Twisted Obsession

Celeste Morgan's chest pounded rhythmically as the bass rumbled through the packed club, drowning out everything else. Over the sea of bodies writhing to the music, shadows were cast by erratic patterns of coloured lights. She was standing at the bar, her fingers clenched around the cool glass, and as she raised it to her lips, the amber liquid inside sloshed a little. Even though whisky burned down her throat, the bitterness that was still there persisted. Celeste, I adore you, but we should not put boundaries on ourselves. Love ought to be unrestricted. Her thoughts were filled with Damian's voice, which sounded serene and almost uninterested, as though he were talking about the weather rather than their marriage. She had foolishly believed in a marriage. Love ought to be unrestricted. What a farce. She had been slapped with the realisation. She wanted an open relationship with the man she had trusted and built a life with. He just wanted more, not because he had become aloof or because their marriage was failing. More women, more options, and more excitement. More of whatever was not her. Even she had been startled by the sharp, humourless sound of her laughter as she laughed in his face. After packing her bags, she left. She was now drinking and staring at meaningless men in a club she had not been to since her early twenties, numbing her pain. Celeste was no longer gullible. Now she realised that love was not some powerful, unstoppable force. It was brittle, transient. People played this game until they were bored and decided to move on. She had finished playing. She was startled out of her reverie by a slow, predatory gaze that came from the other side of the room. Celeste knew who owned it without having to look. It was like a touch that burned into her skin. Adrian Blackwood. Her fingers clenched around her glass as she took a sharp breath. Years had passed since her last encounter with him. She had made herself leave what they had, what they nearly had, years ago. He had not changed, though. He was tall, strong, and exuded a natural confidence that distinguished him from the other men in the club. Those storm-gray eyes were still there, but his dark hair was shorter than she remembered. tense. looking. demanding. Adrian was someone Celeste knew long before Damian. The perilous temptation she had never been permitted to experience was her brother's best friend. Nevertheless, she had briefly had him in the past. Then she was gone from him. Stability was her choice. Security. A man not as capable of shattering her world as Adrian. And here they were now. Slowly and deliberately, his lips formed a smirk, as though he could hear every careless thought she was having. Celeste raised her glass in defiance. Adrian's gaze remained fixed. She did not either. It was not about regret tonight. It had nothing to do with the past or her errors. She was revising the rules tonight. Slipping into the crowd, she turned away from the bar and headed for the dance floor. The heat from bodies pressing in on all sides caused the bass to vibrate through her bones. A man grabbed her by the waist and drew her in. Celeste closed her eyes, allowing the music to fill her head. Before she even saw Adrian, she could feel him. Behind her, the warmth of a familiar, powerful presence. The slight change in the atmosphere. The man in front of her tensed abruptly, his hold releasing as though he could sense the new predator in the hunt. Adrian spoke softly, near her ear. “Celeste, are you playing games?” She did not look around. did not respond. Rather, she rolled her hips in a manner that made it impossible for him to misunderstand, pressing her body back against his. "If I am?" She whispered. She felt a chill go up her spine as Adrian's fingers barely touched her waist. "So you should be aware of something." His lips touched her ear's shell as he leaned closer. "I dislike losing." Even though Celeste's breath caught, she kept it to herself. Rather, she turned to him and twisted in his grasp. They looked at each other. They were silent for a long time. Adrian's eyes then strayed to her mouth. "Tell me to leave." She didn't. Something dark flashed across Adrian's face as he let out a sharp exhale, and then his fingers curled around her wrist. "Come along with me." He did not hold off until she responded. Celeste allowed herself to be guided past the throbbing music and pulsing lights through the crowd. Unavoidable and unstoppable, they moved like two people caught in a gravitational pull. Adrian pushed her against the wall, enclosing her with his body as soon as they entered the dimly lit hallway close to the VIP area. He firmly placed his hands on either side of her head. "Tell me that this is just the words of the drunk." Celeste swallowed forcefully. It wasn't. She was buzzing from barely having enough. There was more to this. A need that had simmered for years, a need that was reckless and dangerous. Adrian tightened his jaw. "Celeste—" The only way she knew how, she cut him off. through drawing him into a kiss. The only warning she received before he took charge was his sharp inhale. His body pressed her more firmly against the wall, and his lips were harsh and demanding. As though he were the only solid object in the world, Celeste's hands became entangled in his shirt. Perhaps he was. Perhaps that was the issue. since this was not intended to occur. Never again. Not when he was the brother of her husband. Not after she had sworn she would never fall again. However, she became aware of something horrifying as Adrian's hands moved over her body and his teeth brushed against her bottom lip. She was already down. And nobody was around to apprehend her this time.