Page 46 of Grave Obsession

“Finish the story,” she shakily croaks out.

“I was hiding in the attic, from the time the fight started until the cops found me, huddled in a corner with my blanket and stuffed dinosaur. I only know all the gory details of the case because I looked it up when I finally became an officer.”

A silent sob racks her body and I finally sit up and pull her into my lap. Embracing my little siren in the comfort she needs, her arms wrap around my neck as she gathers her composure. Using the sleeve of my shirt I wipe the tears from her face and place a soft kiss on her forehead.

She sniffles, “Is there more?” she asks.

I sigh, “Yes, but I think that is enough for now. It sucks, digging it up, you know?” I kiss her cheek and she nods in acceptance.

“I know it’s not easy reliving your trauma like that. I’m sorry,” she offers.

“It’s okay, I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t want you to know. My past is heavy and I don’t want it to ruin this time I have with you.”She smiles and leans into me. I feel lighter after offering a piece of myself up to her and having her accept it. Maybe it won’t feel like dragging my naked body across shards of broken glass to let her see all of me. All of my fucked up jagged pieces that fit so perfectly against hers.

“Can I ask you something?” I say. She tenses slightly in my arms but I need to have her realize this.

“Yeah, sure,” she replies as hesitation drips off her words.

“Why don’t you think you’re good enough for me?” If I thought she tensed up before, then this has her frozen solid, rigid and uncomfortable against me. I turn her chin to face me.

“Please, tell me.” Mustering the biggest puppy dog eyes I can, and she fakes a smile. I hate that, no fake façades with me, baby.

“What happened to ten seconds ago when you didn’t want to ruin our time together?”

“Tick tock, little s-sweetheart.”

Her eyes shoot to mine and narrow significantly. Shit, what a colossal fucking slip up on my part. I crash my lips onto hers in an effort to erase any thoughts she has bubbling up inside that magnificent mind. She liquifies in my hold as her lust for me snuffs out everything else. I sneakily pull out the burner phone I use to text her as Lennox Graves and somehow manage to open the camera app. I snap picture after picture of us. Our mouths moving together, tongues tangling. I switch it to video mode. Yeah, I’ll definitely be beating my meat to this later since I can’t fuck her as Nox. It may be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, her surrendering herself to me. Watching the feelings I’ve planted within her take root and start to bloom.

I’m so very pleased with myself when she realizes she’s being recorded and I get her whole hilarious reaction on film. Her infectious laugh, face reddening in embarrassment, her failed attempts at intimidating me to delete the clip. Never.

“Tit for tat, it’s only fair, Mallory,” I pant out. Too much energy spent on restraining myself after her hot body kept rubbing against mine, trying endlessly to nab my phone.

Her smile fades away as she realizes I’m not going to let this go.

“You aren’t the only one with a traumatic past. I’m so glad Captain Graves adopted you and saved your life, but my abuse didn’t end until a few months ago.” She crawls out of my embrace to sit cross legged in front of me. I scowl, you get your ass back here, little siren.

“I can’t even imagine what you’ve had to endure, baby, but you don’t need to hide from me.”

“I’m not hiding. I’m giving you space in case you want nothing to do with me afterwards.” Her voice is so hushed I can barely make it out. I can’t make her relive this, it could be a setback in all the progress she’s made thus far.

“That will never happen,” I utter the words as she undoes the bun on the top of her head. Her long black tresses hide her face as she turns away from me, looking out at the water and to the woods behind it.

“I’ve been abused in one way or another since I was old enough to remember it. It only stopped after my mom and stepdad went missing. That night at the hotel, when you saw Edward getting rough with me… I was terrified I was going to be assaulted again.” Oh, I want to kill him all over again. Sever his dick from his body and make him choke on it, the same way I’m sure he did to Mallory.

“I know it’s horrible of me to say, but I’m glad my parents abandoned me. At least now I’m free, for the most part anyways. Sometimes I have to deal with the shit they left behind, but it’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. I’m happy for the first time in a very long time.” She turns back to me, no tears to be seen this time. She’s honestly happy, and it’s all because of me.

“I know the kind of man Dennis was, Mallory. I can only assume what you’ve been through.” I take her hand in mine and tug us closer together until our knees are touching.

“I may have thoroughly checked you out before pursuing you romantically. I am an officer of the law, you know, and can’t be affiliated with any folk involved in nefarious things,” I grin and wink, and she returns with a smile of her own.

“Well, what an adorable invasion of privacy, Officer,” she quips.

Shrugging, “I had to make sure you weren’t crazy before asking you out.” She smacks me on the shoulder and I let out a hearty laugh. When was the last time I felt so carefree? She looks the same, free and unburdened, I love it.

“This place is beautiful. How did you find it? It’s in the middle of nowhere.” Her voice is a beautiful harmony that seeps in through my ears and sinks its claws into my grey matter. I’ll never be able to be without her.

“My patrol route runs through all of these backroads. I’m not always stuck on the highway with a radar gun.” She smiles at my quip and my heart flutters in my chest. My stomach feels like I just did the loop-de-loop on a rollercoaster. Is this what the "butterflies" feel like? I’ve heard of them but never had the nauseating pleasure of their company before.

“Is this where you bring all your dates?” She nudges my shoulder with hers. The apples of her cheeks redden under her intrusive question. Such a jealous little thing.

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