Page 74 of Unapologetic Obsession
He was ruthless yet somehow just.
“Take these.” He placed two ibuprofens on my tongue and held a glass of water to my lips.
“Thank you,” I whispered, gulping down the cold water.
Once my hands no longer throbbed, he put away the ice pack. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, and I couldn’t help leaning into his touch. When he pulled away, the loss of contact left me feeling oddly bereft.
My mind whirled with conflicting emotions. I should be alarmed by his actions, but I kept returning to how he took my side, even though I was in the wrong. He didn’t demand a reason for my irrational behavior, either. It was somehow endearing that he wasn’t bothered with morals or the right thing where I was concerned. His only bottom line was my welfare.
Someone having your back unreservedly was heady for an unclaimed woman who woke up behind a dumpster. Perhaps I had jumped to conclusions about Caden. How could I suspect him of harming me when he was unconditionally on my side?
Yes, he lied about knowing me. Maybe he had his reasons for concealing our past association. He was a doctor, after all, and he knew better than me about how to deal with traumatized patients. He was probably worried I would go into shock if he revealed too much at once.
Not to mention, my mind had been playing tricks on me, as recently demonstrated. Who was to say I was right about the things I remembered? My recollections were unreliable, and it was for the best I didn’t tell him some of my memories had returned. Instead, I should let him guide my recovery as he saw fit.
There was no reason to be wary of Caden. Truth be told, I was finding myself less concerned with my previous life while his warm arms were wrapped around me. All that mattered was this man in my present, not his role in my past. His unwavering support warmed me from the inside out, chipping away at the walls I had built around myself. Especially when he looked at me like I was the only person on earth. The way he indulged me made me forget my fears, my doubts, and the nightmare haunting me. In this space between us, I felt safe.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
CADEN
Past
I brusheda strand of hair away from Rose’s face. She stared back with tired, heavy-lidded eyes, and no wonder. The student-faculty affair concluded hours ago. On top of attending the party, she had arrived early to set up and perform a safety inspection. I hadn’t exactly helped matters. From the moment she crawled into my bed, I hadn’t been able to keep my hands off her. Rose just lost her virginity, and I had tried to hold back. However, I couldn’t stop myself from exploring other parts of her body, waking her up every so often. The proof of my hunger was etched into her exhaustion.
“Sleep,” I murmured into her hair, wondering how long I could hold out this time around.
She wordlessly obeyed by closing her eyes. The boat rocked gently over the still water, lulling her toward slumber.
Despite being in my arms, she felt far away in her sleep. I pulled her closer until she was plastered against the front of mybody. It wasn’t enough. I wanted to mold us together until we somehow became one. My dress shirt draped around her like a claim, my silent brand, whether she consented to it or not. When she subconsciously clung to me, my chest roared with pride. It was the final stroke of possession, which was turning into a dangerous territory where Rose was concerned.
Last night, I almost snapped when I saw her with that fucker, Doyle. She claimed she wasn’t interested. Then why was that asshole hovering over her every time I turned around? My jaw tightened just thinking about it.
She had been dressing boldly since I commented on her clothes, and now I regretted my words. Doyle had been salivating after her. How much longer before more boys her own age took notice of her new wardrobe and tried to swoop in? What if she decided she was ready to experiment now that she had gained some experience?
No. I wouldn’t allow it.
There would be no other men and certainly no experimenting. Rose couldn’t back out after letting me in. She had awakened something feral in me, something that had been lying dormant until now. She hadn’t yet fully grasped what she had done. The aftermath of rousing uncontrollable hunger in someone like me came with consequences. Because this was unchartered territory for me, and even I couldn’t promise that my new savage compulsions wouldn’t consume her. I needed to breathe in her essence and leave invisible marks that would tell the world she was mine. To cover her with my scent, or better yet, cover her in me.
I sealed her mouth with mine. She kissed me in her sleep, parting her lips obediently because she already knew my touch. By the time I pulled away, my shuddered breathing filled the room.
The beast, the one she had awakened, clawed at my insides, demanding more of her—her scent, her taste, the sound of my name on her lips as she came undone. After finally having her under me, I didn’t know how to stop myself. It was my first encounter with losing control, a crack in my composure.
My lips traced her jawline, tasting salt and sleep, as my hand found its way between her thighs. I teased her bare skin—a silent question in the dark.
“Mm,” Rose murmured in her sleep.
When I did it again, she moaned louder.
I watched her as my fingers found her slick arousal. My tongue traced a path along her skin, tasting her with deliberate intention. I cupped the soft weight of her breast as my mouth found her nipple, teasing it with gentle flicks. When I pulled it between my lips, Rose's body trembled against mine.
A small gasp escaped her lips. “Oh God!”
She didn’t have the energy to open her eyes, but her vocal reactions were all the encouragement I needed to continue.
I knew exactly where I wanted my mouth, between her trembling thighs. I was obsessed since the first taste, and I was dying to return to what had become my new favorite place. Starting from her breast, I kissed down to her stomach and neared her pussy. I put my nose between her thighs and inhaled deeply like a dog needing to memorize the scent to find it again.
