Page 23 of Unholy Obsession

And then he got all,Jaysus, how could ya go play outside the club again, Moira? After what happened LAST TIME?

Boom.

Last time.

The thing I’m not supposed to think about. The thing I keep running from. The thing that got me exiled from his good graces forever.

The memory shoves its way in any way—Anna catching me with her father, the man who made her and Domhn’s lives the worst living hell anyone could possibly think of.Her face when she saw me. The way she shattered.

I press my hands over my eyes.Fuck.

Of course, Domhn got extra mad. Of course, Anna got upset. And, ofcourse, I blew the one tiny, fragile, threadbare chance my brother had given me to make things right.

I slide under the water again and scream.

Only bubbles rise.

But then?—

My scream dies. My thoughts stutter.

Becausethen there was Bane.

He arrived out of nowhere, this dark, impossible man, stepping out of the shadows like an avenging angel. Like he was built just for me.

And, miracle of miracles, he turned out to bebothmen who’ve made my heart race in recent memory.

My head spins, the water rippling softly around me.

Two men. All in one. My brain still refuses to compute.

I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling, my shoulders sinking under the warmth of the bath. My limbs feel light, but my chest feels heavy.

I think about the way he took care of me. Not like a man planning to fuck me. Just… took care of me. Like I was something precious. Like I wasn’t just a mess to be managed.

When was the last time someone was gentle with me?

Not my mother, that’s for damn sure.

The tears come so fast I don’t even feel them build. One second, I’m floating. The next, stupid, ugly sobs are bubbling up. I shove my arm into my mouth and bite down to muffle them.

After the day I’ve had?—

I lift a shaking hand to my bruised eye and flinch with pain.

Bane saw. He didn’t say anything, but hesaw.

I sniff hard and blink at the heavy wooden door.

Why did he bring me here?

Does he want to fuck me now?

My gut twists.

Then I roll my eyes.

That’s all men ever want from me. Duh.

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