Possessive
782 Words
The next morning, I told myself I wasn’t thinking about Damien.
I was lying.
I thought about him while brushing my hair.
I thought about him while making coffee.
I thought about him when I walked into the bookstore and caught myself looking through the front window, wondering if his black car would be waiting across the street.
It wasn’t.
Somehow, that bothered me.
“Looking for someone?”
I turned.
Elias was standing behind the counter, holding a cup of coffee.
“No.”
He smiled.
“You’re blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
I rolled my eyes and walked toward the shelves.
The bell above the bookstore door rang.
A customer walked inside.
A man I’d never seen before.
He was around my age, with messy brown hair and an easy smile.
He approached the counter.
“Do you work here?”
I laughed softly.
“No. I just stand behind the counter for decoration.”
He laughed.
“I deserved that.”
Elias glanced between us.
The stranger picked up a book.
“Any recommendations?”
“For what?”
“Something romantic.”
I looked at the book in his hand.
“Depends. Happy ending or heartbreak?”
“Heartbreak.”
“Then you’re in the right place.”
He smiled.
“I like your taste.”
I felt someone watching me.
I looked toward the window.
Across the street sat a black car.
My stomach tightened.
Damien.
I couldn’t see his face through the dark glass.
But I knew he was there.
The stranger leaned closer.
“So, what’s your name?”
Before I could answer, the bookstore door opened again.
Damien walked inside.
The room seemed to change with him.
His eyes went directly to the man standing beside me.
Then to me.
His expression remained calm.
Too calm.
“Damien,” I said.
He didn’t look away from the stranger.
“Who is he?”
The stranger raised an eyebrow.
“I’m standing right here.”
Damien finally looked at him.
“I noticed.”
I stepped between them.
“He’s a customer.”
Damien’s eyes returned to mine.
“Is that all?”
I felt heat rise into my cheeks.
“Why do you care?”
His jaw tightened.
“You know why.”
The stranger looked between us.
“Boyfriend?”
I opened my mouth.
Damien said nothing.
He left the answer to me.
I looked at him.
Then I looked back at the stranger.
“Yes.”
Damien’s eyes softened for half a second.
The stranger immediately backed away.
“Got it.”
He took his book and headed toward the register.
Elias gave me a knowing look.
I ignored him.
When the stranger left, Damien approached me.
“You didn’t have to say that.”
“I know.”
“You wanted to.”
“Yes.”
His gaze searched my face.
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“Because it’s true.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re not afraid of me?”
“Sometimes.”
He frowned.
“But you stay.”
I smiled.
“Sometimes I think that’s what scares me.”
He reached for my hand.
His fingers closed around mine.
Not tightly.
Just enough for me to feel him there.
“I don’t like watching other men look at you.”
“I noticed.”
“I don’t like them talking to you.”
“I noticed that too.”
“I don’t like imagining someone else thinking they have a chance with you.”
I tilted my head.
“Damien.”
He looked at me.
“I’m not yours because you told me I am.”
His expression changed.
“I know.”
“I’m yours because I choose to be.”
His thumb brushed across my knuckles.
“That,” he whispered, “is the only reason I want you.”
I stared at him.
For once, the possessiveness in his eyes didn’t feel like a cage.
It felt like a confession.
He wanted me.
Completely.
Dangerously.
But he still wanted me to choose him.
And I had.
Damien leaned closer.
“Come home with me.”
I smiled.
“Is that another rule?”
“No.”
He paused.
“It’s a request.”
I slipped my hand into his.
“Then yes.”
Outside, the rain began falling again.
And as we walked toward his black car, I realized something I wasn’t ready to admit.
I didn’t hate Damien’s jealousy.
I liked knowing he cared.
Maybe too much.
Maybe enough to become dangerous.
But for the first time, I wasn’t running from the danger.
I was walking toward it.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD