Page 21 of Only Everything (The Obsession #1)

REID

It was dark. Not overly late, but enough time had gone by to make Tauren wonder what I’d been doing. Maybe I would have smiled if my nerves wouldn’t have been through the roof with impatience. And the questions. God, the fucking questions.

Each hour since I’d pulled over and watched Tauren and the cop stretched out like an eternity.

When she went home, I went further onto the state land that joined mine.

I made my way to the cabin and kept an eye on it from a distance, waiting, watching, seeing if that cop would show up at my house.

The way he’d been leaning into her car. The expressions I’d caught from him as he’d turned my way, not seeing me.

He’d given her a paper. Why? What had he written down?

I feared I knew. He hadn’t been angry from what I could see of his handsome face.

Too handsome, if I wanted to be honest. But I couldn’t be if I wanted to contain this rage. Which I barely could anymore .

I’d run back to my truck at a sprint the moment my alarm buzzed from my phone in my back pocket. And I’d sped the entire way home, secretly praying he’d pull me over too so I could question him… kill him? No. Or… no .

Metal creaked as I opened the door to my old truck and stepped out.

It didn’t take me but a few steps to make it up the porch.

I got my keys ready, cursing as the knob turned in my grasp.

I was ready to let my aggravation out on Tauren, and would have, had she not been bending over, putting a pot away in the bottom cabinet.

She had on one of my shirts, and view of her bare ass left me jolting to a stop.

Had it not been for the dark red lace covering her pussy from the thong, I wouldn’t have guessed she’d been wearing panties at all.

“The door isn’t locked.”

Tauren didn’t jump or look surprised. She rose, grabbing an open beer from the countertop as she turned to face me. There was a hesitancy that gave me pause as she quietly swept her gaze over my face.

“It’s barely nine. You said eleven.”

“For the deadbolt.” I shut the door, stepping inside and sliding the thick lock in place. “You lock the door at all times. Deadbolt after eleven if I’m not home. Or fuck, lock that one at all times too. Just make sure this damn door is locked.”

Tauren took a big swig of beer, placing it down as she jumped to sit on the counter to let her legs dangle.

“You’re angry. How was the date? Didn’t go as you hoped?”

I walked to the fridge, taking out a beer. “It was a visit, not a date. ”

“Right.”

Twisting the lid off, I tossed it into the trash, turning back to face her.

“You don’t believe me?”

She shrugged, picking back up her bottle but staying quiet. I moved in closer, not able to stop my stare from creeping up her legs to stop at the top of her thighs where my t-shirt rested.

“How was job hunting?”

“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t go.”

“Why not?”

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, triggering the possessiveness that came with the obsession I felt for her. God, she was beautiful.

“I was speeding. I got pulled over.”

“Did he give you any trouble?”

“No.”

When she didn’t elaborate, I continued. “Did he write you a ticket?”

Tauren paused, placing down the bottle. Again, her cheek ticked with the beginnings of what I knew was a hidden smile.

“Nope. No ticket, just his number.”

My head cocked to the side, and I placed my beer on the countertop next to hers.

“His number?”

“He knew Emmett. We met once. He used to be a rookie when he worked in Asheville. That was a few years back. I guess he works for the Sheriff’s department now. He heard about what Emmett did. He left me his number in case I needed someone to talk to.”

I couldn’t help the step I took forward.

“Did you tell him you’d call?”

Silence. She cleared her throat, narrowing her lids but keeping her tone soft.

“What was that that I believe you said to me… would you give a shit if I did? ”

I was pulling Tauren forward on the counter, more into my arms before she could process that I’d moved.

“Answer. Did you tell him?”

She pushed hard against my chest, trying to put space between us, but I didn’t move or loosen my hold around her. Heat from her pussy was in inferno against my stomach, and it was all I felt as I breathed heavily through the anger.

“I told Steve I wasn’t interested.”

“Steve?” The name growled through my clenched teeth. “You’re on a first name basis with this asshole? Where’s the paper with his number on it? Did you throw it away?”

Tauren licked her lips, wiggling again. “That would show guilt. I have nothing to hide. It’s in my purse.”

My fingers dug into her hip as I moved my mouth closer to hers.

“Are you going to throw it away, or are you already looking for Emmett’s replacement?”

A fist hit into my chest, barely with any impact for how close I had her drawn into me. She threw her shoulders to the side to break free of my hold, managing to reach up and V her hand at my chin.

“You’re trying to hurt me. It’s not going to work.” Her fingers tightened, only to grow loose as she moved her hold so that she could caress up my cheek. “There will be no replacement. I have who I want.”

I swallowed hard. “Then, you want to be with me?”

