Page 3 of Obsessed

"I can't go. Look at me. I'm skin and bones. It's a wonder Kane hasn't kicked me out already. Guess he won't have to if I just dissolve intonothing."

Blake smiles. "I've brought you something I think will help." For the first time I notice he has one hand behind hisback.

"No more vitamin D pills," I complain. "I know they're necessary down here, but they actually hurt mystomach."

"I don't know why I didn't think of this before. Just want to kick myself for being so darn stupid." He pulls out his hand. It's a large frothy glass filled with a berry red smoothie of some sort. "I asked the chef to add protein powder and some other stuff to fluff up thecalories."

I take the drink in my hand. "Hmm, smells delicious." I sip the liquid through the extra thick straw and sigh with satisfaction. "You are brilliant, myfriend."

Blake lifts his hand to his chest. "You don't need to tell me." He stares notably down at my body. "I just wish I'd thought of it one pair of curvy hips ago. I've just never seen any of the other girls react like this to the nectar. It seems with you every side effect and reaction is ten-fold."

"Are you calling me a horn-dog?"

Blake's kind laugh echoes through the bathroom. "If the shoe fits, darlin'." Blake knew that I was upset when I left Kane's office, but I never revealed what his boss said. It would only make him worry more. "Let's do something with your hair. The other girls will be checking out everything, surveying you from head totoe."

"Forget it. I don't want to go. I don't need their scrutiny. As much as I would love to talk to more people, other than Kane and you. Nooffense."

"None taken but I guarantee I'm more fun than any of the girls in thatpool."

"I'm certain of it." I hug him. It's a gesture that I find myself doing more and more. Good friend that Blake is, he never seems to mind. "So I'll just skip the poolparty."

"No can do, sweetums. Boss's orders. Besides, you need to get out of this room. The overhead UV lights are on in the pool area, so you'll get a little color on that powder whitecomplexion."

"What I need is real sunlight, fresh air, a beach. That's what I need." My morning dose of nectar is wearing off. As it thins out in my bloodstream, it always leaves a longing for some of the reality I've leftbehind.

"We should probably get you another injection." He heads to the panel where the syringes arekept.

"No, please. I'm feeling clear headed and surprisingly good. I don't want any. Let me just be me." I hold out my thin arms. "Cadaver girl. The other girls will be talking and laughing about me the rest of the night and at the same time wondering just what the hell Kane sees in me." My arms drop. "Pussy," I say aloud, even though it was more or less just a depressing thought. "That's all he sees. Guess he doesn't mind what's above or below it." A lump forms in my throat assuring me that the level of nectar in my bloodstream is droppingfast.

Blake walks quickly toward me and takes my face into his hands to look me directly in the eyes. "It's not just pussy, darlin'. And you probably know what I'm going to say next, but I'm going to say it anyhow. I wish that it were. I wish it was just about pussy." It's there again, the worry that takes over his expression whenever the topic comesup.

He drops his hands. "Let's do your hair. I've got some good news about my little crush on Jason, the hunkybodyguard."

I laugh. "Littlecrush?" We walk out to thebedroom.

"Well, monstrous crush. Anyhow, I made the first move and turns out he feels the sameway."

"Woo hoo. I'm so happy for you." I turn around and hug himagain.

Sometimes, it's harder than I expect to let himgo.

4

Kane

Ilean backon my chair and watch the scene at the pool through the security cameras. The cameras are more to protect the women than to spy on them. But tonight is different. Tonightsheis at the pool. As often as I try to wrench her from my thoughts, I always find myself settling right back into my obsession. And it’s exactly that. There is no other word in the dictionary to describe my feelings toward her. Even after admitting out loud, and not just to myself but to her, that she will bring my eventual downfall, I still can’t wash her from my soul. She’s invaded every corner of my being, twisted and dark as it is. I convince myself a dozen times a day to let her go. Just send her away, I think over and over. Take the temptation away and everything will be back to normal. But my arguments never stick. My insatiable need to have her alwayswins.

I click on the camera that has her in its lens path. She is far too thin and looks deathly pale as she sits on the edge of the pool. She has reacted strongly to the nectar. She hasn’t gained back her appetite, which is a good reason to stop the injections. But the greedy, obsessed madman inside of me doesn’t want to lose her or the sex. There is no way she would care for or crave a monster like me if she wassober.

A few of the other women have spoken briefly to her, but for the most part, she sits alone, looking out of place and uncomfortable. She rubs her arms often, signaling that she has skipped the evening dose of nectar. It angers me as much as it excites me. It’s an opportunity to have her naked in my arms without the buffer of the drug. Would she be repelled or tense? Can I handle knowing the truth? Maybe knowing that truth will help break the hold she has on me. Or maybe it will make me go insane withdespair.

Either way, it is time to findout.

5

Angie

Ihavea hard time remembering all the names at the pool. It is a mix of both my semi-drugged state and my lack of interest. The truth is, I don't care to know any of them. Just as they don't care to know me. I have no doubt the few conversations some of the women started with me were strictly out of curiosity. They want to know how on earth this thin, pale and as I've heard more times than I care to, not terribly pretty woman sitting at the end of the pool could possibly hold Kane's interest for so long. Since I have no rational answer for it myself, I avoid the topiccompletely.

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