Obsession (21 page)

“It’s not that I don’t want to because
I couldn’t give a shit if you were out partying. It’s this guy.
He’s too demanding, and honestly, he sounds obsessed. Kevin told me
about his run in with this guy at the beach.” Landon turned to look
at me, hopefully my big brown eyes would make him cave.

“He’
s just possessive.
Landon, I promise I won’t ask you—”

He cut me off. “Possessive
isn’t always a good thing, Jamie. Besides, you said I’d never have
to cover for you again two weeks ago.
Just tell
Dad, or find another work study. Or a new
boyfriend.”

I winced at his bluntness, knowing in
my heart what the best option was for me.

Landon sat next to me, reaching for my
hand.

“This, Jamie, is why I don’t like him.
I know he did this to you.”

My wrist was firmly in his hand, and I
yanked at it, trying to hide it under my sleeve. I’d gotten bruises
from Rod’s hands holding me down during sex the past week while he
was covering the deputy’s shift. I couldn’t see him for three days
in a row, and he went crazy, devouring me the second we were alone.
He even waited until he was finished to let in a citizen who’d
knocked on the door. It was as though his senses were heightened
knowing someone was behind the door while he was pounding into me.
The way his blue eyes turned icy as he thrust, his grip tightening,
was scary, and I didn’t want to upset him again.

When he was really mad, he’d reach for
my neck. That was the most terrifying thing I’d ever experienced,
and one I hoped I’d never feel again. He always wanted to use those
damn silk pieces of fabric, but I’d find every excuse in the book
to avoid them. Sometimes it worked, while other times he’d convince
me that it’d be different, that I could trust him, that it would
blow my mind. All it did was make me wonder if I’d stop breathing
for good.

“It was an accident.” It wasn’t a
complete lie. He’d gently stroked the bruises the next day,
apologizing for squeezing me so tight, but telling me it was only
because he’d missed me so much and couldn’t contain his
passion.

“I’m about to go into the station and
beat the shit out of him.”

“Don’t,” I begged with wide
eyes.

“See, you’re scared of
him.
Jamie,
he
’s not good for you. Tell him to fuck
off just like you told Kevin.”

“Kevin is obnoxious,” I said, rolling
my eyes.

“He wouldn’t hurt you. I’m scared,
Jay. The only way I’m going to cover for you tonight is if you
break it off with this creep.”

I stared at my finger nails, secretly
knowing that was what I needed to do, but didn’t know how. Rod
loved me, he’d told me multiple times, and I knew he could be
gentle. “I love him, Landon.”

Landon groaned in frustration. “He
doesn’t love you if he’s putting bruises on your
wrists.”

“They were an accident… but I’ll ask
him for some space.”

Landon’s jaw tensed. “Fine, just this
once Jamie, and you’d better not come back with as much as a
scratch on you tonight.”

“Stop acting like he’s abusive!” I
yelled, repeating in my head over and over that he was a good guy
who just had his moments.

***

Landon watched me as I walked into the
restaurant. Thankfully, Rod was inside already.

“There you are,” Rod sighed, standing
from the table at the diner. “I missed you.” His arms embraced me,
holding me close to his chest. The smell of his expensive cologne
was one I’d become familiar with.

My arms wrapped around his waist,
sinking into him. “It’s only been a day and a half.”

“I can never get enough of you.” He
squeezed me tighter, kissing my temple with force.

My hands found his chest and, as
nicely as I could, I pushed him away, finding a seat in the booth.
His brows scrunched while he slid in next to me.

“Everything okay?”

I nodded, lying to myself and him. He
bought it, smiling broadly at me.

“
Let’
s eat quick
ly. I can’t wait to see what you’re wearing underneath those
jeans and T-shirt.” He began kissing my ear, but I pushed him back.
“Why are you pushing me away?” His voice cracked, but his arms
tightened around my waist.

“We’re at a diner, Rod.
One that’s close to town.
I don
’t like when you’re
all over me in public.”

“I just love you, Jamie. It’s hard to
keep my hands off of you.”

“Yeah, I know,” I mumbled, staring
down at my bruised wrists that I’d attempted to cover up with
bracelets.

Rod followed my gaze,
moving his fingers to cover them. “You’
re afraid.
”
My head whipped in his direction. “Please don’t be scared of me. I
didn’t mean to hurt you, I already told you this.”

The waitress came to take our orders,
and when it was my turn to speak, Rod cut me off, ordering for me.
She left before I could say anything.

“Why’d you do that?
I
don
’t want steak and potatoes. I want a
salad.”

Rod glanced at me, his smile firmly in
place. “You’ll need the hearty food for what I have planned for you
tonight.”

“And what if I don’t want what you
have planned for me?”

“You will.” His eyes were turning
icy.

“I don
’t want to have sex
tonight.”

“What, you on the rag? Because you’re
acting like a real bitch,” Rod snarled.

“No, I just don
’t feel like being
dominated tonight,” I hissed back.

“Fine, then dominate me,” he mumbled,
excitement filling his eyes.

I blinked, not sure how to respond. I
never got to take the lead with him, and part of me was very
curious. I was supposed to tell him I needed some space, more time
away from him, but I was drawn, even when I was annoyed with his
possessive antics.

“When we get back to my cabin, you can
do whatever you want to me,” he promised.

“Your cabin is an hour and a half
away. I can’t stay the night—”

Rod shook his head in frustration.
“Jamie, I need to be with you tonight. Please.”

