Page 103 of Fame & Obsession

Furious green eyes lock onto where Nate’s arm is wrapped around my waist. Darkness consumes them until the color drains to complete blackness. His skin flushes from the base of his neck to his forehead, and he clenches his fists.

But he’s not alone.

That’s when I see the swoopy blonde hair.

Julian and Vivian.

He swore she meant nothing to him. Was that a lie? Had everything been a lie?

Nate’s hold tightens as Julian’s body tenses with rage. I’ve seen that look before. His mood is as subtle as a freight train.

Three of us still, each waiting for the other to move.

Julian waits for no one and lunges forward. “What the fuck?”

Instinctively, Nate pulls me behind him. Vivian extends a slender arm toward Julian, attempting to hold him back. Both actions infuriate him, and he jerks out of her grasp.

She tosses a victorious smirk in my direction. “Jules, let’s go back downstairs.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says, his lips curling into a snarl.

Julian’s anger pisses me off. Not only that, the fact that he brought Vivian here confuses the hell out of me. Then again, I’m standing here with Nate, so I can’t exactly cast stones.

Also, I can’t be sure we aren’t being watched.

I swore to do everything in my power to protect our baby. Causing a scene, no matter how much his being with her hurts me, would be counterproductive.

I touch Nate’s arm. “I don’t feel well. Can we leave?”

He nods. However, with one step, Julian blocks my path and holds my wrist in a firm grip.

“Get out of my way,” I say quietly.

“No.” His fists clench tighter. I can see the storm brewing in his eyes. He’s a ticking time bomb.

Grabbing my hand, Nate bulldozes down the hallway, and I stumble behind him without argument. Still, I can’t stop myself from glancing over my shoulder, Julian’s penetrating stare tears at my heart.

Nate opens the door to an empty banquet hall, and Julian’s voice thunders as it slams shut.

“Oh, fuck no. I’m not finished, princess.” His stomps echo down the hallway, and I hear him pacing in front of the locked door, stopping intermittently to bang on it.

I cover my ears and beg him to stop. The incessant pounding of his fist is ripping me apart. As tears slip down my cheek, I finally throw myself against the door.

With my heart in my throat, I slam my own fist back at him. “Go away! You made your choice.”

Julian barrels in, nearly taking the door down from its hinges. The force of his entry knocks me into Nate, and Julian’s chest swells as he shifts his eyes from my face to where Nate’s hands hold onto my waist

The visible pain in his eyes guts me. For a moment, the urge to hurl myself into his arms and confess everything almost pushes me over the edge. Only the triumphant sneer from behind him stops me.

Gathering my composure, I step in between the two men. “Julian…”

“Phoebe, we need to talk.” He glares at Nate. “Alone.”

I don’t trust myself. He’ll lower his voice to that seductive cadence that always lulls me under his spell. Obsession will take over, and before I know it, I’ll be in his bed.

This time, I have reinforcements to keep me strong.

I motion to Nate. “No, Julian. Whatever you need to say, say it here.” We exchange heated glances, and searing pain sends the flimsy wall I try to put between us up in flames.