Page 122 of Quiet Obsession
He asked that when I wouldn’t speak around him.
My eyes water, throat cinching with shame. Did his father punish him like that? Were the memories unbearable every time I gave him nothing but silence?
My fingers hover over the tally marks, unsure if touching them would soothe him or make it worse.
“Eli...” I swallow hard, looking up at him. “I’m sorry, I—How old were you when—”
He doesn’t let me finish the question, flipping us over quickly. My back hits the mattress, his body hovering overmine, arms caging me in.
“I was five when my mom passed away and my life changed for the worse,” he says, a small frown marring his forehead. He moves his hand to wipe a stray tear I hadn’t felt escape. “Fourteen when I grew into myself and my father stopped throwing punches, too afraid I’d hit back.”
“Was he always—”
“I have you naked in my bed,” he cuts in. “My father’s the last thing I want to talk about, baby. Save it for a rainy day.”
I glance toward the window. “It’s raining right now.”
A quiet huff of amusement escapes him. He dips his head, his warm mouth brushing along my collarbone.
“I’m in a much better place right now, I don’t want to spoil it with the past,” he says against my skin. “What about your ink?”
He’s deflecting.
I hesitate for a moment but decide not to press.
If anyone understands keeping certain things close, it’s me. I hated it every time Hyde was prying, almost demanding I talk to him about Evan and what I was feeling.
Inhaling slowly, I let the tension slip from my shoulders. “I don’t have any tattoos.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” he says. “Do you want one?”
“Maybe one day.” I weave my fingers into his hair, the strands still damp and cool between my fingers. “Once I figure out what and where.”
“Somewhere hidden.” He sucks my lip into his mouth, bites down, and tugs it between us. “Somewhere only I cansee.” Moving his hand down my body, he draws a small circle in the crease of my thigh. “Could be here, or...” he strokes higher, under my hip bone, “...here.”
I open my mouth to speak, and he seizes the opportunity, diving in for a deep kiss. It takes me a moment to recover and remember that I’m supposed to leave.
If I don’t, I’ll risk getting caught later, and the news about Ward’s weird sister sneaking out of Creed’s room at dawn would travel the campus at lightning speed.
I flatten my hand against his chest. “I need to go,”
He lets out a frustrated groan, but rolls away, his head hitting the pillow. “Fine, but I want you back here tonight.”
“Sayplease.”
He smiles. “You want me to beg, baby? I can do that... on my knees... head between your thighs.”
I swat him with a pillow as I scramble to my feet, picking my clothes off the floor. I get dressed, tame my hair, give him one more kiss and crack the door open, glancing left and right before stepping out into the hallway.
No one’s around, the whole floor silent as I tiptoe toward the elevator, heart on my shoulder. Bouncing on the soles of my feet, I glance at my watch. Six twenty-seven. I’m cutting it way too fucking close.
My pulse hammers against my ribs the longer I wait, watching the digits move from zero to five in slow-motion.
If someone sees me...
The bell dings, making me damn near jump out of my skin. The doors slide open and my heart drops to my feet.
Hyde’s inside, leaning against the back wall, dressed for the day. His face is set, eyes on the screen of his phone for two seconds before he looks up and they narrow then flick to the display above, then back to my face.
