Page 32 of Crown of Thorns
Quickly snatching up my phone, I make my way down. Who knows? He might decide to text when I’m outside freezing my dick off.
I once overheard a conversation between a few guys at The Black Cat. They said obsession turns into stalking if the feelings aren’t mutual. I don’t agree.
I fuck. Get fucked. Watch, get watched. Let hands roam, mouths open. Sometimes I mess around with people just to feel something.
I don’t stalk. But I am obsessed. It’s ridiculous, considering we’ve only known each other a few weeks. But it sits under my skin like fire. My blood pounds in my ears when I go too long without a hit of him.
An older man with wild curls and stormy grey eyes. Who speaks like he resents the world, but teaches like he wants to share it. Who walks like he’s hiding, but kisses like he’s baring his soul.
I want to soothe him. To open up his head, slay his demons, and make him want all of me.
Because it’s all of him I want. My chest tightens at the thought, like my ribs are trying to cage the feeling before it devours me whole.
This adoration is teetering on obsession. I know that. But he’s already wrecked my world. He can put up all the walls he likes. It’s too late now.
When I walk into the kitchen, I’m treated to a front-row seat of drama. Natalie and Régis are standing face to face like two bulls, my little stepbrother with his coat on.
“No, you’re not leaving the house again. You’re staying at home, it’s Christmas.” Natalie’s gorgeous face is flushed, her eyes wet. “Tell him, Jean-Luc.”
Dad sighs. “You know what I’m going to say, Régis, darling.”
“Dad.” Arthur’s dark gaze fixes on Régis, who seems to shrink on the spot. “I’ll take him. Come on.” He grabs Régis by his arm and walks them toward the exit.
“No leaving the house,” Dad calls after them. “No visiting graveyards. No spying on homes that belong to a horrid past.”
“We’re just going for a walk,” comes Arthur’s muffled reply. The fucker can be fast if he wants to.
Dad lets out another heavy sigh, then nudges his chin at me. “Let’s go, Son.”
We settle outside. From our spot, we’ve got a perfect view of the ocean, with its silver waves and cloudy horizon.
Catering personnel are filling the grill. Dad hands me a glass of champagne, and together we stare at everything and nothing. Some courageous fools have come to swim in the sea, but other than that, it’s quiet today.
“I’m going to keep an extra eye on your grades, Louis. We need you to graduate with your brother. Get both of you integrated into the company.” His hand clasps my shoulder. “I think you’d be great in business development. People love you.”
“Of course they do. I’m a Deveraux.”
Dad chuckles. “That too. That’s why I’ve got private classes lined up for you.”
“Wait, what?What?” I glare at him. “You’ve gotten me atutor? Are you for real?”
“To give you some guidance, that’s all. Besides, you seemed to be getting along well with your new teacher, Montague. He’s been doing great work with Régis as well.”
I blink. “You’ve gothimas my tutor? Does he know yet?”
“Why?” Dad frowns. “Would you prefer someone else? I saw you waving at him the other day from the football field, so I figured, but I can change it.”
“No,” I say a little too quickly. “That’s fine.”
That’s actually really fucking fine. I lean in and give Dad a kiss on the cheek. “Great idea.”
He chuckles. “Well, that went down easily. Oh, and there’s something else.”
“Yeah?”
He gives me one of those dark looks that remind me 100% of Arthur. Only Dad’s is more bad ass. Back in his days, he was an absolute terror, is what Aunt Marie-Louise told me. Said that her baby brother would come home daily with his knuckles bruised because she got bullied in class.
“You know how I’ve wanted to modernize the brotherhood. Keep our traditions but transform us slowly into a fraternity that can survive the next century.”
