Page 62 of The Dark Obsession

“Right, because you’re a professional stalker.” I huff.

“Something like that. Don’t forget about the killer for hire part though.” A hint of humor seeps into his deep voice, and I can’t help but smile as I shake my head.

“So all of this isn’t just because of my dad?” I need to make sure, to hear him say it once and for all before giving him a piece of my heart.If I hadn’t already.

“No. I found you because I was searching for your father’s weakness.” His thumb brushes over my cheekbone, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I could have killed you the first night I broke into your home. I stood by your bedside while you were asleep, much like the night I finally took you, with my gun aimed at your head. And for the first time in my life, I couldn’t pull the trigger.”

“Why didn’t you?” I whisper, weirdly not alarmed by my near demise.

“I can’t explain it. There’s something about you, something I want to preserve and protect.Make irrevocably mine.” Tyson lets out a deep breath that turns into a growl at the end.

“Something inside me snapped in that moment, and I knew I needed a new plan. From then on, I watched you from afar every fucking night.” He palms my nape possessively.

“I needed time to build the cabin so you could thrive here. I never wanted you to suffer, only for your father to be under that impression.”

My jaw slackens as I look at him with wide eyes.

He’s a straightforward man, I must give him that.

“I heard once that trees are often gifted to commemorate special occasions.” He smirks in that masculine way that makes my heartbeat stutter, referring to last night as he tucks a strand of flyaway hair behind my ear, brushing the shell lightly.

My cheeks flush and I wiggle free to stomp on his foot, probably hurting myself more than him since he always wears those damn army boots.

Somewhat reluctantly, I break away from his embrace, scurrying inside with one last watery look towards the tree.

Our tree.

Just as I’m about to put the banana slices onto my porridge, a brown paper bag lands next to me on the counter.

Looking over my shoulder I give Tyson a confused look, but he merely gestures for me to open it. Peeking inside, I find a small blue box and packets of little pills I’m not familiar with staring back at me.

“What’s this?” My brows furrow as I study the packaging, turning it over in my hands.

“Birth control and Plan B.”

“You got me birth control?” I ask incredulously.

Nodding, his eyes stay locked on my face without giving anything away as he stands there with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m surprised you haven’t gone through my medical records.” A hysterical laugh bursts out of me.

Tyson blinks as he leans against the kitchen island, dwarfing it in size.

“You were never alone with a man.” He shrugs matter-of-factly. “Not that I would’ve let it come to that.”

“How could you have possibly interfered if I wanted to be with someone?” I counter, not wanting to admit that he’s totally spot on.

“My job requires me to be quite good with a sniper rifle.” His gaze darkens, his jaw flexing as I gape at him.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Deadly.”

I gulp, Tyson isn’t a man who jokes or make idle threats.

Ever.

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