Page 97 of Corrupt Obsession

“That’s my girl,” he husked before he pulled her into a sitting position.

She didn’t have time to get her bearings because he pulled her off the bed and promptly bent her over it. She buried her face in her tangled sheets, which was convenient because a second later, she screamed when he slammed inside of her. He froze with his body blanketing hers, but she was too far gone to care. She bounced under him and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, urging him on. He dropped his head on her shoulder, panting as he grappled for control.

“You’re killing me, Vi.”

“Hurry,” she whispered.

Outside, the storm seemed to be picking up, thunder crashing like cymbals, gearing up so they could have this moment.

He nuzzled her cheek. “Tell me you want me.”

She bared her teeth. He wasn’t satisfied that he controlled her body, he always pushed for more. He was such an asshole.

“Vi, you need this, same as me. You can’t deny it.” When she didn’t answer, his hand fisted in her hair. “Why can’t you admit it?”

Because she would rather die than give in completely. He may rule her in these moments, but there was still a part of her he hadn’t conquered. Wouldneverconquer. It was what gave her the strength to resist and soldier through every day, even though sometimes she considered giving up. She would never surrender that piece of her identity to him. If she did, she would be lost.

He capitulated with a ragged, “Fuck,” before he began to move.

With nature colluding with them to disguise their forbidden tryst, she let herself go. She let herself enjoy the pleasures of the flesh she normally denied herself in the light of day and madedemands he gave into, leading to an orgasm that made her gnaw her sheets.

“Tell me,” Jesse pleaded. “Just this one time. Please.”

She ignored him and lay like a limp, wrecked doll. She knew what to expect and wasn’t disappointed when he went berserk. Jesse took his frustrations out on her body. When she began to make too much noise, he clapped a hand over her mouth. When that didn’t work, he shoved her face in the mattress and put a pillow over her head. He ended up using it himself when he came, folding over her and shouting her name into the stuffing.

Even as he spilled inside of her, he shoved the pillow away and hissed, “Deny all you want, but we both know the truth. You love what’s between us, you’re just too much of a coward to admit it.”

He pulled out of her, spilling down the back of her thighs. By the time her quivering legs collapsed, and she landed on her knees beside the bed, he was already gone.

Chapter 19

VIOLET

2 MONTHS LATER

Despite the warm July evening,there was a healthy fire crackling in the fire pit. The backyard, house, and garage were filled to capacity for Jesse’s farewell party. Firefighters mingled with Jesse’s coaches, teammates, and their church friends. It seemed that half the neighborhood had decided to attend. Mom’s friends, mostly teachers, went around patting cheeks and catching up with students they hadn’t seen since elementary school.

Violet couldn’t believe this day had finally come. Jesse was leaving tomorrow. A part of her kept expecting something to go wrong—for his paperwork to fall through or there to be some mix up that would eject him from the military before he could be shipped off, but everything had gone smoothly. Mom tried to talk Jesse out of his decision until he swore in, and there was no turning back. This week had been rough on Mom. She’d excused herself multiple times from the party to have a crying session.

A commotion in the house caught Violet’s attention. She started forward as Dad emerged, carrying a massive cake. People clapped Jesse on the back and ushered him toward the tablewhere Dad set it down. The cake had a pair of combat boots, a fighter jet, and the Air Force logo with, “We will miss you, Jesse,” written on it.

At everyone’s urgings, Jesse posed with his cake. Violet felt obliged to take pictures. Not for herself, but for Lynne. Even with everyone calling out for Jesse to look in their direction, he looked directly at her. She hastily took the photo and then fiddled with her phone until Dad began to address the crowd with his hand on Jesse’s shoulder.

“I’m happy you all could join us to celebrate Jesse before he sets out on his journey,” Dad said in a voice that carried clearly across the backyard. “I couldn’t ask for a better son. Lynne and I are so proud of you. We know you’re going to do great things in the world.”

Everyone whistled and cheered as Dad and Jesse gave each other manly claps on the back. Lynne walked up to Jesse, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. Clearly too emotional to speak, Lynne kissed Jesse on the cheek and gave him a hug.

As people turned to Violet with expectant faces, she felt a flash of panic. No one told her she’d have to say a few words and give Jesse a public farewell.

“Come, Vi,” Dad said, beckoning to her. “Let’s take a family photo before we cut the cake.”

She pasted a smile on her face as she made her way over. She and Lynne stood side by side, while Dad and Jesse stood behind them. As everyone playfully jostled for the best position to take their photo, pride swelled in her chest. She knew what the photos would capture. Dad and Jesse with their impressive, fit figures towering over her and Mom, who wore matching floral dresses, hers in pink and Mom’s in yellow. Dad and Jesse wore matching white button up shirts for precisely this reason. Mom had known there would be a ton of photos taken and wanted them to be ready. Their family had its issues, but at thatmoment, Violet didn’t want to be anywhere else. This is where she belonged.

Blinding flashes came from every direction. Their heads whipped back and forth, trying to give everyone the opportunity to get the perfect shot, but it was so chaotic that everyone began to laugh. Grinning, Violet stepped forward, only to be stopped by a pair of arms that pulled her back against a toned frame. Jesse wrapped his arms around her, pressed his cheek to hers, and rocked her from side to side. A series of “aww’s” came from the women who thought Jesse’s gesture was sweet. She kept her lips curved as her nails sank warningly into the back of his hand.

“Violet! Jesse! Look here!”

She looked in the direction of the voice and saw her friend Allison holding up her phone to take their photo. She endured Jesse’s touch for a few more seconds before she tried to move away. Jesse hesitated for a split second before he released her.

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