Page 4 of Forbidden Obsessions

“No,” she bites out before chewing on her bottom lip.

“Do you need another attitude adjustment, Miss Hamilton? Yours seems to be short-circuiting.” She runs her palm over my painful erection and I leak into my goddamn briefs.

“You seem to need an adjustment yourself, Professor.” She makes a show of looking down at the noticeable bulge.

“An understatement,” I agree.

“Too bad. Maybe Vanessa can help you with that,” she whispers before turning, and walking out of the door wordlessly.

If there’s one thing I am, it’s prompt for my classes. Not today, though. They are going to have to wait for my blood to cool. As for Olivia, I respect the power move, but I’m certain that she will pay for this when I get home.

Chapter Two

Olivia

It’s been a fucking week. I can’t say that I’m any less mad, and that pisses me off more. I know it’s not Tomas’ fault. His hands are tied. Even my father told me that when I marched my ass to his office unannounced last week, like the spoiled littledean’s daughter that most people think I am. Might as well play the part, right?

“What the fuck do I even do, Mia?” I groan between bites of pizza. She twirls her blond strands around her index finger, a sure sign that she’s lost in thought. Mia and I had become fast friends after becoming roommates last semester. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue Tomas. My head was so fucked from Julian.

Judging by my reaction to Vanessa’s presence, it still is. Tomas has never given me a reason not to trust him. In the grand scheme of things, six months isn’t a long time. Normally, he doesn’t so much as look in the same direction as another woman. He said it wasn’t what it looked like, so I should give him the benefit of the doubt. I know I’m a masochist, but part of me wonders if I’m just begging for heartbreak.

“What do you know about her?” Mia asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Nothing. Just that she blackmailed Tomas by secretly recording herself giving him a blowjob, thus getting him fired. Oh, and she’s Nathan’s stepsister.”

Mia’s jaw falls open. “What? How the fuck did you find that out?”

“Jonathan introduced her to Tomas. No news on Nathan yet. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not,” I say with a sigh.

“No news is good news,” Mia shrugs. She takes a small sip of celery juice and gives me a pained look.

I scoff. “Says the girl who does not have a raging anxiety disorder. It will drive me fucking crazy knowing she’s there, Mia. Even more so knowing she’s a Byrne. What if this is a ploy?”

“You know that saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer?” she offers.

“I know. It’s all just so fucking exhausting.” I slump against the pillow. Honestly, I could lie down right here and fall asleep for five hours.

There aren’t enough hours in the day to worry about this. Between homework, the gym, my family, Tomas, worrying about Mia and Lex, and Nathan showing up like a murderous prick to kill everyone I love, it’s safe to say I have enough on my plate. Lately, a fresh sense of dread has seeped into my bones. It was here even before Vanessa turned up. Maybe it’s residual trauma from Tomas getting stabbed? I don’t fucking know, but I’m sick of it.

In addition to all that bullshit, now that Vanessa is here, I can’t help but worry that she’s going to throw herself all over him. What if she wears him down and he finally caves? I know it’s my anxiety being a little bitch, deciding how the story is going to go before it’s even been drafted. I know Tomas loves me, but it’s like my insecurities, reminders of me at my lowest, are all right in front of me.

“Do you trust him?” Mia asks. It’s a complicated question, with an even more complicated answer. Can I? Yes is on the tip of my tongue, but something is holding me back. I swallow around the lump and nod.

“You’re sure?” When she asks again, I falter. I do and I don’t. Mia knows what I’m thinking. She always does.

“My doubt isn’t his fault, Mia. It’s a product of my shitty ex.”

“I know, babe. Give him some credit, though. Tomas isn’t a little fuck boy like Julian. Don’t forget that I’ve been with you two the whole time. I see the way Tomas looks at you. He worships the fucking ground you walk on. He’d do anything for you. Hell, he almost died for you. I know you feel the same about him, and you can’t deny it. You’ve been hesitant because you’re scared to get hurt again, but Tomas deserves the same courtesy.Get your big girl panties on and figure out how to support him. He needs you,” Mia says emphatically.

Considering this is coming from Mia, who threatened Tomas early into our relationship, I should heed the advice.

The brawl between Tomas and Nathan put things into perspective for me. Julian would never come to my defense the way Tomas did. Julian would never encourage me or celebrate me the way Tomas does. I gave Julian so many opportunities to do so and the benefit of the doubt when he didn’t. I grew tired of making excuses for people who said they wanted to be in my life, then didn’t act like it.

Tomas showers me with love, attention, and praise. He says he wants to be here, and he acts like it, too.

“We’ll be okay, but you know what won’t?” I sigh. Mia quips a brow. “My organic chemistry grade, if I don’t get that together, too.”

Mia raises her brows before gingerly sipping her celery juice. “Don’t give me that look when you’re drinking that vile creation.” I gesture to her glass.

---