Page 81 of Blades of Obsession

“He’s gone. You don’t have to worry about him bothering you ever again.” He kisses my forehead and rubs his hands up and down my arms. I think it’s just an excuse to touch me after being away, but I’m not complaining because a comforting warmth sizzles on my skin wherever he touches.

“Gone? As in… did you kill him?”

He clears his throat. “No. But I made sure he left town—the West Coast entirely. He won’t come near you or your mother ever again. I promise.”

“How can you be sure?” Of course, I trust him, but I can’t shake the fear that still lingers. Jacob was gone the first time too, but then he came back. What if he tries again? And kills me this time?

“I made sure. You’re not gonna worry your pretty little head about it anymore, understand?”

Goosebumps ripple across my skin at his words and authoritative tone of voice. I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder, and nod. The scent of his woodsy cologne envelopes me. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“You don’t need to thank me. I’d die if it meant keeping you safe.” He wraps his arm around me, and we sit in silence for a few moments, nestled close. A comfortable silence.

“You know, you’re the last thing I thought about before I passed out,” I admit.

He sighs, but it’s not out of frustration or concern. It’s a sigh of deep relief, like the first breath after being underwater for so long. “You don’t know how happy that makes me, Amelia.” He moves a piece of hair out of my face, and his eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that takes my breath away, as if he’s found everything he’s ever needed right here, in this moment.

“Amelia. Hm.”

“What?”

“I want you to call me angel. I like it… when you call me that.” I tug my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Is that so, angel?” He chuckles.

“Yeah, because I… I like you.” I exhale, the words slipping from my mouth like an anchor I can always hold on to when I’m drowning.

I know because of the way I thought about him when I took my final breath, wishing I could stay just to share more memories with him. I know because I feelalivewhen I’m with him, after learning to live half-alive for so long. There’s an unspoken understanding between us, a silent language that speaks louder than words ever could. I feel seen—truly seen—when I’m with him. I can be raw, open, vulnerable, give up control, and still feel completely safe.

He places his forehead against mine. “I like you, too. A lot. More than you’ll ever know, angel. Ever since October thirteenth that day of the party. I would say sooner when I was following you around, but I had to make sure it wasn’t just lust. Because with this banging body…” His hand trails down my thigh. “It’s easy to get caught up in lust. But the second I made you mine, I knew it was more than that. Way more than that. I’ve never loved anybody else before.”

Loved?

Did he just say the real L word?

I nod in understanding, even though I’m internally screaming as a bunch of Fourth of July fireworks set off in my mind.

“You’ve never loved any of your exes?” I fight to keep my voice steady. No

“Exes? I’ve never had any of those.”

“So, then what was Catalina?”

“A student.”

“Oh my God, Aiden!” I laugh and elbow him.

“Mmm, it sounds so good when you call me that.” He reaches over and sucks on my neck. I bite my lip to hold back a small moan, but when he bites down, a whimper escapes anyway. Every time his marks on my neck fade, he makes sure he never misses an opportunity to add more. “But seriously. You’re my first. And no, I’m not talking about first hookup or even first girlfriend, even though you are my first girlfriend. I mean first person I could picture myself spending the rest of my life with,” he mumbles against my neck, bringing his mouth close to mine. So close that we’re almost touching.

God, why is he being so romantic tonight? My heart can’t take it. It feels like it’s about to burst at the seams.

“I want you to fuck me. Don’t be gentle,” I whisper against his mouth. “Make me yours again.”

He groans. “Fuck, Amelia.” He grabs my hand and places it over his jeans, right on his hard dick. “You see what you do to me?”

His lips claim mine in a kiss that is hungry and fierce. I respond, wrapping my arms around him, holding him as if he may slip away from me again. He lifts me and throws me on the bed, and I yelp as I land on my back.

He kisses me again, and I feel his hand slide underneath my shirt. As his fingers brush over the raw, angry welt leftby Jacob’s belt, a bolt of pain shoots through me, and I involuntarily wince. My sharp intake of breath breaks the moment, and he pulls away immediately.

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