Secret Obsession

by S. Massery

She’s the light that captivates my attention anywhere we go, and I loathe her for it.

She’s in love with him—it’s only fair that he break her heart once and for all. I’m okay with getting cut up by her jagged little pieces.

“Your little game with my brother is over, got it? Your game with me is only just beginning. Starting with this.” He lets the tip of the blade point toward the man. “Starting with secrets that will tie us together forever.”

It’s not like we go around murdering people. Usually, it’s more of a beat up, seriously injure, or maim energy.

What am I supposed to do when she does that? Put a tracker under her skin? I glance at Steele. He did that to Aspen. And, to my knowledge, she still doesn’t know about it.

“Your lock is fixed. Your apartment is clean. Get some sleep, baby. You’re going to need it for what I have planned for you. And you don’t deserve to sleep on somebody’s couch.”

“If you ever mention my brother’s cock again,” he says, his breath fanning against my lips, “I’ll bring you back up here and dangle you off this rooftop.” “Don’t call me baby and I won’t bring it up.”

When she’s awake or asleep or fucking daydreaming, I want it to be my scent she longs for, my smile she craves, my touch she needs. Until next time.

“No, if I wanted to force you to spend time with me, I’d tie you up and keep you in my room like a good little pet.” He leans in, his eyes gleaming. “I’d cut off your clothes and make you kneel at my feet as I did my homework, with a gag in your mouth and your wrists bound behind your back. Maybe I’d put a vibrator in your pussy and watch you squirm and see how far I could push you before you begged for just a little more… pressure.”

“The day I kneel at your feet is the day I die,” I manage to respond. He shrugs, sitting straighter and focusing back on his easel. “We can simulate your death if you want, baby. But you’re not leaving this earth one second before me.”

“Every time you sit down, I want you to think of this moment.” He moves behind me, and suddenly his teeth are on my ass cheek. He grips my hips hard, keeping me from escaping. “And if you ever sit on my brother’s lap again, I’ll spank you so hard, you won’t be able to walk without thinking about me.”

Miles always comes to me in the middle of the night, in the absence of Knox. Because my heart seems to like forbidden things, and maybe Miles has always been my temptation in the dark.

“I’ve decided that this will prove to you that I’m serious,” he says. “Serious about…?” “You. Me.”

He wants to be in my mind and my heart and my soul.

“This is our initiation. If I didn’t do this, you’d never let me in. But it’s my promise to you.”

“I’ve dreamt about what you feel like,” he says in my ear. “But goddamn, woman, nothing in my imagination could compare to the real thing.”

I want her alone. I want her isolated. But I need her to learn that, of all the people in the world, and of all the fucked-up shit people will do to each other, I will never leave her.

I want everything. I want her tears and her anger and her heartbreak. I want her smile and laughter and joy. And fuck, I just want her to walk around not looking so dazed. Or drunk. Or pained.

Well, I knew I was obsessed with her. It should be fucking obvious that I’m in love with her, too.

“Wake up, wild girl.” My brows furrow. “I’m not sleeping.” He straightens, and I swear, his expression is almost wistful. Or… regretful?

She smiles and puts her hand against mine. God, I’d do anything for that smile.

I want to stalk up to her, wrap my fingers around those silky golden locks, and wrench her head back. And kiss her like she’s my only oxygen.

She captivates me without even trying.

“You were great,” I tell her. “You saw?” Her lips part, and her gaze darts to her friend. Back to me. “You were just getting yelled at⁠—” I shrug. “Worth it.” Her smile makes it worth it.

“I can’t fall in love with you,”

“You will,” he replies. “You don’t have a choice. There’s never been a choice with us, wild girl. You’ll fall in love with me, and it’s going to be a hundred times better than any love you held for Knox. Because I deserve you and you deserve me.” His gaze intensifies. “And when you do realize that you’re madly in love with me, you’re going to know in your bones that I won’t leave you. I haven’t left you, and I won’t ever. It’s you and me until the end of time.”

I want to edge you until you lose control and beg me to fuck you.” My heart flutters. “But right now, I’m going to do the honors myself. I’m going to fill your ass with my cum. And it’s going to hurt. But the best things in life all hurt a little, don’t they?”

“Does it say my great love will end in heartbreak?” Willow huffs. “Because that’s how it feels right now.” Knox is not her great love. “No.” I run my nail down the line, eliciting a beautiful shiver from her. “It says you’re destined to fall in love with me.”

