Page 79 of Arranged Addiction

“I chased away boyfriends. I watched you from afar. I studied your grades, stalked you between classes, made sure your friends were worthy of you.”

“That’s… terrifying.”

“You became a part of my life. I should have approached you so much sooner, but by then, I didn’t know how.”

“Is that why you made me your assistant?” I perk up slightly. “Are you the reason I had so much trouble finding a job?”

“Yes and yes.”

“You’re such a bastard, you know that?”

“I’m aware.”

I smile to myself, a tingling excitement in my stomach. “This is crazy.”

“I know that too.”

“You really were watching me all that time? All through college?”

“As often as I could. I told myself it would be okay if I never crossed the line.”

“What was the line?”

“Touching you.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “All it took was one box filled with lingerie.”

“One stupid mistake.”

“Was it though? Are you sure it was a mistake?”

He’s quiet for a moment. Then he shakes his head. “No, it wasn’t, because it ended up here. With you as my wife.”

“Even though I hate you?”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“I kind of do.”

“Then why are you still in my tub? Why haven’t you left? You’ve had plenty of chances.”

“Maybe I’m afraid.”

He turns slightly, shaking his head, and meets my gaze. “I know you, Casey. I know you better than anyone in the world. If you don’t want to do something, you don’t do it. You stayed because you wanted to.”

I know he’s right. Which pisses me off a little bit. I’ve always tried to live in a way that’s been true to myself, and if something feels wrong, I do my best to walk.

He’s given me plenty of chances to do exactly that.

“I still need your protection.”

“Yes, you do.”

“But that’s not everything.”

“No, it’s not.”

I push myself from the tub. Water runs off my body. He sits back and looks at me, his mouth hanging slightly open like he’s witnessing something angelic. I love the gleam in his eyes. The way he seems to worship me. I like him down on the floor like that, staring up at me while I’m completely naked and soaking and vulnerable.