His Dangerous Obsession

18

His eyes darkened, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, his fingers gently caressing the sensitive skin there. “You can say that all you want,” he said softly, “but deep down, you know the truth.”

Before I could respond, his lips crashed against mine, taking me by surprise. The kiss was fierce, demanding, and all-consuming. Every protest I had melted away as his hands cupped my face, pulling me closer until I couldn’t breathe.

I wanted to push him away, to shout and demand that he stop, but my body betrayed me. I responded to his kiss, my hands instinctively reaching for him, my fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if I were afraid he would disappear if I let go.

When he finally pulled away, I gasped for air, my mind spinning in a blur of conflicting emotions. His breath was hot against my skin, and his eyes were dark, filled with something primal, something I didn’t know how to deal with.

“You don’t need me?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “Then why do you keep coming back?”

I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t give him one. The truth was, I didn’t know why I kept coming back. All I knew was that being near him, even in the chaos of it all, made me feel something. Something I couldn’t explain.

“You’re mine, Cath,” he said again, his voice a mixture of command and something softer, almost possessive. “And no matter how much you fight it, you’ll always be mine.”

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I could walk away if I truly wanted to. But in that moment, I realized that I wasn’t sure if I could.

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I whispered, my voice shaky, but Damon’s eyes narrowed.

“You belong to me,” he insisted, his grip tightening around my waist as he pulled me closer again. “And soon, you’ll accept that.”

I wanted to push him away. I wanted to scream at him to let me go, but the truth was, I didn’t have the strength anymore. I wasn’t sure I ever did.

Damon was right about one thing—I was no longer sure of anything. My heart, my mind, my body—everything was tangled in his web, and no matter how much I struggled, I was only getting more tangled.

The question wasn’t whether I would escape. It was whether I wanted to.

The tension between Damon and me seemed to thicken with every passing second. After that kiss, I couldn’t look at him the same way. His words—you belong to me—kept echoing in my mind like an ominous mantra that refused to leave.

I stood in my room, staring at the reflection of myself in the full-length mirror. My hands were shaking as I adjusted the collar of my maid uniform, the simple task somehow impossible to complete with the way my mind was racing. How had things gotten this far? Why did I feel so... lost?

It was like I was no longer in control of my own life. Damon’s presence was suffocating, his touch still lingering on my skin as if he had branded me with his mark.

The knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts, and I hesitated before answering. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly, and I was met with the familiar sight of Kyla, one of the other maids who had become a close friend of mine during my time at the mansion. Her expression was a mix of concern and curiosity as she stepped inside.

“You okay, Cath?” she asked softly, her eyes scanning my face as if trying to read the emotions I was hiding.

I forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Kyla didn’t seem convinced. “You’ve been acting weird ever since... well, you know. What happened with Damon?”

I winced at the mention of his name. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

She tilted her head, taking a cautious step forward. “Listen, I know things between you and Damon have been... complicated. But you don’t have to go through it alone, okay?”

I looked down, trying to steady my breathing. “It’s not that simple, Kyla. He... he’s not the same as before. Ever since that night, everything’s been different. He’s... obsessed.”

Kyla’s face softened. “I know. But you can’t let him control you, Cath. You’re stronger than this.”

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But a part of me—something dark and twisted—found comfort in his obsession. The way he always seemed to want me close, the way he made sure I was never too far from his reach. It was terrifying and intoxicating all at once.

“He’s not going to stop, Kyla,” I muttered, my voice cracking as I finally admitted the truth to myself. “And I don’t know how to escape.”

Kyla’s eyes narrowed, concern giving way to determination. “Then you fight back, Cath. You fight for your freedom. You’re not his prisoner, no matter what he thinks.”

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. “What if... What if I can’t?”

She stepped closer and placed a hand on my shoulder, offering me a comforting smile. “You’re not alone in this. We’re all here for you.”

Before I could respond, a voice I knew all too well cut through the air, smooth and commanding.

“I see you two are having a heart-to-heart.”

Both Kyla and I froze as Damon stepped into the room, his presence filling the space like a dark cloud. His eyes flicked from me to Kyla, and I could practically hear the tension crackling in the air.

“Damon,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I straightened, my heart hammering in my chest. “What do you want?”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment, his lips curling into a faint smile that sent a shiver down my spine. “I just wanted to see how my personal maid is doing.”

He stepped further into the room, his attention shifting to Kyla, who stood with her arms crossed, clearly uncomfortable under his intense gaze.

“Is there a problem here, Kyla?” Damon asked, his tone casual but laced with an underlying threat.

Kyla held her ground, her voice steady but firm. “No, sir. I was just talking to Cath.”

Damon didn’t acknowledge her response, his eyes fixed on me. “Well, Cath,” he said, his voice low and commanding, “I need you in my office. Now.”

I wanted to protest, to tell him that I wasn’t his to order around, but the words caught in my throat. It felt pointless to argue. Damon didn’t listen to anyone, not even to his own family, let alone a maid like me.

“Go,” Kyla whispered, her voice soft but insistent. “We’ll talk later.”

I nodded, trying to muster the strength to face whatever Damon had planned for me next. As I turned to leave, I shot Kyla one last look. She gave me a small, encouraging smile, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking into something I wasn’t ready for.