Page 157 of The Dark Obsession

Immediately my heartbeat kicks into overdrive, thinking back to the last time I woke up alone in the middle of the night with him gone.

No, that’s my anxiety taking over.

He vowed that it’d never happen again.

And I trust him irrevocably.

The man is probably just downstairs making breakfast.

No need to panic.

Scrambling out of the tangled sheets, I barely stop to put on one of his oversized shirts that reaches down to my knees.

“Ouch!” I yelp as my foot gets twisted in the comforter.

I go down hard, the commotion disrupting Nero’s peaceful sleep at the foot of the bed.

In an instant the dog jumps on top of me, paws digging into my stomach as he licks my face, slobbering all over me.

“I’m okay, big boy.” I pant between giggles as I do my best to get up without further damage.

“Come on, let’s go find your daddy.” With that we head downstairs, Nero dashing past me and straight to his bowl filled with food.

Meaning Tyson must be around here somewhere.

Not in the cabin though.

Before dread has a chance to settle in my stomach,I see it.

It’s dawn, maybe a few minutes before sunrise, yet there’s a dim glow streaming in through the kitchen windows.

Padding softly towards the entrance to investigate, I crack open the front door only to stop dead at the threshold.

The apple three that’s now covered in a colorful array of fall leaves isglowing.

String lights wrapped around each branch, illuminating it in the near darkness.

And beneath it, there’s him.

On one knee.

His black, burning gaze locked on mine.

Waiting.

A broken sob tears from my throat as I cover my mouth with a trembling hand.

“Come here, baby girl.” Tyson’s deep voice carries through the silent morning woods.

This can’t be…

Something in me snaps and I rush to him on bare feet, falling to my knees in front of my man.

My arms wrapping around his neck as I hide my tear-streaked face in the crook of his neck.

“I thought I told you no more tears, little one.” He mumbles against my temple before placing a gentle kiss to my flushed skin.

“I have Nero’s slobber all over my face.” I choke out.

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