Page 54 of Quiet Obsession
A tattooed arm bands across my stomach, yanking me off the treadmill like a rag doll. I yelp. My eyes fly open and the air whooshes out of my lungs as I slam against a hard chest. The gym blurs, but I catch a familiar face in the mirror before I’m spun around so fast I don’t know which way is up.
Creed rips my headphones off, wild eyes searching my face. His nostrils flare, jaw flexes as he holds me suspended for a second before my feet hit the floor. My heart’s punching my ribs, adrenaline sky-high, and Irage, fighting him off.
I don’t even know why.
I’m pure instinct, anger, and embarrassment.
“What the fuck...?” he grits out, cuffing my wrists. “Millie. What thefuckhappened?”
I twist and jerk, but he doesn’t budge, pinning my hands to his hard pecs. He drags me closer, maneuvering me flush against him, immobile in the cage of his arms. He grabs my face with his free hand, his hold firm, almost bruising, fingers digging into my cheeks until my lips pucker.
“Millie,” he warns, his voice brooking no argument. “Stopfighting or I’ll fucking hurt you, baby.”
A shudder shakes me, but my tears stop at once.
He’s breathing hard, the peppermint of his toothpaste filling my senses as he stares me down. And that unwavering, hard expression freezes me in place.
“Good girl.”
Oh, God...
My breath hitches, heat explodes beneath my skin, and everything narrows until Creed’s all I see. I almost collapse at his feet when relief shudders through me.
“You’re okay,” he adds. “I’m here. You’rewith meand there’s nowhere else you’d be safer.” His fingers flex around my wrists. “Now, will you stop hitting me if I let go?”
I blink up at him, biting my lip before nodding.
He loosens his hold bit by bit until he lets go completely, watching me with those dark, penetrating eyes. He’s still holding my face, but at least the circulation returns to my hands.
“Is this about Jasper? Hyde told me what happened.”
I breathe through my lips, puckered under Creed’s fingers. He towers over me, so tall I have to crane my neck, andI’m suddenly very aware he’s shirtless. A pair of low-slung sweats hugs his hips, his chest on display and dotted with a mix of inked pictures. They’re so random I wonder if he absentmindedly doodles with a tattoo gun when he’s bored.
“Millie,” he urges again.
The raspy note in his voice sends a bout of heat through my veins. I don’t know why, but whenever he spits my name out like a warning, like an order, my knees turn weak and my body sings.
“I asked you a question. Were you crying because of Jasper and Mateo?”
I inch away, and with an exasperated huff, Creed steps back, pulling his phone out. My pulse jumps. I know who he’s about to dial and the last thing I need right now is Hyde’s guilt-fueled overprotectiveness. He makes me feel safe and cherished for a while, but it fades, leaving bitter self-loathing.
I should be stronger. Iamstronger than this.
Emboldened, I snatch Creed’s phone, hiding it behind my back while shaking my head.
He cocks an eyebrow. “No Hyde this time?” he guesses. “Okay, but you need to answer my question.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw when my mouth stays shut.
“Still not talking to me, huh?” He takes a threatening step my way. “Why? What the fuck have I done that you refuse to speak when I’m around?”
You scare me. You scare me because I can barely control myself around you. Because you make me feel alive, real, and normal.Because I want things I shouldn’t, and I trust you when you’ve given me no reason.
My chin trembles with every word I’m holding back. I try parting my lips but my heart kicks up, theflightresponse slamming into me so hard I stagger. My mind rebels, protecting me so fiercely I bite my tongue, tasting blood.
“Running won’t help you,” he says, seeing right through my treadmill tactic. “I’d tell you to scream your pain out but we both know that won’t happen.”
He shoots forth, cinching my wrist before I wander away.
