Page 10 of Her Dark Obsession

With that, I turn and walk down the hall, which isn’t easy with a hard-on. The fact that she’s a Valentino should have me staying far the fuck away from her. My head knows that. But fuck, I want her even more now. I can see why Eve caved with that damn apple.

Chapter Five

When I eventually walk into class, the teacher stops talking. Looks at me and waits for me to sit down before continuing. She doesn’t say a single word, just gives me that disapproving look—as if I need her approval.

Besides, it’s not my fault I’m late. It’s Connor’s.

Just the thought of him is making my heart race. What the hell is he doing here? I was never supposed to see him again. Iliked it better that way. I could pretend that I wasn’t affected by his presence.

“What happened?” Krystal asks under her breath.

“Nothing,” I tell her, not bothering to look her way. Krystal is one of my best friends, as much as someone like me can actually have friends. When your family runs the city’s underworld, it’s safer not to let people get too close.

Except I did let someone get close. I let Connor get closer to me than anyone ever has before. And I liked it. A lot. The fact that he knows that pisses me off. I don’t even know why. It just does. I don’t like letting anyone have the upper hand on me. But I can’t control the way my body reacts to him.

It started the moment I walked into the student services office. I became hyperaware. That tight feeling in my stomach—the same one I had on Saturday night—came back. That’s how I knew it was him. Either that, or I was suddenly hot for the school receptionist. Considering Miss Kemp is in her mid-fifties and hates me, I should be glad it’s not her I have an uncontrollable lust for.

That’s all it is. Lust. I’ve never felt it before, to the point I thought I was broken. But now that I’ve felt it, I want more. Just not with him.

Argh, why is this happening to me? Why him? He’s cocky, and don’t even get me started on that stupid smile of his with one dimple that pops in on his right cheek. I want to get my blade and cut the stupid thing out.

And then there’s his eyes. Green. Emerald green. And that stupid accent. Irish with a lot of Boston mixed in. I might have looked him up yesterday. I was bored, and I wanted to know who I gave my V card to. So sue me. It’s not like anyone else wouldn’t want to know. It doesn’t mean I wanted to see him again. I didn’t.I don’t.

I wonder if he’d be dumb enough to tell Dante what he did with me? I have no doubt my cousin would cut the bastard’s fingers off right there in front of everyone. The men in my family are a little… unhinged when it comes to thinking they’re protecting us.

He wouldn’t. Connor can’t be that stupid. He has to know who I am. He’s the O’Malley heir. And I’m a Valentino princess. No world exists where our paths should cross. Well, not the way they did.

Oh my god, I could just imagine what my brothers would do if they found out I slept with an Irishman. I wouldn’t say we’re mortal enemies, but we’re certainly not friends.

And the Irish? They like to stay under the radar. Most people at this school wouldn’t even know that they’re hanging out with Irish mafia. Especially Kenny. Connor’s cousin, whose house we were at on Saturday. I should have put two and two together, figured out that they were related.

I guess I did in the back of my mind.

Maybe that’s it. The forbidden thing is why I’m so into him. I can’t think of any other logical reason. He is literally everything I hate in a guy. Attractive, overconfident, cocky. Okay, maybe that’s extreme. I do like attractive people. I’ve just never liked one as much as I like him.

Lust,I remind myself.It’s lust, not like.I do not like Connor O’Malley. I might want to climb him and ride him like my favorite roller coaster, but I do not like him. Besides, people sleep with people they don’t like all the time.

Take my cousin Orlando, for example. He’s always sleeping with girls he wouldn’t give the time of day to. He can’t stand most of them. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t like their bodies.

I wonder if Connor would let me use him for his body. Get this lust thing out of my system. I don’t know why he wouldn’t goalong with that. He’s a guy. What guy is going to say no to getting laid?

“You look like you either want to kill someone or… Nope, you just look like you want to kill someone,” Krystal says.

I turn and glare at her. “You want it to be you?”

She just smiles at me. “You wouldn’t kill me. If you were going to, you would have done it by now.” She laughs. “Who is it? Want me to bring a shovel?”

This is why I like Krystal. She really would bring a shovel. For all her annoying attributes, she’s loyal. I also don’t doubt she likes the benefits of being friends with me. Everyone at this school wants to befriend a Valentino. It’s safe passage through the high school years. You become untouchable.

“Unless it’s Dante. He’s far too cute to be burying.” Krystal smirks. And there’s her flaw. She crushes way too hard on my cousins. Mostly Dante, who wouldn’t touch her, because I’ve threatened to cut his balls off if he messed with any of my friends. But Krystal doesn’t know that.

“It’s no one. And gross,” I tell her.

Krystal shakes her head. “Did you see the new guy at Kenny’s party? Rumor has it he’s starting today, and he’s fine with a capital F. By the way, where the hell did you disappear to on Saturday night?”

There have been numerous times I’ve wanted to kill Krystal. None more than right now. I can even picture it. My hands wrapped around her neck, squeezing the life out of her. Her lips turning blue.

“Whoa, why do you look like I just killed your cat?” she asks, shifting away from me slightly.

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