Page 36 of King of Obsession

Alessio lingered.

I sensed his eyes on me, probing and unrelenting, as if hesought to unravel the layers I had wrapped around myself.

It was unnerving, this scrutiny, this intrusion into the fragile boundaries I had erected for my protection, his never-ending regard breaking through the room’s peace.

I offered my silence as a shield against his persistence, but unable to resist, I sliced my eyes toward him.

Only to find the last rays of sunlight bathing his features in a warm glow, softening the hard angles of his face and casting long shadows behind him.

His profile was one of a god, and I hissed at the jolt it sent through me.

Fuck, I had to escape him.

‘I’m going to wash the dishes outdoors,’ I declared.

His head whipped toward me. ‘Why? No running water?’ he growled, his brow canted in disbelief.

‘Nope,’ I clipped, easing away with my burden of plates.

I made for the door, seeking refuge in the crisp night air.

The freedom of being away from him was a welcome relief.

Outside, the fiery hues of sunset painted streaks of orange and pink across the horizon, contrasting the shadows creeping over the landscape.

I marched towards the creek, just a few hundred meters from the cabin.

I knelt at its edge and scrubbed the remnants of our meal from the dishes.

My breath formed little puffs, and above, the stars blinked down through the skeletal branches, indifferent to my need for solitude.

But seclusion proved elusive.

Pebbles crunched underfoot, betraying his approach before his shadow fell over me. He crouched on a rock nearby, thickthighs bunching under his jeans in casual nonchalance as if he’d been invited to join.

He glanced up at the sky, eyes narrowing on the gleaming moonscape.

Silver light outlined his silhouette, and his features stood out. Carved in hardness and darkness, they evoked a timeless deity of vengeance.

I followed his gaze, blurting, shattering the quiet, needing to release the nervous energy building up in me. ‘It’s so full tonight it hangs like a coin tossed by some cosmic gambler.’

His timbered huff was laced with amusement. ‘A poet, cara?’ he drawled.

Embarrassment and irritation flared in me, and I shot my eyes to the ground, rinsing off a plate. It clattered as I flung it onto the pile with more force than necessary.

I exhaled, trying to rein in the frustration simmering beneath my skin. I sensed his gaze following me as I moved about, assessing me, breaking me down.

The nerve of this man.

I ignored him, pressing my lips together and focusing on my cleaning.

He turned his attention to the darkness, head tilted as if listening to the night.

I sneaked a glance as he nodded to himself, content there was no danger.

My pussy rippled as his thighs once again bunched when he executed a smooth ruse.

Without a word, he dusted off his trousers using his freehand with a nonchalance that made me clench my jaw.

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