Page 45 of Hunted Obsession

“Why can’t I quit you?” I ask, wishing to know the same thing.

“Me being here, it could ruin everything I’ve worked for.”

I don’t understand what he’s saying. I’m not sure what could be ruined, but I don’t ask any questions. I just want him to take his clothes off and crawl into this bed with me. Everything else in the world be damned.

He takes a step forward, then I watch with anticipation as he sinks down on the side of the bed. Without saying a word, hereaches forward and cups my cheek with his palm. He slides his thumb across my bottom lip, his gaze never leaving mine.

Sucking in a breath, I hold it as I wait for him to say something, anything. “I can’t control myself when you’re near, sweetheart. I never could.”

“Then why did you leave?” I ask.

It’s a question that I haven’t ever asked him. I’m sure I asked him why he wanted to leave me all those years ago, but I’m not sure if he answered. Maybe he did, but I was crying too hard to hear anything.

Theron watches me for a moment, his hand still cupping my cheek. Then he leans forward and touches his lips to mine. He doesn’t kiss me, though; instead, he speaks, and my already fragile heart shatters even more. If that’s even possible. I wasn’t sure it was, but here it goes. It’s now in tiny little shards.

“Love is not something I can afford.”

“Theron,” I exhale.

I don’t know what to say or how to say it. I just stay where I am, trying to breathe and almost failing. My heart races.Love. I’ve loved him since the moment I saw him all those years ago. It only took one look, one kiss, one touch for me to know that I wanted him forever.

He shakes his head once. “No, Lucille. Love is far too dangerous in my world.”

I shift my head back slightly. I have to look into his eyes. “In the world of security companies?” I ask.

He arches a brow, and that’s when I realize this isn’t just about his security company. “What were you doing down that staircase, in that little empty room?” I demand.

His eyes widen as his spine straightens. He wasn’t expecting that. “What the fuck did you just say?” Theron demands.

“I followed you guys to that hidden doorway, down the staircase to another hidden doorway and then an empty room. Igot bad vibes and got the hell out of there as quickly as possible,” I explain myself.

“Why?” he asks. Though he says it through gritted teeth. He is pissed, and I want to know why.

I keep the focus on him, on that room. Instead of telling him that I was following them to figure out what Asher Grant was up to. And why he was part of the whole thing. Why he’s still with that creature, Emmie. Why he’s associating with those people,.

“What was going on there, Theron?” I ask. It’s my turn to demand.

He narrows his eyes on me, his hand falling from my face. I’m sure it should bother me that he’s shifting away from me, but I don’t care. I want to know what that whole thing was about

Everything about tonight was beyond weird.

“It’s not your fucking business, Lucille,” he barks. “You’re going to get caught up in something that is going to get you fucking killed.”

Shaking my head, I reach out before he can move any farther away from me. Gripping his shirt with my fingers, I hold on to him, trying to pull him closer to me. He doesn’t budge, but at least he doesn’t get farther away from me.

“No, Theron,” I demand. “Tell me what is going on. What are you involved in and why?”

His eyes focus on mine, and something changes in them. I’m not sure how he’s been hiding his darkness from me, but I see it now. I suck in my breath and stare into those dark eyes.

“Theron, tell me,” I beg in a whisper.

He doesn’t say a single word. Instead, he continues to stare at me. My heart beats harder and faster with each passing second. Theron lifts his hands, wraps his fingers around my wrists, and squeezes.

There is a bite of pain, but not enough that it actually hurts. I know this man wouldn’t ever hurt me purposely, so I don’t even flinch at his hold.

“You can never know. Stop what you’re doing. No more pretending to be Emmie’s friend. No more involving yourself with any of those people. They’re dangerous, Lucille.”

THERON

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