Page 9 of Crazy Obsession
Heat scorches my cheeks.I drop my eyes to the paper in front of me, trying to pretend my heart isn’t hammering against my ribs.
Because this—this—is exactly why I didn’t want to be paired with him.Adam Blake doesn’t just flirt.He invades.He gets under your skin, crawls into the cracks, and refuses to leave.And the worst part is he means it.For all the teasing and cocky grins, there’s something in his eyes when he looks at me, something serious, something that says he’s not joking about wanting me.And I don’t know how to deal with that.
I clear my throat, forcing my focus back to the list.“Fine.Games and decorations.Let’s just get it done so I can go back to running my inn.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Adam says, stretching lazily.His shirt rides up, revealing a strip of tanned skin and hard muscle and that damn V that leads directly to a cock I remember extremely well, even though I have tried to forget.My eyes flick there before I can stop them.Big mistake.Because he catches me, of course he fucking does because he is always watching me.His grin turns positively wicked.
I shove the list at him.“Start brainstorming, Blake.”
Karmen giggles, pressing her hand to her belly.“God, you two are exhausting.Just kiss already.”
My head whips toward her.“Karmen!”
She shrugs, unrepentant.“What?Everyone sees it.The tension’s driving us all crazy.And there was that time at my bachelorette...”
“La la la la la!”I sing loudly pushing my fingers into my ears like a goddamned child.I do not want to hear about what everyone speculates happened between us or what should happen moving forward.
Both of them laugh and I know I’ve made my point.I glare at them as I take my fingers out of my ears.“We donottalk about that.Ever.”
Adam’s smirk softens into something more dangerous.“Told you, Lennie.Can’t hide it forever.”
My stomach knots.Because the thing is, he’s right.“I will walk out,” I threaten.
“Fine.”He raises his hands in mock surrender, but I know this is far from over.“You’ll give in eventually.”
Because every time we’re in the same room, it feels like a storm waiting to break.I can still feel his hands on me that night, his mouth, the way he whispered like I was everything.
But if I let myself admit I want more, if I let myself believe he could actually love me, I’ll end up shattered all over again.So I force a laugh, brittle and sharp.“Don’t hold your breath, Adam.”
He leans forward, his eyes locking on mine, voice dropping low.“Oh, I can hold it a long time, sweetheart.”
My pulse stumbles.
Karmen fans herself dramatically.“Yup.Definitely not awkward at all.”
I kick Adam under the table.He grunts, then grins wider, like I just handed him a win.
I hate him.But mostly, I hate that I don’t.
****
Two hours later, we’vegot nothing.The table’s covered in half-scribbled notes, crumpled napkins, and an empty chip bowl.Karmen’s long gone, she claimed “pregnancy fatigue” and ditched us to “bond.”I swear she planned this.
I shove back from the table with a groan.“We’re useless.”
Adam sprawls back, lacing his fingers behind his head.“Speak for yourself.I came up with at least three good games.”
“Beer pong doesn’t count as a baby shower game.”
“Why not?Babies love beer.”
“Adam!”
He cracks up, the sound warm and rich, curling into my chest despite myself and warming me from the inside.For a second, I almost smile.Almost.
“Relax, Lennie,” he says when he catches his breath.“We’ll figure it out.You and me, we’re a good team.”
I freeze, staring at him.He means it.I can see it in his eyes, the way his smile softens, the way his voice dips.He actually believes we’re better together.My throat tightens.Because a part of me, maybe the biggest part, wants to believe it, too.But belief is dangerous.Trust is deadly.
