Page 33 of Lust
Tobias didn’t bother hiding his disappointment at my answer. “I get it,” he whispered. “You’re not into me.”
“No. That’s not it at all.” I had an inkling that the hurt in his voice had less to do with me turning down a date and more to do with the mention of Tris. But why?
He sighed, shaking his head. “Until you decide what you want, maybe it’s best if I stop coming around.”
It’s clear that I had made a colossal mistake. The wheels were turning in his head, and he was reconsidering what was between us. I could see it in his eyes.
“Tobias—”
“I have to go,” he swiftly cut me off. His eyes were filled with the pain that came from rejection.
Before I could utter another word, he gave me a paltry excuse about an early shift and something about staying in touch. Then he was off.
My stomach dropped.
I was on the brink of losing the best thing that had happened to me in years, and I had no idea why I was letting it happen. My heart tugged heavily with desperation as I watched Tobias walk away and possibly out of my life.
* * *
It had been a long day of walking around the city aimlessly. My head was throbbing by the time I returned home; my heart saddened over Tobias. I had hoped for a good night’s rest to take my mind off it, but my doomed luck had other plans.
“Tris?”
I opened the door to my room and found my brother on the bed with his elbows resting on his knees. Startled, I froze in place.
“What are you doing here?”
It was late. The room was illuminated with dimmers, but his amber-golds still glowed in the dark with an unholy manifestation. His glare followed me as I dropped my purse on the desk.
My heart was pounding like I had run a marathon. Tristan was here before the weekend, which was near impossible for a congressman. Given his tight agenda, time-off had to be prescheduled. If he was here, it was due to a dire circumstance, possibly even revenge for breaking the promise to stay away from a certain cop.
I had already suspected that Tris knew about Tobias. Reading his current mood, there were no more doubts in my mind that he had been informed of Tobias and was here to dole out my punishment. There was a bad omen in the air, promising retribution for my actions. Whatever he had planned would be his most fierce attack to date.
The thought was arduous, and I simply didn’t have the energy to participate in our rivalry.
“Can we not do this tonight?” I asked, not bothering with the pretenses that he wasn’t privy about Tobias, nor would I deny what’s between us.
Postponing to strike for an opportune moment wasn’t the rule of the game. I had a looming suspicion that Tris’ plot would force my hand into calling it quits with Tobias altogether, especially if he believed our association might negatively impact his campaign.
This wasn’t about rivalry; it was about his ambitions. Nothing took precedence over it, not even my happiness.
“Please, I’m exhausted,” I tried again.
He didn’t respond. Some time passed without a single syllable, then Tristan slowly rose to his feet.
I did a silent prayer in my head.Please, God. Please just let him put a lid on it for tonight.
Instead of exiting the room, he said in the clearest of voices, “Where have you been?”
I blinked at the unexpected question.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he said in a voice of steel.
Something about his tone made my blood run cold. There wasn’t an ounce of emotion, the taciturn words reverberating with unkindness. Sweat prickled my scalp, and I wondered if my legs were wobbling under me.
Tristan remained impassive, waiting for a response. And I wondered if he’d go away if I gave him a simple explanation.
“I went for a walk around the waterfront.”
