Page 41 of Arranged Obsession
The music starts.
Sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I love you
I can’t help myself
I love you and nobody else
In and out of my life
You come and you go
Leaving just your picture behind
And I’ve kissed it a thousand times
We start moving together a little awkwardly. The song is too upbeat and we don’t have any practice dancing together. ButCormac has surprisingly good rhythm and I love the way his hands feel on my body.
“Who chose this song?” I ask, laughing at the sheer absurdity.
“I don’t know,” he admits. “Probably Finn. Maybe the wedding planner.”
“It feels kind of… perfect, right?”
His expression darkens and he leans in closer. “Now why would you say that?” he whispers.
“I don’t know.” My heart stutters. I’m reminded again that being with Cormac is like putting my neck in a friendly lion’s mouth. Just because he hasn’t ripped my jugular out yet doesn’t mean he won’t. “I mean, because you’ve been?—”
“Whatever you think about me, you’re wrong.” He leans down. His lips are close to mine again. I tilt my chin forward, breathing fast. Lightning burns down my arms and gathers in my core. How does he make me feel this way?
“I don’t know what to think,” I admit, my head dizzy and wild. “This whole dance thing was stupid.”
“Look, we finally agree on something.” He pulls me closer. His body is warm and strong. “But this is what you wanted, and that’s what I do now.”
“Dance to old songs?”
“Give you what you want.”
I let out a soft, muffled gasp as his fingers tighten painfully on my hips. I’m afraid he’s going to crush me, but before I can wriggle back, the host calls for everyone to join us. A few dozen guests pile onto the dance floor, and soon I’m surrounded bytotal strangers with my aggressive and scary husband gripping me tightly against him, and I’m thinking this was the biggest mistake of my life, but there’s no turning back.
I had my chance, and I fucked it up.
I thought I could handle this. He’s my ghost, right? And I find a weird comfort in that.
But looking at him now, at his beautifully terrifying face, breathing in his masculine and familiar smell, feeling his strong and dominating hands on my body, I’m absolutely sure I’m in over my head.
Finn is nice.
Marrying him would’ve been boring, but I would’ve been fine.
Cormac’s the straight-up devil.
Giving myself to him means I’m going to burn.
The first chance I get, I pull away from his grip and hurry away from the dance floor, leaving him behind.
Chapter 13
