Page 124 of Obsession

If my father caught me like that, my life would be over.

“No, I’m not!”

I almost whimpered. Harris began to draw electrifying circles on my palm with his tongue. This asshole, I couldn’t believe he would do something like this.

“Can I come in to talk for a bit?”

I flinched violently, ready to push Harris away from me. He, too, pulled back to assume a more decent posture, but his palms remained in place. I pushed them away from me.

“Not now, Dad, I need quiet.”

I could not think of anything better to say while Harris looked at the door. I sensed no fear emanating from him, which sent an unsettling shiver down my spine. He didn’t care if my father entered or not. I shuddered at the thought that my father could have attacked him, and Harris would have lost control.

“Dad, please, leave me alone,” I shouted when he insisted again, my desperation compounded by the image of the two of them arguing.

“All right, then. I just wanted to let you know that the detective called. Harris is no longer a suspect. It seems your statement has been confirmed.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, already sweating.

“Great,” was all I said.

Harris smiled; I didn’t understand why. The fact that my father mentioned his name seemed to amuse him.

“All right, good night,” my father added, then I heard his footsteps moving away.

I expelled all the air in the world. Luckily, my father never entered my room unless I gave him permission.

Turning my attention back to what was happening in my vicinity, I couldn’t stop myself from punching Harris in the chest.

“You idiot! Don’t you realize what would have happened if he’d caught you in here?” I scolded him in a whisper, which made him giggle.

He was right next to me again. Sometimes I had the impression that he simply materialized just a breath away from me.

“What would have happened?” he whispered.

I did not want to think about it.

“This man is my father, Harris,” I growled, hoping he’d gotten the message, “it’s not Joshua or Zac.”

His face told me he understood what I was referring to.

“I know, I’m just curious what’s going on in your head. What do you think I would have done if he had walked in?”

I sighed exhaustedly. I had no energy left for this conversation.

“You tell me.”

It was strange that we both kept whispering. He leaned over me and I could read the irritation on his face.

“So, you think I would attack your father, that shows me what you think of me.”

My lips pressed together into a line.

“That’s absurd. I didn’t think of that.”

He smiled briefly and dangerously.

“You tell such beautiful lies, Katherine.”

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