Page 71 of Arranged Addiction

“None of them were good enough for you. I couldn’t stomach the idea of anyone else touching what’s mine.”

“You don’t own me. You never did.”

“Not yet, but I knew one day I would, and now here you are. Living in my house. Wearing my ring. Taking my name.”

“Fuck you, Declan. This is too much.”

“I gave you a good life. I paid Sheila more than she ever dreamed possible to make sure you were taken care of. I did everything I could to ensure you had a good upbringing. I always planned on leaving you alone, but I never imagined how I’d feel seeing that one picture of you. It started everything, Casey. It ignited something inside of me.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it.”

“I’ve wanted you for a long time. Seven years feels like forever. I pulled you to me like a rock around a star. I dragged you closerand closer, hired you as my assistant, kept you as near as I could without burning you up. Until that fucking box landed on my desk and I finally broke.”

My chest heaves up and down. I try to steady myself, but I’m shaking. “That’s all it took? Some lingerie? Some stupid sex toys?”

“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted you. That night was everything. Even if Senesi hadn’t come back, I would’ve found a way to keep you, Casey. You’re mine, fully and completely, and I’m yours so deeply it’s like a sickness in me.”

“Stop it.” I kick the sheets off and scramble across the bed. I put it between us. His eyes move to my body, to the tight crop top I’m wearing and my stiff nipples poking out, down to the small shorts barely covering my ass. And now I wish I wore flannel pajamas to sleep. “I don’t want to hear anymore. I always thought I earned what I have. I thought I got everything on my own merit.”

“That’s not how life works. You’re talented. You’re smart and beautiful. But that isn’t ever enough. You need luck. I’ve been your talisman.”

“You’re insane.”

“I gave you everything. I even kept Natalie close. I wanted you to be happy.”

“Don’t talk about her,” I hiss, clutching at my chest. “She’s dead because of you.”

He goes still. His head tilts to the side, and I know what he’s thinking.

She’s not dead because of him… she’s dead because of me.

But he doesn’t say it out loud.

“I wanted to tell you everything, but you weren’t ready. I planned on making you understand slowly.”

“So you lied to me?”

“I only kept silent.”

“Sheila tried to make me understand, but you threatened her, didn’t you?”

He shakes his head. “No, I only made it clear that I wanted to tell you on my own. Sheila doesn’t hate me the way you probably think she does. She understands what I’ve done for you.”

“You manipulated me. You isolated me.”

“I gave you everything.”

“You turned me into some freakish toy.”

“I made you my wife. I built my life around you.”

“You didn’t know me. You saw a picture. That’s just crazy.”

“It was enough.” He takes a step closer and I flinch back.

“Don’t. Just don’t. I need… I need to process. I need time to think. You’ve been stalking me, Declan.”

“I don’t see it that way.” He remains where he is on the other side of the room. Shadows make him seem sinister and beautiful. I just notice his clothes are stained red, probably with blood, and I don’t want to know. I don’t want any of this anymore.