Page 29 of Unholy Obsession

First, I have to bring us both under control.

And second—she must be mine.

I covet her with a lordly possessiveness that should unnerve me.

But fear is where I faltered before. Fear of myself. Fear of my past. Fear of my own dark, snarling desires.

I do not have to be afraid of my hunger, just as I will teach her she does not have to be afraid of hers.

In discipline, we will both be free. We can tame our animals.

It’s true that my father taught me to justtakewhatever I wanted. To be the conqueror. To let nothing stand in my way. I’ve spent years rejecting his lessons, refusing to be that kind of man anymore. But denying my nature doesn’t erase it. The drive to dominate and possess never left.

Maybe it’s not wrong to give in to obsession as long as the object of my obsession wants to be devoured.

How is a dominant that much different from a shepherd? Both guide, watch, and protect their flock. I ensure the well-being of the ones entrusted to my care as a priest. And Moira… she is in need of care, whether she knows it or not.

I will take care of her.And indulge my cravings at the same time.

But only if this hunger is shared.

I glance over my shoulder at her as I cook.

She sits cross-legged on the chair at the table, scrolling on her phone absentmindedly while she watches me from her peripheral. The sight of her here, in my house, twists something dark inside me.

I saw the hunger in her eyes that night at the club. Felt it in the shudder of her body.

Even now, she bites her bottom lip. She wants this, too. She may not understand it yet, but she will. Because I will make her crave like she has never craved before.

I plate her breakfast—a simple omelet and fruit, nothing too heavy. She looks like she barely eats. We’ll work on that.

I set the plate down in front of her. “You’re quiet this morning.”

She looks up, startled. “Oh—I—” She hesitates, eyes flickering with something like guilt. “Is that bad?”

I shake my head. “There is no bad or good here.”

“What are you, like, Yoda?” She smirks.

I arch a brow. “Well, I’m a little taller.”

She actually laughs, and it’s a sound Iwant. I want to hoard it and pull it from her again and again until it’s mine.

I turn back to retrieve my own plate, then settle in across from her. She pokes at her food with a fork but doesn’t eat.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask.

She doesn’t hesitate. “Sex.”

My hand stills over my coffee. She flicks her gaze up to mine, then back down to her plate as if she regrets the admission. “But I’m usually thinking about sex.”

I hum in approval. “Interesting. Thank you for your honesty.” I tilt my head, assessing. “You should know I value honesty above everything else. If we embark on this together, you must never lie to me. Do you promise?”

Her gaze sharpens. “If I promise, how do you know I’m not lying?”

I smile, slow and dark. “I’ll find out. And then this—between us—will end forever.”

She leans back, considering. “Lying is that much of a dealbreaker to you?”

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