Page 67 of Unapologetic Obsession
The sporadic fear I experienced around him, along with the unexplainable attraction, scrambled my brain. My mind whirled with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.
“Caden,” I said, tasting the name on my tongue for the first time. It felt private, like a secret shared between us.
It was enough to put him in a good mood. “Hm,” he hummed. “Try these. They are made with low glycemic ingredients. They’re anti-inflammatory and won’t spike your blood sugar.”
None of the gibberish he spouted held any meaning to me. I was purely focused on the dishes in front of us. The aroma of pancakes made my mouth water as he lifted a slice drenched in syrup to my lips. I ate every bite he fed me and the more he filled my stomach, the more my anger faded into the distance.
It was disturbing how much I was willing to overlook in exchange for food. Nonetheless, the fact remained: I needed answers without implicating myself or letting him know I was catching on to his lies.
When we finished eating and he let me off his lap, I followed him to the bedroom and gathered my courage. “Dr.… Caden,” I corrected myself.
“Hm?” he asked without looking up, putting the empty dishes back on the cart.
“I-I was wondering,” I began apprehensively. “Could I explore the ship today?”
He stilled, and for a moment, I feared I had gone too far. Then, to my utter shock, he shrugged. “Sure, your ankle should be fine for weight bearing. I’ll take you around, just don’t wander off and stay close to me. And you need to be careful about your injuries. Do you understand?”
Although I wouldn’t be allowed outside unless escorted by him, I relished the small freedom. I tried but failed to contain my excitement. “Yes. Yes. I’ll be super careful, I promise. I’ll be really, really good.”
There was a hint of amusement in his eyes at my eagerness. “In that case, I’ll be right back.”
Chapter
Twenty-Three
ROSE
Once Caden exited the room,I decided to shower. I stepped under the heated stream, cherishing the few moments I had to myself, and pondered my options.
If I tracked Jace down, would he risk his job to help me? Did he know about my past with Caden?
The water flowed onto the floor, divided from the rest of the space by a small barrier to contain any overflow. I massaged shampoo into my hair, inhaling the refreshing mix of herbs in the steam to calm myself down.
There was commotion coming from downstairs when I reemerged in the same robe, which was now slightly damp. I peeked over the railing and saw that the living room was buzzing. There were women everywhere, setting up clothes, accessories, and shoes. Before I could work out the meaning behind all the fuss, my attention was pulled by an unmistakable distinction.
“No men,” I muttered to myself. I had teleported to an alternate Amazonian universe filled with women. The only man, as far as the eye could see, was Caden.
The women were busy with their preassigned tasks. Two women rolled a rack of clothes from the hallway to the livingroom, and the rest were busy setting up. Jewelry stands covered the table by the window. Shoeboxes were stacked on the nightstand, and swimwear was laid out on the couch. Everything looked expensive and beautiful.
Fascinated, I took the stairs to the living room. No one glanced at me or provided me with an explanation when I entered the room. I had no idea what was happening, so I watched them curiously while toweling my hair dry. It wasn’t until Caden returned that they acknowledged my existence and looked at me.
“Hey,” he said with a smile.
Another warm smile from the cold doctor instead of a smirk. Was he in such a good mood because of what happened last night, or was I imagining things?
Before I could respond, he closed the distance and grabbed me in his arms for a kiss so wild it left me breathless. A possessive hand wrapped around my throat for a firm but breathable squeeze. My palms landed on his hard chest for balance, but really, it was his body keeping me upright. I couldn’t catch my breath against his hard lips and his tongue exploring every crevice of my mouth. The kiss was unbelievably lewd, and he forced everyone to bear witness to it, only letting me go once he was good and ready.
Everyone stared at us, seemingly in awe of the handsome doctor showering me with affection. I remembered being an exceptionally shy person in my past life who turned away from the spotlight. If he had shown such public displays of affection, I probably would have cocooned myself. But in my new life, I didn’t seem to mind the limelight. The spa day yesterday, with everyone fawning over me, made me feel cherished, and I was surprised none of the lavish attention bothered me.
My eyes moved around the living room invasion. “What’s going on?”
“You need clothes if you want to explore the ship.”
I peeked behind him at the makeshift storefront. The staff finished unpacking and cleared out as another woman stepped inside the suite—a striking redhead who appeared to be the pack leader. Her outfit—a tight black skirt and a silky blouse—was perfectly fitted to her body and complemented her warm, golden skin and green eyes.
I recognized her. The beauty team had pointed her out yesterday from my window. She was one of the women who longed for the coveted Mrs. Caledon Maxwell title.
She bristled at her employees over how they had set up the displays, though everything seemed perfect. The glint of jewelry caught in the sunlight made the displays shinier and more appealing. The scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air. Ambient music playing in the background made the room seem like an actual storefront.
