Page 6 of Obsession

I grab Maggie’s hand and rush her past the dead body. “Agreed.”

We run through the trees until we reach the clearing where my truck and Hans’ motorcycle are parked. There’s only one way in and out of The Covenant—the road through the forest in front of us. It’s not like no one can leave the encampment. A trusted few have the privilege of visiting nearby towns to gather certain foods that can’t be found on the compound. It was how I officially met Hans for the first time.

Margarete stands firm and tugs my hand, forcing me to turn to her. “What are you doing here, Xander? You told me you didn’t work for the FBI.”

I chuckle. “The FBI? Is that the best you can come up with? I’m far too useful and efficient to waste my talents on the FBI. I’m a little offended that you’d even go there.” I wink. “Lesser man would cut out your tongue for such a vicious insult.”

“Watch how you talk to her,” Hans spits.

He stands with his right foot forward, knees bent. He fists his hands beside his temples, knuckles facing up and elbows tucked in.

I lean against the tree behind me and cross my arms over my chest. “Southpaw, are we? Listen, Hans, I’m not interested in fighting you, but if I were, you’d be on your ass before you knew what was happening.”

I push off the tree and take three quick steps. Hans barely has the chance to blink before I kick his feet from under him and push him to the ground, my hand wrapped around his neck. “It’s cute how you think you’re a match for me.” I glide the index finger of my other hand along his cheekbone to his full lips. “I think you’d better stick to what you know. Being a pretty boy.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Hans hisses.

I bark out a laugh. “Don’t you know God when you see him, pretty boy?”

CHAPTER 4

Hans

Xander is on top of me, pinning me to the ground. I’m a big man, but his muscle mass is all-consuming. I try to push him off, but he grabs my arms and forces them against my torso, pinning them with his muscular thighs.

“Guess The Covenant doesn’t let pretty boys like you learn to fight, huh? Tell me, what would you do if they came for you?”

Shame floods me at his words. He’s right. I wouldn’t stand a chance against them. They would swarm us with their guns, banish me, and take Margarete back with them.

“Get off me,” I hiss as hopelessness settles in my chest.

Xander laughs. “You don’t mean that, pretty boy. From what I can feel, I’d say you enjoy having me on top of you.”

My face heats as I realize he can feel my erection. I can’t help the reaction of my body when Xander is near me. Something unfamiliar stirred within me the first time I saw him at the market—something I’d tried to suppress for so long because I was told to. I always knew I was attracted to men and women, but my body betrayed me for the first time with this man. It never happened with anyone else. The urge didn’teven stir, but with Xander, the emotions and desires were completely different. His essence called to mine in the same way Margarete’s did.

Xander grabs my chin, turning me to face him. His blue eyes are vibrant in his perfectly sculpted face. “You know what they’ll do to her. What they’ll do to you.”

“Homosexuality isn’t a sin. We’re just asked not to act on it.” I have no idea why I said that. It’s a little late to worry about how my faith persecutes something I deem natural. I’ve always considered the notion that it’s a sin or a cross for me to bear ludicrous. Since God created all humans in His image and deems them perfect, shouldn’t my desires also be godly?

Xander laughs. “Brainwashed idiots can’t make up their minds, can they? They preach that God made humans in His image, that we’re all perfect, but then tell us we’re not so perfect if we break their ridiculous rules."

I freeze as I listen to him utter the same truth I’ve contemplated. It’s an insight that Xander possesses and unnerves me more than his daunting physical presence. Xander provides me with a sense of safety and acceptance I’ve never known while simultaneously terrifying me to my core with his ability to see through me.

Xander’s grin widens as he presses his hardened cock against mine. He leans forward, overwhelming my senses with the intoxicating scent of sandalwood and peppermint. I’m certain no one can hear him but me when he whispers, “Don’t push me, pretty boy. My tolerance for your bullshit is running thin.”

I attempt to swallow but can only focus on my pulsing heart. I shut my eyes momentarily to consider my predicament. “Please get off me.”

Xander jumps up and steps back.

“That was easy,” I mumble, pushing myself off the ground.

Xander’s eyes narrow into slits, and his flirtatious smile disappears. “When someone asks you to stop touching them, it’s humane to abide by their wishes. I know they teach men to be animals in The Covenant, but I wasn’t raised that way.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I splutter. Jesus, I didn’t mean anything by it. Usually, Xander stays put. It’s part of the dynamic of our relationship. A fucked up push and pull. “I thought you’d… I don’t know.”

“Contrary to what they told you about men like me, I’m not an animal.”

“Hans.”

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