Page 12 of Ruthless Possession

William

Leaving Noah’s apartment should have felt like freedom. Instead, it felt like a mistake. I told myself I was just tired. That I needed space, needed air, needed time to think without him breathing down my neck. But even now, as I stepped inside my own room, I could still feel him.

His hands. His mouth. His fucking voice. My skin burned with the memory of him, and I hated it. I hated that I wanted to go back. But I wouldn’t. Because Noah Draven might’ve claimed me in his own twisted, possessive way, but he never asked.

And that? That was starting to piss me off.

“Dude.”

Tim stared at me, mouth slightly open, like I had just told him the biggest scandal of the year.

Which, honestly? Maybe I had.

He blinked. “You’re telling me that Noah Draven—the Noah Draven—is, what? Your hookup? Your stalker? Your… boyfriend?”

I flinched at the last word. I should have told him that I was the one stalking Noah in the first place.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I muttered, shifting uncomfortably on the couch.

Tim’s eyebrows shot up. “Uh, could’ve fooled me.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like that.”

Tim scoffed. “Not like what? Because from what you just told me, it sounds like he’s obsessed with you.”

I tensed. “He’s not—”

Tim cut me off with a pointed look. “Bro. He punched his own brother because he was jealous. That’s not normal.”

I swallowed hard, gripping my drink tighter. I knew that. I fucking knew that. But I didn't want a normal Noah. A normal Noah probably wouldn't have wanted me.

Tim watched me closely, his expression shifting into something more serious.

“You said this is the second time you’ve… y’know.” He gestured vaguely.

I felt heat crawl up my neck. “Yeah.”

He frowned. “And he hasn’t asked you to be his?”

The words hit harder than they should’ve. I swallowed, suddenly feeling off-balance. “No.”

Tim’s frown deepened. “So what the hell are you guys, then?”

Enemies, stalkers....

I didn’t have an answer.I should’ve. It should’ve been simple.But it wasn’t.

Because Noah took what he wanted without asking, okay he asked .

Because he had claimed me, marked me, but he never once said, You’re mine.

Okay that’s a lie; he did say it while making me come undone.

He never once gave me the choice. Again, another lie, because he did give me a choice, but it's so hard to resist him.

And that realization? It made my stomach twist.

Tim sighed. “Look, man. If he’s serious about you, he should fucking say it. Not just act like he owns you and expect you to roll with it.”

I looked down at my drink, suddenly uneasy.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew Noah was dangerous, controlling, unhinged. But I’d let him consume me anyway. And now? I was starting to wonder if I’d made a mistake.