Page 13 of The Dark Obsession

“Rosa!” I hear from behind my bedroom door.

Dale grabs his jeans off the floor and puts them on with haste.

I slide the blankets to my neck just in time as Benjamin lets himself into my room. He scans Dale sitting shirtless on the edge of my bed, then me covered with a blanket.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment

“Right, Dale. I think it’s time you left.” Benjamin’s voice is low and threatening, resentment etched across his face. Benjamin, who’s even taller and definitely broader than Dale, stares at the defiant man sitting as still as stone on the end of my bed.

“Is that not up to Rosa?” Dale’s eyebrows cross as he rises. His pale face flushes with anger, and he doesn’t take his dark eyes off Benjamin.

Benjamin steps closer to Dale, squaring his shoulders.

Dale’s knuckles tense; each bone in his hands are pronounced under his pale white skin.

My skin prickles as I sense a fight. I jump from my bed, my blanket wrapped tight around my naked body, and stand between them. “Stop.”

“Or, what?” Ben growls, not taking his gaze off Dale.

Dale laughs. “You’ve got problems, man.”

“You, what?” Ben takes one small step, completely closing the gap between them.

“You best go, Dale. Let’s meet after my work tomorrow,” I say, my voice high and gentle.

Dale notices my concerned expression, and his eyes soften. He steps backwards from Ben and places a warm hand on my heated cheek. “Sorry, Rosa. Yes, call me when you’re out. Good luck, beautiful.” He leans in to kiss me but diverts when he sees the look Benjamin shoots at him. He pulls his shirt over his head and leaves, not looking back.

Benjamin scrutinizes me, disgust filling his eyes, and turns swiftly to the door.

“Ben,” I shout after him, but he doesn’t respond. I fall onto my bed and stare at the ceiling. My eyes burn with angry tears as my emotions hit me. I take deep breaths to calm my nerves.

What the hell has just happened?I let myself shudder as I imagine Dale’s dangerously dark eyes. My skin remembers Dale—his soft touch, his beautiful pale body against mine. My body feels wronged, as if I have made a big mistake. I shrug it off and turn onto my side. My heart flutters like a thousand butterflies trapped in a glass cage. I remember the tension and the look my brother gave me. I close my eyes, letting a single tear carve a burning path down my cheek. A tear not of sadness, but of anger—anger for what has happened, because of a simple decision I have made. Benjamin’s hate towards my decision to be with Dale. But most of all, anger at myself for feeling bad for Dale, for giving him my body so easily. It’s just that I can’t get enough of him, his smell, his taste. The way he moves, his smile.

Even his anger.

Chapter 7

Iawake from a long night of disturbed sleep. Dreams of death plagued my slumber. My brother’s lifeless body, spread across the kitchen floor, flashes before my eyes as I turn onto my back.

I blink several times before I can see clearly enough to check the time on my watch—4:45. I lie still for a moment, my body stiff. I try to remember more of my nightmare; nothing comes back to me. I take my phone from my bedside table. Squinting to see the screen ,I notice I have a single email that reads, “7 a.m., Woodbury Town Police Station.”

My heart jumps, and I sit upright much too fast, my head spinning. Straight on the job. I think in a panic that I have never done any work in this field. My body aches as I scramble from bed and hurry to the bathroom. The mirror shows brown rings around my eyes, my hair a mess, and, to my surprise, my neck boasts a large purple-red bite mark. I fiddle with my makeup, trying to cover the remains of last night. How unprofessional would I look with a giant love bite and brown eyebags on my first day? I scold myself, scribbling,Need to be MORE Professional, on a sticky note and slap it to my bathroom mirror.

After my morning routine of washing my hair, brushing my teeth, ensuring I look presentable, choosing the right pair of high heels, and grabbing my laptop and notepad, I rush through my bedroom door, wanting to be early. I creep down the hallway, hoping not to wake Benjamin, hoping to leave without problems, though, as I arrive at the kitchen, I see him sitting there, coffee in hand.

“Morning, Rosalie.”

“Morning, Benjamin. Why are you up so early? It’s six fifteen, you know.” I flash a fake smile, awkwardly straightening my black skirt and pulling it down a little.

He readjusts in his chair, his eyes boring into mine. He gestures towards the chair opposite him.

I take my time to approach the table.

He does not speak till I sit. He opens his mouth several times before closing it again, lost for words. He breathes deeply and grabs my hand. “I’m sorry, Rosa. I was a dick.” He drops my hand and takes a sip of his coffee. “I just don’t like the guy. I know what he’s like …” He shook his head.

“Benjamin, there is absolutely no point in saying sorry, to then start back on the problem. I’m not a child anymore. I can’t rely on you to protect me from everything.” My voice gaining power with each word.

I study Benjamin as he furrows his eyebrows at me, his deep-blue eyes large and bright. I notice they are also ringed and dark around the edges. Our large kitchen is bright, the early mornings sunrays shine through the double glass doors that lead into the garden. The sun glitters against the light-blue-painted walls. I squint as I wait out this awkward conversation.

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