Page 70 of Divine Obsession

We were just down the street from Mount Sinai Hospital, at a somewhat fancy dinner on Madison Avenue that served nothing but trashy fast food. The place was packed with tourists, though my eyes were still stuck on Natalia’s blushed face as she munched on the cheeseburger.

Her laugh had softened, and for a moment, she just looked at me. Her soft, brown eyes – intense like a shot of expresso – carried that same temptingly sweet look that always pulled me in.

The diner’s lowhumfelt like static between us.

I stole another fry off her plate and dipped it into my milkshake, just to see her reaction.

“You’re the worst.” She shook her head, though her smile didn’t falter.

I smirked, tossing the fry into my mouth. “You let your guard down.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is?”

Leaning back into the booth’s couch, I gave her my most unapologetic grin.

Natalia rolled her eyes and picked at her fries, but her expression shifted. Something quieter crept in, softening the edges of her amusement.

“Trevor…” Her voice was lower. “We’ve been here all night. Aren’t you tired?”

“Are you?” I didn’t even have time to hide the concerned frown taking over my face. She shook her head softly. “Me neither.”

It wasn’t a lie. Not entirely.

Mentally, I was exhausted.

Physically? I was still running on my high from winning the game.

And emotionally, the weight pressing on my chest felt a little lighter, knowing Kali was going to be okay.

You needed someone to be there for you. I had to be there for you.

Natalia had a way of doing that without trying, like she didn’t even realize she was keeping me steady.

She tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. “You don’t have to act like you’re bulletproof, you know?”

I held her gaze, trying to figure out if she was teasing me again like in the library last week. She didn’t tweak.

“It’s not pretending,” I returned, my voice low. “It’s just what I need to do. I have a lot of responsibilities with my family since I’m taking over soon. And Kali doesn’t help…” I trailed off, not wanting to get angry again.

I expected Natalia to argue back with me. Instead, she softened. “You’re allowed to let someone else take the wheel sometimes.”

“Let someone else take the wheel…” I repeated, the words foreign in my voice. “Doesn’t really work for me.”

“Or you’ve just never tried.” She smiled sweetly, the kind that could make a man kneel if he wasn’t careful.

“You think I should?” My voice was deeper; smoother.

The air shifted.

Her chest raised with shallower breaths. “Maybe...”

“Doesn’t sound like you’re convinced.”

“I just think… It could be good for you. That’s all.”

“Now you know what’s good for me?”

Her pink, pillowy lips parted before she hesitated. “I could guess.”

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