Page 146 of Quiet Obsession
“And you dream about him,” he adds.
My brow furrows. “How do you know about my dreams?”
“You moan his name at night...” His eyes flare as he inches away. “And mine. Is that what you want? Both of us?”
My pulse kicks up and it’s like I’m there again, running from Evan’s house, humiliated and confused, so fucking scared. A whimper falls from my lips, my eyes burning with tears behind closed eyelids. He’s right, I have dreams about him and Noah, and I have no idea how to turn them off.
“Look at me,” Creed demands. “Answer the question.”
I don’t, my eyes locked on his throat, voice tight. “That kiss was weeks ago. You were mad at me, and I was scared and ashamed because of how much I loved it when you weren’t careful with me.”
I pinch my lips, fisting his hoodie, and look up into his eyes. “I don’t know how to stop the dreams... and yes, I kissed Noahonceand yes, I dream about you both touching me, but it’syouI choose every time, while you chose Zara and Flora and—”
“I thought I was losing you!” he snaps, his voice rough. “I neverknew how to be good for you, and I thought if I pushed you away first, maybe it wouldn’t destroy me.”
He kisses my forehead, his mouth lingering in that spot and I realize he’s never done that before. My heart swells and a pleasant shudder shakes me.
“I was scared,” he admits, voice reverent, every word coming out faster. “I’m sorry. I’m so fuckingsorry, baby. I was scared and I hurt you.Again.I almost killed you, Millie. You almostdied, and I don’t deserve you, but I’min fucking love with you.”
I pull back, breath catching, heart slamming so violently it feels like it might bruise my ribs. “Eli—”
“I love you, baby,” he cuts in, lifting me up. He sits on the bed, cradling me in his lap, hands on my hips, fingers pressing just right. “I’m not perfect. I won’t get this right every time. I’ll probably make you cry again, but... I made you feel safe.”
“You did... you made me feel safe.” I drop my forehead to his, trembling in his arms. “You made me feel whole... and then you kissed—”
“I swear I’ll never hurt you like that again.” He cups my face, eyes jumping from mine to my lips, cheeks, jaw, like he’s memorizing every inch of me. “You’re in every breath I take and every thought I have, and I’m yours, Millie. Only yours.”
He said that before. AlwaysI’m yours,neveryou’re mine.
My hands move up his chest, feeling the damp cotton of his hoodie and the erratic rhythm of his heart beneath.I tilt my face up, studying him the way he studied me.
Shadows under his eyes, tension in his jaw, fear and hope in his dark gaze.
“And whose am I?” I ask.
He doesn’t speak at first, holding very still, a war raging inside his head if the way his grip tightens on me is any indication. Then he grabs my face, eyes searching, pupils blown.
“Mine,” he says, catching my lips with his. “You’remine.”
I cling to him, pulling myself in, craving more of him and how he makes me breathe easier. His hand cradles the back of my head and he pulls me in, kissing me like he’s sealing the confession. I gasp into the kiss, a shudder zapping my spine.
The ache that’s been tearing me open for days dissolves and I deepen the kiss. My thighs shake either side of his, hand curling into his hair, breath coming faster.
“I love you so much, baby.” He bites my lower lip, soothing the sting with his tongue as he kisses me again.
His hands drop to my hips and he flips us over. My back hits the mattress, his body covering mine while I grasp his hoodie, yanking him lower. He grasps the hem of my sweater, every move desperate. I can relate. Desire thrums in my veins, pulses between my thighs, and my panties are slick, heart thundering in my ears.
I grab his face and make him stop because he’s rushing like he’s afraid I’ll shove him back if he does.
“Eli, look at me.”
He stills for a beat, then straightens on his elbows, eyesso wide there’s almost no brown left.
“I love you, too,” I say.
The effect is immediate and devastating.
His breath leaves him on a broken exhale, muscles loosen under my hands, face twists, half in awe, half in pain. “Again.”
