Page 77 of Possession

I hold her to me tighter. There’s nothing I need more right now than self-preservation. If the only place for me to find that is with Landyn, I’m selfish enough to take it.

And I’ll apologize to her later.

I pull her face to mine and press my lips to hers. Her grip on my shirt tightens, and she presses her sweet body into mine, holding herself to me.

Desperation.

It’s bleeding from her. It’s different than it’s ever been. I recognize it because I feel it too.

Determined, sure.

Driven, absolutely.

But not desperate.

The wedding—that’s when it all changed.

In some ways, Landyn and I are searching for the same thing … a resolution. But for much different reasons.

Her tongue moves with mine, and my hand slides south on her ass. I can’t make myself pull away from her. She’s the only real and good thing I’ve touched in two years. The longer I allow myself this reprieve from the hell I’ve been submerged in, the more I want her.

My obsession is becoming so strong, I can no longer deny it’s a problem. I can’t afford to focus on anything else other than the end goal.

And Landyn AlbaTorresis not a part of that.

Fuck.

When I force myself to tear my lips from hers, I breathe in her exhale as if my heart needs it to keep beating. But I don’t let her go.

“Boz,” she murmurs. “Is something wrong?”

I open my eyes to find her staring up at me, trying to figure out the man she thinks is her husband. I shake my head. “It’s been a day. When I get back, we’ll watch whatever you want.”

A smile touches her lips. “You won’t be too late?”

“I won’t now,” I tell her the truth and go on, probably saying too much. “Not with you waiting on me.”

Her smile swells. “Thank you.”

I pull her to me one more time and press my lips to her forehead. And this time, I don’t lie when I say, “Baby, you’re the one who was torn from your life and forced to marry a stranger. Never thank me for anything.”

She gives my shirt a tug to get my attention. “I have a feeling I have more to be thankful for than I realize, and all of it has to do with you.”

I shake my head, but don’t say anything else. If I keep talking, I’m afraid of what will fall from my lips. Instead, I force myself to let her go. “I’ll see you tonight.”

18

TRINKET

Landyn

June tries to clear our dirty plates from the dining room, but I put my hand out to stop her. “Nope. Not tonight. I’m making a new rule: when Boz isn’t here, Rocco and I will help clean up.”

I have a feeling Boz wouldn’t allow it. I might not be able to leave the house by myself, but when he’s gone, I’ll do what I want. Nothing feels more normal than loading the dishwasher with my own dirty dishes.

And this all surprises me. I didn’t realize just how small of a small player my father is until I experienced everything Marino.

I thought we were wealthy. I thought my father was actually someone in SoCal. I had no idea he was a pawn in this dark underworld of drugs, trafficking, and every other illegal activity that crosses his hands.

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