“I don’t need a screaming child,” I tell her. “I don’t even need a well-behaved child. I just need you.” She stalls out. Her hands plant on her hips, and her head tilts. “What?” I shrug. “I don’t give a shit about babies. I want you. I need you. Haven’t I said that enough? That it’s you and me, forever? If you don’t want to get pregnant, that’s fine. If the IUD hurts, you should get it out. And because it freaks you out that much, I’ll take responsibility for it and get snipped.”

“The girl who was involved in the other break-in woke up.” Relief sweeps through me. “That’s great.” “It is,” the detective agrees. “She was able to give us a statement.” “Good.” “She said that the man who broke in and attacked her kept asking her one question.” Detective Barrister pauses. “He wanted to know where his brother is.”

The dead guy’s brother is hunting us. Not just us. Me.

“Hey, wild girl,” I greet her. “Hey, yourself,” she replies. “What are you wearing?” I cough. “Ms. Reed, are you trying to sexy talk?” “I’m succeeding.” Her smile is apparent in her tone. “I’ll tell you what I am… or rather, not wearing.”

I don’t want her thinking I don’t want her here. I do. But I also want to know how she got here, and who drove, and if she wore her seat belt. And if they drove the speed limit. And⁠—

“I love you,” Miles repeats. He’s undone my restraints and lifted me into his lap, but he bats away my hand whenever I go for the blindfold. “I’m not going to leave you. I’m not going to hurt you in any way you don’t want to be hurt. I love you, and I’ll always love you.”

“We’re the opposite, you and me. You’ve never been in love. But I fell in love at first sight. And I’m pretty sure it’s the forever sort of thing.”

“You just left?” “That’s what I do.” I hate the lump in my throat and the agony ripping through my chest. “I leave people, Miles. It’s better that you learn it before you get too invested⁠—” “Oh, fuck off,” he growls. I rear back. “Too invested? I’ll show you too invested.”

“How long is your power play?” Miles closes us in, crowding me back against the glass. “Hmmm… until you scream my name so loud, it echoes around the arena.” My breath catches. “And why would I do that?” “Because I’m going to take my time eating your magic cunt, and you’ll be crying to your god—me.” “Oh.” He smirks. “Yeah. Oh.”

“Why’d you do that?” I ask. “Because not all families look the same. You don’t just get me in this deal, wild girl. You can have more love than you know what to do with.”

I should’ve done that. I should’ve caged my songbird when I had the chance, because she flew away without a fucking word. There was no trace of her anywhere.

her brother-in-law mentioned a show she’s doing in Denver in a few months. I’m not sure if anything has been announced… But since you live in the area, I figured I would mention it.” I stand. I just can’t sit anymore, not with the idea of Melody Cameron being in the same fucking city as me. Again. Finally.

“Mr. Rhodes?” I turn toward the attendant. She points to her computer. “You’ve been outbid.” Fuck. “By who?” I demand. Her expression turns pinched. “Placed online by… Mr. Cameron.”

“I love you,” I say in her ear. Words just for her. Because anyone who convinced this girl she doesn’t know love can fuck off right to Hell.

“At least I learned something? What, that my boyfriend is a psychopath?” I freeze. “You’re not my boyfriend.” Oh, fuck. He’s grinning.

He grabs my hips and tosses me over his shoulder, then breaks into a run. “She’s my real girlfriend!” Miles yells. I shake my head and laugh. What the fuck is wrong with us? “Fake,” I cry out. “Fake girlfriend!”

“You got Miles into this mess,” he seethes. “If anything happens to my baby brother⁠—” “Knox.” I dig my heels in. “Where are we going?” “Get in the car, Reed.” He gets up in my face, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck. Holding me nose to nose with him. “My brother would sacrifice everything to save you. We’re going to do the exact same fucking thing.”

“What’s going on?” He grits his teeth. “You for him. That’s what he said.”

“I listened as that fucker hit his car repeatedly until he crashed, and then he dragged my brother out of it. And he took his phone, too. I heard his voice. He just wants answers, Willow, and he thinks you can give them to him.”

“You’ll never trust your brother again,” he says. “Because you’ll always blame him for killing your girlfriend.”

“What makes you think she’s not worth ten of me?” I yell in his face. “What gives you the right to play God and trade our lives like that?”

He played with her heart—and fuck it, he played with mine—for a year. Of course he would push her into the arms of the guy who wanted to hurt both of us.