Page 53 of Brutal Obsession

The minute we’re in the hallway, I head left down a short corridor that leads toward the staff break room. Cian’s on me in a flash. Just before we get to the door, I duck into a supply closet.

Cian slams the door shut behind us and engages the lock. I’m scared enough that I consider threatening to scream, but so aroused from his scent and proximity that my lips don’t move.

“Just what the fuck were you doing back there?” Fury underscores each syllable.

“Talking to my boss?—”

“Leavingwith your boss.” The force of his words makes me tremble, and I back up into a shelf full of extra table napkins and newly printed drink menus. The whole thing rattles behind me.

“We usually run an errand together about this time on Wednesdays.” My voice is small as a mouse’s. My gaze fixes on his chest because I don’t dare meet that glare head-on.

“So, he’s the one, huh?”

“What?”

“The guy you’ve been fucking since you got here.”

Say what?

My mouth drops open, but no sound comes out. I stammer, choking on my own silence. Is this really happening? Cian’s not upset because he thinks I tried to escape. He’s upset because…he thinks I’ve got something going withPaul?

“No, I…”

The room we’re in is about the size of the closet in my suite back home, big enough to park an SUV but covered wall-to-wall with shelves and cleaning supplies. The only light in here streams in from a small window high up on a wall to our left, which provides a diagonal slant of filmy afternoon glow.

Cian steps into the beam of light, stalking closer to me.

“Iknewyou were out here chasing dick the entire time.” He reaches for me, his long, dangerous fingers alighting around my neck.

Considering the intensity of his anger, I half-expect him to choke the life out of me, but when his fingertips connect with my sensitive skin, we both start breathing strangely again, like we’re warming up for another marathon.

His expression, twisted with disbelief and mistrust, appears conflicted, like he can’t make up his mind on something crucial.

And then he grits out, “Why did you do it?”

“What are you talking about?” With my breathless, reedy voice, I sound like bimbo in an eighties porno minus the tacky saxophone swirling in the background.

“Why did you lie and tell me you hadn’t been with anyone since you’ve been here?” His fingers dig into the sides of my neck.

I shut my eyes, like that’ll make this crazy movie stop playing out in front of me.

Words I don’t know how to say flock to my tongue. I’m just telling him the truth, so why are my knees knocking together?

“Cian.”

“Don’t you dare say?—”

“The only person who’s touched me the past two months is you.”

“Stop trying to trick me.” His grip on my throat tightens, and why is he wrecking my underwear with everysqueeze?

“If there really was something between Paul and me, I wouldn’t have told him you were my boyfriend.”

“Look at me,” Cian commands.

Now, I’m face-to-face with this bizarre, beautiful, jealous jerk of a man.

“I know he’s trying to help you escape.” Cian’s other hand clamps onto my waist, making me jump. “But you won’t succeed, Harper.”

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