Page 81 of Broken Obsession

Ares was not his sweet university boyfriend.

He was a devil who wanted to own Eden’s mind and body. All of this, these gifts, these hugs, they were mere distractions meant to keep him occupied so he didn’t notice the noose slipping around his neck.

Eden pried himself free from those strong arms, the cold biting his cheeks and seeping through the thick material of his coat instantly. He kept his back straight and made sure his determination was visible when he locked eyes with Ares once more.

“You said I could go when I wanted to,” he reminded. “So what if I do? Or what if I want to stay on as a professor, and it’s just you I end up wanting to leave?”

“Is this the connection you sought so strongly?” Ares stared back blankly, visibly shutting down. Closing Eden out. “Honesty? Fairness?”

“I know why you won’t answer my questions,” Eden said. “But I want to hear it.”

“Why? Do you think that will make a difference?”

“Your brother told me I have many branches to choose from.”

He scowled. “You’re speaking of things you don’t understand to get at me.”

“It’s working.”

“It is.” Ares was angry. It may not show on his face or in his stance, but somewhere along the way, Eden had picked up a thing or two and could recognize it now even without the obvious signs. “I recall stating clearly you don’t get control with me. Now you want equality as well? I was going to allow the illusion, but you’re never satisfied, Starling. The board is mine. I create the reality I want.”

“What about choice being a deciding factor?”

“You have a choice,” he said. “You can either be mine the easy way, or the hard way.”

Eden clenched his teeth to the point of discomfort.

“I play fair within the rules we’ve already set. It’s not my fault you didn’t think things through before climbing into bed with me. You can choose to end this and allow Daven Dephikto get away with his crimes, just as I promised. But since transparency is what you’re after, I’ll promise you something else as well.”

Ares took a single step closer, allowing his heat to radiate from his body to Eden’s, but careful not to touch him anywhere. As though holding that warmth at bay on purpose. Teasing him with the possibility of comfort and protection from the cold.

“I won’t force you to sign your life over,” he revealed. “I’ll simply remove your other options until the only choice, the only path, available is the one that leads you directly to me. But if you push me to that point, Eden Baldur, if you force my hand, and I have to destroy Astral Realms Innovations and get you fired from your position here at Sacrum Cor, that will only leave one place left for you to return to. My bed.”

Eden sucked in a sharp breath when the Black Hart leaned in and nuzzled against his right cheek before breathing his final threat directly against the curve of his ear.

“I’ll fasten you to the headboard with golden chains. The only light you’ll experience will come through my bedroom windows. The only fresh air you’ll be allowed is when I slacken the reins and generously let you crack one open. You’ll see no one but me. Speak to no one but me. Eat, sleep, and breathefor me. You’ll be unhappy half of the year, but the other half you’ll be lust-drunk and trapped on my cock.”

“A!” the voice from the phone yesterday called from somewhere, breaking through the trance-like state Eden had slipped into.

He shoved Ares away, eyes wide, a very real panic rushing through his veins.

Ares smirked, then lifted a hand toward a blond man standing a few yards down the path. “Well, Professor? Are you satisfied with my forthcoming, or is there another question you’d like me to answer?”

All Eden could manage was a single shake of his head.

“Since Fisher is here, I’ll head to class with him. You remember how to find your office on your own?”

He nodded.

For a moment, Ares hesitated, but whatever he wanted to do or add, he seemed to think better of it. With a sigh, he turned and walked off to join his friend.

The pretty one who had a special nickname for him.

Good Light.

“He’s made me half mad already.” Eden rubbed at his face, waited for the two to get further down the path, and then started for the music building.

Maybe if he threw himself into the jitters of his first day of teaching, he’d be able to forget all about the psychotic threats and flashing red flags he’d just been presented with.