Page 4 of Ravage (The Wellard Asylum #6)

M undane adult responsibilities had me ending up downtown running errands.

I’ve already been to the rental agency to pay this month's rent, and how I managed to get out of there without killing one of them still amazes me. The old fuckers who own the building I live in tried to swindle me out of more money, saying that I caused a leak that flooded the room beneath me. We argued for at least an hour until they finally gave up with not only the mention of suing but also the proof that I presented to them of the gremlin tenants below me stuffing enough toilet paper down the toilet to cause the flooding. The woman in the apartment rushed upstairs, banging on doors for help, and I was the only one annoyed enough with the racket to answer and help her. I’m glad that my security camera captured the entire exchange, but if I had known she was going to blame the flooding on me then I would’ve ignored her like everyone else.

The look on their faces was priceless when they realized that they couldn’t cheat me out of more money.

After storming out of there, I went straight to the electric place to pay the absurd amount of money from last month's energy use.

After all of that, I decided to forgo lunch at my favorite bistro and head back to my car.

The brisk air whips fallen leaves around me as I walk down the block, weaving in and out of various people milling about.

A horn blaring distracts me from my venture; turning my head to my left, I see a semi going way too fast down the road.

A girl with long brunette hair balances precariously on the curb; her hair whips up and around her face, obscuring her vision.

Normally, I'd keep walking, but an invisible cord pulls me closer to her, and I quickly step up behind her, grabbing her biceps and hauling her back into my chest before she topples to her demise. We stand there frozen on the sidewalk as she regains her bearings, and her chest heaves with residual panic. Her scent wafts up into my face; my nostrils flare with the feeling of deja vu. I spin her around so that I can ask her if she’s okay, and the most breathtaking creature stares up at me with worried brown eyes.

My Sweet Obsession is cradled in my arms, just like how I daydreamed during our last meeting.

Her mouth is hanging open, and her brows are scrunched as she gazes up at me with glassy eyes.

A smirk forms on my lips as I watch several emotions dance across her gaze; worry, surprise, and then fear.

I think fear is my favorite expression of hers, the way her lips tip down at the corners and her eyes grow impossibly larger.

She looks up at me, her brows raising while she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, the movement lighting up a fire in my chest. “Are you okay?” I ask as I transform my expression into one of worry.

“You almost took a bad tumble there.” A small gasp leaves her lips at my words, the sound making my heart race.

I’m not sure if she feels it too, but the sparks of electricity tingling up my arms is almost enough to distract me from the fact that we are standing on a crowded sidewalk during rush hour.

“H-how did you…” She struggles to answer my question, her face twisting up in confusion.

“You were in trouble. Would be a shame if I just let a beautiful woman fall to her demise.” I say it with the friendliest smile that I can muster.

“Where did you come from?” She demands while she pushes against my chest, the fearful look dissipating from her face.

“That way.” I point in the direction I came from, but she is less amused by my answer than I thought. “I was paying bills downtown, and now I’m walking back to my car.” I point at the black car that is a few spaces away from us against the curb.

“So you weren’t just stalking me then?” That makes me chuckle, because as much as I thought about stalking her, I didn’t go through with it… at least not yet, anyway.

“No, I wasn’t stalking you, Sloane.” A piece of hair falls down against her forehead, causing irritation to rise inside of me.

Reaching up, I swipe the piece of unruly hair away from her face.

She flinches away from my touch, and the anger that builds in me is anything but normal.

I clench my fists at my side, watching as she steps away from me.

“Well, I better be going now. Nice to see you again, Sloane. I look forward to seeing you again soon.” I leave her with a smile and a wave, making my way over to my car.

The lock disengages with a beep, and I climb into the car and then shut the door behind me.

I watch as Sloane stares at me, a look of disgust mixed with intrigue.

She watches me the whole time that it takes for me to pull out of my parking spot and drive away.

This girl is infuriating in the best way.

My mind goes over possibilities of how move-in day will go, and I tighten my hands around my steering wheel in excitement.

The urge to go back and fix her unruly clothing is intense and hard to resist. I imagine helping her pick out the perfect outfits each morning and making sure she’s eating healthy foods.

She will eventually thank me for everything I intend to do to perfect her.

She will be my perfect obsession once I’m through with her.