Page 86 of The Dark Obsession

I actually broke down thinking she left me and I refuse to elaborate on what that means.

Yet there she is, sitting cross legged on the balcony floor, looking out at the never-ending forest spanning over the horizon with mountain tops peeking out on both sides of the valley.

The French doors are thrown wide open with Nero’s sleeping form stretched out on the plush carpet in the middle of the room, guarding the space between the entrance and my girl.

A large canvas is propped up against the railing with Malory outlining the view in front of her while swaying back and forth to the rhythm of her own melody.

Fuck, I forgot to buy her an easel.

Well, I can always make one out of the spare planks behind the greenhouse. By adding some floral carvings, it would fit with the rest of her furniture.

It can’t be that hard. The famous last words.

I lean against the doorway, filling almost the entire frame as I watch her in her element. Unaware of my presence, lost in her own world.

If I thought this morning was perfectly peaceful, the sight before me surpasses it a thousand times over.

The sudden need to touch her, to make sure whether the ethereal being before me isn’t just a cruel play of my broken mind, overwhelms me. So, I enter.

The floorboards creaking under my heavy step making Malory whirl around with a little gasp.

“Hey!” She breathes.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” I apologize while rubbing the back of my neck in a nervous gesture.

Only I don’t get nervous. I shouldn’t be able to.

“No worries.” With a nod, she beckons me to join her and I eagerly sink down next to her, glad that she doesn’t mind me intruding.

“Is everything okay?”

Clearly, she noticed something being off about me.

“Never been better, little one.” I soften my voice which makes her beam up at me while leaning her body slightly into mine, seeking out my closeness.

That smile, those deep green eyes.

Fuck, I can’t lose this.

I’ll never let that happen.

Never.

Malory doesn’t push a conversation, choosing to find comfort in silence just like me, maybe even more so.

It’s rare to find someone capable of it but that’s what makes us meant for each other.

Bound by our past trauma, understanding of the struggles the other one endured. Even though that’s still something Malory refuses to fully admit to herself.

Knowing she wants me to let her in, to lower my boundaries that are already too low for my liking, I fully intend on returning the favor by taking a hammer to her own walls.

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but what your parents forced upon you, it was abuse as well. And I’ll do anything in my power to undo what they did, to offer you the freedom they took from you, little one.”

For a moment she freezes, staring up at me with wide eyes before tentatively wrapping her arms around my waist, placing a soft kiss to the side of my neck.

So fucking sweet.

“You’ve already done so much for me, Tyson.” Her hold on me tightens. “Aside from the kidnapping.” Malory adds with an adorable quirk of her lips as she pulls away.

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