Page 35 of Beautiful Broken Obsession

“What are they doing?” I ask.

Long, elegant fingers entwine, laying across his flat stomach. “Putting away your clothes. I had the shopper get you enough for the rest of the week, a bit of a selection. Everything has been washed and dried and is ready for you to use.”

I shake my head. “You shouldn’t have done that. I can’t pay you back.”

A small shake of his head in return. “I do not want you to pay me back. You are here because I want you to be. As it is at my insistence, everything you need, I will ensure you have.”

His phone rings, he only listens for a moment before he stands. “This is something I must take and will require some time. Rest. I will see you for dinner.”

He’s gone before I can even open my mouth. Once the door closes behind him, I’m up, not as steady as I would like and go into the walk-in closet, curious to see the clothes. Holy crap, there’s enough clothes in here for a month. There’s a note that underclothes are in one drawer and my nightgowns in another.

I open one drawer, oh my god. The bras and panties are beautiful, usually the ones in my size are hideous. These are silk, lace, tulle, chiffon. Wait, is this my size? They’ve been modified with extenders so they go around me, but this says it’s a D cup, not a double D.

I’m confused. I take off my dress and the bra I’m wearing. Sonofabitch. I hadn’t noticed the modification of the extender because it was done so well, but it is a single D. And it fits better than what I was wearing before. How the hell could Milos have known my size better than I did? I shake my head. Yeah, never mind I don’t want to think about all the women he has to have fucked to know something like this.

I have lost weight since I got sized in the store a few years ago. I didn’t put on the freshman fifteen, I’ve lost almost twenty pounds. No longer the size eighteen I was when I first met Milos last year, I’m now a sixteen. I spent hours upon hours stressed and studying in my room, often forgetting to eat.

Ever since I moved in with Sergei, I ate better. He liked to cook and always had good, healthy food prepared and waiting in the fridge. His pleas were constant to eat it because he always overcooked and didn’t want the food he made going bad.

Sergei worked out often in the spare bedroom he made into a gym with a weight machine, free weights, a treadmill and a punching bag. A few times I thought I would try working out, but I always ended up too busy, and I honestly hated every minute I tried it.

I can’t believe Milos bought all this stuff. It’s amazing but it feels wrong to accept—it’s too personal. Sighing, I consider what would happen if I got dressed and walked away from all of this and Milos. This time the ache is in my chest, not my head.

I don’t want to walk away from Milos. Not today, not even Sunday. It just feels wrong to take advantage of his kindness. I don’t want to be an obligation to anyone especially not to Milos.

My phone ringing shocks me out of my thoughts. I run out of the closet to grab the phone on the side of the bed. It’s my little sister.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I work to even out my breathing.

“Ugh, my friend got wasted last night and couldn’t come to this morning’s panel with me. I’m bored waiting in line, talk to me. You haven’t called or texted in days. Are you okay? I’ve forgiven you for not coming to Comic-Con with me. Haven’t you forgiven me for being a brat yet?” Carina asks.

Even though she can’t see me, I shake my head as I head back to the closet to get dressed again. Carina had wanted me to go but with failing classes it wasn’t an option. I also wasn’t as into all of that as she was—the only show I really liked wasSupernatural,since I didn’t watch much television. Although I had money saved from the stipend I got every month, I couldn’t help seeing all the money I would need to spend for the tickets, hotel, and flight as a waste. On the other hand, all Carina saw was she finally had both the money and the time to go, and she didn’t want to go alone. So she’d pouted until she left. Never mind she found someone here in Chicago to go with her and several friends from online communities to hang out with while she was there.

We usually talk at least every other day if not every day, even if we only trade a few texts, since we both prefer talking on the phone over texting. “I’m not avoiding you or mad. I’ve been busy. I’m studying still. I was in the kitchen cleaning up after making a snack and didn’t realize I left my phone in my room. How are you doing?”

I decide not to put the dress on again and pick out some silky lounge pants and a pretty silky top that appears like it should be the top of pajamas, but is too nice with sheer sleeves and pretty flowers wrapping around my arms.

We chat for a while. Even though I thought I was feeling better, sooner than I thought possible a headache is beginning to form. I’m not sure what excuse I use, but I manage to get Carina off the phone. I don’t want to go back to bed so I decide to lie down on the sofa. Within minutes, I’m asleep again.

This time when I wake up, it’s to find Milos in the chair to the side of the sofa watching me. “How are you feeling?”

Pushing up, I shake my head. “I got a headache talking to my sister.”

“It will take some time to heal. Do not push yourself—it could work against you,” he cautions. “Are you ready for dinner?”

I nod. “Sounds good.”

“What would you like?”

“Hm, I don’t know, something simple. Steak and mashed potatoes sounds good.” I shrug.

“How would you like your steak cooked?” He’s pulling his phone from his pocket.

“Medium, please. I’m going to use the restroom.” I yawn as I get off the sofa.

This time when I come out Milos is still in the chair. “Thank you for all the clothes. You really didn’t have to buy all of that. It doesn’t feel right…”

A broad shoulder lifts. “I want you to have what you need. Nothing can be returned, it will all be wasted if you do not take everything.”

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