Page 110 of Unholy Obsession

The music hums, the stars blur, and I think—just for tonight—I don’t need to outrun anything. I can justbe.

FORTY-TWO

April

MOIRA

Kiraand I have lunch plans, but first, I want a reaction. Alook. A well-placed, growled-outfuckfrom the man currently lurking somewhere in our apartment.

Bane is a lot of things—tall, broody, criminally good at ruining panties—but observant? Not always. Not about little things.

But henoticesme. I know he does. Heworshipsme. Other than that little blip last month with the week in bed, everything’s been going great with this whole marriage thing. Most days, I still can’t fucking believe I’m somebody’swife.

Bane really does seem to want me here. And not just because he has to or because I’m an obligation he got tricked into.

And so what if some days I just want to see it? Want to feel it? I want?—

I step into the kitchen with a grin, ready to do something dramatic—maybe a slow, hip-swinging walk, maybe a little spin—but Bane is already moving.

Not toward me, though.

He’s frowning down at his phone, one hand adjusting his watch, the other reaching for the coffee pot.

“You’re up early,” he murmurs, still looking at whateverdeeply importantpriest shit is happening on his screen. “I made your coffee how you like it.”

A steaming cup is pressed into my hands.

I blink at it. Then up at him.

I stand there, waiting.

Waiting for him tolook.

For him tosee.

For him to say something, anything.

Adamn. Aholy fuck, Moira, you’re illegal in six states. Aget over here, you little brat.

Nothing.

He presses a distracted kiss to my hairline, mutters something about a meeting at the church, and then he’s gone.

The door shuts behind him. The house falls silent.

The coffee cup shakes in my hands, and I swallow back stupid, sudden tears.

Stop it. It’sfine.

It’s more than fine because it’snothing.

He was busy. Late for a meeting. Jesus Christ, it’snot a big deal.

It’s just?—

It’s just?—

I look down at my reflection on the dark surface of the coffee. All that effort. All that energy. And he didn’t even see me.

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