Page 37 of The Dark Obsession

With her gaze firmly fixed on the mug, Malory doesn’t see me adjusting myself as I walk past her, opening the fridge.

“Can I get you something?”

“I’m good.” Her voice is flat, keeping her head bowed.

Stepping awkwardly around me, she puts the mug into the sink, probably wanting to bolt out of here as soon as possible and pretend that last night never happened.

Not going to happen.

“I’m sorry, little one.” I cage her in against the counter, her small body turning deathly still at feeling my hard chest against her back.

“Why?” It’s barely a whisper.

“I didn’t make you breakfast.” I clarify, pressing my forehead into the back of her head, breathing her in.

I’ve been in such a rush to get out, to reign in the all-consuming sensation that grips my body whenever she’s near, that it slipped my mind.

Now I’ve managed to fuck up twice within a few short hours. Something that has never happened before but I’m starting to learn that being around Malory, my control is slipping between my fingers like sand.

“It won’t happen again.” And I don’t just mean the food.

“I can make my own breakfast.” She ducks underneath my arm and this time I don’t stop her.

Lately, Malory has been coming out of her shell. Smiling at her books, cooking, even laughing with Nero.

That little fucker has been stealing too much of her attention for my liking.

Since he was a puppy, I trained him to be a guard dog, my partner. He’s fiercely loyal, so naturally I didn’t expect him to trust someone new easily, but their bond was instant.

Another being completely obsessed with her.

Great, now I’m competing with my own damn dog.

As much as I hate the idea, Malory needs space right now.

We’ve been together incessantly and even though I wouldn’t have it any other way, I don’t want to overwhelm her, drive her into pulling away from me.

That won’t be happening, over my dead body.

“I’m going to head to the store today.” That stops her in her tracks. “Will you be alright?”

Immediately, I regret the idea of leaving her for just a few hours but it’s too late to back down now.

“Yeah, I guess you’re not going to take me with you?” She asks quietly, not meeting my gaze.

“Not this time.”

Her head shoots up.

“Wait, are you telling me that it’s a possibility?”

“Sure, I won’t be holding you here forever.” I grind my teeth, because that’s exactly what I’d prefer but apparently, I’m drawing a line at risking her mental health and her happiness.That’s a novelty.

A change of scenery is going to be necessary if I don’t want Malory to eventually hate me. Even someone as solitary as her would go crazy being cooped up here for the rest of her life.

“Really?” Her eyebrows almost hit her hairline as she sucks in a shaky breath.

“Yeah. But first, I need to trust that you won’t run away. It’ll also have to wait until your parents stop searching for you.”

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