling anyone he was going. Each time, he was dressed in black with a black duffle, mask, and hat. He also seemed to be the resident “healer” of the family. He practically had a pharmacy in his room, at the ready, which I thought was a little odd. Did he get hurt a lot? Did this have to do with why he left the house so often?

I tried to ask him once, to which he replied he did odd jobs for their uncle and left it at that. His body stiffened at the question, jaw clenching before he answered. There was something about it that he didn’t want me to know, but I let it go… for now.

Ravi’s sweet voice sounded right next to my face, waking me up. “Rin, my love, it's time for breakfast.” I still wanted nothing to do with the world, so I turned away from him and tugged the blanket over my head.

His sing-song tone didn't quit when he brought out the big guns. “Okay, I guess the biscuits and gravy with spicy sausage are going to go to waste. Rion will be so disappointed.”

My stomach clenched and my mouth watered at the thought of two buttered biscuits with a healthy amount of creamy, spicy goodness dripped on top. Poking my head up, I asked, “Do you have honey?”

He stood up, cocked his head, and lifted a brow at me. “Do you think we’re crude, uncivilized beasts that don't know the importance of good-tasting food?” He backed up to the door, enticing me to get out of bed. “Come on, my hungry little bear.”

Groaning, I kicked the covers off as he shut the door. I tried to get up and tripped on my shoe, of course, since I was still only half awake. As I was falling, I grabbed the closest thing and steadied myself against his closet.

Well, I’m fully awake now. Taking a deep breath, I straightened up, glad that the knobs on his closet were big and thick enough to hold my weight. Now that I was looking at them, something seemed odd. Why did they have keyholes? What would someone have in a closet that needed to be locked up?

Yanking on them, I tried to open it, but both sliding doors were locked. I wasn’t normally one to presume I deserved open access to another person’s space, but Ravi was the one who’d said his room was completely open to me.

The smell of spiced gravy hit my nostrils, and my stomach gurgled, practically jumping out toward the smell. I filed the weirdness of the locked doors away in my brain for now and went downstairs to join the boys.

Breakfast was divine. I’d worked at a diner, so I knew a good breakfast when I got it, and Rion’s cooking was top-chef-style amazing. Or at least what I pictured those fancy chefs’ cooking would be like.

While eating, Rion went through the schedule, like always, and he mentioned that Ravi was going to attend some fraternity relay event with Roux. Apparently, Roux would be in disguise so he could watch Ravi’s back. It was cute even though I thought it was a little excessive.

Once we were all done, Ravi came over and stared at my lips for a full five seconds before shaking his head and giving me a kiss on the cheek. Roux didn't have that same problem. He just gave me a quick kiss on the head that was more like a hit and run than anything sexual or cute. I wished them good luck, and they smirked at me with those devilish smiles that said they were going to fuck some shit up.

Grabbing my backpack, I settled down in the living room and spread out my work into piles, one for each class, then hunkered down. After a couple of hours, the itch to have a snack came on fast and hard, so I went to raid the pantry.

Most of the stuff in here was either healthy or more for a meal, but I managed to snag an open bag of chips. Happily going back to my work area with my prize, I rolled open the bag, grabbed one of those crunchy golden salty pieces, and popped it in my mouth. Closing my eyes, I savored the junk food.

Hearing a crack behind me, I whipped around to see Rion standing on the stairs. His face gave nothing away as he stared down at me. The only indication anything was wrong was the white-knuckled grip he had on the railing.

“What's the matter?” slipped from my lips. My stomach clenched, and panicked thoughts circled my brain.

He sprang into action, skipping the rest of the steps two at a time, his shining eyes reminding me of a panther advancing on his prey. My pulse quickened at his advancement, but my legs were like steel rods, keeping me in place until I succumbed to the slaughter.

Once he was close enough, he grabbed the sides of my face and slammed his lips onto mine. The chips crushed between our bodies when his chest met mine. While his hands had a firm grip on me, they were still gentle, keeping me in place rather than digging into me. I melted into him, letting him take and take, as he sighed against me. His lips tasted like want and sin fused together, and I needed more.

I swiped my tongue against the seam of his lips, and he immediately responded by deepening the kiss, making it so I didn't know where I started and he ended. I moaned and met him stroke for stroke. My body vibrated with need as the voice in my head screamed, Yes, Finally!

Without warning, he tore himself away from me and bolted up the stairs as fast as he could until I heard his door close. What the fuck just happened? Why is he acting like that?

Lost in thought, I forgot about the chips in my hand and dropped the bag. My eyes widened at the mess of small crunched up chips scattered across the wood floor. Walking around in a daze, I looked for the broom, needing to clean up my mess.

What was going on with them? My bruise was healing up nicely, so good, in fact, that it didn't hurt when I laughed anymore.

Still not finding anything that resembled a broom, I realized that the guys always got everything for me. I never really went into rooms other than their bedrooms or the communal areas, so I didn't know where the cleaning supplies were or even a linen closet.

Taking this as an opportunity to learn more, I ventured into areas that I normally didn't in search of a cleaning closet. Going down the hall where the downstairs bathroom was, I found a room that looked like an unused office. I kept going further, but all I found was a dead end with two doors. A storage closet full of cleaning supplies was behind one, so that should have been the end of my search, but my eyes snagged on the remaining door.

While the door looked exactly like the storage room door, it gave off this unapproachable, eerie sort of feeling. Stepping closer, I put my hand on the doorknob and tried to turn in, but it wouldn't open. Feeling an oddly bumpy surface underneath my fingers, I had bent my head to look closer when Rion’s voice sounded behind me.

“What are you looking for, Rin?”

I jolted up, trying to keep my face passive since I knew I had been caught snooping. Lifting the broom, I smiled. “Just trying to find the tool to clean up my mess.”

The sound of his steps echoed in the narrow hallway, his eyes taking on a darker shade once I received their full focused gaze. He reached out, and I flinched, which made him frown as he grabbed the broom. “Let me help you. I feel like it was partly my fault.”

A nervous giggle fell from my mouth. “Oh, well, sure. I mean, you did surprise me.”

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