“I am with you, Reid. I’m right here.”

The anger that had momentarily eased rushed back through.

“You know what I mean. You, as mine .”

“Am I not yours? What do I have to do? Announce myself as your girlfriend? Your wife? You want me to carry the title but can’t be happy that I’m here with you? Fuck the title for the moment. I’m here .” Her nails dug into my cheek. “Why is this not good enough?”

“It’s not the same.”

“I’m right here. Take me. Have me. Let go of the stupid words. What are they good for anyway? Did carving my name in your arms repeatedly make you feel any better? Did it make me more yours?”

“It will when it scars and stays with me. I can count on that. I can’t count on you.”

I regretted my words the moment I said them. Tauren’s head drew and tilted back, and tears filled her eyes.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No, it is.”

“You run. You’ve proven that.”

“And instead of trusting me, which is what all relationships should have, you’re not letting me prove myself. Have I run since I’ve been here? Have I not been honest?”

“Tauren.”

“No. Reid, listen to what you’re saying. You want me to be more to you. To be titled as your girlfriend and maybe someday… ”

“ My wife .”

“But you don’t trust me. How are we ever going to have something that great without the foundation to build on it? Do you plan to force me as a last resort? Tie me up and make me a captive or slave instead of putting in the time and work it’ll take to become what you want the most?”

I glanced towards my hall where the room was, shifting as I eased my hold.

Did she know?

“I want you to stay. I want you to love me.”

“And you have that right now. I’m here. I love you. You’re afraid you’ll lose that?—”

“I’m not afraid,” I interrupted. “I won’t lose you again.”

Silence.

Tauren went back and forth between my eyes, finally nodding.

“I told you where I stand. I’m yours. I’m here. Take it or leave it. Or maybe you prefer Brittany. I mean, you left me here for her, didn’t you? I tell Steve no, and you tell her yes. Maybe I’m making the mistake of putting too much trust in you.”

I licked my lips knowing I had no argument. If anything, she had me by the balls. It was hypocritical even if Brittany didn’t exist, but I couldn’t tell her that.

“You can trust me. You’re mine and I’m yours.

” I grabbed her hand at my face, bringing it down to the top button of my shirt.

I didn’t tell her to undo them; she was already working the buttons with her fingers.

“You won’t say you’re mine with a title.

Fine. I’m okay with that. Just tell me you won’t be with anyone else. That’s all I need from you.”

I winced as she dug her nails in my pec.

“I give you actions, and you still want words?”

“Just say it.”

“No. I give the orders here. But I’ll tell you because I had every intention of doing that anyway. I will not be with anyone else.”

“You won’t call them? Text them? Lead them on? Sneak off and try to see them?”

Tauren’s nails drug across to the middle of my chest. The path of heat had me sliding my palm to settle over her lower back.

“No men will stand a chance. They won’t get my attention. I won’t lead them on.”

Weight seemed to disappear from my shoulders. I closed my eyes, nodding.

“Now you.”

“I’m not leaving your side again, Taur. I’ve already told you that. I’ll show you.”

“No.”

My lids opened as I took in her serious expression.

“You want me to say it bluntly, fine. No women but you. Only you.”

“No.”

My head shook in confusion. Tauren reached into the knife block, pulling out one with a small blade.

“We’re done with words right now. Prove it.”

The overwhelming thickness that was her seemed to push against every inch of my insides until that need screamed for me to set it free. To bleed was to breathe. Tauren lived inside of me. She was part of me like no one else would ever be.

I stepped back, ripping open the rest of my shirt to shrug off. I went to grab the knife but watched as she pulled it back. Tauren placed it down on the counter, pulling the shirt from over her head.

“I know you’ll cut my name into yourself. That’s not the proof I want to see. You say you want me. That you love me. Show me how far you’re willing to go to prove it. If you succeed, maybe I’ll do the same.”

My mouth opened but words wouldn’t come at first. I let my gaze leave her face to take in her full breasts. Her picking back up the knife left my mind spinning.

“You want me to cut you?”

“You don’t trust me. You’re so quick to think I’m going to find someone new. Show them who I really belong to.”

My jaw clenched repeatedly.

“You think marring your body is the answer to that? Tauren.” I took the knife.

“They’ll know you’re mine because I’ll show them you’re mine.

Then, they’ll leave willingly… or not. The result won’t change.

You’re mine.” I moved in, settling between her spread legs as I brought the tip of the knife to scrape just below her collarbone. At the push, she gasped.

A bead of blood appeared, and I let it inch down as I moved the knife lower towards her heart.

“Now, if it’s my name you want on you, all you have to do is ask. That I’ll do, not for proof… for love.”