Cruel Obsession (The Obsession Duet 1)

My gaze collides with hers, and the softest whimper I’ve ever heard escapes her lips as I prowl toward the bed. She doesn’t know how dangerous this is for her. How easy it would be for me to let go and ruin everything.

There’s nothing to stop me from falling off the edge, no one to hold me back.

Standing next to the bed, her eyes dart to the door and back to me again. Back and forth, they move like a bouncy ball, and without her even knowing, she’s giving herself away.

I’m trained to kill, trained to see peoples’ next move. She’s a chessboard, and her face is giving away her next move.

Walking a little further into the room, I say, “If you don’t stop running from me, you’ll force my hand. You’re going to make me do something I’d rather not. I’m not a monster, Dove, but I’ll do what I have to, to prove my point.”

“I’m not scared of you,” she yells across the bed, her cheeks red. The tremble in her voice, giving away the lie.

Shaking my head, I walk around the bed. Her eyes scan the room, and with nowhere else to go, she climbs up onto it. If my next move doesn’t work, I’ll have to subdue her with my body.

“If you don’t stop, I’ll visit your friend from the shelter. Sasha…is it?” As soon as the words leave my lips, she freezes in the center of the bed. “Or maybe I’ll visit Donna at the New Haven Senior Care.”

My threat hangs heavy in the air as I watch Dove’s face pale. She might act brave and fearless when it comes to her own safety, but she won’t risk the lives of the people she loves. She doesn’t know I wouldn’t actually hurt them.

Not since I know how important those people are to her. Not knowing how well Donna took care of her and how good of a friend Sasha has been to her.

Fresh tears pool in her eyes, and when she blinks, they slide down her cheeks.

“Don’t… don’t hurt them. Please, I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt them.”

I should feel satisfied with myself as I watch her drop down onto the mattress, her cheeks stained with sadness, but I hate that I had to go there.

“I won’t hurt them unless you make me. Now, I want to show you around the house. This doesn’t have to be a prison, it’s all what you make of it. Will you behave now?”

She nods and hesitantly crawls off the bed, her head lowered in defeat as she comes to stand next to me.

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. I’m Zane. I built this entire place for you. The library, gym, living room. Every inch of this place was built with you in mind.”

That seems to get her attention, and she looks up from the floor and right at me.

“Why would you build this place for me? I don’t even know you.” I ignore her question, knowing that answering one will lead to a million more.

“Come, let me show you around.” I extend my hand, and she looks at it with hesitation before placing her own in mine. Pleasure sparks deep in my gut and radiates south into my cock. Her hand is so tiny, fragile, and warm. Before I let my brain drag me in a different direction, I start the tour.

“This is the master bedroom, which we’ll share together. Through that door,” I point to the far-right door. “That’s the bathroom. There is a huge shower, and a tub for you to soak in since I know you like your baths.”

Her eyes go impossibly wide, and I can only imagine what’s going on in her head right now. Tugging her out of the bedroom, I walk toward the living room. “You already know where the kitchen and dining room are. Here is the living room. I’ve got all your favorite movies and tv shows here.” She doesn’t say a thing just stares open-mouthed at the space.

“Off the living room is a short hallway, which leads to the gym and library.” I point in the direction of the hall.

Turning to me, she looks up at me, her wet lashes fanning against her cheek. “W-why would you do this, and how do you know what I like and don’t like?”

Part of me wants to tell her nothing, to remain silent, but eventually, she’ll know the truth. Eventually, she’ll find out just how important she is to me.

I tug her closer and grip her gently by the hip, loving the way she molds like clay to my will. “Because, Dove, I’ve been watching you. I know everything about you. What you like, what you don’t like. Your favorite foods, movies, what time you wake up in the morning. I even know when you get your period and for how long it lasts.”