Page 21 of Vow of Obsession

"Where were you tonight?" I turn the focus back on him.

“Working.”

“Really.” I snort. “Whatever. I’m going to bed. I have a shitty day in front of me tomorrow; I’ll need my rest for it.” I go to step past Warren, but he shifts, blocking my path off the dock.

“Tova.” He says my name so gently it is almost a whisper. I hate that it shakes my resolve. It’s stupid, and I know that, but I can’t stop it either. “If I were a better man, I’d let you go, but I’m not and I can’t.”

“Because of your father?” He was ordered to marry me.

“No, because of me.”

“What are you saying, Warren?”

“You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go. It won’t be good for anyone if you try to run.” I cock my head to the side, staring up at him.

“You’d chase me? Threaten my parents?”

“I’ll do whatever I have to.” He leans down closer so his eyes are level with mine. “Don’t put anything between us you care about.” My heart thumps in my chest. It’s not fear I’m feeling but something else I can’t name.

“You don’t want to marry me.”

“That’s what you think?”

“That’s what I know.”

“So naïve.” He reaches out to touch a piece of hair that escaped the messy bun I have on the top of my head. I smack his hand. His brows lift. I inhale sharply. I think I shocked us both.

“I might be naïve,” I agree. “But don’t touch me. You won’t answer my question about where you were tonight.”

“I told you I was working.”

“With whom?”

“My brothers.”

I huff a breath. “This is pointless.” I try to walk around him again, but once again, he stops me. This time he grips my shoulders. “You’re scaring me.”

“You’re lying. You’re not scared of me.”

“Everyone is scared of you,” I tell him, but he shouldn't need that reminder. I bet even his own father has some fear of him.

“You swat at my hand and demand answers to questions. You’re not scared of me,” he repeats.

“Maybe I just know you can’t leave any marks on me. Not with our wedding tomorrow.” Warren releases his hold on me, taking a step back as though my words were a physical slap to him.

“You think I’d hit you?” His expression is one of bewilderment. Do I think that?

“I don’t know what to think of you anymore, Warren. You confuse me.” No, I find it hard to believe that a man worried about my sunburn would lay a hand on me, but it’s also hard to believe that the same man that kissed that sunburn would disappear on me for days and then go and sleep with strippers, so what do I really know?

“Know that you’re mine. That I don’t want to ever hurt you.”

“You know some hurt is beyond physical.”

“I’m aware.” He says it as though he knows this fact but doesn’t quite understand it himself.

“Are you mine, Warren?”

“Yes.”

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