Page 53 of Shadows of Obsession

His muscles tensed for a moment. I felt it through the fabric of his jacket, but I was too tired to second-guess the gesture. Too comfortable to pull away.

When I didn't move, he relaxed. Slowly, he adjusted his arm, resting it gently across my shoulders to steady me. The weight of it was reassuring—protective, not possessive.

He pulled the blanket a little higher, making sure I was warm, and I felt myself drifting, caught between sleep and waking, in that hazy, peaceful space where nothing mattered but the fire's warmth and the steady presence beside me.

The last thing I registered before sleep claimed me was the quiet rhythm of his breathing, the faint scent of cedar and soap, and the strange but undeniable feeling that this—right here, right now—was exactly where I was meant to be.

CHAPTER 16

Jaxon

"What the hell's going on out here?"

Connor's voice cut through the quiet like a blade, jolting me awake. My eyes snapped open, and my arm instinctively tightened around Anna, pulling her closer. I scanned the area, searching for the source of the aggression that had roused us both, my muscles coiling with tension.

Anna startled against my side, pressing into me as her head lifted from my shoulder. I felt her heart racing through the layers of fabric between us as she turned toward the voice.

Connor stood a few feet away, his face flushed with anger, his eyes sharp as they looked down at us. His arms were crossed over his chest, and the clenched muscles in his jaw made it crystal clear he wasn't happy about finding us asleep together.

Oh shit.

"Connor, it's not what it looks like—" I started, but his raised hand cut me off.

"I don't care what it looks like," Connor said, his voice hard.

Anna straightened up beside me, pulling the blanket around her shoulders. The sun's early rays cast a soft glow across the backyard, warming the air but failing to thaw Connor's icy stare. I could feel thetension radiating off her as she steadied herself, her voice ringing with an edge I'd rarely heard from her.

"Connor, stop it." She shot him a sharp look, her eyes steady. "You clearly care what it looks like, or you wouldn't be acting like this."

She stood her ground. I stayed quiet, watching the exchange. Connor's gaze flickered between us, his shoulders tight, clearly not convinced by her words. It wasn't like him to let things go easily, especially with people he cared about.

"Like Jaxon said, it isn't what it looks like," she continued, her voice unwavering. "So drop the attitude and stop being an asshole."

Connor's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't back down. He glanced at me, and I met his eyes, keeping my face neutral even as my mind raced. Then he looked back at Anna. The early morning breeze rustled the trees, filling the silence that stretched between us.

"Fine," Connor said, his tone softening but still edged with frustration. "But just so you know, I've got enough on my plate without worrying about you two causing a scene." He sighed, looking at the remnants of last night's fire pit gathering. "I'm just trying to keep things together. So if you're done out here, let's get inside and clean up."

Anna nodded, and I caught the subtle glance she threw my way. I gave a small nod in return before she looked back at Connor, her voice calmer now. "We'll get it cleaned up. Just… don't jump to conclusions next time, okay?"

Connor hesitated, then gave a curt nod. Without another word, he turned and headed back to the house.

I watched Anna's cheeks flush as she followed Connor inside, carefully avoiding eye contact as she passed through the kitchen and headed upstairs. Connor's body language showed he was still processing the scene he'd walked into—his strides quick and purposeful.

Great. Just great.

I took a moment to gather myself, letting out a slow breath as I sorted through what had just happened. Falling asleep with Anna hadn't been the plan. Hell, I hadn't even planned on coming last night. But here we were, and now Connor thought... what? That I was making a move on her? The thought sat uncomfortably in my chest.

I began tidying up outside, collecting stray trash and empty containers, making several trips to the kitchen to dispose of them. As I pulled the full trash bag from the bin and grabbed a new one, I looked at Connor, who stood near the counter with his arms crossed. His usual laid-back demeanor was replaced by visible tension.

I needed to clear the air before this got any more awkward.

"I swear nothing happened, Connor," I said, keeping my voice low and firm. No room for misunderstanding.

Connor took a deep breath, his gaze softening as he nodded. "I know," he replied quietly. "It's not that I'd have a problem if something did happen. It's just... you both have been through a lot, especially Anna. I don't want her to get hurt again, Jaxon."

I paused, considering his words. The morning had brought an unexpected wave of tension, and I could sense Connor's protective instinct kicking into overdrive. I nodded slowly, putting the new trash bag into place.

"I get it," I replied, calm and steady. "We fell asleep watching the fire, that's all. She was comfortable, and I didn't want to wake her." I told myself that’s all it was.