Page 9 of The Dark Obsession

“It’s so quiet,” I say with a sigh and lean into him; I lightly place my hands on his soft cheeks.

As we touch, I want nothing but his lips on mine, to taste his breath. I pull his face lower.

His eyebrows rise with surprise, eyes glowing with desire. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer so our bodies lock in a tight embrace. As our lips touch, his hand slides up my back to my neck. Our kiss becomes more urgent; the passion radiates from his body.

My racing heart beats so powerfully he surely must feel it thudding in my chest. I feel his lips curve into a smile against mine. I return the smile, unable to suppress it. I want one thing and can only think of that one thing: him. Our kiss comes to an end, but I crave more. I watch his flaming eyes as he steps backwards and grabs my hand to head for his house.

“Are you sure it’s been a year? You seem perfectly up to scratch with your kissing.” He grins and spies my hand loosely holding his.

I smirk. “Yes, but I practice with my pillow.”

“Lucky pillow.” He laughs as we enter his house, and he leads me to a large front room.

The first thing I see is a large colourful piece of art, featuring a lady in white lounging across a beautiful sofa, covering covers most of the light beige wall in front of me. A double brown leather sofa sits opposite a huge flatscreen TV. Two beautiful diamond lamps on either side of the room casts a shimmering light across the snow-white ceiling.

I sit on the sofa, while Dale disappears from the room, mentioning something about drinks, but I’m too distracted to hear. I finally have a little time to think; everything is moving so fast. I feel drawn to this beautiful blonde man who I barely know; I want to be in his arms—his smell, his touch, his thoughtful looks, which entice me, the butterflies whenever I think about him, his lips, those bright red soft lips that when touching mine make me feel so alive. At the same time, I recognise a feeling I’ve not felt before, like something telling me to stop, to slow down, or even run. I’ve been with men before but never have I felt like this.I need to snap out of this!I need to slow this down. I don’t want to rush.My words echo in my head.

Dale coughs lightly to let me know his presence, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Do you like horror?” He sets two glasses and a bottle of wine onto the coffee table.

I nod and smile, still too preoccupied to answer. I watch him pour us each a glass of white wine. He hands me the wine, and I take a sip; I don’t drink much, but wine is the only alcohol I enjoy. It’s fruity and a little dry; it burns slightly as it runs down my throat. I shuffle aside, trying to put a gap between us. The magnetic force of the passion I feel tries to pull me back.

“How is it?” He puts his arm around my shoulder and squeezes it gently. He presses Play onThe Shining.

I have never watched the movie through—horror bores me—but I recline into his arm, faking a look of excitement, and sip on my wine. “It’s nice, fruity. What made you pick a horror?”

He glances at me and grins. “What better way to get you to cuddle me than a horror?”

The movie was uneventful, nothing I didn’t expect. We sat and discussed different movies we watch, our favourite genres. Dale’s favourite is horror; mine is a good crime thriller.

I sip on my fourth glass of wine. My head spins slightly, and my stomach churns whenever I move my head. I should have eaten the stupid omelette. I hold my breath when he tightens his hand on my shoulder and pulls me closer to him on the sofa. I look at him with blurred vision, then giggle childishly for no reason.

He smiles; his dimple deepens as his hands rest on my crimson cheeks. He steadies my face close to his and kisses my lips.

I inhale deeply, his glorious scent overwhelming me.

He places both hands on my waist, and his fingers move slowly up my sides. With his soft lips, he traces my jawline, lightly kissing when his lips fall to my neck.

I quiver and throw back my head, giving him space, and exhale a gentle sigh. Each kiss intoxicates me further. I grasp his hair as his lips travel around my neck, kissing and nibbling.

“You like this?” he whispers between each kiss, looking up to me.

I roll my eyes and smile. I place my fingers under his chin to bring his face level to mine. I fix my lips to his for a short moment before I recoil. “I have to go, Dale,” I say softly.

He bites his bottom lip.

“I feel like we are rushing. I don’t want to rush.” I lower my gaze to my hands. “See me again next week?”

I want him; I want all of him. But if I want this to last, to be real, we must take it slower. I see the shock from my rejection in his eyes; he’s momentarily lost for words.

He opens his mouth to speak several times before changing his mind. “Okay, I understand. It’s Wednesday now. Maybe on Monday we can meet and talk?” The lack of confidence in his voice is evident.

I kiss his cheek as I rise from my seat.

“Just one thing, did I do something? Did I say too much?”

“No,” I say hurriedly, not wanting him to think I dislike him. “I like you a lot, that’s why I want us to move slower, give us time, a real fighting chance. I want to see you again.” I head to the front door.

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