Page 102 of Colton

The darkness inside me purrs as I remember how she felt, how she tasted. How she surrendered. But it’s not enough. It’s never enough. It’ll never be enough.

I need more.

My phone buzzes with another message from my therapist. I ignore it. What the fuck would she know about this? About the way Luella feeds this thing inside me, makes it grow stronger with every breath she takes?

A man walks past her building, his head turning to look up at her window. My hand tightens on the gear shift until my knuckles turn white. One wrong move, just one, and I’ll...

But he keeps walking, and I force myself to breathe.

“Just making sure she’s safe,” I whisper to myself, but the monster in my chest laughs.

We both know what this is. What it’s always been.

An obsession.

A possession.

A claiming.

I could sit here all night, watching her window, telling myself I’m keeping her safe. But really, I’d just be feeding this darkness that threatens to consume us both.

But something is bothering me. Something I can’t ignore.

The music from the bar pulses behind me as I follow the bartender down the dimly lit street. His shift ended ten minutes ago, and now he’s walking home, completely oblivious to the shadow trailing him. My fingers twitch at my sides, remembering how Luella smiled at him.

I own that fucking smile.

He stops at a crosswalk, checking his phone. The streetlight casts an orange glow over his face, illuminating that pathetic neck tattoo he probably thinks makes him cool.

I could end him right here. It would be so easy. Just a quick movement, a sharp twist, and...

“Hey, man, you got a light?”

I freeze, realizing I’ve gotten too close. The bartender’s staring at me now, recognition flickering across his face.

“Oh shit, you’re the guy from earlier. With that hot girl.”

My jaw clenches so hard, I hear my teeth crack.Hot girl.Like she’s just some random woman he can comment on.

“Yeah,” I manage to growl out, reaching into my pocket. My fingers brush past my knife to find my lighter. “Here.”

He leans in to light his cigarette, and the monster inside me screams for blood. One quick movement. That’s all it would take.

But Luella’s face flashes in my mind. The way she looked at me tonight, like she saw past the monster to something worth saving.

“Thanks, man.” He leans back out, completely unaware of how close to death he just came. “Is she your girlfriend?”

My hand shoots out before I can stop myself, gripping his throat. Not squeezing, not yet. Just holding. A warning.

“She’s mine,” I state, my voice eerily calm despite the rage coursing through my veins. “That’s all you need to know.”

Fear floods his eyes as he realizes his mistake.

Good.He should be afraid.

I release him, watching as he stumbles backward, cigarette forgotten on the ground.

“Jesus fuck, man!” He rubs his throat, backing away. “You’re fucking crazy!”