Page 123 of Obsession

That voice…

I know that gravelly voice too well, having felt it whispered against my naked skin in the midnight hour.

Now, as it splits the crowds to reveal the man himself—my very own devil—that same voice commands my heart to beat faster.

His arresting face, partly hidden beneath his blonde wig, navy cap, and sunglasses, has me swallowing thickly. I school my features, surprised I don’t falter in my step.

The world spins out of control in my periphery, but he’s all I can focus on—the small smirk that curves his sinful lips, which I’ve felt travel the expanse of my thighs. Lips I’m dying to feel pressed against mine.

When I walk past him, his smoky, dark scent invades my senses. His black jacket brushes up against my shoulder, and I’m hyperaware of the feel of his broad, warm chest beneath it.

I don’t look at him again, but the heat of his gaze burns my back the entire way to my car. He’s here, in broad daylight, blending with the crowd.

After entering the vehicle, I turn the ignition and scan the faceless reporters. I catch a quick glimpse of his retreating back, weaving through men and women. No one spots him. They’re too focused on the story they’re frothing over to notice what’s hiding in plain sight.

I crane my neck, trying to see him again as the sky darkens overhead, but he’s gone.

The first raindrop splashes against the windscreen, followed by more. I pull away from the curb and drive in a daze to the office, vaguely aware of the cop car behind me.

My eyes flick to the rearview mirror, and a spark of joy spreads warmth in my chest. I can’t deny the effect Robbie has on me or how he commands my attention when he says fuck you to common sense and seeks me out in broad daylight to tilt my world on its axis.

I’m so screwed.

Our story is, in fact, a doomed love story.

By the time I park outside the office and cut the engine, the spitting rain has turned into a downpour that hammers the window and roof.

The snow is mostly gone except for the slush clinging to the road’s edge.

I stare at nothing for a moment. My brain is surprisingly quiet as I shift my gaze across the road to the tall office building to my left.

For once, I don’t know where I’m heading in life, and I can’t see around the bend.

Where my future is concerned, it’s a murky lake with a glassy surface in spite of the rough undercurrents. All I know is that I’ll be drowned by the time it all comes to an end.

I don’t have a happy ending waiting for me at the finish line, only heartache.

My heart clenches, and I wring the steering wheel as tears blur my vision. There’s a crack in the leather, which I’ve never noticed before, though it’s to be expected. It’s an old car.

The first tear falls, and I glance up through the windscreen at the dark blue sky.

A sense of helplessness washes over me when the wind whips against the side of the car.

Outside, a woman in a long black coat walks by, and a strong gust of wind turns her umbrella inside out.

I watch it all while tears trail down my cheeks.

Reaching up, I wipe my cheeks dry with my sleeves. I’m sick of crying and feeling sorry for myself. I’ve felt powerless and at the mercy of others all my life, never the sailor of my own ship.

Much like this storm, life tosses me into its choppy waves, and I’m left to nurse my bruised remains.

Despite this, regret is one thing I refuse to feel when all is said and done. I’d rather let life cut me wide open and leave me to bleed dry than live my life afraid.

I refuse to say no to these emotions inside me, emotions Robbie evokes with a single look. Emotions I’ve never allowed myself to feel.

After opening the driver’s door, I enter the storm.

A howling gust of wind moves strands of hair around my shoulders, and rain whips the side of my face, pricking my skin like a thousand needles.