Page 65 of Deviant Obsession

"I never asked for any of this," she continues, as if she can read every thought that barrels through my skull. "It was your idea, and I just played along with you both. I didn't want to feel anything real. It was supposed to be just fun. But now..." Another heaving sob escapes her, nothing but raw pain. "Now I'm caught between two brothers who both want to own me, andpunishme, and I can't... I don't know how..."

The genuine confusion in her confession finally penetrates the haze of jealous possession clouding my judgment.What the fuck am I doing?This isn't domination, it's pure selfishness. I'm taking out my anger on someone who trusted me to keep her safe.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Dean." she whispers, slumping in the restraints as if all the fight is drained from her body. "I'm sorry I can't be what either of you want. I’m sorry I’m always a disappointment."

The last dregs of my anger dissolve, replaced only by crushing guilt. I've pushed her too far, let my emotions override my responsibility as her Dom, and let her think it’s all her fault. This isn't who I’m meant to be to her. This isn't what she deserves.

"Shh, babygirl," I murmur, already reaching for the cuffs. "No more. I'm the one who's sorry."

Her legs give out as I free her wrists and I catch her against my chest, cradling her quivering body close. She burrows into my chest, still crying, and my own eyes start to sting.

I sink to the floor with her in my lap, regret squeezing like a vise around my lungs. Her sobs gradually quiet to hiccups, but she keeps her face pressed against my neck, fingers clutching my shirt like she's afraid I'll get up and leave.

"I'm so sorry, Rhea," I whisper, rocking her gently. "I lost control."

She shudders against me, and I hold her tighter. "I don't know how to handle any of this anymore. Playing together was one thing, but feelings...I never expected feelings. I didn’t think you’d get jealous."

"Neither did I." The admission costs me, but she deserves honesty after what I just put her through. "When I saw his mark on you..."

"You hate it." She finally lifts her head, meeting my eyes. Even tear-stained and blotchy, she's beautiful enough to stop my heart.

"It's more than that." My fingers trace patterns on her bare shoulder, trying to find the right words. "Seeing his initial carved into your skin...it made me realize how deep I’m in this. How much I want you to be mine alone."

Fresh tears spill down her cheeks. "But I can't choose. Please don't make me choose."

"Shh." I wipe her cheek with my thumb. "I'm not asking you to."

I pull her gently to her feet and reach for the aftercare supplies I'd ignored in my earlier rage—water, protein bar, soft blanket. She lets me wrap her up on the bed and tend to her, gradually relaxing as I massage her wrists and shoulders.

"We need to talk about this all together," she says quietly, picking at the wrapper of her protein bar and avoiding my gaze again. "About boundaries and expectations. About whether this thing with both of you is sustainable if you can’t get a handle on your jealousy."

"I know." I press a kiss to her temple. "But right now, you need some aftercare. The heavy conversation can wait."

She nods, curling closer to me—it’s a stark contrast to how we started the night, curled up on her couch totally relaxed. We sit in silence for a while, my hand running soothingly up and down her blanket-wrapped spine. The jealous fury from earlier feels distant now, replaced by an aching longing that scares me more than any anger.

"Dean?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me something?"

"Anything."

She finally looks up, eyes searching mine. "Promise you won't let jealousy make you cruel again. I can handle pain, but not...not like that. You looked possessed. Like youhatedme."

She could have driven a battering ram into my stomach, and it would have hurt less. "I promise. What I did tonight...that's not who I want to be. Not with you. I’m sorry."

She nods, tentatively satisfied, and settles back against me. But as I hold her, I wonder if I can really keep that promise. Because the truth is, every time I look at that mark on her thigh, I want to claim her so completely that she forgets she ever met my brother.

He and I have some shit to figure out.

Chapter 21

Rhea

Though there’s so muchwe’ve left unsaid, I can’t bring myself to speak for a long while. Dean’s right, I need to rest. It feels like every last drop of energy has been drained from my body, and it’s terrifying to think how much longer he would have continued if I hadn’t broken down.

I could have called ‘red’, could have ended the whole thing and begged him to take me home. But I told myself that I deserved the punishment. That look on his face when he’d seen the cuts, it was more than just rage—it was raw betrayal. I wasn’t sure if it was all for me, or plenty for Ethan, too. Either way, Dean was hurt, and I’d done that to him. All because I’d been too caught up in feeling wanted, like someone Ethan saw as worthy of claiming.

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