Page 93 of Texting Dr. Stalker

Fuck, I couldn’t catch a break.

I was jealous of X when I was myself. And now I was jealous of myself because she was being nice to me over X.

You’re seriously screwed up, you know that?

With a hitched breath, she closed the distance between us and placed the kitten into my hand. He was small enough to fit in just one palm. Our fingers brushed. She sucked in a breath.

Her eyelashes flashed wide as our gazes snagged and the entire street fell away.

Fireworks detonated in my bloodstream. Hellfire raced through my veins. I barely managed to stay standing as she gasped under her breath and wrenched her hand back, leaving me clutching the Cheeto-coloured kitten.

“Um, his name is Penguin,” she said quietly, her voice wobbling as if she was near tears. “He had a long nap while I did some harvesting and housework, so he might be a bit bouncy later. I-I’ll go get his food.” She spun on her bare feet and went to fly back to her house.

I had no control as I reached out and snatched her wrist, wrenching her back to face me.

My fingers wrapped tight, not letting her go.

We both stopped breathing.

Her face filled with terror. My heart pounded with so many things.

But I couldn’t seem to release her.

I couldn’t stop my thumb from stroking over the bruises from another asshole’s fingers. I couldn’t prevent myself from stepping into her and drowning in her glittering blue eyes.

“W-What—?” With a feeble pull, she tried to get free.

With white noise roaring in my ears, my synapses no longer fired, and I couldn’t unwind my fingers. “You’re safe with me, Sailor. You have my absolute word, I will nevereverhurt you.”

“Then why are you holding me against my will?”

Her voice finally bypassed whatever caveman urges had rendered me useless. I let her go so fast, her arm swung to her side, and she stumbled backward.

“Sorry, I only meant...” Adjusting my glasses, I looked down at the kitten—Penguin—in my hand. He pouted. His little whiskers singed and twisted. His green eyes not nearly as vibrant as before.

He stared at Sailor like I did. Wanting something that wasn’t his.

I pitied the little fellow.

But…just because I don’t stand a chance doesn’t mean—

“You know what?” Clearing my throat, I held out the cat. “I’ve had a really long day at the hospital. I’m going to crash early. Do you think you could look after him for one more night?”

Her eyes lit up far too quickly for her to hide the sudden spark of joy.

Joy.

Fucking hell.

My heart shattered into pieces and then reformed in two parts with a jagged line down the centre. It accepted its fate of being broken for the rest of my life because I only wanted this woman, and even if she got over the triggers I caused, she’d never forgive me for being X.

“You want me to keep him?” She stepped closer, her gaze locked on the cat. “I mean…I don’t have any experience with animals. I might do something wrong.”

“By the way he’s looking at you, I think you did everything right.”

“Really?” Her lips quirked in a self-conscious smile.

It was too soon to suggest she keep him. But as her fingers came out to scoop the kitten from my palm, rewarding me with an electrical shock that arched right to my toes, I hoped she’d adopt him. I hoped the kitten had come to me for this exact purpose—not to find a life with me but to fall madly in love with Sailor.

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