He reached for my hand, his eyes
becoming softer. Kissing it gently, he placed it on his cheek, his
eyes closing as though I were offering him solace. Every bone in my
body gravitated to him when he acted like this. This was the Rod I
loved. Sweet, kind and gentle.

“Let me call my parents. I think
they’ll believe me if I ask them to stay at Bethany’s
tonight.”

He kissed my hand again. “I’d really
like that,” he whispered.

I reached for the phone, mentally
preparing myself to call my mother. With one final nod from Rod, I
punched in my mother’s phone number and called to ask.

“Jamie, didn’t you stay at Bethany’s
house last weekend? Why don’t you girls come here?”

“Because Bethany doesn’t have younger
siblings. It’s quieter there, Mom,” I begged, hoping she’d fall for
it as Rod held my hand.

“I understand,
” my mother sighed.
“I thought you were hanging out with Landon and his friends
tonight?”

“We both were,” I said quickly. “But
you know how Landon’s friends can be.”

“All right, but come home right away
in the morning. I want to spend the day with you.”

I smiled.
She always wanted me to
feel loved and appreciated among my siblings. “I will. Bye,
Mom.”

A huge breath of air escaped me after
I hung up the phone. “I hate lying to them.”

“You only stretched the truth. Thank
you. I need to hold you all night.”

I melted at his words, relishing the
feeling of his hand stroking mine.

“We’re here,” Rod said sweetly,
brushing his hand across my cheek. He held my hand, guiding me to
the cabin that his grandfather owned where we’d escaped many times.
I pushed away the bad flashbacks, sincerely believing tonight we’d
make happy memories.

Rod guided me toward the couch.
“Relax, I’m going to start a fire. Want some wine?” I turned up my
nose, and he grinned. “You’re so cute. I forget how young you still
are,” he added, kissing my head on his way out.

I curled into the couch, wrapping
myself in the quilt his grandmother made. Rod came back and had a
fire lit in no time. Finding his way on the couch, he began
massaging my feet, his eyes intently on me.

“You’re being very romantic
tonight.”

He grinned, bringing my toe to his
lips and caused me to giggle, then tickled the bottoms of my feet,
making me laugh. I sat up, crawling to him so I could sit on his
lap.

“You going to have your way with me
now?” he asked, moving my legs so I was straddling him while
placing my arms around his neck.

A blush crept across my face. He’d
never let me take the lead before, so I wasn’t exactly sure where
to start. Sex was still new to me. I kissed him, plunging my tongue
into this mouth like I’d done times before. His hands remained on
my back, only straying every now and then into the back of my
jeans.

“
Nu-uh…I’m in charge,
remember?”

He grumbled, but kissed me back,
holding in his need to control me.

I stood, attempting to sway my hips as
I did. Taking off my shirt was a slow process, and I enjoyed
watching his eyes take me in with my every movement. Once my
clothing was completely off, I instructed him to strip too, then
straddled him, my hips moving wildly like they never had before. It
was fast and intense, and I was in control. This was so new, so
exciting. The rising heat in my core was unique, making my insides
tighten like they never had before. My breath was heavier,
breathing faster and faster until I couldn’t control the sound that
came from my lips. Rod followed, his hands gripping my waist,
holding me firmly in place as he rapidly pumped into me, filling me
with his seed while letting out a violent moan.

We were sweaty and clammy
now, our skin slippery as we gripped onto each others bodies from
the high. My head found the crook of his neck, his hands remaining
protectively around me.
“I want to do that
again,”
I
sighed.

I sensed his smile. “It’ll be my turn
next time,” he teased.

I leaned back, glaring at him
playfully. He kissed my nose, ignoring my attempt to be annoyed
with him.

“I love you, Jamie.”

“I love you too. And to think I was
going to ask you for space tonight,” I sighed again, leaning into
his chest.

“What?” He stiffened, his fingers
digging into my skin. My body froze, mentally cursing myself for
having loose lips. “Why would you want space? We love each other.
We’re supposed to want to be with each other every second of the
day. Do you not love me?” His words were frantic while his grip on
my waist got tighter and tighter, moving up my body with each of
his words.

“No, that’s not why.
It’
s just I
don
’t want us to get into trouble,” I
stuttered.

“I’ve told you, my
grandfather controls the police departments all over the state. You
won’t get in trouble. How could you not want me?
Want us?
Jamie, you’
re mine, forever.
You
said we’d be together forever!” His hands made their way to my
collarbone, making every part of me wish I’d listened to
Landon.

“I do want us. You just get so
aggressive sometimes,” I said as calmly as possible, my arms
snuggly wrapped around his neck to try and get him to listen. “It
makes me nervous when you start to get upset.”

“Upset?” he shouted louder than
before. “You’ve never seen me upset! Bitch, you listen—”

His hands finally found my weakness,
forcefully straining my neck with white knuckles. I reached for his
wrists, clinging to them as though he’d free me, but he ignored it.
My eyes bugged out as my breathing shallowed.

“We are going to be
together always, you understand?
I don
’t give a
shit if someone walks in on me fucking those tits next week on your
father’s desk, got it? This is NEVER going away!”

Tears sprung from my eyes as I saw
stars. I was slowly fading, my nails losing their grip on his
wrists with every split second of lost oxygen to my
lungs.

“Tell me you understand!”

I nodded, silently begging him to let
me go. Finally he took his hands off me, brutally tossing me to the
ground. I gasped for air, finding my knees and clawing at my
throat. The flames of the fire matched those that were burning my
chest as the air finally worked its way back into my lungs. The
hardwood floor was cool on my hands and knees as I began moving
away from the monster I’d somehow been fooled into
loving.