Page 33 of Consume Me

It has nothing to do with the color of her eyes but what she represents for me.

The problem with her is I know with every fucked up fiber of my being that if I let her in, she’d deplete herself to fill me. When the darkness becomes too much, it would be so tempting to take her and see how she’d break apart for me. I’d flood her with my demons so she’d be mine. But I can’t be selfish. Not with her.

Look at me being selfless while my heart and body are at war, making my insides a bloody combat zone.

“Mia, please stop provoking me. Stop flaunting yourself in front of me. It won’t end well. If you keep insisting, one night Iam going to indulge. I am nothing like the man of your dreams. Don’t make me turn into the man of your nightmares.”

Silence follows, dropping like a hammer that crashes between us, separating us into two parallel islands.

She doesn’t look back once we’re at the house. All I want is to go after her. I can’t go inside in my weakened state. She fucking consumes me—heart, body, and mind.

I stay inside the car until I calm down, waiting until I’m sure I won’t do something stupid like chase after her and give in to my madness until we’re nothing but naked flesh and fiery passion.

When I enter the house, I see Kaden, Hunter, and Dane on the couch in the living room, playing a racing video game. Dane jerks his chin toward the screen, but I decline and go to the kitchen. Celine is there, jotting notes on a tablet on the table, but she stops when she notices me.

“Hi, you.”

I drag a hand down my face. “I have the serum.”

“Never doubted it.”

She smiles at me, then says, “You know what hurts the most?”

I guess she needs a one-on-one. Fine, the things I do for them all. I’ll take it if that makes my friends feel better.

“I was away for two years, and when I returned, I was so jealous of your bond. I acted like a lunatic because that was my cry for help.”

I chuckle. “I enjoyed your chaos. It made me forget for a while.”

She places a hand on mine. “We were all so damn selfish while you were drowning right in front of us.”

“I’m okay. Don’t worry about me.”

“Please forgive me.”

Emotions knot in my throat. “Are we getting emotional?”

“Kaden is a mess. You know he won’t show it. He loves you.”

“Stop. Manipulation doesn’t work on me.”

Hurt flashes in her dark blue eyes. “I’m not trying to manipulate you, asshole. I am trying to bring this family back together.” She raises her voice, and not even a second later, Kaden’s shadow casts over the room.

I shrug. “Don’t take it personally.”

“I am taking it personally.”

“Wanna fight?” I ask her, and Kaden groans behind me, but he can’t say no to her.

“Fine. Meet me in the gym,” she replies.

They exchange an intense look, and then I hear her going downstairs.

“What the fuck, man?”

“Don’t fucking worry, asshole. I’d never give her my all.”

He rakes a hand through his hair, worry lining his eyes. “I went to the office today. It will take me forever to go through all the customers and uncover any shady dealings.”

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